We are JD & Michelle, and we are raising funds for both sides of our families in Pereira, Colombia: my mother, Sandra; my father, Hector; my youngest sister, Sofia; Michelle’s parents, Consuelo and Gustavo; and our extended family. 

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake has brought devastating destruction to our hometown. Both my mom’s apartment and Michelle’s parents’ home suffered severe damage and are now completely uninhabitable. The devastation has also left the entire city without power and running water, making an already difficult situation even more urgent.

My mom’s apartment was the only home my side of the family had. Cracked and collapsed walls and ceilings, shattered belongings, everything they knew as home has been deeply affected, leaving them without a safe place to return to. Michelle’s parents’ home was also heavily damaged, leaving them with the same uncertainty and urgent need for safe shelter.

Seeing the people we love most face this kind of loss from so far away is heartbreaking, and we are doing everything we can to help both sides of our families get to safety as quickly as possible. 

These funds will first help cover immediate needs including safe shelter, food, temporary accommodations, transportation, evacuation support, and other essentials. Because of the extent of the devastation, the restoration process could take months, leaving our families displaced and unable to return home for a significant period of time. Your support will help sustain their temporary relocation, housing, and basic needs throughout that process; whether that means bringing members of our families to the U.S. to stay with us temporarily or helping them secure safe housing in Colombia. 

Ultimately, the greatest focus of this fundraiser is helping restore and rebuild their homes. As the immediate crisis begins to settle, the funds raised will increasingly go toward repairs and rebuilding so that both sides of our families can have a safe home and a sense of stability again. 

As believers, we know there is a good God caring for us even in the hardest moments. For those who are able to give, your support would mean more than we can express to us and our families. We are also deeply grateful for every prayer, for peace, protection, restoration, hope in the midst of this chaos, and wisdom as we navigate how to get our families to safety and help them rebuild.

Thank you in advance to everyone who gives, shares, and continues praying for us and our families. We are deeply grateful and do not take any of it for granted.

With love and gratitude, JD & Michelle