Pereira, Colombia 🇨🇴💔 — Ten Days Later, the Pain Is Still Here, But So Is Hope

It has been 10 days, and somehow, even though the days continue to pass, the pain still feels very close. ❤️‍🩹

Ten days can sound like a long time when we say the number out loud. Ten days of waking up, going to sleep, checking on loved ones, looking around at what has changed and trying to understand everything that happened.

But when a community experiences something as frightening and disruptive as an earthquake, time doesn’t necessarily make everything feel normal again.

Sometimes, ten days is only the beginning of the healing process.

I am sharing these words as a reflection, not to create more fear, but to remind ourselves of something we can easily forget: when the ground begins to shake, we often don’t know how serious the situation will become.

At the first movement, many people instinctively think:

“It’s going to stop.”

We wait.

We stand still.

We look around.

We try to understand what is happening.

And then, within seconds, circumstances can change.

That is one of the most frightening realities about earthquakes. They don’t ask whether we are ready. They don’t give us time to prepare emotionally. They can happen while we are sleeping, working, eating, traveling or spending time with the people we love.

And when the shaking begins, there may be only moments to react.

We Cannot Control the Earth

One of the hardest things about an earthquake is realizing how little control we have over the forces beneath our feet.

Buildings can be designed more safely.

Emergency plans can be created.

Supplies can be prepared.

Families can establish meeting places.

Communities can educate themselves.

But we cannot simply tell the earth to stop moving.

That is why preparation matters so much.

Being prepared does not mean living in fear every day.

It means understanding that unexpected events can happen and giving ourselves and our families the best possible chance to respond safely.

The experience in Pereira is a reminder that awareness should not begin only after something terrible happens.

It should begin before.

Ten Days Later, Many People Are Still Processing What Happened

When an emergency occurs, the first moments are usually filled with adrenaline.

People check their phones.

They call relatives.

They look for neighbors.

They try to determine whether everyone is safe.

There may be confusion about what happened and what will happen next.

Then the immediate crisis begins to settle.

But emotional recovery can take much longer.

Someone may suddenly remember the sound of the shaking.

Someone may become nervous when they feel a small vibration.

Someone may have difficulty sleeping.

Another person may be worried about their home, their work or their financial situation.

For families who have experienced serious damage or displacement, the challenge is even greater.

A home is not simply a structure.

It contains memories.

Photographs.

Clothing.

Furniture.

Important documents.

Objects passed down through generations.

The familiar places where children grew up.

When those things are damaged or lost, people are not simply dealing with physical repairs.

They are dealing with a profound sense of disruption.

Today, I Ask for a Prayer

Today, more than anything, I ask for a prayer for all the families affected. 🙏🏻

A prayer for those who are afraid.

A prayer for those who have lost property.

A prayer for those whose daily lives have been turned upside down.

A prayer for people who are still trying to find stability.

And a prayer for everyone working to help others during this difficult period.

Sometimes, when we cannot personally solve another person’s problems, the best thing we can offer is compassion.

A message.

A phone call.

A meal.

A helping hand.

A job opportunity.

A donation to a legitimate relief effort.

Or simply the words:

“I am here for you.”

Small acts can carry enormous meaning during difficult times.

Pereira Needs Unity

Pereira is more than buildings and streets.

It is a community made up of people.

Families.

Workers.

Students.

Business owners.

Neighbors.

Children.

Older generations.

People who were born here and people who came here looking for a better life.

When a community is tested, its greatest strength is often found in the people who refuse to abandon one another.

That is why Pereira needs unity, empathy and patience.

Everyone will recover at a different pace.

Some families may be able to repair their homes quickly.

Others may need considerably more time.

Some people may return to work immediately.

Others may suddenly find themselves unemployed.

Some may appear calm on the outside while struggling emotionally on the inside.

We should not compare one person’s recovery with another’s.

Healing is not a race.

One Day at a Time

There is a phrase that becomes especially meaningful during difficult moments:

One day at a time.

We don’t have to rebuild everything in one morning.

We don’t have to solve every problem immediately.

Sometimes the goal is simply to get through today.

Then tomorrow comes.

And we take another step.

Then another.

Eventually, those small steps become progress.

A damaged wall can be repaired.

A business can reopen.

A person can find another job.

A family can begin creating new routines.

A neighborhood can become active again.

The process may be slow, but slow progress is still progress.

To Those Who Have Helped

There is also something important that should never be forgotten: gratitude.

During difficult times, we often discover just how many people are willing to help.

Neighbors checking on neighbors.

Strangers offering assistance.

Workers continuing to provide essential services.

Emergency personnel responding under difficult circumstances.

People sharing information.

Friends sending messages from far away.

Family members making phone calls simply to ask:

“Are you okay?”

Those moments matter.

They remind us that even when circumstances feel overwhelming, we are not necessarily alone.

To everyone who has reached out, asked how we are doing and continued following our journey:

Thank you.

A thousand times, thank you. ❤️‍🩹

Sometimes a simple message from someone far away can make a difficult day feel slightly lighter.

And Then There Is the Question of Work

One of the most important parts of rebuilding after a major disruption is economic recovery.

People need to work.

Families need income.

Businesses need customers.

Communities need opportunities.

That is why I also want to make a personal request:

If you know of any job opportunities, please let me know.

I would sincerely appreciate any information about work that could help me move forward.

There is no shame in asking for an opportunity.

In difficult circumstances, asking for work is an act of determination.

It means saying:

“I want to rebuild.”

“I want to provide for myself and my family.”

“I want to contribute.”

“I want to keep moving.”

A job can mean much more than a paycheck.

It can provide stability.

Routine.

Confidence.

Purpose.

And a path toward rebuilding a life that has been disrupted.

Preparedness Should Become Part of Our Culture

There is another lesson we should carry forward.

Earthquakes remind us that preparedness cannot be an afterthought.

Families should know where they can safely take shelter.

Important documents should be protected.

Emergency supplies should be accessible.

People should know how to communicate if phone networks become overwhelmed.

Children should be taught what to do.

Older relatives should have plans for assistance.

And communities should regularly discuss emergency preparedness.

The goal isn’t to make people afraid.

The goal is to make people ready.

Fear tells us to freeze.

Preparation gives us something to do.

We Should Remember Those Most Vulnerable

During emergencies, not everyone faces the same challenges.

Older adults may need additional assistance.

People with disabilities may face barriers to evacuation.

Children may not understand what is happening.

People living alone may have difficulty getting help.

Families with limited financial resources may struggle more with repairs, transportation and temporary housing.

That is why community recovery must include everyone.

No one should be forgotten simply because their situation is less visible.

A strong community is one where people look beyond their own immediate needs and ask:

Who else needs help?

Faith and Hope

For many people, faith becomes especially important during difficult moments.

Faith does not mean pretending that nothing bad happened.

It means believing that something good can still be built after something painful.

It means finding strength when our own strength feels limited.

It means continuing to believe in tomorrow.

That is why I ask for prayers today.

Not because prayer replaces action, but because prayer can give people courage while they take those necessary steps.

We need both.

Faith in our hearts and work with our hands.

Pereira Will Rise Again

There may be difficult days ahead.

There may be repairs that take longer than expected.

There may be financial struggles.

There may be moments when people become exhausted.

But a city is not defined only by what happens to its buildings.

It is defined by what its people do afterward.

And if we stand together—with patience, empathy, determination and hope—we can rebuild.

Maybe it won’t look exactly the same.

Maybe some things will change permanently.

But new memories can be created.

New businesses can open.

Families can rebuild.

Neighbors can become closer.

Children can grow up remembering not only the earthquake, but also the incredible way their community responded.

A Message of Gratitude

To everyone who has checked on us during these past ten days:

Thank you. ❤️‍🩹

To everyone who has prayed:

Thank you. 🙏🏻

To everyone who has offered practical help:

Thank you.

To everyone who has shared an opportunity, a message of encouragement or simply a few kind words:

Thank you.

You may never know how much those small gestures mean to someone trying to rebuild.

We Are Still Here

Ten days have passed.

The pain has not disappeared.

The uncertainty has not disappeared.

But neither have we.

We are still here.

Still breathing.

Still hoping.

Still helping.

Still searching for opportunities.

Still believing that tomorrow can be better than today.

And that is enough to take the next step.

Pereira has been through a difficult moment, but its story does not end here.

We will continue forward one day at a time.

With our hands, we will rebuild.

With our strength, we will work.

With our compassion, we will support one another.

With our faith, we will keep going.

And with our hope, we will look toward the future.

One day, we will look back at this difficult chapter and remember not only the fear we felt, but also the courage, solidarity and love that carried us through it.

Pereira is still standing.

And together, we can help this beautiful city rise again. 🇨🇴❤️‍🩹🙏🏻

One day at a time. One person at a time. One helping hand at a time.

And most importantly:

We will not give up. ❤️‍🩹🇨🇴🙏🏻