I want to share one family's story of surviving the horrors of the earthquakes. Please see below, and go here to help us bring practical hope and relief to earthquake victims today. -- Gary

Our team met a family with three kids this week who experienced the living nightmare of the devastating earthquakes. The mom began to weep as she shared her story with us...

+ + She grabbed her kids and ran outside...

When the first earthquake hit, their house began to shake violently and they were swinging back and forth inside. She grabbed her kids and ran outside, where it was cold and raining with loud thunder. The kids didn't even have socks on because they left the house with such haste.

Then the second earthquake hit. All they could do was crouch down on the street in the rain until the shaking stopped... and pray. Somehow, their lives were spared.

Sadly, her best friend and her three children were all killed in the earthquake. The mom who survived is still grieving and feeling overwhelmed with guilt. Why were she and her children spared when her friend perished with her kids?

+ + From disaster to hope...

Her family has essentially moved into the bakery they own, but they still sleep outside in tents for fear of another earthquake. The kids have been terrified every night since the earthquakes hit.

This family who has survived so much opened up their bakery to Mercy Chefs so we can cook and care for her community. We gave her kids some children's books, paints and crayons -- a much-needed distraction for these little ones as their parents figure out the next steps to take to rebuild their lives.

This is just one of the thousands of families you are helping Mercy Chefs reach every day. We just launched a new container kitchen in Antakya, one of the hardest-hit cities. I want to add more container kitchens. I want to do more because the need is so great!

Please prayerfully consider how you can help Mercy Chefs continue and expand this lifeline of hope for thousands of earthquake victims. Go here to help feed 10, 50 or even 100 earthquake victims this week:

The people we are serving are so grateful for the help. Every meal and every relief effort carries with it a real measure of hope in the midst of this desperate situation.

Thank you in advance, and may God bless you.

Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs