The Chen family spent 40 years saving for thier house only to see it destroyed in the recent earthquake. Above, excavators tear down their condemned home.

YAO JIN VILLAGE, China - It was a dream house, 40 years in the making.

For more than four decades, the Chen family had worked their pig farm and saved money to start construction on their new home.

It took them almost a year to build the house, and, in less than two minutes, it was reduced to rubble.

The Chen family was living in a small shack while their new house was under construction. During the last year, the elderly couple worked on the construction, going over every detail and perfecting every inch.

Just before they were set to move in, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck, crumbling the new home.

"The house was still standing but huge cracks filled almost every wall," said David Darg, deputy director of international programs with Operation Blessing. "It was beyond repair and condemned."

For the past several weeks, Operation Blessing disaster relief teams along with village volunteers have been using excavators and jackhammers to plow through buildings and rubble to clean up debris so families can begin the rebuilding process.

The Chens stood and watched the excavator tear down the rest of their home in just a few minutes. But, their loss was not without hope.

OBI has already met with two construction experts from one of China's largest property development companies. An architect and engineer toured the village and immediately started to sketch rough plans for 55 homes for all of the residents.

OBI is making plans to help rebuild all 55 homes in Yao Jin destroyed by the quake and have already met with two construction experts from one of China's largest property development companies. An architect and engineer toured the village and immediately started to sketch rough plans.

"We are taking Yao Jin light years ahead in terms of relief and reconstruction," Darg said. "We'll also be making the architectural plans available to the local government so other villages can also use the model."

In the past two months, OBI teams have worked with the villagers to remove debris, build retaining walls to protect from rain and floods, construct latrines and shower facilities as well as restore the village's access to a water supply.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

 

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