The Quichua call it “Tungurahua.” Today the majestic peak wears a garment of snow, the very picture of benign serenity. But residents who live nearby this southern Ecuador monster are not easily fooled. They keep a wary eye on the mountain, looking for the slightest indication of trouble.

Except for the plume of smoke rising from a fissure in its side, there is little hint of the wrath this sleeping giant inflicted on those who lived at the base of the volcano two years ago.

Luis Rosero remembers the terror his family experienced that July night in 2006. They were awakened from their sleep around 11 p.m. and told to evacuate immediately.

“If we hadn’t gotten out when we did, we would all have died,” Luis said. “We didn’t have time to gather up any of our belongings. All we could grab was our children.”

Luis, his wife Maria, and their six children fled on foot running as fast as they could, all the while being showered with ash and burning rocks. They found shelter at last, and returned to their home a few days later only to find the house severely damaged and nearly a foot of mud-caked ash covering everything. Most distressing was the loss of their crops and their cattle and sheep.

With nowhere else to go, the Rosero family moved back into the ash-laden house and covered the partially collapsed roof with plastic. Other members of the community also returned to their homes, hoping to salvage what was buried in the debris and work diligently to rebuild.

For almost everyone, however, rebuilding their houses was not an option. The land was deemed too dangerous for resettlement by the government, and loan applications to banks were denied.

Luis was at a loss as to what to do next. His people had lived at the foot of the volcano for three generations.

“We are people of the land," he said. "We are farmers. That is what we do and the only life we know.”

Luis patched up the house to make it livable, but he knew the family could not stay there permanently. The ground still rumbled and ash sprayed their community almost daily. Then in February 2007 they received exciting news that land had been set aside by the government to relocate families like the Roseros that were out of options and out of hope.

Samaritan’s Purse undertook the large-scale construction project, building 102 houses for displaced families. Our team also provided farms tools and other agricultural assistance, and built a playground for the children in partnership with Kids Around the World Inc.

The Roseros will soon move into the new community. Town officials and Samaritan’s Purse staff will hold a dedication ceremony celebrating the final phase of the building program on Saturday, August 9.

This part of Ecuador has virtually no evangelical churches, and many of the local residents have been resistant to the Gospel. As our teams were able to share the Good News of God’s grace as they ministered to the people’s needs, and a number have made decisions for Jesus Christ.

Although Luis misses living on his farm, he is greatly relieved to have a new home several miles away in Penipe where Tunguruhua will be less threatening. And his children received a special surprise on Thursday when they were among some 400 children who received gift-filled shoe boxes through our Operation Christmas Child project.

“I’m very thankful to God and to Samaritan’s Purse for building these houses for my family and my friends,” Luis said. “I am glad to have a home where we can sleep peacefully at night now. God bless you for your kindness to us.”

Samaritan's Purse , Ecuador , Community Development , A New Home