In 1989 an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened
Armenia, killing over 30,000 people in less
than four minutes.
In the midst of utter devastation and chaos, a
father left his wife securely at home and rushed
to the school where his son was supposed to be,
only to discover that the building was as flat as a
pancake.
After the traumatic initial shock, he remembered
the promise he had made to his son: "No matter
what, I'll always be there for you!" And tears
began to fill his eyes. As he looked at the pile
of debris that once was the school, it looked
hopeless, but he kept remembering his
commitment to his son.
He began to concentrate on where he walked his
son to class at school each morning.
Remembering his son's classroom would be in
the back right corner of the building; he rushed
there and started digging through the rubble.
As he was digging, other forlorn parents arrived,
clutching their hearts, saying: "My son!" "My
daughter!" Other well meaning parents tried to
pull him off of what was left of the school
saying:
"It's too late!"
"They're dead!"
"You can't help!"
"Go home!"
"Come on, face reality, there's nothing you can
do!"
"You're just going to make things worse!"
To each parent he responded with one line: "Are
you going to help me now?" And then he
proceeded to dig for his son, stone by stone.
The fire chief showed up and tried to pull him
off of the school's debris, saying, "Fires are
breaking out, explosions are happening
everywhere. You're in danger. We'll take care
of it. Go home." To which this loving, caring
Armenian father asked, "Are you going to help
me now?"
The police came and said, "You're angry,
distraught and it's over. You're endangering
others. Go home. We'll handle it!" To which
he replied, "Are you going to help me now?"
No one helped.
Courageously he proceeded alone because he
needed to know for himself: "Is my boy alive or
is he dead?"
He dug for eight hours . . . 12 hours . . . 24 hours
... 36 hours . . . then, in the 38th hour, he pulled
back a boulder and heard his son's voice. He
screamed his son's name, "ARMAND!" He
heard back, "Dad!?! It's me, Dad! I told the
other kids not to worry. I told 'em that if you
were alive, you'd save me and when you saved
me, they'd be saved. You promised, 'No matter
what, I'll always be there for you!'
You did it, Dad! . . . "
"What's going on in there? How is it?" the
father asked.
There are 14 of us left out of 33, Dad. We're
scared, hungry, thirsty and thankful you're here.
When the building collapsed, it made a wedge,
like a triangle, and it saved us."
"Come on out, boy!"
"No, Dad! Let the other kids out first, 'cause I
know you'll get me! No matter what, I know
you'll be there for me!"
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or
terrified because of them, for the LORD your
God goes with you; he will never leave you nor
forsake you."
-Deuteronomy 31:5