Chilean Miners Wore T-Shirts That Said “¡Gracias Señor!” – “Thank You Lord!” During the Rescue Operation-Truth!
Summary of eRumor:
This is a forwarded email that says that trapped Chilean miners wore t-shirts that said “¡Gracias Señor’ – ‘Thank You Lord!” during their rescue operation. The email says that the t-shirts along with MP3 players loaded with Biblical teaching to help raise their spirits were given to them by Campus Crusade For Christ organization.
The Truth:
This story is true and the T-Shirts were given to 33 trapped Chilean miners by the local branch of the International Campus Crusade for Christ, according to a statement on the ministry web site.
As well as the bilingual display of gratitude saying, “Thank You Lord”, the tee shirts included an Old Testament quotation from Psalm 95:4, “In his hand are the depths of the earth, and mountain peaks belong to him.”
The Campus Crusade For Christ ministry also provided each miner with an MP3 player with an audio version of the story of Jesus and audio Bible.
After being trapped 2,300 below the Earth’s surface for 69 days all 33 miners were rescued.
Background
On August 5, 2010 a gold and copper mine in San Juan, Chile collapsed, sealing 33 miners from the outside world. The mine is located approximately 500 miles North of the Chilean capital, Santiago.
After the cave in, drilling efforts began in an attempt to locate the lost minors and continued day and night. On August 27, the 17th day of the rescue attempt, tapping on the drill was heard by the rescue team on the surface. The trapped men had managed to escape to the safety of a refuge area in the mine about 2,300 feet below the surface. When the drill was pulled back to the surface rescuers found a note attached that said, “Estamos bien en el refugio, los 33” – “We are fine in the shelter, the 33 of us.”
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera shows note from trapped miners
The minors were trapped underground for a record breaking 69 days and spent much of their time in prayer to keep their spirits up as they waited on their rescue. . At first, the 33 men were surviving from rationed food and water in the refuge area. Later a relief tube was sent down to them to replenish supplies and bring fresh air into the cramped living space which would be their home for more than two months.
Computer Image of Rescue Pod
Meanwhile on the surface, as the world hoped and prayed for the trapped miners, a team of engineers worked vigorously on a rescue plan to get the men safely recovered. The Chilean engineers consulted the National Aeronautical Space Administration’ (NASA) Engineering and Safety Center based at Huntsville’s Marshall Space flight Center to ensure every safety consideration would be covered in the rescue operation. Every “what if” scenario had to be examined and evaluated. The Chilean engineers sent Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings to the NASA team for review for their suggestion of procedure and design modifications of the rescue pod. The Chileans also consulted the Space Agency for nutritional guidelines and advice in maintaining a healthy mental attitude for the men who were trapped in a confined area for so long.
Chief of rescue operations Andres Sougarret welcomes rescued miner Juan Illanes topside.
When the news first broke that the miners were found alive the estimated time of the rescue operation was four months. On October 12th, one by one, every miner was raised to the surface. After medical evaluation of the now freed minors and some time to be with their loved ones, many involved returned on October 17th to the scene dubbed “Campo Esperanza”- “Camp Hope” to celebrate a Thanksgiving Mass.
T-shirt
updated 10/18/10