What do you think?
Rate this book
Hope Underground
"God has never left us down here"
Thirty–three miners–trapped beneath the Chilean desert—their situation, at first, seemed hopeless. Yet instead of abandoning hope, the miners, their families, communities of faith, the Chilean government and rescue workers united in an effort to achieve the impossible. What drove these people to defy failure and persevere against all odds? How did a small, white butterfly, 33 small Bibles, and a '34th Miner' all play a significant role in the unfolding of this incredible story? While most reports of this stirring drama focus on what human effort can achieve, Hope Underground reveals the spiritual nature of the miners' experience, highlighting amazing details of how God's providence turned a potential tragedy into the most successful mining rescue of all time.
ABOUT THE
Carlos Parra Díaz was serving as an ordinary pastor in northern Chile when, on August 5, 2010, the San José Mine collapse occurred. Eager to serve wherever there is a need, Parra suddenly found himself becoming one of the most influential spiritual leaders in the most publicized and successful mine rescue in history. His active participation at Camp Hope, the temporary residence of the miners' families and rescuers, allows him to share unique insights into the miraculous chain of events which led to the triumphant liberation of the miners. This experience not only changed his life forever, but deeply touched the whole nation of Chile. Parra has since been invited to share this inspiring story in countries around the world. Today, Pastor Parra and his family live in Asunción, Paraguay, where he serves as a regional pastor and missionary.
Thirty–three miners–trapped beneath the Chilean desert—their situation, at first, seemed hopeless. Yet instead of abandoning hope, the miners, their families, communities of faith, the Chilean government and rescue workers united in an effort to achieve the impossible. What drove these people to defy failure and persevere against all odds? How did a small, white butterfly, 33 small Bibles, and a '34th Miner' all play a significant role in the unfolding of this incredible story? While most reports of this stirring drama focus on what human effort can achieve, Hope Underground reveals the spiritual nature of the miners' experience, highlighting amazing details of how God's providence turned a potential tragedy into the most successful mining rescue of all time.
ABOUT THE
Carlos Parra Díaz was serving as an ordinary pastor in northern Chile when, on August 5, 2010, the San José Mine collapse occurred. Eager to serve wherever there is a need, Parra suddenly found himself becoming one of the most influential spiritual leaders in the most publicized and successful mine rescue in history. His active participation at Camp Hope, the temporary residence of the miners' families and rescuers, allows him to share unique insights into the miraculous chain of events which led to the triumphant liberation of the miners. This experience not only changed his life forever, but deeply touched the whole nation of Chile. Parra has since been invited to share this inspiring story in countries around the world. Today, Pastor Parra and his family live in Asunción, Paraguay, where he serves as a regional pastor and missionary.
191 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 2011
39 people want to read
About the author
Jeanette Windle
38 books68 followersAs the child of missionary parents, award-winning author and journalist Jeanette Windle grew up in the rural villages, jungles, and mountains of Colombia, now guerrilla hot zones. Her detailed research and writing is so realistic that it has prompted government agencies to question her to determine if she has received classified information. Curently based in Lancaster, PA, Jeanette has lived in six countries and traveled in more than twenty. She has more than a dozen books in print, including the political/suspense best seller "CrossFire" and the Parker Twins juvenile mystery series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 1, 2024
Hope really is the last thing to lose. Miracles are real
October 15, 2011
I received this book on Friday and am posting the review on Saturday afternoon. This is to let you know how easily read this book is and how absolutely captivating it is from the first page.
I will say there are some grammatical errors occurring I suppose from the translation but other than these, that are easily overlooked. The one that stood out most to me was the use of the word impelled instead of compelled - I had to read this sentence several times as the word impelled always brings to mind the biblical account of the terror of the Assyrians and the historical knowledge of what the word impel means.
This is the story of the Chilean miners as told by Carlos Parra Diaz, the "Chaplain of Camp Hope". This Seventh Day Adventist Pastor gives his riveting testimony of how God broke his heart for a hurting people and moved him to give unselfishly.
The book is told with the use of metric measurements - which indicate the lack of our conformity with the rest of the worlds measurement system. I had to look at conversion tables to get an accurate picture in my head of the temperature and depth, and distance being spoken of. There are times when there is much description and it seems to drag a little slow. However, all this is worth trudging through as Carlos unfolds a story that changed the world.
In one part he recounts the story of one of the miner's wives. She says to him as he is handing out bibles to each family that she believes God has a purpose and that one of the purposes is that they should turn back to God with their whole hearts - not just in times of trouble. How true this statement is as it is echoed here in America as well. Too often tragedy unites a country or a people instead of peace. For in peace and plenty too often we become over taken with selfish thought and a business that drives a wedge between people and God who has provided the very blessings being enjoyed.
This book ends with powerful testimonies of the miners and the families that lived through this ordeal clinging daily to the one thing that brings about survival of tragedy - Faith in God - faith is a God who works miracles.
Absolutely heart stirring and eye-opening. I am amazed at the faith in which these people acted in the very eye of the storm in which they found themselves. It is stated in this book that though grief was a constant emotion there was an underlying peace that was anchored in a hope in God's provision and ability to answer prayer. In our own storms is this our anchor - will this be said about us in our storms of life when crushing odds are against us and the world and man would have us extinguish the small flickering flame of hope? Or will we be like these Chilean miners and their families desperately clinging to hope, guarding that flickering flame with a ferocity that drives away desperation and unleashes the power of God?
Thank you B&B Media for this review copy.
I will say there are some grammatical errors occurring I suppose from the translation but other than these, that are easily overlooked. The one that stood out most to me was the use of the word impelled instead of compelled - I had to read this sentence several times as the word impelled always brings to mind the biblical account of the terror of the Assyrians and the historical knowledge of what the word impel means.
This is the story of the Chilean miners as told by Carlos Parra Diaz, the "Chaplain of Camp Hope". This Seventh Day Adventist Pastor gives his riveting testimony of how God broke his heart for a hurting people and moved him to give unselfishly.
The book is told with the use of metric measurements - which indicate the lack of our conformity with the rest of the worlds measurement system. I had to look at conversion tables to get an accurate picture in my head of the temperature and depth, and distance being spoken of. There are times when there is much description and it seems to drag a little slow. However, all this is worth trudging through as Carlos unfolds a story that changed the world.
In one part he recounts the story of one of the miner's wives. She says to him as he is handing out bibles to each family that she believes God has a purpose and that one of the purposes is that they should turn back to God with their whole hearts - not just in times of trouble. How true this statement is as it is echoed here in America as well. Too often tragedy unites a country or a people instead of peace. For in peace and plenty too often we become over taken with selfish thought and a business that drives a wedge between people and God who has provided the very blessings being enjoyed.
This book ends with powerful testimonies of the miners and the families that lived through this ordeal clinging daily to the one thing that brings about survival of tragedy - Faith in God - faith is a God who works miracles.
Absolutely heart stirring and eye-opening. I am amazed at the faith in which these people acted in the very eye of the storm in which they found themselves. It is stated in this book that though grief was a constant emotion there was an underlying peace that was anchored in a hope in God's provision and ability to answer prayer. In our own storms is this our anchor - will this be said about us in our storms of life when crushing odds are against us and the world and man would have us extinguish the small flickering flame of hope? Or will we be like these Chilean miners and their families desperately clinging to hope, guarding that flickering flame with a ferocity that drives away desperation and unleashes the power of God?
Thank you B&B Media for this review copy.
November 13, 2011
Like many people on a day in August 2010 I was glued to the T.V. as news revealing that 33 Chilean miners were trapped. What would happen? How long would they remain underground? Would they survive? These were questions that I and probably many others were asking themselves on that day over one year ago – and here to tell his story is the Pastor of Camp Hope, Carlos Parra Diaz.
Camp Hope is the unofficial, official name of the place in the Atacama Desert where the families of the trapped miners camped for ten weeks awaiting the fate of their men trapped 700 meters (2,296.588 feet). It wasn’t that Carlos wanted to become the Pastor but as he ministered to the people there of all different denominations he realized the need for a Pastoral head. It didn’t matter that he was a SDA Pastor or that some of the families were Catholic, Protestant or even no religious affiliation – he wanted to meet them where they were and minister to their needs.
Written candidly and sometimes even oddly (I think that is because of the language and translation) you’ll be taken back to that day before even the world knew about the mine or the trapped miners and find out how God used a small butterfly to save lives and why even though there was only 33 trapped miners, everyone underground testifies to their being a 34th miner. Relive the elation as the families find out that their men are alive and as they each come above ground again, experience their pain as they fight to get their relatives above ground before Christmas.
This book runs the gamut of emotions from happiness, exhaustion, sadness, elation, and more. God put His hand on Carlos Parra Diaz and with His helped grew the faith of many, including Chilean politicians, and led to many testimonies of those who needed Christ the most in the darkest parts of the earth.
**I was given a copy of this book from B&B Media Group in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.
Camp Hope is the unofficial, official name of the place in the Atacama Desert where the families of the trapped miners camped for ten weeks awaiting the fate of their men trapped 700 meters (2,296.588 feet). It wasn’t that Carlos wanted to become the Pastor but as he ministered to the people there of all different denominations he realized the need for a Pastoral head. It didn’t matter that he was a SDA Pastor or that some of the families were Catholic, Protestant or even no religious affiliation – he wanted to meet them where they were and minister to their needs.
Written candidly and sometimes even oddly (I think that is because of the language and translation) you’ll be taken back to that day before even the world knew about the mine or the trapped miners and find out how God used a small butterfly to save lives and why even though there was only 33 trapped miners, everyone underground testifies to their being a 34th miner. Relive the elation as the families find out that their men are alive and as they each come above ground again, experience their pain as they fight to get their relatives above ground before Christmas.
This book runs the gamut of emotions from happiness, exhaustion, sadness, elation, and more. God put His hand on Carlos Parra Diaz and with His helped grew the faith of many, including Chilean politicians, and led to many testimonies of those who needed Christ the most in the darkest parts of the earth.
**I was given a copy of this book from B&B Media Group in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.
November 17, 2011
I don't think there are many people who didn't follow the saga of the miners trapped in a Chilean mine, and there are even fewer who didn't watch their miraculous rescue. But, what happened to them while they were in the mine, and what happened to their families and the community who held a vigil outside the mine entrance?
Carlos Parra Diaz, a pastor who became the Chaplain of Camp Hope, shares his story of what happened. Pastor Diaz went to the mine to help the people, to pray for them. He soon found himself in the unofficial position of camp chaplain. He came to know the families of the miners and the politicians who came and went from Camp Hope. Once communication with the miners was established, Pastor Diaz was instrumental in sending 33 tiny Bibles down to the miners, to help sustain their faith.
There were some language and sentence structure issues that were simply due to differences in translation and were fairly easy to overlook. The book is a terrific account of an amazing 10 weeks. The Camp Hope community was a community in every sense of the word. People who came together during a crisis to sustain and help one another. Truly amazing. Pastor Diaz shares a straight-forward, honest narrative, and shows us that God is indeed aware of His children and hears our prayers.
Carlos Parra Diaz, a pastor who became the Chaplain of Camp Hope, shares his story of what happened. Pastor Diaz went to the mine to help the people, to pray for them. He soon found himself in the unofficial position of camp chaplain. He came to know the families of the miners and the politicians who came and went from Camp Hope. Once communication with the miners was established, Pastor Diaz was instrumental in sending 33 tiny Bibles down to the miners, to help sustain their faith.
There were some language and sentence structure issues that were simply due to differences in translation and were fairly easy to overlook. The book is a terrific account of an amazing 10 weeks. The Camp Hope community was a community in every sense of the word. People who came together during a crisis to sustain and help one another. Truly amazing. Pastor Diaz shares a straight-forward, honest narrative, and shows us that God is indeed aware of His children and hears our prayers.
November 10, 2011
Title: HOPE UNDERGROUND
Author: Carlos Parra Diaz
Publisher: Imago Dei Books
September 2011
ISBN: 978-0-9869799-5-8
Genre: Inspirational/faith/miracles
HOPE UNDERGROUND is the true story of the thirty-three miners caught in a mine in Chili when it collapsed. Most of the whole world was spellbound, watching the television for news of these men, praying for them, and hoping that they’d be found alive. I say most, because some (like me) don’t have a television, but even I checked online occasionally to see if they’d been found, and after they had been, anxiously waiting for news of the rescue.
Carlos Parra Diaz is a Seventh Day Adventist pastor and one of the original fifteen pastors called up to the camp to minister to the miner’s families. After that, and following the guidance of the Lord, Carlos Parra Diaz miraculously supplied seven centimeter Bibles small enough to go down into the mine.
In the center of the book are pictures taken of Carlos Parra Diaz, the families, mayors, miners and others.
HOPE UNDERGROUND is a truly amazing story, one that those who prayed for the miners and workers will want to read to get one persons perspective of the miracles that were worked in the lives of the miners, families, and workers. $14.99. 191 pages.
Author: Carlos Parra Diaz
Publisher: Imago Dei Books
September 2011
ISBN: 978-0-9869799-5-8
Genre: Inspirational/faith/miracles
HOPE UNDERGROUND is the true story of the thirty-three miners caught in a mine in Chili when it collapsed. Most of the whole world was spellbound, watching the television for news of these men, praying for them, and hoping that they’d be found alive. I say most, because some (like me) don’t have a television, but even I checked online occasionally to see if they’d been found, and after they had been, anxiously waiting for news of the rescue.
Carlos Parra Diaz is a Seventh Day Adventist pastor and one of the original fifteen pastors called up to the camp to minister to the miner’s families. After that, and following the guidance of the Lord, Carlos Parra Diaz miraculously supplied seven centimeter Bibles small enough to go down into the mine.
In the center of the book are pictures taken of Carlos Parra Diaz, the families, mayors, miners and others.
HOPE UNDERGROUND is a truly amazing story, one that those who prayed for the miners and workers will want to read to get one persons perspective of the miracles that were worked in the lives of the miners, families, and workers. $14.99. 191 pages.
April 13, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews