The 34th Miner (05/2/2026)
- Dr. Kate Wiskus
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
On August 5, 2010 thirty-four miners descended into the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile. It was a day like many others. No one had any reason to believe it would be different. But unexpectedly, the men felt a tremor and heard the dreaded sound of a cave in. One man escaped before the underground route was sealed completely. And the ordeal began for the 33 miners trapped over 2000 feet underground.
The community came together and efforts were begun immediately to try and find the men trapped somewhere below. The rescue crews began boring into the rock trying to find the miners. Seventeen days after the accident, the crews discovered a note taped to a drill bit when it returned to the surface. “Estamos bien en el refugio los 33” – “We are well in the refuge – the 33.”
The families and community were ecstatic about the discovery, but fear increased when they realized how difficult it would be to drill a hole large enough to winch the men to safety. An international effort was formed involving three separate drilling rig teams. The USA was involved through members from NASA. And miraculously, 69 days later, the men were lifted up to the surface one at a time in a specially built capsule. All 33 survived.
The men told of their ordeal and the role that prayer and faith played in their survival. They spoke of “the 34th miner” – God. They shared how they had felt comforted and consoled throughout and how they were given true hope that they would make it. When one miner’s fear increased, another would comfort him with prayer and hope in a God who was with them.
Recently, when a friend shared that he felt stranded, full of fear, I thought of the miners, I thought of the 34th miner. And I tried it. I prayed with him; I shared with him the LORD’s care for us and His promise to remain with us. And it helped.
As we continue our journeys of faith, hope and love, when we feel “trapped” and fearful, may we remember to turn to the LORD for help knowing that the LORD is with us, the LORD cares for us. And when we encounter another who is in need of this comfort and consolation and hope, let us remember our LORD’s promise, let us remember the miners in Chile, let us remember their report of “the 34th miner.”
Until tomorrow, let us all love well.