Gatesville couple and Waco pastor respond to Venezuela earthquake as death toll exceeds 1,900

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – A Waco pastor who spent the past four months serving in Venezuela is now on the front lines of earthquake relief efforts as the death toll from a pair of powerful earthquakes rises to more than 1,900.

Pastor Ramiro Pena, who has been a church uniter and minister to Venezuelan government officials, is joined on the ground by Gatesville couple Gary and Diane Haven, founders of Curves International, as rescuers continue to search for survivors five days after 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck the South American nation.

Gatesville couple Gary and Valley Haven in Venezuela (Courtesy Photos)

The Heavens family arrived in Venezuela late Monday afternoon, and are already working at local churches collecting and sorting supplies.

Diane says they hope to have information soon on how people in Central Texas can help with the effort.

The death toll exceeded 1,900 people, more than 10,000 wounded and 15,866 displaced, according to Jorge Rodriguez, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly.

The priest calls for prayers as rescuers search the rubble

Pena said rescuers were still finding survivors under the rubble and urged people to pray for relief efforts.

“Brothers and sisters in Christ, please pray for the crisis in Venezuela now,” Pena said. “We are in the early stages and are still finding a lot of people alive. Only 10 were found recently here where they are searching. You can see behind me how urgent the time is to get to the people who are trapped.”

Pena asked for prayers for logistics, permits and all ongoing relief efforts.

“Please pray for all the logistics and all the people coming to help, the permits, all the things that need to get done,” he said. “Time is of the essence.”

Pena is also President Donald Trump’s personal pastor.

The couple was in Costa Rica when the earthquake struck

Diane Haven told KWTX that she and Gary were celebrating their 36th wedding anniversary in Costa Rica when the earthquakes struck.

“Gary and I happened to be celebrating our 36th wedding anniversary in Costa Rica when the earthquake hit, so we were halfway there,” Diane said. “The major airports were damaged and there were no commercial flights. They flew to Costa Rica and picked us up and Gary flew our plane there.”

Diane said the couple has worked with Pastor Pena for 26 years, and that their connection to Venezuela came about two months ago when Pena asked if she could send containers of food.

“We asked if I could send containers of food because it is something I have a lot of experience with – for example our Ministry of Food in Haiti,” Diane said. “I went through all the processes and figured out the systems and our food was sent out.”

Three 40-foot containers of food are scheduled to arrive in Venezuela in the coming days, shipments that were arranged before the earthquake.

Havens is scheduled to meet with the acting president

Diane said the couple has already met with several government officials. The three are scheduled to meet with Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Tuesday.

“We met so many wonderful and influential people today because of Ramiro’s ministry,” Diane said. “There is a lot to do as you can see.”

Rescue workers are searching through the rubble with shovels, heavy equipment, ropes and their bare hands. A number of international rescue teams also intervened to help. Estimates from the US Geological Survey indicate that the death toll may eventually reach tens of thousands.

History of disaster response

Venezuela’s response is the latest in a long history of disaster relief work at Havens. The couple has responded to humanitarian needs across multiple continents, including food relief efforts in Haiti. Recently, Gary and Diane spent two days in Burnet County, Texas, conducting helicopter search and rescue missions following devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country.

The Havens also flew their helicopter from Gatesville to Asheville, North Carolina, in an effort to rescue residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen in October 2024.

Copyright 2026 KWTX. All rights reserved.

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