Hurricane Eta and Iota

November 20, 2020

Greetings Friends and Family,

I am doing well despite all the crazy weather we have had. Thank you so much for your prays are support during this time.

Where I am located is in the mountains, there was not much flooding. A few of the rivers in town overflowed and flooded some homes. Thankfully there was not much damage compared to the coast.

The Wednesday after hurricane Eta we put together a team from MEDA, my church, and a sister church to take supplies down to San Pedro Sula. We were able to take six trucks completely full of clothes, food, and cleaning supplies—there were six different churches where we were taking the material. God protected the churches, and the pastors there were able to bring people in that lost everything. The supplies that we delivered were such a blessing to them. However, not only did they need physical help but spiritual encouragement as well. The churches in the affected areas were physically and emotionally drained from all that had taken place, and it was a blessing to minister to them that day.

Having grown up in Florida and traveling to Texas to help with hurricane Harvey a few years ago, I thought I had an idea of the destruction I saw. This was the worst hurricane damage that I had ever seen. There was water in places I never would have thought it could be. Watching people pull their belongings out of the mud and throw it away, not even stopping to see what it was because the mud had utterly destroyed it. Those that could not find shelter found a tarp and some post and moved to the street. The street that you see in the picture was at least five feet underwater. My heart was heavy to know that there was only so much that I could do. To be good stewards, we decided to help by helping the churches we know in the area. They are the ones that know best how to use the donation most effectively.

As we arrived at the last church, we heard that another hurricane was headed in our direction. You could hear the breath go out of those around us when we all heard the news of Iota. Throughout the day, seeing the destruction, one still had hope that now the most challenging part was over, and now it was time to come alongside the other believers and help them back on their feet. It was, however, knowing that another hurricane was coming that made the next few days difficult. Those that lost everything had to find shelter in less than a week before the next storm hit.

Iota was worse than the Eta; more rain and wind hit the coast and flooded San Pedro Sula’s southern part. For those that have been to the airport, there were ten feet of water in the building. The whole area where the airport is was underwater again. This time the military went in and forced everyone out of the area and to higher ground. In both storms, the early warning work by the Redcross and the US military saved thousands of lives.

The one thing that stuck in my mind through all of this was the sermon I heard from John MacArthur on worrying from Matthew 6. In short, believers have nothing to worry about because the Lord will take care of them. From the beginning of the year, the Lord has protected us from COVID, and now in the last two weeks, being hit by two major hurricanes, I see God’s Words in Matthew happening in front of my eyes. The believers that I know in the affected areas have been protected. Some lost everything, and others have lost family members, but through it, they are relying on Christ, and He has protected His children through these two major hurricanes.

We are still receiving a donation to help those in need. If you would like to donate, click the link below.