When we arrived in Puerto Cabezas, we were met by the students who had been coordinating the relief efforts provided by funds raised by supporters. Throughout the four days we met with the team members for several hours each day for a total of well over 12 hours. We also had an opportunity to visit some of the affected areas. I’ll report briefly now, in anticipation of a full newsletter at the end of the trip. Here is an outline of some highlights:
We visited 8 communities in the “plains” around Puerto Cabezas. There we heard reports of
o 6 hours at the “heart” of the storm on September 3, to which are added 12 hours of heavy rains after and before
o Many injuries from fallen trees and flying debris (including sheets of zinc that whirled through the air like helicopter blades)
o Houses damaged, mostly the roofs blown off
o Community buildings (churches, schools, etc) with heavy damage
o Animals (including cattle!) carried away from the villages by the winds. Wild animals from the jungles coming into the villages to look for food
o Wells were contaminated. The relief team made up of MINTS students purchased three pumps and other supplies to do a “well-cleaning” and training the residents in continual water treatment maintenance
o Crops destroyed. No likelihood of harvest for at least one harvest season, possibly more
We visited one of 13 communities along the northern coastal region. We went to Dákura by motor boat along the shore line about 1 ½ hours north of Puerto Cabezas. There we found all of the above but in extremes:
o Dákura had 400 houses, literally all of which were completely destroyed. The residents have used fallen trees and limbs to make makeshift shelters and have been provided plastic by various government related agencies to cover the roofs. But the heavy November winds will undoubtedly blow those “tarps” away in several weeks.
o The school and three churches completely destroyed.
o Thirteen people were killed in this community alone, 8 of which were family members of one of the MINTS students who is a pastor. He was in Dákura at the time of the hurricane and buried his family members before returning to Puerto Cabezas.
o They are about 500 metres from the ocean. Waves and water came through the village as high as the neck, washing away everything in sight.
o Many Bibles, books were damaged and/or washed away as well as their clothes.
o Some have started rebuilding their homes with whatever materials they could find. It was encouraging to see the initiative some were taking. Others are very depressed and have no idea how to proceed from here.
o The soil has been contaminated by the salt water that came in from the ocean during the hurricane.
Bernie and I had an opportunity to visit two churches on Sunday. I was asked to preach. One of the churches was an “open air” preaching service on the cement floor of what was once a church building. All that was left of that church was a simple pulpit and some wooden benches. It was an evening service, and there was no electricity during the first half of the service for lights. I used a flashlight to read the scriptures and follow my notes as good as I possibly could.
The highlight of the trip was the final meeting in which the team members of the relief project formally became a board of directors for a newly organized local relief organization under the supervision of the MINTS Study Centre which is part of the Assembly of Christian Churches. Formal contracts were signed. One of the students was asked to serve as a full time director of the newly formed agency.
Please pray for further plans and for the need for funding to provide relief in the projects that will be administered by this newly formed committee made up of MINTS students and funded and administered by Word and Deed.
The next issue of the Word & Deed magazine will have a full report. Page down from this post to see other updates on Hurricane Felix Relief work (including pictures and introductions to the team on the ground in Nicaragua).
Rev. Eric Pennings
