Just wanted to update you on a situation that has arisen here on the north coast of Honduras. Although there has been much rain and flooding in the interior of Honduras for the last 2 weeks associated with Tropical storm 16, up until last night our area hadn't experienced much of a problem. We've had rain almost everyday, but nothing like the interior. Well, all of that changed last night. The rain started around 7 pm, and it rained heavily and steadily with lots of wind all night long and all day today. The result has been lots of flooding, washed out roads and bridges, and widespread power outages. The town of Balfate was under water for most of the day, with many homes overwhelmed by the flood, including the homes of 2 of our own missionary families. Two bridges along the road on our route to the city have been washed out, leaving 30 foot gaps between where the road ends and the concrete bridge begins. In the other direction, the rivers are not crossable, so we'll be cut off for awhile. Probably the worst of it for us is that around 300 feet of power lines were washed out near the rivers along with the bridges. This means we may be without power for up to a week until crews can get out here and fix the bridges, then the power lines. This afternoon, with a little break in the rain, we've been able to get back online temporarily with our satellite internet connection which is allowing us communication with you. We're using what's left of the daylight to move freezers and refrigerators to the hospital where we have a large diesel generator which has about 500 gallons of fuel in in, enough to last for quite awhile (it runs about an hour per gallon of fuel). That will help to preserve our perishable food supply. We're also working to clean up some of the destruction in Balfate before the sun sets (between 5 and 5:30 pm) and the rains start again. Rain is predicted to continue for the next several days, so please pray for the storm to divert and go back out to sea, and that we'll be able to get crews out quickly to repair the bridges and restore power. Also, we only have 2 inpatients right now, but one is a pregnant woman having complications. Her hematocrit is dropping and she needs to get to the big hospital in the city for more advanced medical care. We're doing what we can for her, but she needs your prayers.
The reports here in Honduras are saying that the flooding and destruction from this tropical storm has been even worse than that caused by Hurricane Mitch, several years back. Some of our friends who live in the mountains in the interior of the country have attested to the widespread destruction, sense of loss, and hopelessness. At least 5 more days of rain are predicted in those areas as well, so please pray!
Thanks so much for holding our community and all of Honduras up in prayer with us during this crisis.
Margo, for all of us
