Thomas

This past weekend hurricane Thomas passed over Hispaniola causing flooding in Haiti and in the Dominican Republic. The first rains started at the beginning of the week and slowly increased as the week went on. By Friday, schools had canceled classes and the rains were coming down quite steadily. The rains continued throughout the weekend, and even this past Sunday it was still raining.

The flooding in Haiti has increased the fear that the cholera will spread. Health officials hope to keep the cholera epidemic from spreading to this side of the island, but with the flooding caused by the hurricane, the fear has increased that the original source of the cholera bacteria will now be swept over much greater areas of Haiti. There have been some reported cases in Port au Prince, but the greatest fear is that it will get into the "tent cities" and cause many more deaths. There have not been any confirmed cases of cholera in the DR so far. Now, the debate has become: can cholera be kept out of the DR - or if it is just a matter of time?

In an effort to keep the cholera from entering the DR, the border has been closed for the past week. Even "healthy" people are not allowed to cross since a person can carry the bacteria for up to a week without showing symptoms of the disease. There has been no word as to when the border might be re-opened.

photos from Listin Diario

Rainy Sundays

Most of us are accustomed to going to church and sitting in a quiet sanctuary, enjoying the beautiful stained-glass windows, maybe listening to the organist play inspiring pre-service music.

When you go to other countries, things can be quite different. In the Dominican Republic we usually have to contend with loud motorcycles going by, trucks loaded with speakers blaring music or political ads passing by, or as happened recently - rain! Here is a video of the pastor of the Pueblo Nuevo congregation attempting to preach over the sound of the pouring rain falling on the tin roof.

Tattered Tents

How long would you live in a tent? It has been five months since the earthquake and the majority of the victims are still living in tents. But tents are not designed for long-term living. After months of the hot sun beating down on them, now heavy rains and high winds are deteriorating the tents.

The population is becoming restless. This past week shots were fired toward the house where President Preval has been living since the tragedy.

And while the people are trying to keep dry from the rains and hope to dry out their soggy mattress before the next rain comes, the leaders of the international community met at the Moon Palace tourist center, a five-star resort in Punta Cana, DR to decide how to help Haiti.

(Photo from El Caribe newspaper)

Hanna and Ike updates

The following reports were copied from www.dr1.com:

The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) has lifted the Tropical Storm watch for the DR, explaining that tropical storm Hanna is no longer a threat. According to COE director Colonel Juan Manuel Mendez Garcia, Hanna isolated 51 communities, caused the evacuation of 10,745, damaged 2,149 homes and destroyed 4 bridges and damaged two main roads. The government has set aside RD$300 million to assist victims of Hanna. The Presidency's Social Plan will also distribute 884,000 pounds of food throughout the country. Hanna caused the most damage in Monte Cristi, Dajabon, Azua, San Pedro and San Jose de Ocoa.

COE officials have also called for the mandatory evacuation of families located near the Sabaneta Dam in San Juan de la Maguana. Monte Cristi Civil Defense regional director Maximo Ventura explained that 1,1090 families in that region have been evacuated.

Authorities are now monitoring Hurricane Ike that is expected to bring rains. National Meteorological Office director Gloria Ceballos explained that by Saturday Ike is expected to be near the DR's north coast, but sufficiently north to not cause major damage. However, close monitoring of the storm is cautioned. Officials are also keeping their eye on Tropical Storm Josephine, which has formed off the coast of Africa and is headed towards the Caribbean. It is too early to tell the path that Josephine will take.

To follow seasonal storms, see http://www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/...

Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your concern.
The Lord bless you with his peace,
NW

OK after Fay

The Dominican Republic has been in the news lately in the states due to a minor earthquake (tremor) and Tropical Storm Fay. Thank you to everyone who has called or sent emails asking how we are doing. We thank the Lord for your concern!!!

I can say that -- by God's grace -- we are all OK. Some of us (including me) didn't even notice the tremor last week. Tropical Storm Fay brought heavy, heavy rains and strong wind gusts, but none of our members were negatively affected. At least, not to my knowledge.

We were actually thankful for the rains because it has been quite dry here lately. The water authorities were starting to ration water service. And that, together with longer blackouts of electricity than normal, was causing greater tension and stress in certain communities. The rains from Fay helped alleviate that a little.

We keep Haiti, Cuba and the southeastern US in our prayers as they also were/are in Fay's path. May the Lord keep all in his caring and protecting hands.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,

NW

Advent in the DR

Two quick side notes:
(1) Please continue to be patient waiting for my promised update on the church robbery in Santiago. Thanks :-)
(2) For those who stay on top of international weather, thank you for your prayers as subtropical storm Olga passes our island. We expect heavy rains and some wind for the next 24 hours, and government emergency response teams are ready -- especially in low lying areas -- but we don't expect any major damage. We are in the Lord's hands.

Now, a few quick pictures of our church this Advent season:

• The altar of our church in Santiago

• Bulletin board in Santiago church (Isaiah 9:6)
  

• Seminarian Freddy practicing on the keyboard

The Lord bless you with His peace,
NW

Tropical Storm Noel update, #18

According to the Center for Emergency Operations (COE) 18th bulletin: 137 communities are still isolated, 85 people are dead and 48 are still missing. A total of 47 bridges and roads have been affected, although seven temporary routes have been opened. The bulletin indicates that 34% of the 110 aqueduct systems have been restored and 133 shelters are still housing 26,491 evacuees. In all 4,406 people were rescued according to the report and 66,608 people have been displaced. (Cited from www.dr1.com, 06 November 2007.)

We continue to thank the LORD for his protection during this storm that pretty much took the whole country by surprise. It developed so close to the island that by the time weather forecasters realized how large the storm was becoming, they had to scramble to get the word out. Plus it was Sunday (28 Oct), the day most Dominicans do their weekly shopping and household chores, so few people were listening to the radio or watching TV to hear the warnings. The storm dropped so much rain that the majority of the deaths and damage were from flash floods in low areas that caught everyone off guard.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). Knowing and trusting in the Gospel, which is God's wisdom in Christ, makes us ready so that we are *not* taken by surprise on our last day - whenever that may be.

The Lord bless you with His peace,
NW

Tropical Storm Noel

This past week Tropical Storm Noel passed directly over the Dominican Republic. It began to rain on Friday afternoon and has continued for the past 5 days. Meteorologist reports predict we may still receive more rain today and tomorrow.

This quantity of rain has taken quite a toll on the island. Bridges have been washed out and rivers are overflowing. In the capital city of Santo Domingo, the streets have become waterlogged since the underground aqueducts are overflowing and spewing the water back up onto the streets. Many homes have been washed away with mudslides. The heavy rains caused a nationwide blackout on Sunday. All flights out of Santo Domingo were cancelled Sunday. Rice, banana, onion, cassava, potato and tomato crops have been wiped out by the rains and mudslides.

In the midst of all the destruction and loss, we lift our eyes to our heavenly Father and give Him thanks for the safety of all our missionaries and members. He has watched over us and kept us safe, giving us strength and opportunity to help those who are in need.

A grateful thank you to all of you who have called and sent emails. We ask for your continued prayers as the whole country begins to recuperate.

(posted by Kathy Strackbein)