October 31

Hi everyone. Last time, our youngest son posted for us since we had very limited internet service. That is still true but things are slowly improving. Yesterday, we got our water back, after forty days but still no lights. Projections by the governor are lights by Christmas time. Those working for the electrical company suggest February. Just noting the progress, I suspect February is more realistic. The devastation caused by Hurricane Maria was massive, especially in the mountains and on the northwest side of the island. Every part of the island insists they were the most affected. Who really knows? I have however, traveled to San Juan and to the southwest side of the island and I know where we live, the northwest, seems to have had greater destruction. As the case may be, many thousands of homes were affected. Tens of thousands of light poles are down: 80% of the island is still without lights and 25% still without water. Never in the history of the USA and its possessions has a blackout been has large and severe as that left by Hurricane Maria..at least that is the statistic presented by weather.com.

Forty percent of the small businesses may not reopen. According to today's tabulations, 90,000 people have moved to the States since the hurricane. Jobs have been lost in all sectors of the economy, thus the exodus. Our church has seen a few leave since the hurricane.

Looking a little further back, the last eighteen months have been very difficult for the church. At least twenty-five have moved to the States. That is a fourth of the congregation. I have talked with other church leaders and they indicate their congregations have also suffered attendance drops. The hurricane has also exacerbated the attendance situation. People seem to be out of focus, angry, short tempered and anxious. Someone said, kind of like a post traumatic stress syndrome. Nevertheless, I did see a change in attitudes last Sunday. People are getting their second wind and determined to move forward with their lives and their church. Things will turn around.

We have been assessing how to help people. Where do we start, how do we help with the funds available? Individually, many of our people have given food, water, money and clothing to people in need. The church has been able to buy some external doors for two of the church families. With the help of Chad and Chandi Mayes we have given water filters to people who did not have clean drinking water. Furthermore, this Thursday some of the church leaders will take a trip to the mountains to distribute water filters via a Methodist church contact. The situation is very difficult for the mountain towns. We are also planning a morning of clothing distribution in two weeks. Also, church members are identifying people they know that need help. Through the generosity of several people and a few churches in the States, we will be able to buy some appliances and building supplies for some who lost so much.

In closing, I must apologize for the lack of photos. Apparently the internet bandwidth is very limited and it is very hard to upload photos. Perhaps next time. I will stop here. Blessings to all.