Last week at the same time we were meeting with the other missionaries in our area making plans to coordinate reconstruction efforts in our communities we were also preparing for the arrival of a second major hurricane.
Two weeks ago Eta brought severe flooding, landslides and infrastructure damage across Honduras, most severely in the northern section of the country. As I write this update the wind and rain is increasing in La Campa as Iota is making its way across Nicaragua and Honduras bringing more of the same. It is yet to be determined how devastating the one-two punch of Eta and Iota will ultimately be but we will know soon enough.
Although the magnitude of the relief efforts needed in our area is much less compared to the San Pedro Sula area there are 40 families in and around the La Campa and Gracias areas who are homeless; either because they lost their homes completely, or their homes are uninhabitable due to the winds and/or river flooding brought by Eta. We are hoping and praying that no more families are added to this list as a result of Iota passing through this week.
When hurricane Mitch hit Honduras in 1998 there were families who lived in temporary shelters for as long as a year or more in some parts of Honduras and we do not want to see that happen in our area. It is true that the humanitarian crisis is much greater in other parts of Honduras and thankfully lots of resources are flowing there. But to these 40 families their crisis is no less and we believe that God has put us, and all of the other missionaries in this region, here for the purpose to love and care for them, to help them rebuild.
Through the incredible outpouring of generosity this year FHD Honduras still has resources to continue providing food bags to those who are hungry whether due to the economic crisis brought on by the Covid19 lock down or the hurricanes. What neither FHD Honduras nor the other missionaries have on hand is sufficient funds for a large reconstruction effort brought on by the arrival of back to back category 4 hurricanes.
After reviewing several of the reconstruction projects it has been determined that it will cost about $1,000 per family to get them back into their homes. In addition to purchasing the construction materials FHD Honduras will be hiring and supervising a crew of 6-8 men from La Campa to do the work.
By being united and coordinating our efforts with the other missionaries and ministries in this area we can work effectively and efficiently, and we can share the burden of fundraising as $40,000 is not easy for any one of our ministries to find. Would you consider making a donation, or launching a fund raising effort within your church, Sunday school class, small group, your office coworkers or any other way you can think of, to help us raise funds for these families? Would you share this blog post with as many people as possible to help get the word out?
All donations made to FHD Honduras are tax deductible and can be made online here. Every $1,000 raised helps a family put their lives back together and provides income for 6-8 construction workers and their families. We are hoping to have enough funds to begin ordering materials and start reconstruction next week after Iota departs. Please contact us by using our online form or by email to greghines@fhdhonduras.org or jeanhines@fhdhonduras.org
Thank you all so much for praying for us and Honduras during this unprecedented time of multiple crises.