Storm ravages Mesoamerica communities
Hundreds of homes and communities have been seriously damaged or destroyed by torrential downpour that lead to overwhelming floods 8 October in El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The Church of the Nazarene is responding by providing food, water, clothing, and other supplies to those who have been displaced.
Nicaragua
During the storm, the people of Tipitapa were evacuated from their homes. The Church in Nuevo Horizonte provided food, medicine, and a place to sleep for 78 families — about 260 people — whose homes were affected. The church is also volunteering in other local communities by providing food and praying for victims.
Honduras
A group of doctors from the USA and Honduras was conducting a medical mission trip in the Balcanes community when the storm hit. They decided to visit the shelters to assess the needs of the victims. One of them served at the José Cecilio del Valle school, where more than 300 people are housed, including 60 children whose families are a part of the Church of the Nazarene.
The doctors shared the gospel while providing medical care for 236 people in the community, where nearly 90 people gave their lives to the Lord. Other local church members have been donating food to one of the 15 government shelters where approximately 7,000 people are temporarily housed.
El Salvador
The Church of the Nazarene in the East District sent volunteers to four communities that were seriously affected by the floods. They shared food and emergency supplies and currently are working to help in as many other ways as possible. Church members on the Central District are collecting food and clothing to share with victims of the storm. They are particularly concerned with ministering to the children of the affected families with whom they hope to share the gospel.
"Glory to God because the church is coming together to bring physical and spiritual help to those affected," said Dámaris Kellog, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries coordinator for the Mesoamerica North Central Field.