The province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic was flooded when Hurricane Isaías passed through on the morning of 31 July. Iglesia del Nazareno Betel in Hato Mayor moved quickly to provide a place to sleep and food for those affected.

Although the residents were prepared for the arrival of the hurricane, the floods took them by surprise while they slept. Roughly 750 families were impacted, and many houses were almost entirely submerged in water. Many families needed immediate evacuation, and most of them lost all their belongings.

Iglesia del Nazareno Betel opened its doors that morning to house those in need. That same morning, as the waters receded, a team coordinated by Pastor Hilda Félix walked around to look into the families' specific needs. The group organized itself to begin distributing hot lunches and water to the families that same day.

“I want to tell you that today more than ever I value my church, my people, my leaders, and my pastors, who are so special and so generous,” Félix said. “I am extremely grateful, and I thank God for being part of this family that is the Church of the Nazarene.”

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries of the East District, coordinated by Ana Franzuá, immediately sent an offering to continue the response and mobilized district churches to collect needed items, includnig food, water, clothing, shoes, masks, and even an offering that was used to buy a stove and gas tank for one of the families.

“I have no words to thank the help that they have given me in this difficult time for these people who have lost everything,” Félix said. “My heart is touched and grateful for the help and support you have given me as a district.”

--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region