Following Hurricanes Ian and Julia, Brother Rick Nelson has traveled from Wisconsin to Honduras to assist with hurricane relief efforts. Below you will find updates and photos from his trip. Hurricane Lisa has also affected the area since his arrival in Honduras.
Monday, October 31st, Update
Rick arrived in Progreso on Saturday afternoon and is managing plans for the arrival of donated containers of food from Feed the Hungry to La Mosquitia amidst delays due to issues with the Honduran government and Navy. Training for Feed the Hungry food preparation is also being arranged, as well as workshops on budget preparation and grant writing (as follow-up from the recent BWM Moravian Resources Conference in Panama).
In addition to the partnership with Feed the Hungry, Habitat for Humanity has expressed interest in working on home repairs and Mission Aviation Fellowship and Mission Aviation Group have expressed that they may be able to help with air transportation of relief supplies.
According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical depression in the Eastern Caribbean will probably develop into a storm and then a Hurricane by the middle of this week. Current projections have the storm moving parallel to Honduras’ North coast in a westerly/north westerly direction. If it turns south and if it develops into a hurricane, all of the plans for food distribution, training, etc., will need to be reconsidered. Please pray for the people of Honduras and Nicaragua so that if the fourth hurricane in two years does strike them, the damages will be limited.
Friday, November 4th Photos
Feed the Hungry workers unloading the container after it cleared customs.
The effects of Hurricane Lisa in La Ceiba
President Angel Yoperel and Administrative Assistant Delaida Pravia discussing disaster response.
Feed the Hungry workers loading donated food to be delivered to the Honduran Navy for shipment to La Mosquitia.
Feed the Hungry workers loading donated food to be delivered to the Honduran Navy for shipment to La Mosquitia.
Saturday, November 5th Photos
Sunrise over the Caratasca Lagoon on the way to Kruta and Tikiuraya.
School in Kruta originally built by Sturgeon Bay Moravians, recently repaired
Typical scene in Kruta with two water tanks originally installed by Sturgeon Bay Moravians.
The entrance to the village of Kruta, still muddy from the heavy rains and flooding.
Community leaders in Tikiuraya talking to Angel Yoperel, Henry Pravia and Rick Nelson about floods and needs.
Henry Pravia in front and Angel Yoperel in Tikiuraya with community leaders.
Wednesday, November 9th Update
The waters have receded and people are suffering from lack of food and absence of seeds to plant in December. Rick has spent time in meetings with provincial presidents and community leaders to discuss relief efforts. Feed the Hungry personnel have provided trainings on how to prepare the donated food. The food is scheduled to arrive tonight and they hope to have the same twenty people who were trained on food preparation unload the food shipment starting around 8:00am tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 9th Photos
Reverend Félix Martínez as they get ready to cross the Caratasca Lagoon on the way to visits on the Patuca River.
The newly remodeled and still under construction provincial president’s house (Mission Province) in Ahuas.
House in Brans where Moravians have helped with home building/repair over the last two years.
Meeting in Brans with Morlin Pérez (President of the Mission Province), local pastor Vesparciano Córdoba Cueva, and Evenor Manzanares.
Village leaders and pastor’s family in Pimienta discussing flood and food problems.
Mud where there used to be a rice field at the Pimienta congregation’s plantation.
Village leaders and pastor in Wampusirpi discussing food and flood.
Ahuas Kingka, getting ready for the 7-hour boat ride across the Caratasca Lagoon.
