AN EARTHQUAKE - A FALLEN TREE BLOCKS THE ROAD - WHAT ELSE?

AN EARTHQUAKE - A FALLEN TREE BLOCKS THE ROAD - WHAT ELSE?

Don’t know when this will get sent out. We have had quite an adventure. I felt a tremor when we were in Peru last time. But it was NOTHING like this. The house was literally shaking back and forth. The creaking was tremendous. We could hear stuff falling. As soon as it quit, I told the kids to get clothes on because if there were more tremors we needed to go out to the street. That is where they say the safest place is – at least in Peru. BUT, the wires that are all along each side of the street and crossing the street would certainly NOT make the street a safe place.

I started praying. Katie and Stacie were clinging to each other praying. Lindsay woke up after that and thought we were shaking her air mattress to wake her up but heard us all praying. Don’t know for sure how long it lasted – it can seem like an awfully long time. Our Interpreter said it lasted somewhere between 3-5 minutes. I have no idea – it was plenty long, I know that. There were some broken things that fell off shelves but there was a decanter above the stove about 6 ½ feet high. It fell off, the top was by the stove and the decanter was across the room standing upright. Some of the screens were jarred from their frames.

We went out on the porch and everyone was gathering in the street. We had heard a loud pop and the lights all went out. It wasn’t long before the lights around us came on but our block – both sides had no lights. No one called about us and I finally told the kids to call our driver, who is the brother in law of Alfredo and tell them we had no lights or water.

At that point, they came over. It is an odd feeling to be somewhere and no one checking on you. The water is all in a cistern so without electricity there is no way to pump it. We didn’t have a bucket, so he went back to his house to get one so we could have water in the house to flush the toilets and wash hand. Actually, I was the first one up this morning and I took a quick “bucket shower.”

They had already seen the news and said it was a 7.1 and they thought there was a tsunami on Roatan, which is a tourist Island off the coast, but we are figuring it was only the earthquake. As best we can tell, it was centered about 90 miles north of us. Our info is pretty limited as by the time we could get to the Internet place it was almost closing time so we didn’t have time to check the news.

I couldn’t go to sleep last night so had probably only been asleep 20 minutes or so when it happened. Our interpreter said he was still up as he was studying for exams and his dog kept pacing and crying before it happened. Apparently, on the news they were telling about parrots that were screeching and such. While we were sitting on the porch afterwards, we could hear the birds chirping and the roosters crowing.

We went back to bed between 2:30 and 3:00. Alfredo called at four from the States to check on us. Cody is “manning” the phone so he was awakened. Than the interpreter called before seven to say that all schools were cancelled so we didn’t have ministry today. By then, it was getting pretty warm in the house so the kids were getting up one by one so we could “sweat it out” together.

Alfredo had said this was a “safe” neighborhood. Yesterday while we were at the Mall to eat, a drug bust took place about a block and a half from here. Two people were killed and the story is they had a 100 shots in each body—I said it was a story, not sure what the truth is, except two men did die. It was all blocked off and there was a huge crowd gathered. We had to detour to get home.

We have been wanting to see Honduras. No one seems to know what to show us and have suggested places you pay to see like an animal preserve or a water park. Today our driver took us in the Mall to show us a picture of someplace he could take us. It was PERFECT. We followed a river up the mountain. It was so beautiful. Jungle like. We didn’t go clear to the top but stopped nearly at the top and hiked down to the river. It was 42 steps back up and some of them were a foot high or more – so it was a trek. I got my feet in the water but didn’t brave walking across it because my 63 year old feet are too tender. The kids walked across and waded in the water. Cody slipped and fell and our interpreter ended up wet as well. It was a delightful time and we saw some beautiful scenery. We may go back on Tuesday and go to the top. The driver’s wife is afraid of heights and didn’t really want to go any higher.

On the way back down, a huge tree had fallen across the road. Just minutes before we got there. David had some issues getting a picture he wanted and it slowed us down – thankfully, I do believe! We don’t know if the tree was weakened by the earthquake or what. But in about 25 minutes, with machetes the Hondurans had cleared a path wide enough for one vehicle. Dave got in on the action but our driver and interpreter stayed in the van. J

The past 24 hours have been quite an adventure.

I couldn’t be more proud of our LTI students. They have coped with everything and last night there was no screaming or panic. We know that was not the case in some of the Honduran homes. Also, today, when we thought we might have an extended period without electricity I heard no complaints.

Concerning ministry, Dave has preached 3 times and there has been about 20 people come forward for salvation as well as great response for prayer. Each time the student share in an orphanage or school they give a salvation appeal. Every time, there has been a response and one time they said about 200 kids raised their hands to receive Jesus.

The students were prepared for ministry for Youth and they have not had that opportunity – nor have they had any street evangelism – BUT they were prepared and had prepared well. We are thankful for the many other opportunities that they have had and that the trip has been fruitful.

We tried to get to an Internet. First, at ten this morning but they didn’t have electricity. Then we went to the Mall and they said something about the tower being down. Not sure what that was all about but we had wanted to let everyone know we were fine but it was beyond our control.

Pastor Marilyn

The kids are going to add their perspective - so read on.

Okay, so let me just say the day has started off VERY differently than expected. I was woken up by my bed shaking, Katie squeezing me and saying “Stacie!” The next thing I remember is all of us girl praying out loud, “In the name of Jesus” and me praying in tongues; it felt like it lasted forever. Then Lindsay little head pops up wondering what was going on. She had woken up in a little after the house started shaking. It was very scary but all of us responded the right way I believe. After the earthquake stopped, we all got dressed and headed outside on the porch just in case there was an after shock. We didn’t have power or water. After an hour past by we decided to head back to bed. Surprisingly, I fell asleep right away. When we all woke up and got ready for the day, the power and water had finally come back on. Praise the Lord! Ramone came to pick us up and take us to get some food and some much needed air conditioning. After our bellies were full, we went and saw the famous Laceiba tree and took some pictures. Then we had to stop at the gas station to fill up and use the el banos; we were headed to the mountains to see a different part of Honduras. The drive up the mountain was gorgeous and I could not get over the scenery and that this was part of Honduras! When we finally arrived at one of the bridges, we got out and took some beautiful pictures. We couldn’t get over the view. After the batteries on my camera and Katies as well, we headed back to the van. Ramone asked one of the locals if we could walk down to the river and take some pictures. The walk down there was VERY steep and it was a much needed workout. All of us had so much fun walking through the river and walking around barefoot. Pana, one of our interpreters was with us all day and was walking around in the river with us. I cannot wait for ya’ll to see the beautiful pictures; words cannot describe it. Oh and one of the best parts was being able to see a waterfall. After being in the river and playing around for some time, we headed back to the van all hot and sweaty. As we were driving down the mountain, we came to a hault. There was a huge tree blocking the entire dirt road. So the guys got out and started helping the people chop the tree up with their machetes. They were very fast and we finally got through. Let me just say that it turned out to be an interesting day.

Stacie

Well this morning I woke up around 1:25 or so to Katie and Pastor Marilyn chanting and the room shaking... Of course once I was fully awake I realized that they were praying “in the name of Jesus peace be still.” When I woke up my bed was shaking and I didn’t know we were in an earthquake and I thought I had slept too late and that they were trying to wake me up to leave. When it stopped we walked out to look around and found out that we didn’t have electricity or water which that always makes things entertaining. I walked out there for a few and then I went back to bed around 1:45am. I think I woke back up around 9 something and we found out that we still had no water and electricity and that we didn’t have to go teach at the school because all the schools were closed. Then we went to the mall and traveled around Honduras. I had to chase my flip flop down the river and I had a chance to get over my fear of heights (not fun). All in all it was a fun day.

Lindsay

So it has been along day! Starting at 1:20 this morning I woke up to a shaking house! There was a earthquake going on. Dr. D and I where boom woke and up flew out of bed and were standing in the middle of the room. It lasted for a few seconds. People were going crazy outside everyone was up dogs, chickens, dogs barking it was loud. I sat outside for a little bit finally went back to bed at 2:30 although didn’t go sleep haha. Phone rang at 4:00 A.m and it was Pastor Alfredo wondering if we where doing okay. So between the everyone outside being loud and the phone ringing I couldn’t go to sleep at all. Finally got to sleep a little bit and then the phone rang again and it was Pana our interpreter wondering what we were going to do today. The schools where closed everything so we couldn’t do what we had planed. We finally had a plan to go out and get some lunch and get try to internet. We left the house about 10:30 and we went to the mall and I had some Honduran food steak Kabobs is what it was it was very good. We hung out at the mall till about 1:00. After we left there we had to stop for gas fill up the van. Then we started heading to were Romon was taking us up the mountain and near the river. It was so Gorgeous he ask this guy if we can go on in land and he let us. Me and Pana walked down and into the river took off my shoes and went in it wasn’t deep at all. We were walking and there was this deeper part and I decided to step on this rock and it was slippery haha so guess what happen I fell in it was real funny I was laughing! Well after we left and started heading back what else could possibly happen? Well I’ll tell ya a tree fell on the side of the mountain and blocked the road! Praise it didn’t happen when we where going under it. And that Dr. D was taking a lot of pictures because it happen minutes before we got there. It was interesting! There was a lot of cars wanting to go through. There was guys cutting them down with machetes they were going real fast thinking we were going to sit there hours we didn’t Thank God! Today was a very long, fun and Interesting day. And we end it with a night at PIZZA HUT!

Cody

So.....we survived this crazy earthquake!! Stacie and I were awakened by the shaking of the house and the minute we felt the house shaking we both woke up and because it was so convenient that we are sleeping in the same bed we embraced each other and because we are so spiritual unlike the men, we started praying and stayed pretty calm until it stopped! I’ve never felt anything like it in my life!! Although it was very hot in the house, because of the power outage, we decided to go back to sleep! We woke up in the morning still with no air or water but and 10:00 we got power and water!!! whooooo Being that the schools were closed and we were supposed to go and minister we ended up having a free day! Our driver Ramon(pastor Alfredo’s brother in-law) took us to the mall and then he decided to drive us up this mountain that overlooked a beautiful river and waterfall!! What a drive...it was gorgeous! We took a ton of pictures and saw a bunch of pretty scenery! Thank goodness Dr. D’s camera holds like a gazillion pictures because me and Stacie’s camera’s both died:( We got to go down and walk in the river and walk through these huge rocks!! As we were on our way driving down the mountain we approached a pretty big opstacle(a tree that blocked the road) it was only a matter of about 20 minutes that we had to wait for the men and some others chop down this tree to make way for us to go through! What an adventurous day! It really was!! Now I’m sitting at Pizza Hut(which I think has made me sick a few times, but it’s ok,I like the salad bar) writing you all this blog and everyone is waiting on me because I’m a really slow typer....Peace out to all my lovely readers!!!

Katie