HURRICANE IRMA

Many are keeping an eye on the current updates regarding HURRICANE IRMA. John and Velvet are currently in the States and are also watching, praying prayers of protection for friends and students. 

Yes, Irma is expected to affect many in the Caribbean including the Dominican Republic.  

We are thinking of all in the path of Irma, but especially of our friends we call family in the Dominican Republic. While those in the US have an option to evacuate, we know that you on the islands do not have this choice. Our prayers are going up for your protection and provision, as you prepare and plan out safety measures.  It is expected that the northern part of the Dominican Republic will be affected late tonight (Thursday) by Irma, bringing much rain and wind to the region.   

Work is in the process on a foundation today for a classroom addition at one of the local Haitian churches.  The missions team members are hoping cement trucks will make it out today. If not, the footers that have been dug and prepared, will be flooded with dirt and mud. The trucks may not come as drivers have received orders that they need to finish early and find shelter for their trucks and equipment. Schools will close today.Teachers, workers, and students are all with family making preparation for the impending storm conditions.  This storm will greatly affect many of the Haitian student's families since the parents work in the fields, on construction or road crews, have private goods/produce stands along the roadways and thoroughfares.

Mission team volunteers serving and living in La Vega, have made decisions to spend the next couple of days in concrete structures. Most of the volunteers live in masonry homes with concrete roofs. 

Many of the churches in the Dominican Republic are on prayer alert!