Churches support response in Nicaragua after two Cat 4 hurricanes

Reporter: Nicole Gabe
Published: Updated:
Rescuers navigate a flooded road in a boat after the passing of Hurricane Iota in La Lima, Honduras, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. Iota flooded stretches of Honduras still underwater from Hurricane Eta, after it hit Nicaragua Monday evening as a Category 4 hurricane and weakened as it moved across Central America, dissipating over El Salvador early Wednesday. (AP Photo/Delmer Martinez)

Nicaragua is recovering from two Category 4 hurricanes in as many weeks, with Iota tearing through the area, making landfall late Monday.

The description of “devastation and destruction” doesn’t even begin to describe the scene.

Survivors are dealing with incredible flooding, destroyed homes, tragic loss, and little help.

Pastor Darwin Lopez has lived in Nicaragua for more than 60 years, but his ministry is connected to Southwest Florida.

Describing the situation, he says, “Only in shelters, there have been more than 63 thousand people located in shelters.”

Members of Grace Church in Cape Coral are financially supporting the pastor’s work.

Lopez said, “What I could describe is a situation of sadness, worry, anxiety and thinking, what can we do?”

This pastor’s message is simple; His people need help.

“We are talking not only about material needs but also about emotional needs,” he explained.

Eytan Miller feels that need all the way here in Fort Myers. He has family in St. Andres, a small Columbian Island.

“It’s about 60 to 65% destroyed,” he said. “Everyone that was on the lower side with the water is pretty much destroyed … It’s really sad. That’s my home and I love that place, and not being able to do anything about it and being here just having to watch just really hurts.”

Grace Church has created a special fund to help the people in Central America. Catholic Relief Services is also there.

HOW TO HELP

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.