Hurricane Felix wreaks havoc in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua
Hurricane Felix, a Category-5 storm, made
landfall on the coast of Nicaragua in the early morning hours of September 4. Hundreds of homes
were destroyed and nearly two dozen lives lost as the city of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua sustained
up to 160 miles-per-hour winds.
 Nicaragua Central District Superintendent Daniel Acosta and Mexico
and Central America (MAC) South Evangelism Coordinator David Webb have been in the area since
Monday. They report the church in Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas was completely destroyed by the storm.
The church’s pastor also suffered significant damage to his home and currently has no place to
live.
Eliezel Soto said, “To see at one time how insignificant we are
in the face of the power of God’s creation fills me with humility, but at the same time, to see
the power of God as He protects and cares for us is something that fills me with joy and love for
Him.”
Acosta and Webb report that due to the continuing rains and rising
water, it is difficult to travel anywhere. Many homes have lost their roofs. Local news in the
area reports up to 5,000 people were affected.
The Puerto Cabezas area has approximately 60,000 residents and 12,000
homes. New reports state as many as 21 have died.
There is no electricity and no drinkable water. Streets are blocked
with debris and flooding remains a concern. Reports state Nicaragua's government declared the
northern Caribbean region a disaster area.
 Also, close to 20,000 people in Honduras were evacuated before the
storm, including hundreds of residents of Tegucigalpa, whose mountainous location puts the city
at risk from landslides. This area lost 9,000 people in 1998 as a result of Hurricane Mitch.
On Wednesday morning, authorities already reported 123 damaged homes
and 10 landslides in this area.
Felix's devastation comes on the heels of Hurricane Dean, which destroyed
or damaged a dozen Nazarene churches on both the Caribbean and MAC regions in late August. As many
as 13 people were killed as a result of Dean.
According to the AFP, Felix and Dean marked the first time on record
that two Atlantic hurricanes hit land at the highest category in the same year. Dean hit Mexico's
Yucatan Peninsula as a Category-5.
World Mission Director Dr. Louie E. Bustle said, “As the church faces
yet another natural disaster this month, we ask that you continue to pray for all who have suffered
loss of life, health, and property. Pray for the most recent victims due to Hurricane Felix and
that God would call the church together to respond.”
—NCN News-MAC
Persons and churches wishing to make a donation can mark their checks “MAC Hurricane Relief – ACM1250” and mail them to Global Treasury Services, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 06, 2007
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- and mail to:
Church of the Nazarene Canada
20 Regan Road, Unit 9
Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3
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will receive 10% Mission Special credit if the local church is identified.
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