About three weeks later, we received all our goods! Milcah had kept in touch with a couple of her friends here who had endured the hurricane and knew of friends who were in need. So, we arranged to get the pallets. We went in four vehicles and packed them up. There was much rejoicing as everything was being unpacked. Since stores were closed for food and medicine, even medications were sent to us. We set aside items to be distributed as well as kept those marked for ‘Mami & Papi.’ That same day we handed out groceries to several families in my mom’s community, and in the next two days, to people in our neighborhood.
Our own town major, who immediately after the storm reported over the radio wave that she had visited our town and that everything was fine and that everyone was accounted for, did not distribute one single bottle of water or food by our cabin until exactly two months later! On several occasions, my wife and I bought groceries with our own money and continued to donate to all twelve families in our community until the end of December.
Meanwhile, in my mother’s neighborhood, the small church that had planned on providing meals to everyone for a week, was given (by us) one fifty lb. sack of rice that the kids had sent from Fl. and since other people also gave them money, they were able to operate for an entire month!
A nearby bakery would open daily from 6 a.m.-noon or until the gas ran out on their generator. I’d go every other morning and buy 8-12 lbs. of locally freshly baked bread (Pan Sobao & Pan de Agua) and distribute them to our neighbors. We became known as “FEMA” to them, because we were present several times a week and actually gave them food, whereas it would be months before the agency would go around. Knowing life was hard, we felt our neighbors faced a difficult time in the mountains where devastation was plentiful and help was nil. So, we decided to help out as best we could.
Since there were still lots of people that could not have hot meals, my wife and two coworkers began to make their own “Stone Soup!” From food items we received, and those of others, they’d each bring items to create meals for their friends. With their potluck meals, several co-workers that had no electricity and couldn’t use their electric stoves, were now able to eat. It was so funny, that when I shared this info with a friend in Fl. whom I haven’t seen in 43 years, she quickly wrote, “My mom and I love all types of soup, please have Vivian send me the recipe for Stone Soup.” So, we did! We found the story online and sent it! We all had a good laugh!
Feeling overwhelmed and saddened by the fact that we couldn’t return home to stay, the kind act of sending us help by hundreds of caring individuals, restored hope in us. It motivated us to also ‘pass it on.’ In the end, we’re reminded in Proverbs 22:9, “He who has a bountiful eye, shall be blessed: for he gives of his bread to the poor.”
