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We felt sorry for the cops having to work ten to twelve-hour shifts standing in the sun directing traffic. Their chiefs/captains wouldn’t bring them water or food.  What food and drinks they received was provided by passing motorists who would stop to hand them water bottles, burgers, and chicken, etc.  God was providing for their needs

The government received seven million dollars for those cops for their ‘beyond duty’ work, but the money ‘disappeared’ before anyone saw it. That caused all the cops to go on strike and not show up to work for several months. We agreed with their decision; however, that meant no one manning the traffic lights, or fighting crime, which of course, was on the rise.  Driving during this period of time was the worst ever.

As we contemplate on what befell us, we really did pull together.  For one thing, our spiritual lives suffered due to the loss of our church-rented site; our pastors went to the states for some months, listening to encouraging messages or music was impossible with only one radio station in operation and only sharing news updates, etc. We ended up reaching out to our ex-pastor’s wife, Donna, (from N.Y.) who now lives in Florida. She would send encouraging thoughts & prayers via email. We would read devotionals and try to encourage each other.

On the streets and in neighborhoods, people continued pooling together cleaning their trash, removing debris, and doing just about everything that the government and town majors wouldn’t touch with “a ten-foot pole.” This enabled us to see how a tiny mustard seed was sprouting into a huge tree. Working together showed us the bright side and victory over the devastation Satan thought to utterly cover us all with.

One incident that affected us greatly, occurred early one very dark morning.  While driving my wife to meet up with a coworker, we wound up literally rear-ending a huge, brown cow that suddenly appeared right in front of us!  Thankfully, we didn’t get hurt, but were shaken up.  It would be months before we could laugh at that incident.

Yes, the blanket of gloom was being lifted in town after town.   On April 7^th, we received our electricity!  Seven tough months had passed since the storms, and although it would be more than two additional months before we’d move back home, I was now able to wash clothing & dry them at home as well as see any damages that we couldn’t see before.

Bottom line: life for us had been intensely difficult staying at someone else’s home for a full nine months plus not having power at our home for 219 days, 10 hours.

As June drew to a close, Viv was able to start her summer vacation and we moved home for a week. We then headed to Florida to see our kids!

Although we still need new roofs on our home and two other out buildings, the storm was finally over after nine months.  We could now get back to our ‘normal’ lives…our longest winter, like fallen snow, was finally fading away.

And so, we pray, ‘Thank you, Lord, for holding us near Your heart all these months. We never would have made it without You and Your help’.

January 2018

“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily does beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

The new year would hold more blessings in disguise; unfortunately, trials too!

On one very dark morning I commented to my wife that the one light that was usually on near a food vendor, was out.  That was the only light in a three-mile stretch.  Three minutes after having said that, a mother who would accompany her daughter to school to keep her safe, was run-down.  Both were hit, but the mom died and the girl was in critical condition. I saw both bodies on the ground. So sad.

Maria continued to impact us; one of our dogs died and we lost our goat.  God has promised to be there for us and with us through the storms of life.

One of our dearest blessings and one that would bring us hope every week as well as keep us going, came in the form of pictures, videos, and phone calls. Whenever we would receive pictures of our granddaughter, Elianah, our lives were renewed. We anticipated going to Florida for the summer to see our kids and that was light at the end of the tunnel for us.

“Children’s children are the crown of old men…Proverbs 17:6.”

 

No more buckets of water to be emptied in our bedroom!

It was difficult to celebrate Christmas when so many people had died in relation to the storm.  Entire neighborhoods were still in the dark, and thousands had lost their jobs or homes.  There didn’t seem to be much to celebrate either.  This Christmas would be nothing like our other Christmases with a tree, lots of lights, decorations, etc… But Jesus reminded us why He was born: To give light to a darken world and to give us hope when living in despair; and so, we held on to that reminder and to his promises of better things to come, and did celebrate as best we could.  We had our grand-kids over for dinner and exchanged some gifts. We were experiencing the wonder of Christmas and unpacking God’s gift to us (His love and His Son, Jesus).

Milky/Andy, and Sarai had sent us a huge heavy box with lots of goodies for Viv and a beautiful leather, custom-made, burgundy, cowboy holster for me!!! We were little kids at heart again!  We were ever-so-grateful!

Whereas, we normally have three-four 22lb. for Thanksgiving with up to 45 guests, this Thanksgiving we ‘feasted’ on a Costco Rotisserie chicken with our son, his two boys, and mom.  It would be the first time in around twenty-five years that we didn’t hold a Thanksgiving meal for friends and family.  We were thankful for His protection and provisions and grateful for His care, but there were lots of tears of sadness for the inability to be home enjoying our meal with friends and loved ones.  In an act of unselfishness and thanksgiving, the small church received a trailer load of turkeys from the states and the members decided to give up their free time and bake ‘birds’ and served the meat with yellow rice for everyone in the neighborhood that day.

As the year was coming to an end, hardships were still lurking at every corner.  On December 7th, I lost my job of twenty years.  With only one vehicle, we now had to figure out a way for my wife to get to work and for me to go to the house to feed our pets, clean the house, and also keep an eye on the cabin.  Thankfully, she was able to go with a coworker and then I’d pick her up afternoons.

Hurricane Maria as well as working conditions at the job caused my wife to develop COPD-lots of coughing and allergies to various things. This contributed to  more stress on our lives.  On the plus side, my mom’s power was restored December 12 at 7p.m., after 83 days (almost 3 months)!  We were so excited!  We had seen the light!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.”

 

Hurricane Maria, A Category 5 Storm

If a picture is worth a thousand words, tally up how we felt.

 

 

 

 

Most of us thought the storm situation would be over quickly.  In fact, when our son was helping us pack to go stay at my mom’s place, he said, “Remember, Pa, this is only for a day-maybe 2-3 the most.”  As the days went on, we would all realize the situation would be far worse than we all imagined.  Three days later when my son and I went to assess our cabin’s damages, we actually received a phone call.  It was from our worried son-in-law, Andy.  They were all very concerned about us because they were able to see pics of events on the news we would never see.  We could get calls from the states, but not locally.

He and our daughter Milcah had a crazy idea.  They wanted to find a way to mail us much-needed materials.  All over the news it was being reported how people were stealing generators from churches, businesses, even using cranes to steal huge, commercial generators from highway pay-tolls!  People would call in asking how anyone stealing something like that not be seen and arrested!  People from the states that were sending batteries, flashlights, and generators, were having them stolen at the docks or at the post offices.  Our kids (Milcah & Andy) met a man through Andy’s parents who owns a private shipping company.  He made a deal with them: “Pack an entire 55’ container for me with emergency materials for Puerto Rico and you can send all you want to your family for free.” Since my daughter is just like me when it comes to organizing and packing, she took him up on his offer.  In came the calls asking what we needed.

Immediately, our daughter contacted friends, family, her students, and involved her church.  All types of items from non-perishables, four generators, hand wipes, water filter, over fifty packs of bottled water, and a car battery, were stocked in seven pallets that would be sent to us.  Every day after her teaching job, our daughter would organize and pack boxes that would eventually go on pallets not only for us, but for others on the island.  It was a risk not knowing if the items would reach us, but it was worth the taking.  Our kids were attempting to save our lives at the risk of much personal loss.

But isn’t that what it’s like when you give your life away to the Lord?  You take a risk by trusting God; by believing He knows what He’s doing as well as what he already did for your life.  It’s a risk that’s a win-win deal if you wholeheartedly render your life to Him.  Oh, you may lose your ‘friends’ and you will lose your desires for the things of the world, but it is an act of faith.  In the end, you will not lose out and you will gain eternal life.  Our joy was slowly edging back in.   Meanwhile, we prayed and trusted God while our shipment was on its way. Would it make it safely?  Would we find everything that was sent?

 

 

September 20, 2017

At 1:05 a.m. my mom’s power went out.  Raindrops were coming through the roof in several areas.  A tree branch was constantly banging against the window.  Not knowing it was a branch, we thought the storm was getting in.

At 4 a.m. we could feel and hear the winds intensifying.  They felt like they were at about 145 mph.  Outside, one could hear trees snapping, objects flying and banging against the street.  As scary as everything sounded, the storm hadn’t landed yet!  It would touch down between 4 and 7 a.m. and last until 11 at night.  The winds were now at about 185 mph with gusts up to 210 mph!  The hurricane was a category 5!  Outside, the sounds were deafening!  We continued sleeping on/off and praying for God’s protection.

Sensing a break in the storm at around 9 a.m. we carefully opened the front door.  The neighbor’s shed was nowhere to be found!  Metal roofs were blown away.  Entire roofs as well as doors, walls, and windows were gone off some structures.  We closed the door to our ‘line shack’ and waited as we turned on our small, compact solar-powered radio.  That radio would be our companion for the next three months.

At around noon, folks began to open their doors to assess their surroundings.  We were glad to see them.  No one around us was hurt, though so many roofs were gone.  Trees were knocked over or snapped in pieces.  Some were shredded down or stripped bare.  As we tuned in to our radio, we began to learn what had happened:  The remaining 800 cellphone towers were out of service, there would be no sign of a postal worker or any type of delivery man for two full weeks.  We had no water, no power, no cells, no landlines, no ATM service, no banks, no grocery stores, no pharmacies, no gas stations, there was nothing available for what seemed like an eternity.

We needed to know if our son and two grand-kids were alive.  On the second day after the storm, we were able to see him.  We were very glad.  We were also very glad to know we were alive and had survived.  Fortunately, before the storm, we had purchased some 24 lbs. of ice.  We had also filled soda bottles with drinking water.  There was food we had brought from our home the previous day as well as my mom’s stuff.  At least for the next few days, we would be somewhat alright.  God had spared us.  But how did our log cabin fare?  Did it survive the storm being located high in the mountains surrounded by trees on three sides?

We have worked for 26 years on it.  From laying a concrete foundation by hand to lugging with 150 lb. logs.  Would we be able to get up there?  With our son I was able to visit our cabin site.  The avenue to get there was closed on one side as light posts and phone posts alongside power lines and satellite cables littered the street.  Mangled trees were everywhere.  Missing roofs galore were everywhere we looked.  Entire homes were gone.

An interesting thing occurred as we were about ½ mile from home: As I was telling my son to check if my cousin had removed his solar panels, my son excitedly said, “Look Pa, the cabin’s still there!  I see all of it even the deck!”  I got teary-eyed.  Nineteen years earlier, right after hurricane Georges, as we drove near the same spot, we couldn’t bare to look to see how our cabin fared.  Our son told everyone in the car to close their eyes, & then exclaimed the same words, “Look, the cabin’s still there!”  That was good news.  We were so happy.  God had proved Himself faithful again!

This time around, we couldn’t access our road, it was completely covered with fallen trees.  We had to park far away and climb over a fence & walk the rest of the way.  The post carrying our power line had been snapped in two.  We had lost some roll roofing in our second-floor bedroom dormer and hundreds of gallons of water had gotten through.  Most of the windows had been shuttered.  The newer ones which took the brunt of the storm winds, were not-including our bedroom’s.  Water ran down to the other bedroom. We put down tarps to try to hold the water from causing more damages.

As we assessed our damages, we noticed our workshop and storage room structure, as well as our shed also lost their roofing materials.  We spoke to three-four neighbors all of which separately described the storm night as “if an atomic bomb had been dropped.”  One neighbor, upon hearing so many pop-crackle-snaps, kept looking at our home to see if the sounds heard were our logs flying away.  All our trees were snapped or burned. Everything looked hideous.  In the days to follow, my wife and grand-kids would also come along to help clean up.  Each time, we had to dump buckets of water from both rooms.  With no electricity and no running water, we had to do the best we could & not hang around too long.  We also couldn’t remove the shutters cause another hurricane had been announced as being on its way.

Life as we knew it had just taken a new twist; it would never be the same again for us or for the millions of residents on the island.  Everyone had been impacted and affected one way or another.  Stay tune for more adventures in the days ahead.

Lord, thank you for being our refuge during the darkest (literally) time of our lives.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

 

 

September 19, 2017

On this date we had to report to work even though forecasters had announced the arrival of a major hurricane.  At 5:15 a.m. we received an all-call stating we now had to work only half-a-day. I called the job to say we weren’t going in.  Early in the morning we packed our SUV and headed to my mom’s house.  After picking up the fridge & some ice with our son, and returning to our home to get more belongings, we headed to my mom’s place.

By noon the winds were picking up quite a bit.  In the evening, I asked my mom’s neighbor if he wanted help as he put steel pipes in his metal shed for protection.  He didn’t. He wasn’t sure the shed would survive.

We locked ourselves inside and braced for what might come.  Lots of prayers went up that day and night interceding and imploring God to turn the storm away.  That was not to be.  The wind howled all night creating a horrible and dreadful sound.  All night long, my wife and I slept on the living room sofa right under a window.  We looked (and felt) disfigured as we constantly sought ways to get comfortable yet stay below the window and out of danger.

Although the carport is 10’ wide and has ornamental concrete blocks (they’re open to allow breeze in), the rain pelted the Miami-style metal shutter windows like bullets slamming against them as if there were no walls or roof.

It isn’t easy by any means to laugh in the tough times, but I believe in trying to see the brighter side of things no matter how bleak they may be.  That would be tested in the days ahead.  After commending both residences, our neighbors, our pets, and ourselves to Him who has his way in the whirlwinds and in the storms, (Nahum 1:3b), we fell asleep after midnight.

In retrospect, I can equate that night’s storm experience to a blinding blizzard as someone cuddles before a fireplace in a small cabin somewhere out west in the middle of nowhere.

I love the stories of cowboys and line shacks- those small cabins built and situated out west in fields near the perimeters of grand ranches.  As workers ‘rode the line,’ should a storm come upon them suddenly, they sought shelter within small, humble one-room cabins.  Those cabins were usually stocked with necessities like matches, thin blankets, maybe a lantern and non-perishables of the time-period like beans and coffee.  These life-saving cabins sheltered workers from the tempest without.  They lit a fire, warmed their hands as they drank some coffee and enjoyed a hot meal.  Spending the night toasty-warm within while the winds howled, and snow and ice fell outside, saved many lives.  On this day, my wife and I were to take refuge from an impending storm in a ‘line shack’ and God was our life-line.