A week report of living through a hurricane in Honduras. As you will soon find out, some times are accurate to the minute, others not so much.
Sunday November 1
What I thought was just the start of the rainy season in Honduras turned out to be more than just your typical storm. It rained off and on throughout the day and in the evening found out that we were in a Tropical Storm.
Monday November 2
7:30 am Informed that the tropical storm had turned into a hurricane. Nothing to be worried about, just be aware if other people are talking about a tormenta or Hurricane Eta.
1:00 pm Over lunch we were notified that we may have to evacuate. We made mental lists of what we would like to pack in case we needed to leave quickly.
1:40 pm Maintenance man comes to tell us that we need to pack a backpack with two outfits, a fork, spoon, plate, and cup.
1:45 pm Played a game of 5-handed Spades.
2:15 pm Told that House 5 (The oldest girls house) were scurrying around their house packing bags and had their dining room table full of clothes.
2:45 pm Notified that the hurricane is now a category 3 and expected to become a category 4 hurricane by tonight.
2:46 pm Continued playing Spades
3:40 pm Told to pack a backpack that would be loaded into the van ready to go if we have to leave quickly.
4:00 pm Power went out.
4:15 pm We loaded our bags into the van that would be driven across the plancha (Honduran “bridge” that water passes over. When it rains hard the planchas are difficult or impossible to cross).
4:30 pm Bucket showered in the dark.
4:45 pm Ate my strawberry popsicle from Halloween. Didn’t think it would taste as good if it melted and had to be refrozen.
8:26 pm Told that we are leaving. All the kids and Sisters would leave before us, so we would be the last car.
8:45 pm Drank the rest of my milk as we were going to unplug the fridge. The amount was comparable to what you drink at the $1 milk stand at the Minnesota State Fair minus the Sweet Martha’s cookies.
9:35 pm Left the Finca and met up with the two other cars full of kids.
10:15 pm Arrived at a convent in Trujillo where all of our backpacks had been taken earlier. We each got our backpacks and left House 3, 4, and 5 (girls) and the Sisters to stay at the convent.
10:30 pm Arrived at the location where the boys (House 1 and 2) and the missionaries would be staying.
11:30 pm Fell asleep on an uncomfortable top bunk.
Tuesday November 3
Overview: Found out where exactly we were. We stayed at a Diocesan Formation Center in Trujillo. Though Trujillo is not far from the Finca, it is on a hill and set farther back from the ocean than the Finca is. The place we stayed had a building with three rooms filled with bunk beds (one for House 1, another for House 2, and the third for us missionaries). Attached to this building where showers and bathrooms and pilas for washing clothes. The second building had a kitchen and a long row of tables that easily accommodated all 19 of us. The dormitory had a second story with a balcony which became my haven when I needed alone time and wanted to see something different than the cement walls I was stuck inside.
I spent the day hanging out with the kids, playing cards and Rummikub, putting together a puzzle, reading, napping, and eating delicious Honduran food (Not necessarily in that order).
The power and water also went out today. This was expected due to the bad weather and unreliability of Honduran systems. This meant putting out large pots to collect rainwater to be used for washing dishes and using the water in the pilas (large sinks used for washing clothes and dishes) to flush toilets and brush your teeth. The lights and water continued to be off during the entirety of our time at the Formation Center.
8:00 pm Had a meeting with all the missionaries and was told that Hurricane Eta is now at Category 5. However, it is moving very slowly and Nicaragua will have the biggest impact. We were told that we would most likely return to the Finca Thursday or Friday when the water levels go down and the planchas are crossable.
8:20 pm Updated that the hurricane is now a Category 2. Realized hurricanes aren’t that reliable.
9:30 pm Went to bed for night 2 away from the Finca.
Wednesday November 4
9:00 am Honduran Red Cross came and brought us warm baleadas. They were a delicious mid-morning snack and a great pick-me-up. They also gave us bags of water and vitamins.
Overview: Much the same as the day before. Taught the kids a lot of different card games, got beat in Garbage too many times to count, impressed the boys with card tricks, and played English Bananagrams.
Also started a new book called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It’s a fun, light-hearted book if you are looking for a good read.
6:00 pm Ate spaghetti and papaya for supper and followed it with a community-wide rosary prayed for those suffering from the hurricane, especially those in Nicaragua.
Thursday November 5
11:30 am Finished the Guernsey book.
1:30 pm The Red Cross brought us 19 to go meals. We had already eaten lunch, so we kept them for supper. I was supposed to help cook supper, so I got out of that one pretty easy. We had chicken, plantain, and rice that evening.
Overview: This day was very similar to the past two. I filled my time playing more cards, watching cows and horses in a nearby pasture, staring out at the ocean in the far distance wishing it was closer, and observing a flock of chickens. This place doesn’t offer many areas to be alone and relax, so I am looking forward to having some space to call my own again.
Friday November 6
3:00 am Lying awake in bed trying to fall back asleep for the umpteenth time that night I heard the first rooster crow. It seemed to be communicating with another rooster further away. The conversation lasted a while.
4:00 am Heard House 1 and their Tio (uncle) awake. I still have no idea why they were up that early.
5:30 am Washed my bed sheets and packed up my backpack to return to the Finca after breakfast.
6:30 am Ate my standard oatmeal breakfast with the addition of some sugar to help me get through the last few hours before going to Finca.
6:45-9 am Entertained the younger boys by playing more Garbage and King’s Corner while others scrubbed toilets and mopped. I definitely drew the longer straw on that one.
9:15 am Truck left taking back all the kids and a few missionaries to start making lunch.
9:15-10:45 Waited with nothing but a bag of chips to share between 7 of us for the truck to return.
11:30 am Arrived at the Finca. The planchas we crossed getting back were still quite high and we almost got wet standing in the back of the truck. When we returned on sight we surveyed the damage driving through the Finca grounds. The area where the elementary classrooms are is underwater along with the entrance gate. There are a few massive trees that have fallen.
We went right to work putting our house back in order. It had gotten dirty throughout the week and needed a good cleaning. The fridge had to be cleaned out as our beans were growing mold. Our pineapple also went bad and was dripping through the cabinet. All of the supplies that we had brought to the Formation Center (pot, pans, flour, sugar, toilet paper, candles, etc.) had to be sorted and distributed to the correct houses.
We were very excited to return home to water and electricity! We could flush toilets again, wash our clothes, and use fans. Still no wifi, so we are still uninformed about who won the election.
1:15 am We ate our first lunch back at the missionary house with us 10 sitting around the table speaking English. It was glorious.
1:50 Rewashed my clothes that had been outside all week and were full of sand and dirt.
3:53 am Power went out. Very disappointing.
4:00 pm Kelsey brought a candle into our room. It was a definite mood lifter to pray with its soft yellow glow versus the harsh LED light of my headlamp.
Saturday, November 7
8:37 am Went to the bathroom and habitually flipped the light switch. We have power again! Seized the opportunity to charge my phone and computer and embrace our twinkle lights once again.
11:00 am Power went out again.
2:00 pm Got my clothes off the line before it started raining again. These clothes have been wet for almost a week, so it was great to finally get to put them back on my shelves.
8:58 pm Went star gazing out on the soccer field for 1 ½ hours with some other missionaries. The stars were absolutely brilliant because there were no other lights.
Sunday November 8
Current: I’m currently writing this from Cafe y Sabores, a coffee shop in Trujillo. We made a missionary trip here today to use the wifi as ours is still out.
We are blessed to be back at the Finca and to not have suffered major damage. Please continue to pray from those in Nicaragua and Honduras who were hit hardest, especially the poor.