Flooding Update from Sister Laurinda

Dear Friends,

This has to be short, because I just got word that the lights will be turned off in 15 minutes. Not sure if this is a National or Local shut down. So I will give you a few datails I just got from the news on TV, from Urraco and other sources.

CAHON is the name of the large Dam near Lake Yajoa, about one hour South of El Progreso--our source of Electricity. Since the Dam cannot hold any more water now, one gate was opened today that automatically affects Ulua River that borders Urraco and this entire area. At Midnight tonight, three more gates will have to be opened. Tomorrow much more flooding will be seen in all areas near the Ulua River and it's tributaries.

The Large, one way Bridge before entering Urraco is covered with water now. The village right before the Bridge is called ESTERO INDIO. The Leaders and people in ESTERO INDIO want to break the levee of the river on the URRACO side that will flood URRACO greatly, and aleviate the continual flooding in ESTERO INDIO.

At this moment, Benigno is having a meeting with all the leaders to try to change the minds of the people in ESTERO INDIO to not break the levee on the Urraco side. The four new gates, recently repaired in this area, that Marilyn and Bud Price, Scott Pieper and Ron Chitwood donated the money for this emergency project in 2007-2008. These Gates have held the water back from flooding Urraco completely these days. What a great donation and help.

SAN JOSE CAYO, MEALER and CAYMITOS have all been evacuated. Shirley and Dave Nedley know these villages so well since we are the areas of some of our Scholarship Students. Most people from MEALER AND SAN JOSE CAYO moved to CIUDAD OF GUAYMAS to live in the school and the Community Center there. This is another village Shirley and Dave know so well, since this village too has a number of students in the Scholarship Program.

POSITIVE HAPPENINGS ALL OVER HONDURAS-- THE INCREDIBLE MOVEMENT OF THE SPIRIT OF GOODNESS, SOLIDARITY, AND GOD has moved the hearts of many people all over the country--churches, individuals, some Grocery Stores, Organizations to help all the flood victims everywhere. Everyone has joined forces to make sure all the people living in plastic tents in the streets, in the hundreds of shelters--schools, churches, community centers or in emply trucks, train cars, or wherever the flood victims are-- have enough food and water, clothes and medicine.

This afternoon I could not help but shed a tear to see all the people living in plastic tents in the center of the main highway from El Progreso to San Pedro Sula. I took a few photos, but it is hard to do.

With your help the flood victims in the Urraco areas are receiving food, water, medicines and matresses if need be. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. THANKS SO MUCH--and the people in the Urraco sector will need more help as the floods are getting worse.

THANKS FOR GETTING THE WORD OUT to your friends, family, churches, Companies, etc. that we need more help now. I will do the same.

Blessings. Signing off before the lights go off. They said 9:00pm and it is 9:15pm. You are in our thoughts, prayers, ALWAYS.

- PRO-PAPA HONDURAS, entire staff