Life After Maria- February 2018

San Juan, Puerto Rico –Life After Maria

With about 40% of electric customers still without power, almost four months after Hurricane Maria, life has been changed in many ways for many people. Some of Joe’s students lost everything. Power returned to our house after 74 days and we can attest to how much physical and mental energy, plus monetary cost, it took to modify our routine and activities. Joe stayed in Puerto Rico for the duration and is still feeling a lack of energy. Many have suffered greatly as they are cleaning out wet and moldy homes, pursuing medical care, seeking work after losing their jobs, driving without traffic lights, dealing with depression, etc. Some will not get power back until June. Please pray for the work of the Spirit on our island as we recover!

Joe continues teaching his seminary classes despite the school not yet having power. Some of his students have neither water nor power. The students have suffered but are resilient and committed to their studies in this hard time. Pray for them, please. We continue to distribute relief supplied to assisted-living facilities, nursing homes, and rehab centers. We have met amazingly dedicated workers who, even without having power in their own homes, are working hard to care for the residents. To give to this project: https://mtw.org/projects/puerto-rico-relief

We thank all who have donated!! In November, an assessment team from Mission to the World’s Global Disaster Response team came to Puerto Rico and met with our church to provide resources for future teams as we reach out to three needy neighborhoods. The storm opened up opportunities for us to enter these communities, so please pray as the church is meeting with local leaders soon to continue to assess needs and responses. Our oldest son, Joey, is engaged to his girlfriend of two years, Allison, whom he met at Grove City College. They plan to finish school and marry in 2019. Please pray as they plan, seek summer internships, and grow together. Our youngest son, Justin (age 16) left Puerto Rico last week for Delaware to live with Bev’s sister and her family where he will explore options for continuing high school. This was a hard decision, but with the departure to Florida of his good friends and the loss of his communities, we felt a change was needed. Bev will join him soon to assist with the transition from homeschooling. There will be many changes, so please pray as he jump sinto school in the middle of the academic year. He has the support of our stateside home church young group (New Life PCA in Glenside, PA), for which we’re thankful. joeandbev@gmail.com

*ADAPTED FROM OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR NEWLETTER, PLEASE CONTACT THE EDITOR, DOROTHY ACHILLES, AT MDACHILLES@FRONTIERNET.NET