Monday, October 10th. We spent most of the day getting things ready for the hurricane, cleaning up loose items in the yard, putting things in totes so they wouldn't get wet, and gathering food and water. The sun only peeked out a few times and stayed hidden behind the gloomy clouds and light breeze. The men had their small group at Starbucks near the shore and could see the waves growing stronger as they crashed against the beachfront walls. That evening the soft wind stilled to a heated calmness.
October, 11th. Tuesday morning we woke to a light sprinkle that would come in and out; the only thing that really had progressed since the day before. We continued to clean up little things around the house, put towels in front of the doors, and let the pups in while they were still dry; of course they were excited to be inside. The neighbors across the street boarded up their windows and packed their car making me question our stay. The normally loudspeaker cars that would drive by selling goods and other treats no longer sounded their horns, everyone was just waiting.
We passed the time by reading, studying our Spanish, and watching out the not so exciting window. The pups also entertained us as they played together. I cooked some rice that we could eat later just in case we wanted something other than peanut butter sandwiches and dry cereal. Also packing up a small suitcase of a few days worth of clothes, I prepared for the future in case we needed to leave the house for a safer place to stay; Dane was convinced we wouldn't need to worry saying, "we don't even know how bad it's going to be". But I didn't want to be caught unprepared.
In the early afternoon the team traveled up to the church property to make sure the water was draining properly. We stood outside, rain trickling down our faces, feet and legs muddy while we overlooked the city. The rain began to fall faster as we noticed a stream beginning to form down the face of the mountain coming towards us. That's when we decided it was time to go.
Dane and I drove the 7 blocks from Josh and Susan's to our home to get in a good meal and make sure the rest of our things were picked up off the floor in case of flooding. As we sat and finished up our meal and an episode of FRIENDS the lights flickered off for a second only to came back on again. We decided to put the dogs in the bathroom and go to Josh and Susan's where we could use the Internet one last time.
By the time we reached the house the Internet was gone, no more communication with family or getting updates about the storm. My nerves then increased while Dane grew more excited.
The drizzle from the morning pelted heavier droplets and the winds began to increase. Still people strolled the sidewalks and visited the tiendas. As the night grew darker I bunkered into the chair across from Brook telling life stories and exchanging fears about the storm. Cracking branches from nearby trees threatened their falls with each time Brook and I peeking out the window not giving a guess to which one made the eerie sounds.
Falling back into conversation we heard the cracking again only this time it left us frozen with fear as it crashed into the side of the house falling just short of Josh and Susan's jeep taking with it adjacent trees and a street sign. Filled with adrenalin my hands began to shake and my heart pounded with excitement. The guys taped into their manly desire to make sure everything was safe and protected. Dane hopped into the car, soaking wet, moving it out of the way from the trees that could potentially destroy it and afterwards standing in the freezing rain admiring the giant tree that had been uprooted.
After everyone shared their experience of the fallen tree and the excitement settled we chatted as suddenly the lights flickered and left us blind in the dark. We gathered together flashlights and phones so we could make it across the room to all sit among each other. The only thing to do was to wait and listen to the sound of the wind and rain.
By 12 am Dane decided that we would venture out into the street to drive home. I was reluctant to go for I was afraid to reach a full house of water and whatever else my mind could muster up that went terribly wrong. My strongly dug -n heels loosened as I stepped out the door and ran behind my husband to the car, umbrella flying in the wind. Drenched and shivering we road through the unsettling roads. Branches were covering the cobblestone, whole trees were uprooted and water was flushing out sand in-between every crevasse and rock in the area. Now I was sure we would have to head back to Josh and Susan's for the night.
Once we reached the door we quickly searched the house for water however we found none. There was no broken windows or huge puddles to clean up, just a sigh of relief to breathe out. I had exhausted my mind of the things that could have happen but God kept us safe from harm and our things untouched. My shoulders loosened and I finally felt safe. We closed our eyes and rested our bodies for we didn't know what the sun would unveil the next day.
After we woke and got ready for the day we set out of the neighborhood to find everyone working on their yards and helping their neighbors with fallen trees and masses of water. As we drove in our car we saw the banana field only a few houses down from us releasing gallons upon gallons of water creating a new river where there once was a pathway for vehicles. I was still amazed we were left untouched.
All of this water gathered and poured into the river wiping out bridges, cars and homes. Downtown was covered in 6 feet of mud in which the ocean was carrying it out for you could see the divide between blue and brown. Soon the ocean would carry away the muck and living would return to normal…
Throughout the destruction God provided his protection. Through my fear He showed me His security. Once again God remains the same!
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| Mud Covered Streets |
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| Footprints in the muck |
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| Tree that had Fallen on Josh & Susan's House |
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| Downtown |
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| Ocean Day After Jova |
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| Ocean Carrying Away the Mud |
