Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2007 18:31:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: "David Ashby"
Subject: Hurricane Felix (now a Tropical Storm) and our children
Good evening,
Many of you have probably been thinking about
Honduras, Hurricane Felix and our HHK children. Felix
formed in the warm waters off of Venezuela, just like
Hurricane Mitch in 1998. It increased in intensity
from a Category 2 to a Category 5 hurricane during the
course of a day, breaking all previous records in the
Atlantic basin. Initially, it was aimed at Guanaja in
the Bay Islands, and then it was projected to move
along the entire north coast of Honduras. It continued
to move south and finally entered Nicaragua as a major
Category 5 storm. It is now beginning to cross
Honduras from east to west in the center of the
country as a Tropical Storm.
While the winds are now not a threat, the potential
for heavy rains and flooding continues to exist.
Due to the threat of a Category 5 hurricane striking
the La Ceiba area, we moved the children from the
Hogar de Amor in Agua Caliente to the Episcopal school
here in town. They are now spending their 2nd night
there. It has been a real challenge to move this many
children, their clothing, bedding, food supplies,
cooking utensils and table top stoves and play items.
They are sleeping on the floor in classrooms along
with the 4 volunteers and 3 tias. Julio is back at the
Hogar looking after the building and its contents.
The volunteers gave the children classes this morning,
probably the only students to have classes in all of
Honduras. The kids have entertained themselves with
soccer (between rainy periods), hair braiding,
coloring and playing with some toys brought from the
Hogar and our Ceiba storeroom.
By Wednesday noon, we should know if there is no further threat (mostly flooding) and we can then prepare to return all the children to the Hogar. The children in the Jungle School had no classes today, and they will not have classes tomorrow. We thank you for your words of concern and prayers.
As far as we know, all of our almost 200 children are
safe. We will visit the Grandmas Kids and Campesino
Village children as soon as the storm has past.
We have received donations from some members of a US
Rotary Club and from one of our supporters in Canada,
enabling us to buy gifts for 200 children, to be given
out on or near Childrens Day this Friday (weather
permitting). We also will have some parties in various
locations, to make this Day special for the children.
Don't forget our special event on September 22-23 here
in La Ceiba, to inaugurate the Hogar de Amor
orphanage. This event is sponsored by Helping Honduras
Kids and the Lisa Lopes Foundation, and YOU ARE
INVITED. See our website for details.
Thank you for your support,
Dave
www.helpinghonduraskids.org
