26 August 2007
Frijolillo, San Martín Chalchicuautla
San Luís Potosí, México

Dear All,

Greetings! Next week I will send a full update, but I know I am late in getting a note to you to assure you I am alive and well after Hurricane Dean. Tomorrow is the first opportunity I have to leave Frijolillo since the hurricane. The storm came aground about 90 miles (as the crow flies) east and a bit south of us, but fortunately for us it took a turn south and made its biggest impact on central Hidalgo rather than northern Hidalgo and southeastern San Luis where we live.

We were prepared for the worst, however, and we did get a lot of rain (probably about a foot and a half). But rain is not foreign to us, the earth is able to absorb a lot, and most of our buildings are built high and founded on rock. We got virtually no wind and, miraculously for Frijolillo, we never lost power. There were land slides and  fallen trees, roads washed away down to the bare rock, two- and three-foot sink holes, dirt roads that became sticky mud piles, and flooded rivers. This all kept us isolated for several days despite the fact there are four roads in and out of the community. The main road to Frijolillo is still virtually impassible, which makes travel extra time-consuming since we have to take longer routes, but it is as it is and we are simply grateful that our homes are intact and we are alive.

We were to have a presbytery meeting last weekend too, but it was postponed until this coming weekend. Getting people to and from the meeting will be an extra challenge; especially since it continues to rain (we are entering the rainy season).

Thank you for any prayers you lifted up on our behalf. The Lord has been gracious to us. Pray that municipal authorities will be quick in responding to our road repair needs.

More next week!

In His grace,

Susie

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 66

P.S. It is now Wednesday. I was unable to send this Tuesday, as planned, because the First Lady of Mexico was in San Felipe (where I intended to do email, 45 minutes from Frijolillo) and the government cut off all telecommunications for the five or six hours she was in the area to observe damage caused by Hurricane Dean. My hope is to mail this from Tamazunchale tomorrow. Pray for us. It has not stopped raining since the storm. We are fine and have power, though phone service comes in and out due to the rain. Our only problem is that we have only one entry and exit from Frijolillo now due to a combination of landslides on roads, rivers overflowing, and thick mud. Not a huge problem to have, but it makes getting anywhere a real chore. Tomorrow we will attempt to begin our Presbytery meeting in Octlamecayo. It’s been crazy trying to make arrangements to pick people up and get them there since we have to take unconventional routes. How much easier it was when everyone was used to walking everywhere!