Survivors!

We Survived!

Tina, Bethany, Rachel and I survived simultaneous hurricanes! Our daughters in Pensacola survived Ivan and we survived Jeanne here in Puerto Rico on the same day! Talk about a family that does everything together!

Bethany and Rachel were sent to spend the night in a hurricane shelter on campus, in the Communicative Arts building. They slept on the concrete floor on what little bedding they were able to carry from their rooms. During the night Ivan screamed and hurled branches around campus. The next day they found the fierce winds had removed some windows in the girls dorm. Their rooms was spared, but Bethany and her roommates took in one girl from down the hall who was wandering the floor as an on-campus refugee from Ivan.

Here we prepared for Jeanne but did not expect much. We got more than we bargained for! There was over 13 inches of rain in 24 hours and winds up to 70 on the island. We were without water and electricity since Wednesday. We were afraid we would not have clean clothes for Sunday or a working bathroom in the Church, but both utilities came back online today. Our house is ok, but not having fans or ice or a washing machine in the tropics makes for an icky, sticky week.

We were under emotional stress, mostly from not having any idea what our daughters were going through. We had no TV and the radio was all concerned about Jeanne and gave no information from Pensacola on the Florida panhandle. Our phone worked, but all lines were down in Pensacola, so we could not get through. We really could have used a lap top computer and a radio for emergency communication. But the best thing we had going for us was your prayers. Keep praying! Your continued support, special gifts and prayers make an enormous difference!

Gratefully Yours,
Steve Prelgovisk