Hurricane Oscar Devastes Cuba
On October 20th, Hurricane Oscar struck Cuba, leaving widespread devastation in its wake. Our familia on the Big Island is among those hardest hit. In addition to the destruction caused by the hurricane, the entire island was without electricity for over 4 days, and residents are still experiencing “apagones” — rolling blackouts up to 20 hours daily.
The Impact on Families and Children
Many have lost their homes due to severe flooding from Oscar. One of our pastors shared a harrowing story about a fellow pastor and his family who had to spend the night in a tree to save their lives. Another pastor reported that his family is now sleeping on the church benches because their beds were destroyed.
The situation is further complicated by the lack of power, making it impossible to preserve perishable food. Much of their food has spoiled, and they are suffering from the heat and humidity, unable to cool themselves. Sleep doesn’t come easy under these circumstances. To cook, families have been forced to use firewood, but even that is running out. Water is also in short supply because they rely on electric pumps.
One Mother’s Story
The dire circumstances have led to the closure of schools, with only essential activities permitted. Marbeyis a mother on the island, shared her heartache:
“It’s especially hard on the children”, Marbeyis adds, her eyes tearing up, “because when they say I want this or that, we have nothing to give them.” bbc.com
The economic crisis, made worse by COVID-19, has pushed many to leave the island—more than 10% of the population have left in the past two years alone.
Pastor Oniel’s Relief Efforts
Despite these hardships, Pastor Oniel is working tirelessly to coordinate relief efforts with other churches across Cuba. In an extraordinary display of faith and solidarity, they are mobilizing resources from within—even while enduring their own hardships. Oniel shared the following message:
“Brothers in the faith, we want to go in support of those affected by this catastrophe. From San Antonio, Baracoa, Maisí, and Guantánamo, we are organizing trucks to leave from Jatibonico in the coming days. Starting tomorrow at noon, our church and leadership team will begin receiving whatever you can give—non-perishable food, bedding, hygiene supplies, clothing. Every little bit helps. We also have the ability to buy food, so financial donations are welcome.”
Join Us in Extending Your Hands to Help
Dawn and I feel called to stand with Pastor Oniel and our familia on the Big Island. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those impacted by Hurricane Oscar. Please consider making a donation to support these relief efforts. Your generosity will provide essential resources to those in need and offer hope in the midst of hardship.
Thank you for extending your hands to help.
Click to donate today.
Video: Life and Times on the Big Island
This short video offers a glimpse into how God is moving on the Big Island. At the end, you’ll hear from some of the people who are deeply grateful for the aid we’re providing.
Video: Hannah’s Toys of Hope
In this video, created with the help of my colleague Jim DeWitt, we show how God is using toys to reach families. Watch how Jesus is working through our dear friends, Pastor Rene and Yarelis!
Thank you for joining us in prayer, and for considering making a gift to help our precious familia.
In His Grip, Dave
P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja, and Beyond
