Felix

Please pray for the people of Honduras and Nicaragua affected by hurricane Felix - tens of thousands have lost homes, and dozens have been killed. Many of those affected are very poor Miskito Indians, who live in the low-lying coastal areas along the Caribbean. The Franciscan mission where I spent last summer, Mission Honduras, has its main site much further south, near Comayagua, but also has sites throughout Honduras, including closer to the coast. So far I haven't heard if the Mission sites were damaged, but I'll keep you posted.

While I was in Honduras, I spent a weekend on the Atlantic Coast, at Tela. We toured a pristine national forest and snorkled in crystal clear water, and I met a few garibundi folks, darker-skinned residents of the coastal areas who trace their heritage through Caribbean islands to Africa. One gentleman in particular has stuck in my mind - his name is Benjamin (the same as my brother) and he was selling earrings made from coconuts on the beach. We had a good chat about life by the ocean and our different cultural backgrounds. I pray Benjamin is safe, and all of his neighbors.

There is also more info on bbc.com, under "The Americas," along with photos of the damages inflicted by Felix. Thank you for your prayers!