Last month, the rains and flooding that devastated many areas of the U.S. hit our location hard as well. In Juarez, Mexico, where we work and serve, several of our families’ houses were completely flooded and destroyed. One woman and her two children were trapped inside a room where the quickly rising waters blocked the door from opening. Thank God, the grandfather was able to break down the door and rescue them.
One of the buildings we own is a large, multi-roomed structure that we use as a retreat house in Juarez. It has a kitchen, several bathrooms and an enclosed courtyard. It is built up on a hill and the flooding did not reach it, so we were able to immediately move the families who were in dire need to a safe and dry place.
As the waters have subsided, now begins the challenging work of cleanup and rebuilding. The families staying in our makeshift shelter will be there for a while as we try to help them figure out their next steps. People have been so generous, bringing donations of food, clothing, and bedding to their neighbors who were hit the hardest.