November,
1998
Very dear
Sisters,
From
Central America, so devastated by hunger, thirst,
destruction and death...in the name of all the sisters of
the Province and of our people, I want to send you a
profound, immense and emotional THANKS.
MANY
THANKS! The telephone calls, faxes and messages which
communicate your closeness, your prayer, your loving
solidarity, keep us valiant at the side of our suffering
people.
I was in Managua in a meeting with sisters and we could
not get out to return home to our communities because all
the roads were blocked or destroyed, the bridges down.
Finally, the Nicaraguan sisters set out and arrived in
their communities on foot, under driving rain, and with
water literally "up to their necks."
The most affected countries are Nicaragua and Honduras,
by number of deaths and the destruction of homes, crops
and the entire infrastructure of the country. Entire
villages have disappeared or been swept away; others are
isolated and cut off from all help. Every hour that
passes reveals new areas crying for help. It is
impossible to get to the majority of these places by
land.
In Nicaragua, the army has worked without stopping with
only four helicopters. Yesterday, two more came from the
United States and three from Mexico. We are hoping for
still more. At present, priority is being given to
repairing the roads in order to get food and medicine to
the people. In Nicaragua, seven states have been cut off
and have been almost entirely destroyed. Among them,
Leon, where we have three communities. All three have
been very affected.
The sisters are the only people who have, up until now,
been able to go out and help the people. They are also
working with the Bishop and the Mayor to organize aid:
although nothing has arrived yet from the government. The
roads have to be fixed.
The sisters in Managua are trying to care for the people
in various zones in the city that have been inundated by
the overflow of the Lake. They are also taking care of
the communities in the south in collaboration with the
Base or Grassroots Communities (small Christian
communities) which are already organized.
In Guatemala, there has been destruction in various
states. We are cut off from travel and cannot get to our
own communities. But, thank God, in the rural areas of
Peten where our communities are with the very poor, there
has not been much damage. The area of Vera Paz was struck
and the zone of Tactic where we have a school. There, the
sisters have welcomed more than two hundred refugees.
There are families that were caught in the town and could
not get back to their homes. The roads are flooded and in
many areas they have been wrecked. (The countryside
around Tactic is full of rivers and mountains.)
In the Capital, there are areas where the people have
always been struggling to survive and always suffer from
the winters. The hurricane has not passed them by. Where
the Novitiate is, the poor people living in the gullies,
have taken refuge in the house where the sisters work
with young people. There are various shelters which have
been opened.
The road connecting Guatemala and Salvador has already
been repaired. Fourteen states in Salvador are considered
in danger. Salvador was hit in four states: San Miguel,
la Union, Usulutan, la Palma. Fortunately, the families
of the sisters escaped unscathed. There have been no
deaths in these states. The government has acted rapidly
and efficiently. The sisters try to go where the need is
greatest.
I want to express my gratitude. Each fax and telephone
call that has come has been received with great
gratitutde and the news has been commumnicated to the
entire Province. By telephone and fax, I am able to stay
in touch and to communicate your love and solidarity. You
give us hope. Again thanks, so many thanks.
United in fraternal love and prayer,
Sister Marta Lorena and the
Religious of the Assumption sisters
500 East Main Street
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 368-4427
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