Today we had the chance to serve at New Vision Ministries in Marsh Harbour and meet with some of the locals who survived Hurricane Dorian. Many told their stories and our hearts broke to hear about the trauma they endured. Many spoke of the sound of the tremendous violent wind, the storm surge and the devastation, but they all gave praise to God for protection.
A young mother, Alexandria, told her story. She was living in an apartment in Marsh Harbor with her 2 children. Her brother encouraged her to take shelter in his home, and while she allowed her children to go with her brother, she stayed behind with her 14-year old nephew.
Alexandria and her nephew stayed in the apartment. The wind speeds topped 200+ mph and then a storm surge of sea water rose to 20+ feet, the water came pouring in the apartment. Soon they found themselves floating up at the ceiling. They were able to break through the ceiling and climb onto the rafters for shelter.
When the center of the eye came through, it was calm, Alexandria and her nephew crawled on the roof and swam to higher ground, finding shelter at the Government complex. At the shelter, she heard that Central Pines, where her children were staying, was totally destroyed.
Alexandria feared her children had died. She was praying to God through the entirety of the storm to protect her children, but she now felt nothing but fear. After Dorian had passed, she and her nephew went out to find better shelter and it was there that God answered her prayers as she was reunited with her children.
She was filled with so much hope and joy, God had saved her and her children through the storm. She lost her home and everything she owned, but she was so thankful for a safe and dry place to call home (a shipping container) as she works to rebuild the home Dorian took from her.
Our team was so blessed to hear the many stories and the testimonies of God’s protection and provision. As we work in Abaco, we are reminded of how the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives. When the storms of life come, we can have the assurance that, JESUS CHRIST IS OUR LIVING HOPE.
