Dear Friends,
As you know, Hurricane Irma is heading toward the Caribbean right now. So soon after Hurricane Harvey devastated parts of Texas and Louisiana, Irma may prove to be equally as strong. I am sharing a letter from Bishop Héctor F. Ortiz Vidal of Puerto Rico. Please pray for all those in harm's way.
Blessings,
Bishop Laurie
Grace and peace to you and the General Ministries family. Puerto Rico will be confronting Hurricane Irma in the next hours. This hurricane has been classified as a category 5. In her route it will be affecting Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, and the Virgin Islands. It is expected that it will be in our vicinity tomorrow, Wednesday, September 6. This hurricane, at the moment, has winds of more than 180 miles an hour. This makes Irma a catastrophic hurricane for the island.
The Puerto Rico Methodist Church has been in contact with the 100 churches located in the island, Vieques, Culebra, and St. Croix. We have oriented them in following the necessary steps to prepare for this atmospheric event. We have put in place an emergency system to work in the aftermath of the event. Nevertheless, there is not enough preparation for this type of hurricane. We are requesting the United Methodist Church for your prayers and your solidarity during this difficult time. Knowing that people outside of our area are praying for us gives us faith and courage.
Trusting that God is in the midst of all this, Bishop Héctor F. Ortiz Vidal
