I'm posting this here so as not to cover up Humlan's thread.

As many of you know, my husband and I have a passion for Cuba. We go every year for several weeks, not as much for vacation (though it IS gorgeous there) but more to help and spend time with the dear friends we've made there over the years. We bring lots of things like medicines, toys for the children and household necessities to help our Cuban friends, many of whom have nothing, no running water, no electricity much of the time...life is very hard for these people at the best of times.

This latest hurricane, Ike, hit that area hard. Entire villages have been wiped out, probably including the one where all of our friends live. We cannot get verification of that yet, but since it's low-lying right beside the ocean, we're afraid it's been wiped out too.

I just want to lift up these beautiful, loving people in prayer. We have never met more heart-beautiful people anywhere and it grieves me to think of the devastation and destruction they face. And unlike in our part of the world, there is not much in the way of support systems or help to rebuild. They will be hungry, homeless and alone in their struggles to rebuild their lives. Please pray for these dear friends of ours. Thanks.

Eagle, you certainly have my prayers for these people, God's children. We forget sometimes, I think, from the comfort of our own homes, and warm beds, that there are many people in this world who suffer greatly, and daily. Thank you for asking and I am humbled by your request.

They shall be covered in prayer. God help them!

I will pray for them, Eagle Heart. Cuba has asked for international help too.

It's so bad in several countries. India has never had such strong monsoons.

Are you able to contact your friends at all? Not knowing how they are must be just terrible for you.

Thinking of those in Cuba and pray they can rebuild .How sad to have to live through destruction.
In England floods have been severe as they were last year.People evacuated to halls and churchs.
Even if our summer has been disappointingly wet people share that at least here we have no desvestation.Our harvest has been so wet that when it is dry farmers work through the clock to combine.
I count my blessings.
Mountain ash

EagleHeart, they have my prayers.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Right now there is no way to contact anyone. We've tried emailing and phoning, but no responses anywhere. We assume that everyone was evacuated well before the storm hit. It's possible they're still not allowed to return. We know that our doctor friend from that area will try to contact either us or my BIL as soon as she can. Meanwhile, waiting is hard and the silence is deafening!

I have more friends there in that tiny village than I do here at home...they're very dear to my heart.

I'm so sorry to hear about this.

Your right JJ, sometimes we become complacent in our warm comfortable homes while watching the rest of the world trashed by storms etc. I am one of those people. Eagle knowing the people in a village that may have been destroyed and not being able to confirm any facts, has to be earth shattering for the two of you. I am so sorry for you and for those suffering in Cuba. They didn't have that much to begin with which makes this all then more sorrowful. I will pray for them and for you.

Thanks Chatty. We're still not able to make phone contact with our doctor friend (she's one of very few who even have a phone). And all emails are being sent back to us, including ones sent to various friends who work at three different hotels there. So there's just no way to make contact yet. We're seeing our travel agent today and will ask if she's heard anything about that area...eg, if the tour companies are diverting customers to other locations then that will give us a better idea of how badly our area's been hit.

Thanks everyone for your concern. We're safe and sound and richly blessed, so we're okay. It's our friends and adopted families that are in peril.

And of course the situation in Haiti is even more dire...

My hopes and prayers are with them, also. Please keep us informed.