Fire on Helene
Update: Video
As most of us were celebrating the birth of our Savior on Christmas Saturday, a bucket brigade consisting of local islanders was battling a fire at the MEI campus, clinic on Helene, Honduras.
Nobody was injured and through the valiant efforts of the brigade, they were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the medical clinic, school, and staff quarters. However the losses are significant and the services MEI can provide to the people of Helene are severely impacted.
As we were just days from receiving new generator parts, the backup generator sparked a fire which totally destroyed the power generator and it’s building, the desalination system used to provide the islanders drinking water, the bunk house used to house short term teams, (as well as it’s kitchen equipment and all furniture), and the house Larry and Sheila occupied the past 7 years while directing the staff and services of this mission campus. All their personal possessions were lost.
Response
Monday the MEI Board of Directors met to discuss the situation. Our primary task was to identify the impact on the community. While the school is currently closed for the season, we can’t open it for our 60+ students for the spring session until we have generated power and water at a minimum. We will attempt to continue to operate the clinic without utilities until power is restored. We will need a new generator and desalination system as well as a new utility building to house them ASAP. We will also be examining rebuilding missionary housing and a bunkhouse but also need to view this as an opportunity to build additional classrooms for the school since we are now offered an opportunity to redesign the property’s building footprint.
Our 2011 plans for an expansion into Roatan have not changed, however we ask for help and continued encouragement to re-establish our community services on Helene, show our local school children and parents that with help from God any of us can overcome obstacles, and begin the process of restoring.
Send your teams!
Going forward we are in need of donations of funds (tax deductible), time from teams, and always prayer. Our new web site offers the opportunity to easily donate online and we will continue to share additional information on the site. We do estimate that we have had a loss of $60,000.00 its going to cost $25,000 to $30,000 just to reestablish community services which is our first priority (generator, desalination system, rewiring and plumbing, and a utility building) and another $30,000 to rebuild buildings.
We thank God there were no injuries and ask for your prayers and any help you feel compelled to provide towards our short and long term efforts.
Thank you and may your days be blessed,
James Dale, President
Scott Griffith, Vice President
Burnie Staples, Secretary
George Farah
Mission Encounters International, Inc.
P.O. Box 13682 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Home office: Emily Fry 405.840.7833
Larry in the United States 252.573.1153
Photos taken after the Fire
