A prayer for the Caribbean

Hurricane Marcus and tropical storm Laura hit parts of the Caribbean on Sunday. Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico have been affected. At least 12 people have tragically died as a result, with 9 people from Haiti and 3 from the Dominican Republic. Bishop Jean-Lesley Dorcély of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas’ Haiti District, has given us this report of the situation in Haiti:

Greetings from the Haiti District!

I appreciate you writing to us concerning storm Laura.

Tropical Storm Laura passed Haiti on Sunday 23 August, causing heavy rain, strong gusts of winds and dangerous sea conditions. As of today we have 9 persons who have died from tropical Storm Laura and two missing. The two missing are a mother and her infant.  Many rivers have been flooded across the country. Many houses were flooded, destroyed or damaged, mud slides have occurred in many areas, a number of roads were blocked and plantations have been devastated by heavy wind. This is partial information we have collected throughout the circuits in collaboration with the superintendent ministers. Six of our circuits are being affected.

Another information gathering is scheduled by the General of Civil Protection in order to better assess the impact of the storm. I will keep you posted on that as well.

Keep safe and stay well from Covid 19 still.

Warm regards,

 Rev Dorcély

A prayer for the Caribbean:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. (Psalm 46: 1-3 NRSV)

God of the mountains and God of the sea, we pray for the people of the Caribbean and lift them up before Your throne of grace. We ask that you fill Your people in this region with an assurance that You are their refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

We pray for all those affected by the recent hurricane and storm. We pray that You comfort those who lost their loved ones, those who have been injured and those whose property and livelihoods have been damaged or destroyed. We ask that You would provide for their every need at this time and fill them with faith, hope and love.

We pray for the six circuits of the Haiti District that have been effected by the storms. We pray that you will help these affected communities and mobilise state and community resources to bring relief and provision where it is needed. We pray that You strengthen the Haiti District at this time and continue to use it as a voice of hope and love in its communities, for the glory of Christ.

In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.