Many people head to warmer climes during the winter months, but for one Vernon couple their annual trip is a lot more than a vacation.
For the past 11 years, Maureen and Andy Nyhuis have been travelling to the Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa region of Mexico where they spend six months a year working with locals to build secure roofs for their homes.
To date, they have completed 346 roofs for families in need.
And their work had them in the path of Hurricane Rick, which hammered the Mexican coast last week.
“We went to bed on Sunday thinking we would sleep through. it. How bad could it be? When Rick arrived there was no sleeping, heavy winds and rain and noise woke us up,” said Maureen. “As we watched out our patio doors, we could see 20, 30 foot trees almost lying down sideways and the rain in torrents then the wind would change and it all happened in the other direction.”
The Okanagan missionaries live in the relative safety of a cement condo, but watched helplessly as the “flimsy shanties up in the hills” were slammed by the wind and rain.
When the storm passed, the couple ventured into the community to survey the damage.
“Homes with no roofs, homes flooded and people sleeping on wet mattresses, dishes all broken, food spoiled, but people still smiling and thanking God it wasn't worse,” said Maureen. “This was a category 3. What would a category 4 or 5 been like? We cant even imagine.”
According to Accuweather, the hurricane, which weakened substantially as it moved inland, had sustained winds of more than 160 km/h and gusts of more than 200 km/h.
The couple volunteer in Mexico as part of the Zihua Roofs Society.
Zihuatanejo Roofing is based on the "Pay it Forward" principle where those who have received a roof help the next family build theirs, thereby creating community.
For more information on the society and how to donate, tax receipts will be issued, visit their website.
Not even Hurricane Rick could stop a Vernon couple from helping families in Mexico - Vernon News - Castanet.net
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment