Rain Forest and the Flash Flood

First, before you read this let me assure you that everyone on the team is alright. I can't take credit for all the content in this. This is the blog that went on the FBC blog as well. It was easier to get all the perspectives into one blog than try to remember everything myself. Let the story begin........

No one knew what adventures, lessons, and deliverance God would provide. The team led the worship this morning at a Grace Church in the barrio. Erin, Sam, Mike, Justin, John M. Kathy M., Amber F., Lexi and Lauren led the special music. Sam and Johnny M. gave an object lesson. Amy, Kathy D., and Sam shared their personal testimonies. Dan gave the message. Several individuals in audience commented on how the testimonies spoke to them personally. After the service there were many hugs and other expressions of love and appreciation.

After the service it was back to the camp for a quick lunch and prep for a day trip to the rain forest and the much anticipated jump off the 30 foot cliff. We arrived at the jump around 2:30pm. A good portion of the team scaled down the wet and mossy rocks along the falls, swam across the current, and traversed up the cliff edge for the privilege to jump off the 20 and 30 foot plateaus. Troyce demonstrated no fear by jumping off the 30 foot ledge five times. All were having fun until the water started turning brown. Julio, a full time staff at the camp, quickly encouraged everyone to seek dry land as soon as possible. In a matter of a few short minutes, the falls more than tripled in size. The current became unmanageable. Amber F., Erin, Lexi, Shari, and Sam, already at the bottom of the falls, started climbing the rocks along side the falls. Mike came down the falls to assist them. The water continued to rise. The holds and crevices quickly became submerged. Amber F., Shari, and Mike, ¼ of the way up the falls, became surrounded by rushing water. Unable to continue to climb they slide down the falls into the strong current. Thank God all where strong swimmers and were able to beat the current and make it to a large eddy. Once they reached the shore line they climbed a rock edge and waited on higher ground. Now safe from the rising river they found themselves trapped next to a slippery and steep mountain. The team was safe for the time being but was divided. Mike, Amber F., and Shari where stranded on one side of the river. Aubree, Lauren, Amy, Troyce, Dwayne, and Julio climbed the cliff edge along with 13 other Puerto Rican’s. Both groups found themselves trapped with a steep mountain behind them and the raging river below. The remaining portion of the PR team gathered on top of the mountain to pray.

John M. called Pastor John at 4:50pm and immediately initiated the prayer chain. The well trained Puerto Rican fire and rescue arrived in the high elevation quickly and started the rescue operation. With the rescue helicopter scrambled and in route the two rescue teams began their work. The first team set up the climbing ropes and scaled down the side of the mountain where Amber F., Mike and Shari waited. After about an hour and a half the rescuers were able to get a harness down to them and Mike and Shari were hoisted to safety. A rescue worker made his way to Amber and they clawed their way up the mountain, through the jungle, without the hoist and ropes (and with only one shoe). Finally safe, these three were reunited with the other group already on the mountain top having only a few scrapes and bruises to show for their experience.

The other rescue team began the trek around the mountain to help the 19 others stranded on the cliff edge. The group on the cliff was exposed to the open air and huddled together to keep warm. Once the rescue team arrived the group began to hike barefooted across the other side of the mountain. The rescuers made a temporary trail but the way was still tricky. The group climbed up the rock edge. The way turned into a wet, muddy path, full of leaves. On two occasions the make shift path was too steep to walk. The group needed climbing ropes to avoid falling back. At 6:00 this group finally made it to a road. Two hours after the flash flood the group arrived at the road where rescue vehicles were waiting. They transported the group back to where the other two groups waited prayerfully. Fortunately the rescue helicopter was not needed.

Later we found out that the heavy rains caused the dam higher up the river to automatically release. This created the flash flood conditions (which covered the main bridge up to the mountain; our only exit). Even though the river was still at flood stage as the team traveled back to the camp, the water had receded enough to pass over the bridge for a safe return to camp.

This was supposed to be the night when we were going to the Starlite Café (the Puerto Rican restaurant in town). Given the events of the afternoon we voted to come back to camp, shower up, dry off and order pizza from Pizza Hut and hang out in the cafeteria.

All in all an eventful day, to say the least. But the Lord protected us all and the sum of our casualties were a few bumps and bruises, Amber F.’s lost water shoe and Amy’s glasses (I just think that she didn't like them any more and this was a good excuse to get new ones).

Praise the Lord!
Mike (and the rest of the FBC PR team)