32 Dead

That's the current death toll from the storm that hit the island, starting around 3 a.m. Over the course of the morning we lost contact with everyone, even here on the island. It was only in the late afternoon that we had electricity and telephone, and several hours later, internet and e-mail. I have two cell phones, one personal and one official through the consulate. The server for my private phone lost its signal in our area, and by using the official phone and the other service provider we got out a message to Pastor Moiséis and to José Carlos that we were OK.

The news of the church members has been trickling in, as the phone lines and cell phone circuits are jammed, but once in a while a call comes in or one gets out.

Our church is located in one of the hardest hit areas. This picture was taken about two blocks above our church, appearing on the local newspaper site. A taxi was swept off the road and into a house just around the curve above this location. Down the street (literally, downstream) there were half a dozen cars carried away and piled in a heap of junk metal. At the interchange above this location, the one we use to come off the freeway to our church, three or four cars had been swept off the mountainside over the 30-foot embankment, landing in the middle of the intersection. There were a number of large trees mixed in, also. We hope the road is cleared by morning. If not, we will have to go to the next exit and work our way back to the church.



As far as we can tell, there were no injuries or heavy property loss among our church members. Members who have been to the church today say that there was no damage to the property.

Our gratitude to all who have called or e-mailed us this evening, especially from Europe, as the news is broadcast in countries that have a lot of tourist trade with Madeira. Your prayers are appreciated, not just for us, but for this island God has placed us on to be a witness to His truth, grace and salvation.