Mud slides and national emergency

As I get ready to leave to meet two Vida Joven staff friends, Carolina and Sharon, for our Thursday night dance class, I am aware of the tension that's followed me from the United States here.  It doesn't matter if the crisis is across town or around the world, it is very easy to stay enveloped in safety and security and forget the immense pain, suffering, and fear others are enduring.

Escazu is a suburb of San Jose on the west side of the city.  I live on the near east side of the city in a place called San Francisco de Dos Rios.  The majority of the kids I work with here live in Escazu and neighboring areas--in what some call "Gringo land"--because of the high concentration of expats living there.  But as in many big cities, the wealthy and the poor live side by side.  And last night there was a major mudslide (the second in a month) in one of the poorer areas killing 20 with 10 still missing and more than 1,000 people displaced.  A woman in my host mom's University class and her family were killed in one of the mudslides.  (Read more here:  http://www.ticotimes.net/News/Daily-News/Escazu-Landslide-Leaves-at-Least-20-Dead-10-Missing-C.R.-on-Red-Alert_Thursday-November-04-2010)

I was JUST in Escazu for Young Life Club last night and the rain was torrential.  I prayed the entire way home that we would arrive safely.  Costa Rica has declared a national emergency and all schools were shut down today.  The water supply is uncertain in many areas of the city (either not available or undrinkable).  I'm safe where I live--there is no threat of a mudslide here and very little threat of flash flooding.  But so many are mourning the loss of loved ones and their homes tonite.

Please be praying for all who have been affected and for relief from the rain.  November begins the end of the rainy season, but the country is still very vulnerable at this time.  Thanks for your prayers!

P.S.  I would ask you to also pray for the border conflict between Nicaragua and Costa Rica concerning the San Juan river.  There has long been debate over ownership and use of this border river and it has escalated recently with the involvement of Nicaraguan military.  Please pray for wisdom for both countries' leaders and for a peaceful and swift resolution.