My name is Kristen Salazar. I am originally from Miami, Florida, and I am the owner of Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala. I am also the widow of Captain David Salazar.

Captain Jonathan Arena has been part of our family's life for many years. My late husband, David, and Jonathan spent countless days fishing together in Venezuela, building a friendship rooted in trust, adventure, and a shared love for the ocean.

After David's passing, Jonathan made the decision to move to Guatemala in October 2025 to help me continue David's legacy at Casa Vieja Lodge. He's the Captain of The Hooker and helps lead our fleet operations with the same loyalty, integrity, and work ethic that made David value him so highly.

Just a few days ago, Jonathan returned to Venezuela for the first time in six years to visit his mother, brother, and lifelong friends.

Less than 24 hours later, disaster struck.

On what should have been an ordinary Wednesday, Jonathan convinced his mother to leave their apartment so they could drive to another city to visit a friend and look for gasoline. His brother came along. About fifteen minutes after they left, the apartment building they had just walked out of collapsed during the devastating earthquake.

That one decision saved their lives.

As they drove, Jonathan watched buildings crumble around them. When they returned, his home was gone. His boat had been destroyed. Entire neighborhoods had collapsed.

The days that followed have been even harder. Jonathan has spent countless hours searching through the rubble, hoping to find friends alive. Instead, he has lost far too many people he loved. He still can't sleep because of the aftershocks and the memories of that day. He told me he still hears the screams in his ears.

Yet, through all of this heartbreak, Jonathan's focus has never been on what he lost. He keeps telling me, "We'll move forward. I'll work hard and rebuild."

That determination is exactly why I'm asking for your help.

I'm organizing this fundraiser because Jonathan would never ask for it himself. **All funds raised will go directly to Jonathan** to help him rebuild his life after this tragedy. Specifically, the donations will be used for temporary housing, replacing essential personal belongings and clothing, transportation, immediate living expenses, replacing work-related equipment and other necessities, and helping him begin the long process of recovering after losing his home and nearly everything he owned.

I will personally ensure that every donation is transferred directly to Jonathan, and I will continue to post updates so everyone who supports this campaign can follow his progress as he rebuilds.

If you've ever been fortunate enough to know Jonathan, you know he is the first person to help someone else without hesitation. Today, I'm asking our community to do the same for him.

Thank you for reading Jonathan's story, for keeping him and his family in your prayers, and for any support you can give. Every donation and every share brings him one step closer to rebuilding the life that was taken from him in a matter of minutes.