PHILIPPINES: God’s Love in Action

Earthquakes, typhoons, floods. Earth’s natural disasters have dealt devastating blows to many locations in East Asia this year. While OMF International personnel have not lost lives, they have been surrounded by loss and devastation and placed among people desperate for hope.

Field workers describe flooding in the Philippines earlier this fall:

“The late September floods here surprised almost everyone. Water rose to an alarming height very quickly. It submerged entire communities. Many people died. Thousands of houses were destroyed or filled with mud. Rehabilitation work continues. People testified about their experience. Seniors hadn’t seen a flood like this in 42 years. Most blamed the government. Others looked deeper. They noted that new patterns are developing. Weather is changing worldwide. A very few others looked even deeper. They concluded that many factors were involved. Torrential rains. The sudden release of water from dams. Fast-growing population. Improper disposal of garbage. The use of plastic bags and bottles. Clogged drainage pipes. Communities built in flood plains. Lack of funds for government projects. Citizens who refuse to pay taxes. Corrupt officials.” ~ Andy Smith

In October: “Floods. 455 mm (17.9 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours on Sept. 26. Massive flooding. Hundreds died. Billions in property damage. … Three OMF missionary families were badly flooded, others in minor ways. It was all property damage, though. We haven’t yet met someone from a family who lost someone in the floods. … Jay visited the area along the Tullahan River to which he led a mission trip from the seminary last year. There were no casualties there, but there was widespread damage. Whole houses were swept away. Most other houses were flooded, many past the roof. Too many sad stories. Jay has a poignant memory of more than 100 families now living on a covered basketball court while they try to clean and repair their houses so they can return. The seminary collected relief goods and money, which Jay took there on Friday. Please pray for government, community and church leaders, and us, to have wisdom and strength for each to do their appropriate part in the rehabilitation of this shattered community (and others).

In November: "All 100 families temporarily housed there have either returned to their previous homes or to different ones. These homes are still on the same flood plain, of course, waiting for the next heavy rain to flood them again. The long-term and complex problems of economic and spiritual poverty remain. Still, the community is grateful for the help that we and others gave after the latest flood”. ~ Jay and Amor Hallowell

“The back-to-back typhoons in the Philippines, beginning on September 26, have killed at least 650 people and left many homeless. … In our small way, compared to the enormity of the destruction, we have been able to bring relief to some areas and continue to do so. We believe that each act of relief is an expression of God’s love and concern for people who are suffering. Pray that all who are affected will meet God in new ways as a result of these calamities.” ~ Richard Schlitt, Philippines Field Director

God is always at work turning our earthly calamities into opportunities for his glory. Pray for his comfort and restoration to those affected by this disaster.

Make a donation toward relief efforts.