Hello to all of our family, friends, and faithful supporters. Yes we are still alive, and still doing well. The last three months have been really amazing!
First, in November we experienced super Typhoon Yolanda. I have never seen such destruction in my life! Whole towns and cities were basically destroyed. Whole neighborhoods were washed away. Thousands of coconut trees snapped like toothpicks, crops and livestock lost forever. Typhoon Yolanda not only devastated the land, but it also devastated the people of the Philippines. Yolanda tried to tear away the people’s hopes and dreams, but!
But Typhoon Yolanda also gave us many opportunities to minister to the people, minister to their spiritual and physical needs. We were and still are able to bring the good news of Jesus to them so that they might see that He is our only hope!
Through your prayer and support we were able to provide much needed food relief packages (rice, noodles, sardines, salt, sugar, dried fish, and soap), candles, matches, and bread. This help was greatly needed since typhoon Yolanda destroyed many crops including essential rice crops. The food relief also helped provide food for families that could not work due to the power being out for months. Our power was restored shortly before Christmas! There are still many areas that do not have power, clean water, and adequate shelter!
We also had the opportunity to make new friends. We met with Mark Roye and Mike Lynch of “Somebody Cares International” in Ormoc City. Somebody Cares International is an organizational that specializes in disaster relief; we encourage all to support this organization.
We also were able to partner with “Grace Community Empowerment” and “Baybay Assembly of God” to help with their “Houses for the Homeless” project. This project is dedicated to rebuilding 100 houses that were totally destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda.
And then! And then on January 31st we experienced another Typhoon; Typhoon Basyang. This Typhoon was not as strong as Typhoon Yolanda but if definitely brought more rain causing several flash floods. These flash floods destroyed numerous houses, crops, livestock, and boats.
We also continue to help fund medical care and to pay for prescription medications for the poor. Most people here cannot even afford basic medications.
This year we will launch our “Livelihood” Ministry. It is our goal to help people become self dependent by providing them with the needed tools, education and or materials/supplies to earn a living.
We also would like to remind everyone that the devastation caused by these Typhoons will not go away in a month or a year. It will take years to rebuild the towns and it will take time to mend the people’s hearts!
One last blessing! The Internal Revenue Service has approved our 501 (c) (3) application. We are now considered a tax exempt public charity! The Lord definitely moved in getting our application approved.
We thank all of you for your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for us and for the people of the Philippines!