Philippine Typhoon - Post 9

Philippine Typhoon

 

Saturday November 16, 2013

 

Dear Friends,

 

Please read this entire report from Eric Hatfield and Dan Cadavos.  They are in among the people of the villages helping the churches to reach their entire village.  This action is the result of all the work done for years by nationals and missionaries.  This is the local church in action.

"We just returned from the northern part of Panay Island and saw the unbelievable devastation.  I can only imagine what Tacloban, Leyte, and Samar look like.  It was a sad sight. Looking at many of the faces you see very few smiles, but you see a determination.  A determination to get through this calamity and continue on with life.  We heard an article title that said: "Strongest Typhoon Meets Strongest People". The Filipinos certainly are strong.

...we met with some pastors, deacons and church members of some good churches in the area.  Many of them were church plants of Doane Baptist in Iloilo.  We worked with Pastor Jun from that church today.  He was able to make part of the trip with us.  He also has offered to help us with manpower to help pack our supplies into smaller packets to give to the churches to distribute.

We visited Benate Fundamental Baptist Church (Pastor Gilbert Leving) who had some roof damage to his church.  Pastor Jun knows this man well and knows we can trust him so we felt led by the Lord to give him some money (3000 pesos - about $65 USD) to help with a temporary roof.  We also gave him some gospel tracts.

We visited Doane Baptist Church of Viejo.  We didn't get to meet the pastor because he is doing relief in another area but we did speak with a deacon.  Their church is in great condition and their people's houses are fine, but they have a lot of sickness in their area.  They have also been without power for over a week now.

We visited Ajuy Fundamental Christian Church where Pastor Jun used to pastor.  Pastor Charlie Parrenio is the current pastor.  This pastor was not available because of relief work as well.  The church building was fine, but they had a building in the rear they used for a Sunday School class as well as storage that was completely destroyed.  They had lots of gospel tracts and "John and Romans" booklets destroyed with the building.  A deacon in the church lives in front of the church and his house also was completely destroyed.  This may be a good place for a construction team to come and help.  We gave them some gospel tracts to be distributing.

We visited Doane Baptist Church of Carles (ground zero for this island).  The pastor is Joseph Alcubilla.  This is a new church plant in the area.  The church building is fine, but all 10 families had everything destroyed.  We felt led to give 500 pesos (about $11 USD) per family to help with basic food, water and shelter until we can get back with more.

There are two other church we are interested in possibly helping:  Doane Baptist Church of Distancia and Conservative Bible Baptist Church also in Distancia.  This city is declared as 80% destroyed by the local government.

Tomorrow after church, we will purchase food and other basic needs to give to the churches to distribute.  After the evening service here in Iloilo, we will be using Doane Baptist's people to pack into small, easy-to-hand-out packages.  We have a plan of giving rice, sardines, soap, shampoo, laundry soap, candles, matches, and toothpaste to distribute.  We have calculated a cost of 160 pesos (less than $4 USD) per family for these needs which should last at least a couple days.  We plan on putting together 250 of these packages (all with a gospel tract) for distribution.

We plan on heading back into the areas on Monday to distribute the packages.

This is our plan for the next couple days.  It is hard to plan any further than that.  We are also still awaiting to hear concerning a medical team.

Keep praying that we will be able to make a dint in the needs here.

Eric"

Eric and Dan are doing a wonderful job.  Pray for their safety as they work and travel.

We are now starting an outreach to Tacloban and Leyte.  Please pray for the efforts of missionaries who have contacted us there.

This now means we are working to the north of Cebu City through National Hoops.  They also want to go to Taclaban, Leyte.

Eric and Dan are on Panay Island which is hit very hard. 

Now we are beginning to make efforts on Tacloban. 

These are all the hardest hit area.  Our local well established churches are our main source of labor and distribution.  Pray we can sustain all the help to these islands.

Please consider this “open door”, and let’s not hesitate to go to the harvest.

If you would like to give by debit or credit card, please go to www.operationrenewedhope.org and choose Network for Good.

If you would like to send a check, please send to Operation Renewed Hope, P. O. Box 43242, Fayetteville, NC 28309.  Please mark the check “International Relief.”

God bless all who try to help us with the suffering of others and the salvation of their souls.

Jan Milton

Operation Renewed Hope
1017 Sage Green Ct.
Raleigh, NC 27610
910-987-5072
www.operationrenewedhope.org