Nov. 1- 3, 2010 - Family Getaway

We took a few days and headed south to Subic Bay and it was so nice to breathe a bit before getting back to more flood clean up and ministry work.

October 31, 2009 - Caroling

Ok, so when you hear the word "caroling" you automatically think December. Well, Christmas season starts here in September, so our kids wanted to go out caroling, and though it didnt feel like Christmas to us, we decided to go out and have some fun.

Here in the Philippines, when children carol, their audience gives them candies or money. So, our kids were thrilled to fill their bags with lots of goodies from all our members' homes.

We started off the night with me teaching them and lots of singing..then we caroled till late! It was really fun!

October 13-15 - Relief at Last

After a whole week of trying to find enough food for everyone...funds have arrived from the states!! The waters are down enough to travel on the roads, and we were able to buy ALOT of food and personal items. We spent the last 2 days diving and packaging up rice and groceries. We were able to buy and distribute enough food for ONE WHOLE WEEK to every single Believer here in our ministry..That is nearly 200 people! There was sooo much food..it filled 3 rooms in the church. We also bought over 1,000 pounds of rice. The people were overwhelmed with thanksgiving when we delivered it today!!!

October 8-13, 2009 - TOTAL Disaster Here

Parma, the typhoon that exited last week...whipped around and came back and nailed us..
The past 5 days have been rough...for lack of better words. I can not even explain the events that have unfolded and the suffering we have seen and been through. This one about broke me and I am still emotionally trying to deal with it...we were hit with 3 back to back typhoons, the latest one on Thursday did us in. I just can't even put it into words yet.. I'm trying to heal from all the tramatic things that we have just went through, and are still dealing with..
6 feet of water submerged our whole village within 2 hours after the main dam broke here. Everyone that does not have an upstairs was swept away. We live up on stilts ( the equililent of a 2nd story building..) so people began to swim here. We had 150 evacuees stranded in our home and church. We have had no running water or power for FIVE days. No way to go to the bathroom other than in cups and throw it outside.. ( that is nearly 200 people all doing this right here)... the smells, the sounds. I am just still coping through this. I am usually a strong person, but this one has broken me.
Everything is ruined in the church, the mess and filth is undescribable. this is my 2nd MAJOR natural disaster in one year's time...Im tired and sick and distraught. Please pray for me.
I'm posting some pictures now and will talk more about this when I am emotionally ready.
Just pray right now for this... 1. many church members have lost everything, 2. there is no food, no gas and no roads open for supplies to get in 3. the mess that we have to deal with now is unreal
ok, well...I'm gonna try to post some pictures.

October 16, 2009 - All Roads Open

It feels good to get out to the city!

The water is down enough to travel out and get supplies in from Manila..YAY! We went out and loaded up, though everything is picked over and people are in a state of panic. Also prices have tripled. We paid nearly 4 dollars for a head of cabbage!! It is crazy! It feels like the end times!

October 6- WHAT a WEEK!

Ok, so the weather is NOT good over here. I have not done laundry in FOREVER! We have had like 3 back to back typhoons..thankfully, this last one changed course and did not hit us as hard as we thought it would. But it has rained, and rained and RAINED for weeks now and I am forgetting what sunlight even looked like. On top of that, I got the flu this week..well, I think it was the flu. I also think it may have been my body's way of just shutting down after all the stress and work of preparing for the storms. After losing nearly everything last year, I tend to get a little excited about typhoons, so I tense up a little more than I should. Anyway, after losing power ALOT and going through a rough week, I think we are finally getting back to normal. I am feeling better some...and hope to get back to blogging..

Sept.28, 2009 - time to PRAY

Tonight we met at one of the home Bible Studies to pray for the families that were affected by the floods..one of our member even has a sister in Manila that she hasnt heard from and they can't contact her! This tragedy has affected us all here in the Philippines and we just met together and prayed for the Lord's healing. Also for His protection as we have 3 back to back typhoons headed our way. We know that the Lord is in control..but yeah, it is still definitely scary. I have been running around trying to get all that we need, though I cant find D Batteries ANYWHERE! AHHH!! Ferd has all the windows boarded up and we are as ready as we can be..