Grace Brethren ministry partners in the Philippines are beginning to see the needs in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Yolanda), one of the strongest storms on record, that devastated the Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013. Here are some updates for prayer, provided by the staff of Encompass World Partners, along with an opportunity to help them with what they now face.
Rey and Alma Paz: Please pray for us. We are contacting our relatives in Visayas but until now we received nothing from anyone of them. Rey’s relatives live in Victoria’s Bacolod City and Alma’s relatives all live in Tacloban Leyte.
Chris and Marietes Estares in Bicol: They and the other believers as well as their houses are okay other than the flooding in front of the ministry center. Regarding their livelihoods, some were able to harvest the rice already and are okay, while others lost their harvest because of the flooding.
Francis and Leah Daytec in Puerto Galera: The uprooted trees are being cut up, roads are being cleared, power lines fixed, roofs re-attached, and streets cleaned up. We have a badly smashed clinic vehicle wrapped in tarps outside our door, but not one life has been lost in the place, and we are beyond grateful. We are in awe.
The reminders of the storm are being cleared away and life is continuing… but a few small islands away, far too close, entire cities have been wiped off the map. Thousands upon thousands of lives lost in the biggest storm to ever hit our planet.
Our partners, Medical Ambassadors Philippines, are planning a relief mission to Tacloban on November 14-17, where it is estimated that over 10,000 people have died. The survivors are now starving, and the only remaining hospital is no longer accepting patients because of lack of supplies.
Dan and Tori Beaver on Boracay Island: We too have suffered much damage from the 200+mph winds of this massive storm, but none-the-less, we have opened our three-story First Love Ministry Center and School on Boracay Island to provide temporary shelter.
We need assistance in order to repair our buildings and buy food and water for the many devastated men, women, boys and girls are coming to us for help! There will be hundreds of Ati children and families. Many will need to rebuild their homes and lives.
The storm headed towards central and northern Vietnam after devastating the Philippines, schools were closed and hundreds of thousands were evacuated from their homes. We are checking to see about any needs we may be able to assist with in those areas.
If you would like to give financially, use this link for “Philippine Relief” and we will send funds to assist our ministry partners and the many needs that surround them. Please be in prayer for the Lord to use this tragedy to draw many to himself and they would be comforted by His love.