Post from Ron Halbrook on Philippine Disaster

Dear brethren and friends,

This is an emergency plea!

I use caution in making appeals for financial help for Filipino brethren for several reasons (as much as possible the Philippine work must stand on its own if it is to be lasting; too many appeals can result in "burnout;" some brethren are frustrated over false appeals; etc.). There are rare occasions when tragedy and devastation are so widespread that the meager resources of our brethren are completely overwhelmed. A general alarm should be sounded on such occasions. When the saints of Judea were overwhelmed under such circumstances, Paul made a general emergency plea on their behalf to the brethren of Galatia, Macedonia, and Achaia (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:1-5). Paul said some brethren gave "beyond their power" because they "first gave their own selves to the Lord" (2 Cor. 8:3, 5).

Early Saturday morning September 26 super typhoon Ketsana (local name Ondoy) hit the central and southern provinces of Luzon with furious power, resulting in the heaviest downpour on Manila in 40 years. Metro Manila's twelve million people got a month's worth of rainfall (13-14 inches) in six hours with a total of 16 inches in nine hours, twice the amount which devastated New Orleans in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina. This resulted in the worst flood in a century, leaving 80% of Manila flooded, some areas standing under 20 feet of water. Naturally, the poorest people were hardest hit because they tend to populate the low-lying areas. Many of our brethren are still suffering from lack of food and medicines. Floods not only destroy homes and sweep away possessions, they also spread sickness and disease.

Saturday afternoon October 3 another super typhoon named Parma (locally Pepeng) hit Luzon which was still reeling from the effects of Ketsana just one week earlier. Northern Luzon was hardest hit, especially the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela. As the storm moved through northeastern Luzon, winds exceeded 110 mph, with gusts even higher. Tuguegarao City, the capital of Cagayan Province, had 4.6 inches of rain dumped on it within a few hours. The mayor reported the worst damage in a decade. Some areas of northern Luzon got 16 inches of rain. Parma moved across northern Luzon and inundated the northwestern provinces, began moving out to sea, and then moved back and sat over the northwest -- again unleashing more wind and rain. Thus, the Ilocos provinces suffered a week of pounding! The results have been devastating.

As the news began to filter in, I was away from home preaching. Since returning home I have communicated with numerous Filipinos via e-mail and phone. I will share a sampling of firsthand reports by our brethren:

1. "Today, people are hungered including our brethren and joining for line up waiting to beg some relief foods and medicines. Luckily, no one died with our brethren here wherein I administered, but the present situation is to relieved their hungered and children and even the old are starting to have sickness like fever, flu, diarrhea… Business and jobs are paralyzed, and commodities were taking advantage with the high cost" (Jojo Tacbad, 9-30-09; Jojo works with three congregations: Betis, with 70 members; San Roque Guagua, with 35; Camp Venzon Arayat, with 27).

2. "The 5 congregation I worked for were all affected by the typhoon, some of their houses were washed away. It was horrible. Now they were falling in line, staying there, waiting for 8 hrs just to get some donations (i.e., food). Some of them fainted" (Jaime Bobis, 10-7-09). Jaime serves five congregations and reports on efforts to clean up and rebuild, and brethren are still standing in long lines to seek food from the government. "In fact some of the children are suffering from amoebaiasis, skin disease and diarrhea" (Jamie Bobis, 10-13-09).

3. "Regarding to the present situation of the brethren, recently they still coping to the huge destruction that left by this calamity. Still they repairing their houses that ruined by the flood, especially the houses where we gather for worship and services. They are depending... help from the local congregations here and abroad, from non-Christians and Government services, to sustain their basic necessities for everyday life while they are on the stage of recovery… In terms of my estimation of the financial needs among our brethren; $3,000.00 dollars for the seven congregations who really affected by this calamity (Sta. Mesa, Marilao, Tondo, Pasig, Cainta, Meycauayan and Taguig). These will cover their food (like sack of rice, canned goods, noodles) and materials needed for repairing of houses (like roofs, cement, lightings and lumbers)" (Abraham Cruz, 10-8-09; about 1/3 of the needed amount was received).

4. "We need here in my place some food, because some of the brethren here can't go to work for almost a week, that is why their financial needs, specially for the food is needed." He said the meeting place of the church at Salacot, San Miguel, Bulacan was washed away and they need funds to rebuild. (Leonardo Layusa, 10-8-09).

5. A phone call from Leonito Torreliza said brethren gathered at his house pleading for food and other help, and he could offer nothing but tears (10-10-09).

6. "The super typhoon 'Parma or Pepeng' devastated northern Luzon including the whole Ilocos region for almost 1 week with strong rains and wind… Today one week since the typhoon, the first bright sunlight we have after the constant rain. As we visit brethren this morning, everybody is out in the field trying to glean what is left by the typhoon. This makes life harder for all and everyone is in need and welcomes every drop of help" (Egdon Sabio, 10-10-09; he estimates only 10 % was harvested before the typhoon, which means brethren will suffer for months to come).

7. "Our house is the place where brethren comes because we are higher in location.... Nieves supply of rice and groceries last for just two meals. Brethren need food so badly" (Mat Sibayan, Sr., 10-10-09).

8. "Our priority needs are food and medicine for our rice crops ready to harvest was destroyed as it was flooded, some covered by sand and gravel and mud and some tore down by strong winds. The situation of the saints is very difficult as typhoon Pepeng stayed for 5 days in Ilocos Norte with heavy rains and strong winds, we thought we could not survived. Thanks God we are safe" (Vic Domingo, 10-7-09).

9. Messages were relayed through Virgilio Jacob: "All the Bibles and song books which they used for their Worship every Lord's day got wet and some are carried by the strong current of water. Members personal belongings are also carried by water" (Virgilio Jacob, 9-28-09). A fellow preacher was evacuating his family: "This is to avoid his family to got some sickness especially that assorted waste materials are floating around their houses and several casualties that are drawn from the strong current of water. Their house are partially damage and some of their personal belongings got wet and carried by the current of water" (Virgilio Jacob, 10-1-09).

10. "Ready to harvest palay [rice] and corn are already destroyed. Farming is the number one source of income of the people for their living (church members are included) and now they are facing much hardship due to the lost of their crops… Due to the effect of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng (more than 10 billions pesos worth of damages to infrastructures, houses, crops, animals and several hundred of casualties are estimated by the National Disaster Coordinating Council - NDCC), the estimated amount needed by the members of the three congregations I am serving are more or less fifty thousand (P 50,000) pesos [equivalent to over $1,000]. This amount is for the members for their immediate needs. However, any amount you can extend or share to us will be highly appreciated" (Virgilio Jacob, 10-8-09).

11. "The MOST pitiful ones are the little children of these farmers, who don't understand the words, 'NO MORE COOKED RICE or NOTHING IN THE POT'…The problems of the farmers bother them -- such as food for their families, loans from the banks or loan sharks which amounts of money were used for the planting of rice and corn, fertilizers, insecticides, etc. Of course, they could not pay them, and next harvest season, these debts will become double because of high interest and amount of money for buying seeds for the next planting season which is next month, November to December, 2009. It will be harvested on February, March to April, 2010." Domie and his son Frankie are serving three congregations and the total number of souls is about 500 including children. (Domie Jacob, 10-9-09).

12. "We encountered close traffic road situation and saw many Electric posts downed, trees uprooted, and houses both partially and totally destroyed on the way! It is really hard to explain! To see the high waters still moving in the farms, in the residential, going down to the Cagayan River is very fearful thing! Many were crying because their Crops ready for harvest were totally disappeared, destroyed, and nothing they can get anymore! …Brethren, there are more harder situations happened here as result of this Typhoon so we just want to ask your prayers because I am getting so many valid request of urgent assistance from brethren all over the Region but I cannot help! I told them that we can only help them by our prayers!" (Rody Gumpad, 10-4-09). "There are 160 Active Congregations we have in our record covering Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Kalinga, Apayao, and Batanes!" (Rody Gumpad, 10-8-09).

This is only a small sample of the messages I have received from brethren in the provinces which were stricken. I also have messages from Ben and Elias Cruz, from Elijah Sikat, and from others in the Manila area. The Kapitbahayan church where Ben preaches was able to meet its own needs for the most part because they were not hit as hard as others, but many churches in the greater Manila area are in need.

For pictures, news reports, messages from Filipino brethren, and updates on relief efforts, access http://harryosborne.blogspot.com via the internet. Google Ketsana, Ondoy, Parma, or Pepeng to see additional graphic pictures made available by the media and individual Filipinos.

None of us can meet the overwhelming needs of so many brethren singlehanded or all at once, but surely our hearts will be open to do what we can. "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again" (Prov. 19:17). "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not" (2 Cor. 8:12).

I can put brethren in touch with Filipino saints so that funds can be delivered directly to them. Upon request, I am willing to act as a messenger to deliver funds to Filipino brethren. God willing, I will travel to Manila on October 30 to preach the gospel.

Individuals wanting to help may wish to keep a record of their donation for a tax deduction (the receipt required by the IRS for donations of $250 or more will be sent). In that case, checks can be made out to HELP A NEIGHBOR and sent to my address. All other checks from individuals can be written to RON HALBROOK, as well as all checks from churches, and can be sent to my address.

Above all, pray earnestly for God to relieve the suffering of these precious saints and their children. Pray not only for their physical needs, but also for God's consolation to give peace to their distressed hearts. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (Ja. 5:16).

In Christian Love,
Ron Halbrook3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954
(phone 502-955-1748; 957-6726)
(E-mail: halbrook@insightbb.com)