Philippine Trip & Devastating Floods

With the funds received today, I have reached the goal needed for the evangelistic efforts in this trip to the Philippine. I appreciate more than words can express the generosity of each one. Chip Foster and I would appreciate your prayers during our trip from January 8-31, 2012. By the way, Chip is still some short of the amount he needs for the trip.

As many of you know, a typhoon hit the northern coast of Mindanao last Friday night about midnight. The severity of the storm was not expected, so residents had no warning. To this point, about 1000 dead have been found with the totals expected to increase. The cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were especially hard hit. These cities are also home to many of our brethren. The late Cipriano Carpentero labored in Cagayan de Oro for many years and his son, Jhun, continues that very fruitful work. Edgar Samadal is a faithful gospel preacher in Iligan City who has also done much effective work throughout the area. In addition to those brethren, numerous other faithful brethren live in the area including a number of preachers recently converted out of premillennial and instrumental churches.


The letters and reports I have gotten to this point are heart wrenching with the degree of devastation detailed. Food and water are in very short supply. Basic medicines are not available to the average person. With the infected flood waters, disease is starting to affect many with dysentery. Many have lost all or most of their clothing and household items. Both the news accounts and the firsthand reports I am receiving suggest a critical situation. Beyond these immediate needs for survival, many homes and church buildings of brethren have been swept away or badly damaged. Rebuilding will be a long process.


If you know of churches or individuals who would like to help with benevolence towards these brethren, please ask them to consider this great need. Chip Foster and I have agreed to change our schedule to go immediately to the affected area upon our arrival in the Philippines. We would be glad to convey help to the brethren there if you would like us to serve as messengers to that purpose. The brethren in that area have requested that we come to help with benevolent distribution in order to attest to an honest and fair use of the funds. With the history of honesty and faithfulness I have seen from the brethren in that area, I would expect them to be fully transparent in meeting this need and providing an account of the funds. Chip and I will work with them to assure the same and provide a record of the dispersal of funds to all who help.


If a church wants to help, this can be done in several ways. First, if you would contact me, I would be glad to give you contact information to send the funds directly to faithful brethren who can help in that distribution. Second, if you would prefer to use Chip Foster or me as messengers to deliver those funds, please send the funds to us as soon as possible with a notation for “benevolence to Filipino brethren” and we will see to the distribution of those funds and send a report on the distribution upon our return.

If an individual wants to help in this effort, the same ways as above can also be used. In addition, if you want to give $500 or more to this effort and receive a tax deduction, a tax exempt organization set up by Ron Halbrook has agreed to receive funds for this need and send them to the Philippines where Chip and I will help see to the distribution of those funds as well. Individuals wanting to take advantage of this tax-deductible opportunity for benevolence, church buildings and similar needs can write checks payable to “Help A Neighbor” and send them to 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954. Also, please make a notation with the check as to the purpose you are sending (like “benevolence for Dec. 2011 storm,” “rebuild church buildings,” etc.). Donors receive financial reports (2 Cor. 8:21).


Thank you for your consideration of these needs. May God bless your efforts in His service.


Brotherly,


Harry Osborne
303 S. Czech Hall Rd.
Tuttle, OK 73089
harryrosborne@live.com


Chip Foster
307 N. Elm
Tolar, TX 76476
txchipper@windstream.net