22/11/2013
Greetings!
We have just arrived the other day from the typhoon-ripped province of Leyte. We were able to visit the brethren affected by the typhoon in two areas. We have a detour route since the direct route to the area is very hard to pass. We have traveled from one island to another to reach first the island of Cebu. In the northern part of the island is the city of Bogo where there are about seven families that are SDARM including the family of Bro. Carlos Estrera, one of our senior ministers. We are very thankful to the Lord that there's no casualties among our members. Only there houses and properties were destroyed by the super typhoon. In Bogo City the brethren suffered only minor damage of properties. The roof of their houses were destroyed. The other brethren, only portion of their roof were destroyed while their neighbors who have a better homes were more greatly damage. We distributed food to our brethren in this area. But more relief and goods were distributed by our team to the unbelievers because more of them needed help. About two hundred families received our help in this area.
After that, we traveled the two big islands before we reach our main destination, the province of Leyte. It is a mournful scene when we see the once progressive and beautiful city of Ormoc that is in ruin. The people only erected tent outside their homes using candles and gas lamps. The city is dark as dark as their future. It was totally devastated by the typhoon like what I'd seen before in places destroyed by wars. In the distant barrio of this city, we have members, and we went there to visit them. We discovered them totally homeless. Their place was totally wiped out by the typhoon. All their houses, their source of living: the coconut, banana, and abaca plantations were totally destroyed by the typhoon, We could not notice anymore our church building, it was also wiped out. We also distributed food and clothing to our members and to the barrio people. We also conducted medical mission to this barrio and gave free medicines. We have Dr. Rene Bautista with us, a former member of our church that is now actively helping us in this mission. We were able to help 135 families in this area. The barangay official came and express her gratitude to us while tears were flowing on her cheeks specifically mentioning the name of our church.
After our relief and medical mission in this area, we passed through the town of Palo, Leyte and the city of Tacloban, the areas that were mostly affected by the super typhoon. Here, couldn't hold our human sympathies to the people affected. There are decaying corpses that are not yet retrieved for any reason we don't know. There is a foul odor most especially in the city of Tacloban. We did fastly distribute the bottled water that we have and immediately left the area. The city is like a ghost town. The malls and buildings, the hospitals, schools, and offices were depopulated. Only saw only few civilians and more military and police that are in the area.
However, we are very thankful to the Lord for His protection to the lives of our brethren. We would also express our gratitude to the brethren who extended their help, first to the GC Welfare Department, then to the Australian brethren,the US brethren, the Canadian brethren, and all others who extended their help. May God repay the benevolence of the brethren.
In the Lord's work, Bro. Marcelo Gines.
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