A few weeks ago I wrote about flooding in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, pleading for prayer and finances for the 15,000+ families who had lost nearly everything in the floods. The places hit the hardest were places where we shared the gospel in 2007, playing with children, doing dramas, going door to door with bibles and our testimonies, and giving away clothes, toys and food. We made many friends and left a part of our hearts there.
Because Tara and I went to Kona at the end of January and beginning of February I was looking at flying from Kona to the Philippines to join a few of our friends of the UK on a relief outreach. I wanted to go and was moments away from buying plane tickets when I felt the Lord tell me not to go. Instead, we sent financial support to help the team that did go from the UK. They undertook Project 1000. A team of about 8 from England (from The King’s Lodge and YWAM London) went to provide a package to 1000 families. You will see what that package included in the pictures below. For just $20, the entire package could be put together! FJ Ministries (our family’s ministry) was able to bless 25 families with a relief package.
The reports from the Philippines are outstanding. Two churches in the flooded areas have reported an increase of over 20 families in their church families. Several people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior through the relief efforts.
It’s not too late to send funds. If you want to send funds and know that 100% of what you send will reach the flood victims and will do so complete with the message of Jesus Christ, please let us know. You can donate to our ministry, FJ Ministries, and we will send it straight to the Christian workers in those communities.
How amazing it is to share God’s blessings. Just as God told Abraham we are all called to be blessed so that we can be a blessing to the Nations and families of the Earth.
This is Rudy De Guia, the base director of the YWAM base in Cagayan De Oro City. He is overjoyed with the outpouring of God’s blessings for the flood victims.
In the above picture you can see the backs of two tall Englishmen, Patrick Cronin and William, helping with the distribution of relief packages. They both were with us in 2007 and were able to make the trip back this year. They also did a lot of teaching and preaching while there, encouraging the Body of Christ. Justin Hanson can also be picked out just above William’s left shoulder and backpack, apparently standing on a distribution vehicle. They all work full-time with YWAM at two bases in England, The King’s Lodge and YWAM London. Maged Kalta, the base leader of the King’s Lodge, led the group down. His heart is always to give and redeem and I know his heart broke for the many needy families there.
Here’s another picture of Justin from the front – distributing rice – and Rudy.
Please continue to pray for the Body of Christ in the Philippines, for more Filipinos to begin following Jesus Christ, and for the Christians in Cagayan de Oro City.
