With over a week of no communication, we here in Canada suspected that yet another storm had hit Hope for the Island. We received this update from Derek.
Although not getting the international media attention of a super typhoon, we just experienced more than three weeks of very strong winds and non- stop torrential rains. We were unable to communicate because electrical lines and the tower used for cell phones and Internet was down.
Tropical Depression “Agaton” moved very slow and covered a large area spanning the entire Visayas and Mindanao regions. Winds were steady and directly hit us at 65 km/hr. from the north. Rainy season is generally hard, but nearly a month of that weather felt unbearable at times.
Absolutely everything was wet! Even the walls inside our buildings looked like we threw buckets of water on them. We had to mop floors in our home every hour to prevent flooding. All trees were stripped of leaves and branches. Roofs and walls of simple structures were damaged. Before we were able to finish all the repairs at our farm, we were again facing flooding and wind damage estimated to be around $600 USD. Neighboring rice farms have extensive damage with most losing their entire rice crop due to flooding.
The first week recorded rainfall to be at 46 inches. With 6 inches of rainfall per hour, landslides and flash floods were inevitable in the Mindanao area. Electrical towers were crippled and fatalities rose with more than 667,000 people displaced. Although it has been bad here at Hope for the Island, we feel very fortunate. It was nice to finally step outdoors into the sunshine and calm winds after weeks of hiding and trying to stay dry and warm.
Feeling a little defeated by the storm, our staff and youth decided to venture out into the wind and rain a few days before the storm settled. We went to a nearby waterfall that was gushing. It was a great belated birthday for me and we all enjoyed ourselves. With chattering teeth, we all swam and a few brave souls did some cliff jumping. After some warm cocoa, we lifted our voices in worship, prayer for one another and shared God’s Word above the sound of the wind and the waterfall. We left chilled to the bone, but with a unified sense of victory over the storm by literally jumping in with both feet rather than cowering away in defeat.
There is Biblical truth to glean from this as we face the storms and trials of life. It is much easier to hide from and complain about trials, but God calls us to respond in faith and obedience, being confident in the Lord to guide us through. The result is breakthrough in circumstances and relationships as we face the storm head on with Holy Spirit to lead us. Trials can be such a great opportunity to be led by and bear fruit according to the Spirit.
The calm, after such a lengthy storm here, reminds me of the peace and connection with God that comes as we pass faithfully through trials. God has stirred afresh my heart for pressing into and uncovering truth related to our identity in Christ. As we persevere through the first quarter of this year, identity seems to be a repetitive battle encountered by so many kids and youth that we serve. When we live in such a way that is centered on how God defines us, rather than be dictated by our past or by who others say we are, implications are huge. Please join us in prayer as we live in Him and lead others to discover who they are in Jesus.
From Elaine:
The sunny calm skies turned dark and heavy with rain again a few days after I received the report above from Derek. Just when the Philippines needed a break from catastrophes brought on by “Agaton”, another tropical depression “Basyang” hit Surigao.
It brought strong winds and rain that shut down all transportation, wreaking havoc in areas still under water and mud. Derek, Jenn and the kids are stranded in Surigao City as they wait out the storm. They need to travel to see a doctor in Cebu for some pressing health needs. Their plain is to travel by land to Butuan in the hopes of getting an earlier flight. Please keep them in prayer as they and others around them persevere through these challenging days. Pray for that supernatural joy and peace described in God’s Word in relation to walking through trials in James 1.
