When we allow God to burden our hearts and obey what matters most to Him, it seems as though our fast forward life slows to a pace where everything comes into perspective. It becomes very clear that we are in His presence and fulfilling the very thing we were created for. Although we minister week in and week out at Hope for the Island, we too can get comfortable and caught up in routine. Taking our Christmas break to go serve the victims of super typhoon Bopha was the best way to celebrate everything that our Savior represents. It was an end to the year that all of our staff will never forget! As we sat sharing testimonies from our outreach this morning the tears freely flowed. We all wish we didn’t have to leave.
As we traveled south into Mindanao, floods of memories came back to my mind from mission trips I had done in the past. I led teams into these remote areas within the province of Agusan. At that time our team ministered to the Manobo tribes affected by flooding that wiped out villages. On that trip, as I traveled in a hollowed out tree canoe over the flooded waters, God confirmed His call for me to the Philippines. I remember that overwhelming feeling that I was exactly where God wanted me to be. Nothing in life compares to being in the Lord’s will as we step out in faith and carry out His call to love. I remember that moment like it was yesterday. So here I am, fourteen years later returning to a place where it all started.
We are very thankful that God connected us to some believers in the area that have been faithfully reaching out to serve the victims since the typhoon hit. They helped us segregate all the food and supplies into gift packs for each household. The packs consisted of food, school supplies, toiletries and toys to be given out within four remote communities. These areas were some of the worst hit. Most homes were completely destroyed and it was clear that all livelihoods (palm oil, coconut, balcata, banana, rubber and rice) were wiped out by 220 km winds, landslides and flooding. The people in these areas are right on the edge of where typhoon Bopha made land fall. The unfortunate thing for them is that all media attention, aid and international funding have been focused just miles south of them, while they remain neglected. Although forgotten by the world, they are definitely not forgotten by God!
As we approached each village many people had a look of shock on their faces similar to the look of someone who has been in a traumatic accident. Others looked lost and helpless. There was a heavy feeling of despair as people stood by the shambles that used to be homes and looked out into fields where they were soon supposed to be harvesting. The people quickly drew close to our vehicles with a glimmer of hope and expectation. They were pointing to where their nipa huts once stood and shared stories of how they miraculously survived. Our staff went off in one direction with the kids trailing behind them. I knew they were in good hands. I watched our staff shift from being exhausted and car sick, to overflowing with love and care as they played games, shared God’s Word and gave gifts to the kids who desperately needed a touch of love. In one village I found Corah embracing a four year old girl who lost her mother and father when their house collapsed. The children shared how one of their friends had died from a coconut tree falling on him.
I was left with the adults. They gathered close with eyes fixed on me longing for answers. It took everything within me to hold back my emotions. I was at a loss for words as I stood before them. What can I say that will minister to this kind of despair? If there was any time that I needed God to speak through me it was then. The pastor, who stood beside me ready to interpret needed encouragement just as much as the others. His home and church was completely leveled and his family barely survived with eight feet of rushing water and debris that crushed everything he owned. Upon our arrival, he shared in tears how his faith had been wavering and our visit was an answer to his prayer.
As I opened the word, God led me to share on the broken and fallen world we live in and the devastating result of this on man and nature. I also shared on God’s love and how He works in the midst of tragedy to bring comfort and healing as well as to draw men unto Himself. It was amazing to see the transformation gradually come over the faces of the people. The Holy Spirit was revealing truth and tears turned to joy. Smiles filled their faces and they started cheering and clapping as I described the goodness of God and His purpose for their life!! We ended our time of ministry with prayer. The people came to me after thanking God and wanting me to thank all who made this mission trip possible. So with that… THANK YOU for helping send us on a journey of hope to the hopeless. Lives including ours have been deeply changed!
It was also great to see our children, Brison and Makana used mightily by God. They prepared their hearts well in advance for spending their Christmas break to help the victims. I was amazed that after a very long trip, they pushed through fatigue and emotions to love on the kids in each village we went to. I was a proud dad to watch them come into their own and let God work. After giving out all the food and gifts (many of which they brought from their bedrooms) Brison started playing and being his monkey self. At first I was going to stop him from being distractive but I watched people warmly responding to him and talking to him in the local language. As he started playing with the kids, everyone was smiling and laughing out loud. Even the men jumped in and pulled Brison on the Caribao (water buffalo) cart. Such a simple thing lightened the atmosphere of suffering.
Continue to pray for these people to place their trust in God as the source for life and direction. These villagers have a long way to go as they struggle to pick up the pieces and start a new life out of nothing. Funds were provided for Pastor Garcia to rebuild his home and church so that the people have a place to worship. Just as important as the literal rebuilding that will take place is the planting of the seeds of truth that went forth that day. We pray for these to bring forth fruit as those we left behind follow up and work with the villagers.
We also left behind a mobile water purifier so that people can turn contaminated water into safe drinking water. I ask that you also please pray because there is still looming danger that potentially awaits every village within these valleys. For some time a mountain river has stopped flowing. After inspection it was discovered that the surrounding banks completely gave way. All the mud and trees from the bank formed a natural dam blocking the water. After years, this has turned into a lake that covers almost ten hectares and has a depth well beyond the tallest coconut trees. Any day the dam could give way releasing the force of this lake over ten valley communities. This mountain lake is even a greater threat than the damage caused by typhoon Bopha. I have a friend trying to document this dangerous threat so we can raise awareness and come up with a possible solution.
