after Typhoon in Philippines
Dear OCECC family,
1) I am alive and well. The house has a couple of leaks and fallen trees, but nothing serious. We did not have power for about 24 hours.
2) Because we did not have power nor did we have a radio, we only heard news through friends by cell phone. Many church member’s homes were flooded. Most people did not have power. School was, of course, canceled. Around lunch time we heard that the typhoon had finally made it across the entire Philippines and could be considered “over.” But we also heard that there were a number of shipwrecks, killing people. Later in the evening, we attended the prayer meeting at church (despite having no power…we gathered outside and prayed together before the sun set) and found out that many people in neighboring communities drowned. I think three church members from one of our sister churches drowned in the flood. People also died in the communities I had been conducting interviews in.
3) Power is slowly being restored across the island
4) This is very emotionally traumatic for me and I would appreciate your continued prayers. Like I shared in the previous e-mail, it is difficult for me to understand their lives here. I could not sleep last night. I knew I was safe because our house is relatively sturdy–it’s comparable to a western home. Like I said, I wasn’t afraid. I could not sleep because I knew that other people couldn’t sleep. People I know. People I interviewed. Friends from church. I knew that their homes were flooding. I knew most of them were probably scared that their homes could collapse at any minute. I knew that their foundations were shaking. I didn’t sleep; I just prayed and prayed and prayed. The wind started to die down around 3:30am. I finally fell asleep but soon woke up at 7. I tried to stay in bed, but remained restless. I am emotionally exhausted. I just don’t understand how people survive knowing that these storms come back every year. The Philippines experience approximately 20 typhoons a year.
5) It is strange that I came here to study the church’s typhoon relief efforts and now I have an experience of a typhoon…but at the same time, I don’t have any experience. My experience has been nothing like those whose homes flooded today, like those who lost family members in the storm, or like those whose homes collapsed. Please pray for the people here.
With love and gratitude,
Jessica Chen
July 17th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Dear Hevenly Father,
We know we are living in this world that is contaminated by the evil mind and evil deed. The nature is destroyed and express its revange. We really want to confess our sins that against you. We know we are already corrupted and not be able to be good again. But, dear heavenly Father, you are a mercy God. For saving the evil people like us, you sacrifice your holy, royal and glory Son Jesus Christ. You give us the hope to be good people again in your kingdom. Dear Lord, please also give the hope to the people who are still in the flood and in the dark corners. Lord, you save us not only our physical bodies but also our eternal lifes. Lord, please extend your mercy hand to touch the people who lost their beloved ones, who lost their properties and bring them hope again and let them know you are in control. When flood is over the land, our God is still on His throne and He will lead us through the difficult times. My our cry and pray reach to your throne! May your protection and peace be with us until we see your face!
In your Son Jesus Christ’s powerful, glorious, victorious name I pray, Amen.
Yu Luo
July 17th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Dear Jessica,
Thank you for keeping us informed, as a battlefield reporter. It is really hard to see God’s grace through disasters. With people around you hurting, suffering and dying, you have been through a spiritual war manifested in a nature disaster. Be strong, Our Lord is with you and so do our prayers.
Since the Fall, both the mankind and the land have been cursed. “The whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” (Rm 8:22) Though we have hope in Christ and know He will restore and recreate everything, but it requires patience. “But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Rm 8:25)
I can understand your sleepless nights for those people suffering, even though you are in a safe house. May the Holy Spirit give you wisdom to comfort those people in agony, and shine their wrecked life with hope. Sometimes God will push us out of our safe house to be with those in danger, so that we can better realize their feelings and have tested faith to tell others to have faith, tested hope to tell others to have hope, tested strength to tell others not to be afraid. The incarnated Son suffered all that mankind have suffered, so he knows how we feel, and will accompany anyone who believes in Him until everything is over.
In Christ,
Yingqiang