This update from GCI Philippines director Eugene Guzon describes the terrible aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan (called Typhoon Yolanda inside the Philippines).
As you know, Typhoon Yolanda has devastated part of my country, the Philippines. The damage is particularly great in the area known as the Visayas. The typhoon left behind heartbreaking loss of life along with terrible suffering and massive destruction. The situation is chaotic. Many people lack food and safe drinking water. Many are dying from disease and injury. There is much desperation.
Many GCI members are among the thousands of victims in Tacloban, Samar, Iloilo, Aklan and other affected provinces. Though Tacloban was the worst hit, Samar also took a terrible beating, and several other areas in the Visayas were severely damaged.
Danny De Guia, a GCI assistant pastor and area superintendent for Visayas has just returned from visiting Tacloban. The GCI members he located there are alive, though weak and lacking basic necessities like food, electrical power and communications. There are some we have not been able to contact yet. We hope and pray that they are safe. Many of the residents of Tacloban are fleeing the area, though transportation is hard to find.
I talked with our pastor in Kalibo. Our members there also lack necessities. Some of them have lost their homes and had to flee to neighboring towns to find shelter. They were told that power will not be restored for a couple of months.
I have asked our pastor in Bicol and members of our staff inthe National Office to go to Tacloban to get more information on how we can address the needs of our members in Tacoloban. We are exploring setting up a supply center in nearby Samar to feed them and provide other necessities. However, it is still risky to bring these things into the area due to a lack of security.
I ask for continuing prayer for these people—please pray that they experience God’s grace, healing, relief, peace and provision at this difficult time. These are trying times for many of our brothers and sisters. When they hurt, we all hurt, for God has united us to one another. My prayer is that against this backdrop of pain, suffering and calamity, our love will abound even more.
Here is a related message from GCI treasurer Mat Morgan:
Thanks to previous generous donations to the GCI Disaster Relief Fund, we were able this week to wire about $35,000 (U.S.) to help our brothers and sisters in the Philippines recover from Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). This donation was in addition to ones sent earlier this month to help those affected by the recent earthquake there.
If your congregation would like to help us respond quickly to this and future disasters, please have your treasurer either make a donation through the online portal at https://www.gci.org/participate/donate or send a check to the fund at the address below. Your donations change lives by providing necessities to members who find themselves overwhelmed and in need.
GCI Disaster Relief Fund P.O. Box 5005 Glendora, CA 91740
We are humbled by the show of love and concern from our brothers and sisters in the US. As Mr Guzon said, these are trying times for our country, especially for those directly affected by the recent calamities that hit our country. It is comforting to know there are goodhearted people like you ready to lend a helping hand in times of need. God bless you all a thousandfold and THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
It saddens me greatly to see the suffering of the Filipino people in the Visayan Islands in the aftermath of Yolanda. I had the great pleasure of ministering in Cebu, Bicol and Manila a year ago and fell in love with the people and their culture. It appears that many in Cebu have been devastated. My prayers are with you all, including my dear brothers and sisters in GCI’s Manila office helping coordinate relief efforts.
Dear precious ones, our love and prayers are with you at this time. We know there are no words to bring relief at a time like this, but we know God will hear our prayers. Many prayers are going up for you and our hearts goes out to you. We were there in Tocoblan for the Feast some years back now but our hearts still remember the love and fellowship there. Our hearts are heavy for you but we know there is nothing too hard for God, even at these horrible times. We continue to appeal to Him for your strength and comfort.