Hey you guys

Hope you are well and blessed?

It’s a week now since I came home and I am back to the grindstone! Just finished work but emailing you before I leave the office!

I went to Iligan not sure what to expect. Would the city be devastated and destroyed with need and anguish on every corner? Would I be overwhelmed?

In reality, nothing much looks any different on the surface. You would really hardly know there had been floods except for the occasional property that’s not been cleaned out and all the driftwood that seems to be everywhere (apparently all the massive logs got taken by the govt shortly after).

Its only when you speak to people and ask that you realize the sheer terror of what happened just before Christmas. Whole families were drowned in their beds. Children were swept away and drowned or found dead in the waters. People I know told me heart breaking accounts of their terrifying ordeals.

Then when you visit some of the areas where many homes were destroyed and you see what happened to concrete houses and the main new bridge, you get a feel for the power of the flood waters.

And when you visit the tent cities where 1000s of people live without elec or sanitation and as yet no real hope from the govt of a new home…..they talk of red cross grants for 50k or 70k pesos but no one got one yet! And how hot is it under canvass when its 34 degrees outside??

I prayed with people and for people. For sure there is need but mostly I saw people used to life struggles just trusting God and getting on with their days.

I saw Stephen and Sonia and their family really loving and helping kids and families both in their neighbourhood (feeding on Saturday morning) and at the dump (feeding on Monday morning). This totals some 300 kids approx and there is some real good kids and real needy kids and really hurting kids included (and all sorts of other kids too I guess!). Their new worship centre and home is just great. It’s a nice size upstairs room with kitchen and 3 beds/2 baths off it. Its spacious and airy with a nice balcony. They are in just the right place too. The neighbourhood is apparently where the shaboo is made and sold (crystal meth) for all of Mindanao. There are lots of kids with parents in jail for this. I guess the world has plenty to tempt a young man or woman with if they have no work or education…..

And the kids at the dump and their mums were just so pleased to see Stephen and Sonia and Adrian and Aiyleah. You can really see the love going both ways. Christ’s love.