Strong Earthquake Strikes Mindanao
Dear family, brethren, and friends,
On Wednesday, October 16, an earthquake measured at 6.4 to 7 magnitude hit southern Mindanao in the Philippines where there are many faithful Christians. There have been hundreds of aftershocks including another earthquake on Sunday the 20th measuring 4.7. Many homes and church buildings of our brethren were destroyed and a sister in Christ with her infant were killed by a landslide resulting from the quake. Multiple reports have arrived from the brethren who are affected asking for funds for food, clothing, medicines, and the repair of damaged and destroyed homes and church buildings. Many have been evacuated from their farms and homes and have not been allowed to return. Help is needed ASAP and information about how to send funds will be found at the end of this message.
Here is a typical report sent by Julie Notarte from Digos City, capital of the province of Davao del Sur:
THERE WAS A STRONG EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY 6.3 HERE IN DIGOS CITY & IN KIDAPAWAN CITY INTENSITY 7. ALMOST ALL OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN DIGOS CITY EVACUATED TO HIGHER PLACE BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID THERE MIGHT BE A TSUNAME. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO SLEEP THE WHOLE NIGHT BECAUSE WE RECEIVE COUNTLESS CALLS FROM DIFFERENT PLACES – TOWNS, PROVINCES & CITIES PLEADING FOR HELP BECAUSE THE HOUSES & CHURCH BUILDINGS OF OUR BRETHREN WERE DESTROYED BY STRONG EARTHQUAKE. TWO BRETHREN DIED DUE TO THEIR HOUSE COVERED BY LANDSLIDE DUE TO EARTHQUAKE. THEY ARE MEMBERS OF MALAWANIT CHURCH OF CHRIST, MALAWANIT, MAGSAYSAY, DAVAO DEL SUR.
ON OCT. 17, WE COMFORT THE FAMILY OF OUR TWO BRETHREN WHO DIED. I HELP A LITTLE AMOUNT FOR THE BURIAL EXPENSES & FOR THEIR FOOD.
ON OCT. 18, WE DISTRIBUTED RICE, NOODLES, & MEDICINES TO THE EVACUEES DUE TO SEVERE EARTHQUAKE IN THEIR PLACE. THEY WERE NOT ANYMORE ALLOWED BY THE GOVERNMENT OFFICERS TO GO BACK TO THEIR RESIDENCE BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY BIG FAULTS IN THEIR PLACE & COUNTLESS CRACKS ANYWHERE IN THEIR PLACE.
THERE ARE MORE THAN FIFTY CONGREGATIONS VERY MUCH AFFECTED OF THE SEVERE EARTHQUAKE THAT DESTROYED HUNDREDS OF HOUSES & CHURCH BUILDINGS OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST. THERE WERE COUNTLESS LANDSLIDES DUE TO EARTHQUAKE. PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR BRETHREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE.
TO SEE PICTURES OF HOUSES OF OUR BRETHREN & CHURCH BUILDINGS OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST THAT WERE DESTROYED BY EARTHQUAKE PLEASE GO TO MY FACEBOOK ACCOUNT “JULIE DIVINE ALBANO NOTARTE”. EVERY DAY THERE ARE PICTURES ADDED OF HOUSES DESTROYED BY EARTHQUAKE & CHURCH BUILDINGS DESTROYED BY EARTHQUAKE. BRETHREN ARE PLEADING FOR HELP. ANY AMOUNT OF HELP EVEN THOUGH HOW SMALL IT IS WILL BE GREATLY RECEIVE & PROPERLY USE.
For more information, go to https://www.upi.com/Top_News/
Anyone wishing to contact Julie directly may do so via email at jdanotar@yahoo.com or via his Facebook account as noted in the report.
If you receive appeals from people you do not know, crosscheck with me or someone else knowledgeable about the Philippine work to avoid sending funds to scammers and unreliable persons who may try to use this tragedy to some personal advantage. I am not suggesting that Julie is the only reliable contact, but it is never good to send money to people you do not know.
I am ready and willing to relay funds from individuals or churches if requested to do so. Individuals can have a legal tax deduction by making checks to HELP A NEIGHBOR, otherwise simply make the checks to Ron Halbrook. Mail all checks to 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954 or use Paypal (if using Paypal to halbrook@twc.com, provide a message saying it is for Help A Neighbor only if you need a tax deduction). H.A.N. does not accept church funds, but I can serve as a personal messenger to relay funds on behalf of churches or individuals.
In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook
To see good Bible study material, go to:
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https://biblework.
https://truthbooks.com
https://www.truthmagazine.com