Dear brethren,

On September 15 while the Carolinas here in the U.S. faced Hurricane Florence, Luzon in the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Mangkhut or “Ompong,” a category 5 storm (Florence hit as a category 1).  CNN reported, “Mangkhut was the strongest storm anywhere on the planet in 2018, carrying gusts of up to 325 kilometers per hour (200 mph) before it made landfall in Cagayan province, on the northern tip of Luzon, about 1:40 a.m. local time.”

Brother Rody Gumpad with the help of several brethren surveyed the vast damage in the Cagayan Province and nearby provinces (though not comprehensive of all the churches in all of these or other provinces).  He listed the name and location of the churches, the evangelist’s name at each place, the active members and attendance, the estimated amount needed in each place, and notations regarding churches that reported receiving some help (not meaning all the needs were met in those places).  The total of these reported needs is $91,400.00 U.S. dollars (almost 5 million pesos).  Including funds already relayed by myself and others, $15,900.00 can be distributed (which would average about $90 per congregation if divided in that manner), i.e., lacking $75,500.00 to actually meet the estimated needs among the brethren.  The most pressing needs are food and repairs to destroyed houses.  Rody’s breakdown of this information is dated September 26 and reproduced below.
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