Dear brethren,

Please ask everyone you know to pray for the saints in northern Luzon in the Philippines as one of the worst typhoons ever to hit that region is hitting them with torrential rains and powerful winds.  It is considered in the “super typhoon” category and is named Haima or locally Lawin.

I have received a number of messages from Filipino saints pleading for our prayers as the early rain and wind was moving into the Isabela and Cagayan Provinces.  The path will take it across northern Luzon, so other provinces will soon suffer devastation as well.  A couple of sample messages are reproduced below along with a map showing the path of the typhoon.

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

Update About the Typhoon Lawin

From: Rody C. Gumpad

Dearest Brethren in Christ,

As ye perhaps monitoring in the internet, the Super Typhoon named “Lawin” with international Code name “Haima” started now to pour out heavy rains here at Tuguegarao City this moment! Strong winds is expected to be experienced this late afternoon especially in the evening until it will land fall at midnight or early morning tomorrow in any part of our Province of Cagayan, according to the PAGASA Report latest Bulletin! Further report said that this is the STRONGEST Typhoon in History that will pass the Province of Cagayan but we believe in the mighty hands of God who will direct operations in this earth upon His will (Jonah 1:4/Matt. 8:24-26, etc.)!

Brethren, thank you so much for INCLUDING us and all the Saints here in your prayers at this time of calamity, please! It is possible that after few more hours from now when the strong winds will start we will lose our power and I don’t know when we can send again an update report! In fact, internet is already on & off now! I am not so much feeling well and I have no voice at this moment but I will end here this update and continue monitor our brethren especially those who are in the low-lying areas who needs some evacuation or any such assistance as result of the Typhoon! May God help and protect us all in every minutes of our lives wherever we are!

Because of Calvary, Rody C. Gumpad

Typhoon Haima (Lawin)

From: Lordy Salunga

Hello Bro. RON,

There is a very, very strong typhoon right now. It is a category 5 hurricane according to your standard. The winds are 225 kph and gustiness of 315kph. (140 mph winds; 197 mph gustiness). I have been communicating with Rody awhile back and told him and Tess and all the brethren there to take precautionary measures. This is no joke. It is a serious and dangerous storm. Their area – Cagayan – Isabela is under the highest storm signal: signal number 5.

Our youngest daughter is now in Baguio City and it is under signal no. 3 and we have instructed her to just be indoor. The storm will hit land in Tuguegarao at midnight. This will make it the more dangerous as it is hitting at dark.

Please pray for the brethren under siege of this extraordinary strong typhoon.

In brotherly love, Lordy