Dear brethren,

Typhoon Koppu entered the Philippines October 12 and was given the Filipino name Lando.  The heavy rains affected several parts of the Philippines but the brunt of this monster storm was felt on Luzon, especially the central and northern provinces.   As of October 22, it has left in its wake 54 dead, hundreds injured, and 100,000 displaced from their homes.  Corn, banana, and rice crops were destroyed and thousands of houses damaged or destroyed.  Many people are now hungry and seeking food and shelter, including our brethren.

Here are a few sample messages I have received in recent days and more arrive each day:

1. October 17: “Yesterday, ten houses destroyed of the typhoon Lando at Tukuran and rice plant of our brethren covered of a sand from mountain, because of the flood.” (Jun Tobias, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur; the typhoon did not directly hit Mindanao but generated rain)
2. October 19: “At around 12:00 A.M – 2:00 A.M (Sunday) when typhoon Lando hit our Province and we experiences storm signal no. 3 while Aurora province was experienced storm signal no.4. We experience strong wind and heavy rains while the typhoon is very slow to move with 6 Km. per hour….This typhoon is one of the strongest but longest typhoon I experienced. Yesterday morning when rains and wind was totally weakened, I get the opportunity to go around and visit our brethren here at Dumabato Sur Church of Christ. I was so thankful because no one of our brethren was physically harmed but some houses of brethren here are affected including my parents’ house. Before lunch, I and my wife travelled to Aurora to visit our brethren there. In our way, we saw the damages that were left by the typhoon. Some Electric post was destroyed, 98% of bananas, 100% of corn and rice that are in vegetative state were destroyed also. Water levels get high and many houses were affected, we saw also some landslide on the road that hardened our travel to Aurora….Even road to Aurora is very hard, I and my wife were very thankful to arrive safe to the said place. Our brethren there are not physically harm but there houses are also affected. Some G.I sheet of their houses flew and they can’t find no more….our brethren are crying because their source of income was destroyed. Many of our brethren are Farmers and they are depending with their plants.” (Reneboy Maranion, Dumabato Sur, Maddela Quirrino)
3. October 20: “THIS IS VERY EMERGENCY NEED. THE TYPHOON LANDO IS LINGERING FOR THE 7TH DAY TODAY  WITH DISTRUCTIVE STRONG WINDS, AND STRONG RAINS THAT CAUSE LANDSLIDES, FLOODINGS, FALLEN TREES ETC. ETC. THE SUFFERING IS NOW SO SIRIOUS. I HAVE SOLD TO THE RICE STORE ALL MY NOVEMBER SUPPORT. WE REACH THE NUMBER OF 32 AT HOME BRETHREN ASKING FOR RICE.SEVEN DAYS IS TOO LONG. I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY ARE MISSING THIER MEALS NOW. THE NEED IS EVERYWHERE. PLEASE DO AN EMERGENCY HELP.” (Mat Sibayan, Sr., Sinait, Ilocos Sur)
4. October 21: “Brethren, I would like to informed you that a very strong typhoon devastated the whole Northern & Central Luzon for four days in the Philippines.  La Union & Pangasinan Province was one of the most affected areas, this is where Gumot Church of Christ in La Union & Guesang Church of Christ in Pangasinan located….Most of our brethren’s houses & crops were totally & heavily damaged. Until now some of our brethren’s  houses  are still under water & some of them are still staying in the evacuation center  provided by our local officials. Brethren, we are appealing for your help. Any help/amount you can provide is a very big help to our brethren & highly appreciated.  We really need your help, please brethren help us. We need most of all brethren, your prayers.” (Art dela Cruz, Rosario, La Union)
5. October 21-22: “Brother Ron & Brethren, for the past three nights I was awakened with CALLS and Text messages from brethren in different places/Regions who were severely affected by the Typhoon and floods! I told them that I cannot help but can pray for them! Truly, bro. Ron & Brethren, the URGENT NEED of many affected brethren is growing bigger as days passing by! Most are in need of funds is for rice/foods, for medicines, for materials to rebuild or reconstruct their destroyed houses, to replant their fields! The Government is always saying that they are ready to help but it is frustrating to see that when the funds or the supplies are already on the hands of the lower officers then they will only attend to the needs of their own relatives or their religious mates!….At this time of terrible needs, even a single centavo that a brother or sister can afford to share will be a great help to our needy victim brethren here at this time (Gal. 6:9-10)!”

“Tuguegarao City has been declared as in the ‘State Of Calamity’ as almost all agricultural plants were totally destroyed!…I also continue getting calls and text messages from brethren in different places/regions (Like from Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Ilocos, Aurora and even in Manila area, Bulacan, and many more) asking urgent assistance! I told them that we have no refuge this time than the Rock of our soul, Jesus Christ, who promised not to leave nor forsake us! May God help us all!” (Rody Gumpad, Tuguegarao, Cagayan)

6. October 21:   “For the past days since Saturday night the electricity have been shut down due to the typhoon ‘Lando’, I am so thankful that this afternoon the power has been restored….I wasn’t able to go to sleep the whole night due to the sound of rains and wind blew so strong. I do pray for God’s help.

“We are in signal number 3 but in the neighbor province of Aurora they are in Signal number 4. Sunday morning, rain and wind remained strong. Lots of trees fell down. Kathy and I begun texting and calling our Brethren and friends to know their current situations, we are so glad to know that they are all safe. No lives have been lost only some crops have been totally destroyed.

“We supposedly go to our meeting place in Gundaway for the worship but due to the strong rains and winds we decided not to go for safety reason. The roads are also not passable. At about 12 o’clock noon Brother Reynaldo Dulatre and I decided to see the Brethren as the rain and wind begun to stop. We rode in a motorcycle and brought with us bolo for clearing the road as we need to go through. We were able to see our Brethren in Burgos, they are all safe but like in the other places their source of income has been damage. Rice, corn, and banana trees have been destroyed by the typhoon. We do a very quick visit to our Brethren places and go back home.

“Our problem now is the coming days as our Brethren crops and only source of income now destroyed. Almost all our Brethren here are farmers and are only hoping for their plants.” (Willie Otey Pastor, Cabarroguis, Quirino)

7. October 21: “The super typhoon has hit us since Friday night and is so strong and regional wide. The damages is so great and still adding more damages and deaths in the northern provinces .  At this time the evacuation continues because the water level is still rising in many towns. Many houses were blown out and under water and 19 million people are greatly affected right now. This month is the beginning of harvest season  for rice and corn but it was threshed to the ground by the strong wind and heavy rains that caused sudden flood. The Dams are still releasing big volume of waters and it adds the rising level below and thousands of hectares of agricultural land are still under water and mud at this time. Many people and  brethren in my area are now relying from the relief goods from the government. They can do nothing at this point of time. The sources of their living is destroyed and some brethren who are studying in the cities are now going home because their parents could no longer send  money to pay for their tuition fees and other needed in school. Another thing that adds the suffering of the people here is after the typhoon no new seeds or planting materials to be used because everything is gone and they do not know how to start again. Right now, the brethren here are badly in need of food and your prayers. May I request brethren and my supporters that this great calamity and need that befall to the saints here in our area be known to those brethren there who are blessed and in the position to help and the full account of distribution would be send it back for the Glory of Father in heaven. Thank you very much.”  (Danny Danggalan, Roxas, Isabela).

There are several avenues for getting help to them.  (1) I can provide the information needed to send a MoneyGram or Western Union wire directly to any of these brethren so that funds or food can be distributed to faithful members of the congregations ASAP.  (2) Harry Osborne (harryrosborne@live.com) and Chip Foster (txchipper@windstream.net) will travel to the Philippines on November 3 and can deliver cash to faithful congregations.  It is even possible to send MoneyGrams to Harry as late as November 11 if the destination will be designated as the Philippines not the U.S. Before sending any amount to Harry or Chip, contact both of them via joint email to let them know what you plan to do.  (3) Individuals seeking a legal tax deduction can write checks to Help A Neighbor and mail them to me at my home address: 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954.  I am willing also to serve as the messenger for any congregation, but the check should be made to Ron Halbrook and instructions should be included.

We may wonder why some parts of the world are so prone to the twin plagues of poverty and repeated natural disasters.  Perhaps one part of the answer is to teach those of us living in prosperous nations to grow in the spirit of love, service, and sacrifice.  We are far more blessed in learning to give than are the recipients of our love, as Jesus himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).   Above all, let our prayers rise to God in heaven, knowing that “the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers” (1 Pet. 3:12).

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

http://www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

http://www.biblework.com

http://www.truthmagazine.com

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