Dear brethren,

Since October 16 multiple earthquakes and over 2,000 aftershocks have hit the same general area on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.  According to the November 8 report of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, “As of 07:00 AM Philippine Standard Time (PST) of 08 November 2019 (Friday), the total number of earthquakes recorded since the 29 October 2019 Magnitude 6.6 earthquake event is now 2226, with 917 plotted and 161 felt at various intensities” (https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/update-october-2019-cotabato-fault-system-earthquake-series; site accessed by Ron Halbrook 11/27/2019).  In other words, these figures include several successive major earthquakes and ongoing aftershocks. As I have shared information about this disaster with hundreds of churches and individuals, many donations have been sent to me and the donors have requested me to serve as a messenger to relay these funds to Christians who are victims of the earthquakes.

The intensities of the major quakes have measured 6-7.  Tremors have been felt hundreds of miles from the center, but this disaster is concentrated in south central Mindanao, especially in the Cotabato Province and surrounding provinces.  The town of Kidapawan has been very hard hit.  Thousands of poor Filipinos are displace as a result of fleeing areas where there are open cracks and crevices in the land and mountainous regions, resulting in landslides.  The government gathers these people in tent cities which afford little protection from the elements.  People cannot return to their farms and houses which are destroyed.  There is lack of food, medicine, and often even clean drinking water.  Some who have attempted to return to their homes find them utterly destroyed or so unstable that they end up camping away from the ruins for safety.

Dozens of churches of Christ and hundreds of saints have been affected by this ongoing natural disaster.  Homes and church buildings of our brethren have been severely damaged or even demolished.  Numerous reports from reliable brethren say they have never witnessed a disaster of this magnitude.

The Philippine government has announced it will be six months before life can return to normal, but it is well known that government programs move slowly and many Filipinos will struggle for many months to come.

Philippine brethren have responded as best they can by sending help, as have brethren in the U.S. and even other countries.  I have been sending benevolence funds periodically as donations have been sent to me for that purpose.  Michael and Donna Glaesemann (michael@butw.org) have also been relaying donations.  Individuals sending through them can make donations to Bread Upon the Waters which qualify for a legal tax deduction (mailing address 264  CR 2125, Burkeville, Texas 75932).

I am willing to provide detailed information about how to send funds.  Also I am willing to serve as a messenger to send funds on behalf of individuals or churches which may request my help.  Checks from individuals should be written to Ron Halbrook and sent to 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954 (or Paypal to halbrook@twc.com).  Individuals wanting a legal tax deduction should make checks to Help A Neighbor and send them to the same address with a note stating the donation is for the victims of the earthquake.  Churches should make checks to Ron Halbrook and use the same address.

Balance compassion with wisdom if appeals are sent by unknown persons.  Investigate and find out if the correspondent is a true Christian and is reliable.  Faithful Filipino brethren are working diligently to take funds, food, medicines, clothes, tarpaulins, mats, clean water, and other supplies into the affected areas, some of which are quite remote.

Since I will be in the Philippines December 2-20, donations sent here will be delayed until after my return, but, periodic sending over a period of several months will be needed.  Above all, let us continually pray for our brethren who are suffering in conditions we can hardly imagine.

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

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