The Rage of Typhoon Ketsana

As of this morning, the death toll from the rage of the recent typhoon Ketsana topped at 325: at least 246 in the Philippines, 74 in Vietnam and nine in Cambodia. I hadn't realized how serious it was until my sister, Jessie, who traveled to the Philippines in May, heard from a cousin (Franci) of one of our good friends (Richard) in Manilla, where the flooding was the worst. I talked to my friend Chamnol last night (Cambodian friend, who was the best man in Tess and Vandy's wedding in the Philippines yesterday.) He said they are expecting another storm today or tomorrow, but it cannot be predicted when or how great it will be.

Francis writes:
my house was flooded with water upto the roof. good thing my parents, 2 brothers and 2 cousins were safe. but the aftermath is worse than the typhoon. all our stuff have been drowned with mud and water even now, which is about 3 days after the floods have already subsided. my family have no clothes to wear but thank GOd for his provision, some of the members of the church were able to provide some food and some shirts. i'm staying at the church in san juan to see if i could help other people and to see how i could help my family. am currently at work. but my family opted to stay at home and guard it from looters.

i wasn't able to go home when the typhoon struck. there was an overnight fellowship at the church. when saturday morning came the typhoon hit. the rescue team in our comunity was unprepared and they lacked the necessary supplies. but thank God someone was able to lend us ropes. the people we pulled to safety, we lead to the church. the church then became an instant refugee center. some of our generous members were able to send money to feed about 30 people (men, women and children). but they left as soon as the floods subsided.

like i said what we found out in the aftermath was devastating. 2 kids drowned when a wall collapsed on them. 20 kids are have gone missing. houses were destroyed. and people would be prone to catching diseases.

from what i've heard some areas are still affected. like cainta, palmera and taytay.

no one knows why GOd in His infinite wisdom would allow such a tragedy. but in this experience, i've learned that God is with me during the storm, He reminded me of what He did to Noah. that the real beauty of that story is found in their unity and hope. i know for sure we could stand up again.

8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 corinthians 4:8-10.

anyways, please continue to pray for us. May God bless you!

Francis

I am impressed with Francis' upbeat attitude, and I'm sure it is the same of many other believers there, but the situation and the conditions are torrential. Below are pictures taken by Francis of his house and his street, and the refugees in his church.

Refugees in Francis' church..

what a ministry this will be for their church!

Finding places to go... while the rains keep coming down.

Notice the basketball backboard..

Many Most things were ruined, and some family remained behind to keep looters from taking anything that still had any value.

Francis' younger brother's drawer of clothes, destroyed and caked in mud

"At least the rice is dry" (How they managed this, I don't know!)

Showing the home's damage..