Metro Manila,
Philippines
2October 2009
This is still the rainy season for sure – it has even extended longer than normal according to the locals. Rain started in May a month early and should have stopped in September but we are still getting rain – with two more typhoons forecast to hit the Philippines in the next week or so.
Typhoon Ondoy came ashore on Saturday with the center passing through the Capitol City of Manila and its suburbs where it rained in torrents for nine hours. The worst storm in 40 years, it covered the low lying areas in 20 feet of water. As much as 80% of the city was under water to some degree. Also, the area south of Manila was hit just as hard but it is more rural. To the north mudslides caused 12 deaths and much destruction. At last count 246 people have lost their lives.
Manila has a population of 12 million of which about 450,000 were displaced because rivers overflowed and pumping stations failed. Too much debris in the water and blockage from “Shantytowns” built where they shouldn’t be prevented the rain water from returning back out to the sea.
The report from the Philippine Area office estimated as many as eighteen stakes/districts had members that were impacted by the flooding. Unfortunately they also reported 30 casualties among our membership.
We traveled to Manila today to take bags of rice for the members and found lots of wonderful volunteers working in the basement garage assembling bags of food. They were working an assembly line and adding different foods – sardines, pork and beans, rice, etc to each bag and then loading them into pickup trucks to take to the different church buildings for distribution. We really admired them for all their hard work.
In our assigned part of Luzon, we just had wind and some hard rain but with little or no flooding. Our members here have recovered and are putting together assistance for the relief of the members in Manila. Tarlac Stake sent two truck/van loads yesterday morning and they are gathering more for another trip by the weekend.
We are saddened to know there is so much need but one sweet sister (who had lost everything except the clothes on her back) said, “I didn’t care about what I had lost, I just prayed for strength so that I could help others and I did receive an answer to my prayers”. She has washed and re-washed the mud and water soaked meager belongings of her neighbors. Also, because she is a seminary teacher, she has set the example for the youth that you keep on smiling and working hard and have a positive attitude even in the face of great trials.
Elder NB & Sister MB
3 comments:
Wow. What a trial to go through and still have the ability to smile and look for the positive.
I hope everyone is able to weather the next few storms and that you two will be safe and free from harm.
Love you,
H
We knew you'd be there helping after all that's happened in the Philippines. What misery with so many losing their homes! Thanks for sharing what Church members are doing there to help. Love, The Snows
Hi, this is Cherie's daughter. I've almost read your entire blog over the last three days and it has been so uplifting to read of your experiences there. Thank you for the good example you set of serving where the Lord has called you. :)
This particular post reminded me of the struggles in overcoming the recent earthquakes in Haiti. We contribute each month to the Church's humanitarian aid fund, Perpetual Education fund, temple building fund, and mission fund-- along with our fast offerings and Tithing. We also have contributed extra this month, as well as after the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina hit. I always wish we could do more, but I'm thankful that we can all contribute in our own way (whether it be through donations of time or money or through prayers on their behalf) in helping those who struggle with difficulties throughout the world. :)
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