Rebuilding Philippines

The airport’s roof and walls had sustained damage; however, they are being temporarily repaired and the restrooms are functioning thanks to people’s kind assistance.
We had to wait a long time for our baggage, as they are being carried manually by the airport porters and volunteers.
On the way to Grace Baptist Church we passed so much devastation. Hotels, buildings, big houses and small houses were severely damaged or completely gone. More than a month later, the cleanup was not finished.
Pastor John Wynn with volunteer Kyle and Pastor Alfred (the Filipino pastor who is in charge of the church extension classes) were waiting for us outside.
The church is at least 15 minutes from the airport, which explains why it was not spared during the typhoon. The building was flooded with mud and it was weeks before they were able to clean it up.
All the computers for the church, Grace Academy, Bible School and their ministers’ Bible training area were irreparably ruined, so they had to throw them all out.
Pastor John Wynn’s ministry includes the Church, the Academy, Bible training for ministers and the Extension Classes for less fortunate kids. It amazed me how he had learned to speak Visayan fluently. He truly lives with the people and feels their losses deeply as if he were family.
We joined their early night service and prayer meeting at the same time to pray for everyone. We had to use solar lights in order to read the scriptures. We were able to hand over 10 solar panels to 10 selected families of the staff and members. However, more are needed. A generator arrived for the church, but it has a 3-hour consumption limit.
The outside of the church is not yet cleaned up. They have to wait for the garbage trucks to pick up the debris. Repairs to the roof are also needed.
Some church members and school staff are still staying in the church because their houses are not yet ready. Some individual volunteers came and helped the men in the church, including Pastor Wynn, to repair the church members’ houses. However, they must stop their repairs whenever materials run out. G.I. sheets, cement and nails are all in short supply.
We need more donors for rebuilding houses after we finish rebuilding their school.
Just to bring a little smile to the children’s faces, we prepared some candies and chocolates. It's not easy to find all of the students since they are scattered around the city. We gave away candies and chocolates to all the children we saw while we're there.
Through the leadership of Pastor John Wynn and the Academy principal Ms. Monette (violet shirt), the temporary Grace Academy was decorated for Christmas.
We can’t see in their smiles the crisis they have undergone. Instead, their thankful hearts reflect their trust in God. They are thankful for all the help God provided and that they were able to survive.
As Pastor Wynn remarked, “They share much in common. They have endured the typhoon and survived through God’s help.”
While we cannot provide for all the needs of these students and their families, with every little thing we can give we are providing them with hope.
A brighter future awaits, but they don’t need our help tomorrow ~ they need our help
TODAY.