Donations are now closed for this appeal, but you can still make a general donation towards personnel support, community projects and future relief needs here
Thank you!
Cebu - Central Visayas Region
UPDATE 10 JANUARY
Pastor Rolly and Nimfa Vasey (Cebu) have just sent us their sincere thanks for the support sent so far along with the following update:
“It is His power that motivate us and without reservation to show His love and care for the people as well as your untiring effort.
I believe that through this calamity is also a big help for the great harvest of souls which the very heart of God. I believe also that God will give us more strength, wisdom and guidance to handle the situation as well as the financial matter.
I got a partial report from our partner in Bohol that almost all of their houses, churches and motorboat were totally damaged.
Yesterday praise God that electricity was already restored but no signal and internet yet. Like now, I have to go around to look for signal.
God is good is always working in all areas. Hope that the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ will be upon you all the time.”
UPDATE 7 JANUARY
Pastor Rolly and Nimfa Vasey (Cebu) – along with many others in the communities they serve – have lost their home and are still without power. They are struggling to obtain food, water and other essential supplies and are still waiting to hear from their partners in the Bohol region.
The people that they are ministering in urban poor areas were heavily affected. No power and communications signal yet. People queuing long lines just to get safe water to drink. Petrol is also hard commodity to buy. Most of their houses were totally damaged and are now in temporary shanties to shelter for the night. The need their is very urgent, with around 700 families in 10 surrounding barangay (villages).
The Bohol area is more affected than Cebu. Still no communication & power in the area of ministry. They have heard from one Pastor’s son, who was able to text them, that their house was totally destroyed and their boat was carried by the winds and waves at the height of the typhoon. Thankfully they survived, although about 100 people were reported dead in their area. They too need urgent help. Government aid is not coming through yet in Lapu-lapu City due to divided politics in the city, so they are crying for help from anyone who might hear them.
UPDATE 21 DECEMBER
Pastor Rolly & Nimfa Vasey (Cebu) have been unable to communicate since Friday 10 Dec, but thankfully they are safe and we just heard from them on Thu 16 Dec:
“We are so overwhelmed with gratitude and thankful for your prayer and support for us in Cebu. Praise God and thankful for everything for protecting us from the terrible typhoon. So sorry for we didn’t have a communication after the typhoon, just now. There was a signal block out for how many days after the typhoon, no electricity, no enough water supply to drink, people are starving and in panic to look for water supply to drink. Soo heart-breaking and I can cry to see the houses in the community we work mostly are damaged and still in trauma … our house, the church and parsonage has a damage but praise God we’re safe.”
Siargao - Northern Mindanao
UPDATE 7 JANUARY
Bishop Philip and Jemima Gonzalez are mobilising their church in Cabadbaran to provide assistance for the typhoon victims in Malimono – which also experienced damaged houses and power lines as well as major flooding. The church youth helped to pack food parcels for several families, each comprising: 5kg rice, 5 cans sardines, 2 cans meat loaf, noodles, 2 bars soap (to wash clothes), 1 bathing soap, 3 packs soy sauce, 3 packs cooking oil.
Philip has also just visited another town in Siargao to assess the situation, with assistance from the Philippines Coast Guard, and will travel to Leyte on 12 January to encourage the church members and assess their needs.
UPDATE 21 DECEMBER
Bishop Philip and Jemima Gonzalez (Mindanao) are now back in their home since it was flooded. Philip has already travelled by boat to Siargao Island with a team from Manila to take essential relief items, assess the damage and plan how to help. He sent some photos and reported:
“This is our initial visit to the town of General Luna of Siargao Island facing the Pacific Ocean. 90% of the houses are totally damaged 10% partially damaged. People are just wandering around with not much to do but clearing debris. After the relief distribution we made a night run the rough seas again. We arrived mainland safe. Thanks for the prayer support. We’ll be going to another island January 4-6.”
Mindoro Island
Pastor Danny & Lorie Macuha (Batangas and Mindoro) reported that 80% of the church members are farmers and the newly planted rice crops in Oriental Mindoro were destroyed. They were able to proceed with the Christmas outreach among the Mangyan tribal villages, and are preparing to send help to those affected by the flooding in Mindoro and to the western Visayas regions that were most affected.