While our co-workers across the Philippines organised Christmas celebrations for their churches and the children, they were also busy responding to an earthquake on Mindanao and typhoons across the central Philippines.
With your prayers and generous support, we were able to send approx. $8,000 to help them distribute essential relief to some of the most affected communities – with many items donated from local churches.
However, just as pastor Danny Macuha was boarding the ferry back home to Batangas on Sunday evening – after leading the 2nd relief response team on Mindoro island in a month – he caught sight of the Taal volcano erupting north of Batangas. He messaged us immediately, asking for prayer for his family and the city as he could already see that this major eruption would quickly necessitate another relief effort.
Tens of thousands have since evacuated the immediate danger area and the authorities have now requested a ‘total evacuation’ of everyone within a 17-kilometer radius around the volcano. This area is considered to be a volcanic danger zone, yet is home to more than 450,000 residents.
Within a day of arriving back home, Ps Danny – along with his wife Lorie and local leaders – had already collected relief goods and set to work handing out baby food/milk and other essential items in the evacuation centres.
Danny wrote to us again this afternoon:
“Continue to pray for our safety. We are preparing for possible evacuation, if we experience big eruption. As of now we are able to send food pack, hygiene kit and blankets to 6 churches who accept evacuees.”