Update on Typhoon Hagupit

Dear All,

Here’s an update…It is Monday morning here and the sun is out.  The weather on this side of the country has been fine since Saturday.  Some areas in the Visayas were really affected by Typhoon Hagupit on Saturday, especially in Samar.  Today, the typhoon has moved to Luzon and is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow or Wednesday.

There has been no complete report yet as to casualties and damages since some areas are still inaccessible because of flooding, road blocks, communication lines that have been cut off, and also because the typhoon is still traversing slowly across the country.  But initial reports say that the damage has not been like Yolanda/Haiyan of last year.  From a “super typhoon” status as predicted, it was downgraded to “typhoon” as it entered the Philippines.

We praise and thank God because of early announcements and forecasts that have enabled the people to prepare and evacuate earlier, and this time the government had a better plan in preparing and reducing risk.  Previous experiences have taught us all and given us a better understanding of disaster management and risk reduction.  Although there has been property damage, we praise and thank God that it was not like the previous super typhoons the country has experienced.

We thank all of you for your prayers.  The storm has been so inconsistent and unpredictable in its direction, strength, and speed that the typhoon did not really live up to its hype when it made landfall.

Our church in Cagnipa, Samar was used as an evacuation center.  The people there are safe and the church building is intact.  However, the house of one GBBC graduate and teacher was reported to be completely destroyed.  We have been trying to reach the district moderator in the area for more updates from other churches but we have not heard back from him yet.  His phone has been ringing but he has not been picking up.  He lives in Masbate and the typhoon also made its way there.  So we are anxious to hear from him.

We will continue to update you as reports come in.  We continue to pray for safety for al,l especially in the areas that are currently experiencing heavy rains and flooding.

Thank you very much for your support and prayers.

Love, Joyce Porcadilla

President of General Baptist Bible College

Update: Just heard from the district moderator in Eastern Visayas (Samar and Masbate).  They are safe in Masbate.  The church building was not damaged.  There is just one tree that fell right in front of the church but it did not cause any damage.  He has not been able to check with the members yet, as their surroundings are still flooded.  He has not heard from the other church in Nacube yet.  But he said all is well except for the flooding.

We really praise God for His power and mercy…He alone can calm down the typhoon and we praise and thank Him for sparing our brethren from further destruction.

Grace and Acceptance

By Phil Warren

A few weeks ago, I took my wife Cindy on a tour of the General Baptist Bible College in Davao.Phil and Cindy  As we walked around the beautiful campus I became aware of a spy following us.  She watched us from behind the green shrubbery in her pink dress. She could not have been more than five, and wherever we went she followed, scurrying from bush to bush watching our every move.  My wife began to giggle and said, “Have you noticed we have an escort?”  We found out later she had left her room to use the bathroom, but in the process her curiosity had gotten the better of her.  After a little while my wife and I sat down, and she slowly inched closer to us.  Her dark, mahogany-brown eyes twinkled with mischief and her long black hair danced in the slight breeze.

Finally, her curiosity pushed her beyond the safety of her self-imposed boundaries and she came over to me and began to rub the hair on my arm.  I smiled; this was a first for me.  She had touched me with grace and acceptance and I gently reached over and rubbed her arm as well.  Grace and acceptance: the heart of missions.

Whenever you leave home and enter another country, you do not attempt to impose your cultural values upon them.  Rather, you hold loosely your values and integrate as best you can into your new surroundings.  You eat different foods.  You travel in different modes of transportation.  You experience different forms of worship.  You don’t worry as much about time, and value relationships instead. However, there are two values you must always give and receive: grace and acceptance.

Jesus said if you give it will be given back to you in disproportionate amounts. Give grace and receive grace. Give acceptance and gain acceptance.

This is not only true in international missions but in the local church as well.

Our spy took a big risk to approach these people who looked different from her. I saw her the other day at the college and she ran over to me and gave me a high five. Once fear is broken by little acts of grace and acceptance, a whole new world can open up for you.

Grains of Sand: An Update from Faith Home

By Christina Massey

sandHow did November come so quickly?  The past few months have flown by and been filled with so many special moments that it is hard to process them all.  With so many kids involved in different school activities and events, sometimes it is hard to keep up.

One of my favorite moments during the busy last few months was a field trip with our 7th graders to the beach and Botanical Gardens.  This group has blossomed this year since they first walked out of our gates to attend Emanuel (a private Christian school) in San Manuel.  These previously shy children have matured and grown into amazing teenagers. As I watched them interact with their new friends at the beach, I thought about how far each of them have come this school year, and how all the little moments of their lives have built on each other like grains of sand to bring them to this point in their life.  As I watched Emerita writing ‘I Love Jesus’ in the sand along with her school friends, I was so proud of her witness and her love for Christ.

The children and young adults at Faith Home have each experienced so much in their lifetime.  The pain and sadness of their pasts mix with the laughter and joy they have experienced at Faith Home to create the amazing young men and women of God they are becoming.  God is sifting those moments and memories and helping them to become stronger as He is writing His name, not in sand, but on their hearts.  It’s a blessing to see Him shine through each of them as they interact with others at school, church events, and out in the communities.  We are thankful for every moment and blessing as the sands of time pass and we see God’s plan unfolding in each of their lives.

 

Independence Day Parade:

Groups of Faith Home children represented the outside schools they attend in FH kids in paradethe Independence Day Parade in San Manuel.  The day concluded with all of Faith Home marching together.  Our kids received applause when they continued to march in formation even though it poured down rain.  We were even presented a plaque in the stadium at the end of the parade-the kids were so excited and we are so proud of them!

 

 

 

 

FH childrens dayChildren’s Day:

Children’s Day was celebrated at Faith Home with a water slide, piñatas, games, and refreshments.  The younger children got to go to the swimming pool, and the older kids celebrated with popcorn, sodas, and the movie, ‘God’s not Dead’.