The Manila Flooding

Report from Director Steve Wheeler

Monday, Pastor Leo and I traveled to Laguna to meet with Pastor Wilson Andres and his church "Christ on the Hillside Baptist Church." We were able to arrange some supplies including food, clothing and some nutrition supplements. The members of their community gathered to fellowship with us.

We enjoyed singing together and had a wonderful time sharing with the church and the members of their community. The Laguna Lake is still flooded and estimates have suggested that areas may remain flooded for several months.

Pastor Wilson and his wife distributed the first phase of relief packages to the members of the community, each one hand packaged by the ladies of their church to meet the needs of each family. They will continue to distribute the relief in phases over the next several weeks.

We were able to share about the love of Jesus Christ and that natural disasters does not mean that God is punishing the people, but it is instead an opportunity to know and experience the compassion of their neighbors. There are many children in Laguna that need the loving care of a pastor and church.

This congregation is effectively sharing the love of Jesus Christ with all their neighbors. It is thrilling to see how the community has drawn together to share.

I've met a new friend. This is one of the rice farmers that lost his fields near Christ on the Hillside Baptist Church. He told us that he lost all his rice crop but now, thanks to his friends in the church he has food.

After visiting the church of Pastor Wilson - we traveled to an alumni of White Fields - Pastor Roger De Ocampo. The floods caused the death of four members of his community. He is providing comfort and encouragement to the families. We encountered roads still flooded, but we were able to make it through.

The farmer's near Pastor Roger's church are already back in their fields and busy at work to re-plant and recover from the floods. Whether they use old methods or new machines - the business of farmering is hard work.