Mission News October 09
Missionary Reports from the flooded PhilippinesWe personally, and ICCM, are OK. The floodwaters on campus were just a result of the SIXTEEN INCHES of water that fell during typhoon Ondoy in just EIGHT hours. It was a record, of course, like the Georgia rains have been.
Some relief money is coming in from Australia today or tomorrow to feed those who have nothing and lost everything in the churches. We have some requests already coming in from our brethren in the area. One place where Ross visited yesterday received food. The people had had no food since Saturday and were desperate. One of the neighboring churches provided for them and Ross was the delivery boy!
PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for fair distribution of the relief funds that we receive, that it reaches the truly needy and hungry, and also for safety of those who will distribute the relief. There are now stories of "holdups" of the goods trucks which are delivering aid. People are desperate and therefore normal morality is out the window in a crisis. There are threats of looting of damaged homes and businesses as well. We need prayers for distribution safety in such a difficult urban environment. Many remain stranded in floodwaters which have not yet receded. One church we know if here in Metro Manila remains inaccessible. We are waiting for a report from them.
Also, we are aware that many churches have lost ALL their Sunday school materials, and preachers their libraries. Many Filipino churches have the Sunday school on the ground level, and the chapel above, to conserve space in the urban environment. Of course the preachers' office on the ground floor will likely be flooded, too. Cheryl and Andrew visited one church yesterday where EVERY Sunday School item had been destroyed by the six foot flood.
If PTCCC wants to accept a "hands-on" project, I would recommend that you start assembling NEW Standard Publishing or College Press Sunday School materials, which could easily by shipped from Atlanta. In this way you would bless the churches here practically, and your church family could see the box growing full. It's just my current suggestion after seeing roomfuls of materials destroyed. It's so sad! Most Sunday Schools cater for ages 3-12. Of course, youth materials for teenagers could also be included, and replacement books for the ministers' libraries. We recommend the Christian Church/Churches of Christ publishers as they are the most trusted by our ministers here for their doctrine.
If you decide to contribute these boxes (I think the standard size is 24x18x18?), could you include some transport donations in cash so that we can travel to the churches to deliver them? It will take some time to get the materials to the right people.
Here is a shipping company, or ask your Filipinos in the church. They will know!
http://www.merchantcircle.com/blogs/MMW.Logistics.678-389-8607/2009/8/Packing-and-Shipping-Balikbayan-Boxes-What-to-Expect/346795
MMW Logistics
2775 D Bankers Industrial Drive
Atlanta, GA 30360
866-573-0748
These companies are wonderful because they pickup at your door, seal the box, and it goes through customs unopened and lands at ICCM securely. It's the most safe way I know. The companies deal with customs, and the price is always good. If you want the street address for ICCM, do let me know and I will provide it.
I'm sorry not to have more pictures personally. I am forwarding another email from a friend who was in relief work this past few days, who has many photos available. His name is Doug Cunnington and he was an intern with us last year. He is currently attending a Manila university.
Please use pictures from my Facebook page or pictures from
http://inquirer.net/
and
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
if you want to follow the news as it's presented here. BBC, CNN and Australian Network also contain reliable information. The media sites will have much better pictures than we can take. We try to avoid being in dangerous situations. Several of our students ended up wading through chest high water over the weekend. The possibility of deadly diseases is very real for those exposed, as raw sewage was mixed with the flood water, as bodies yet unrecovered continue to decompose.
Ross has written a request for IDES for more relief from the US, but we haven't had any results yet. The Australians have come through with initial food relief funds.
I hope this helps you get started. God bless you for your care, concern, and prayers.
Serving Christ here on your behalf,
Ross and Cheryl
Cheryl Wissmann
Kingdom Ambassadors, Inc.
P.O. Box 3033, Fairview Heights, Illinois 62208
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