Philippines (MNN) ― On Monday, the U.S. government sent enough food aid to feed 438,000 people for 60 days. According to disaster response teams with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Manila will need the support.
"This is Katrina times four," said Larry Shine, task force director for the Texan Southern Baptist volunteers.
In mid-October, 30 volunteers from Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas arrived in Manila to serve in areas hard-hit by two consecutive typhoons. The group worked with local church members and Southern Baptist missionaries to help flood victims in metro Manila. Volunteers cleaned up mud-covered basements and handed out food.
Within days following Typhoon Ketsana, IMB workers distributed 400 bags of food with the help of their house church. Volunteers from Texas helped pack and distribute an additional 400 bags, and in total, the house church has distributed nearly 4,000 food bags. In a community lacking any evangelical presence, volunteers were able to be the hands of Jesus by giving food to 300 people. All food was purchased with Southern Baptist world hunger funds.
Filipino church administrators looked for ways their church could help the community, despite the damage inflicted to their own homes. The volunteers helped remove mud from their homes and clean up basement classrooms in a vocational school.
Flooding triggered by Typhoon Ketsana covered almost 80 percent of metro Manila; more rain fell in 6 hours than the average rainfall of September. To prepare for future disasters, leaders of Manila-based International Baptist Church hosted a disaster relief training program for local churches.
"We bring leadership, equipment and know-how," said Miguel Tello, a disaster relief volunteer. "We want to leave the equipment and the knowledge with the nationals. If we just come and clean up, that's not as effective."
In response to disaster relief efforts, unreached people are coming to Christ. Volunteers report professions of faith at all locations.
"It was just so good to see the Lord at work in the midst of adversity," said a volunteer from Oklahoma, "and to know that these six will be discipled by [the pastoral team] and will grow in their faith."
Pray for more flood victims in the Philippines to put their faith in Christ for salvation. Click here to support the relief work of IMB.
