Marlou Barredo is waiting to hear from her family. (Photo courtesy of ANM)
Philippines (MNN) – Numbers detailing death and destruction from Typhoon Haiyan continue to grow. Communication in the Philippines is still down, and many families are separated with no idea who’s alive and who’s dead.
Marlou Barredo, wife of Advancing Native Missions founder and President Bo Barredo, is a native of Tocloban, a city in the Philippines. She now lives in the States. So far, she’s received news that her brother and two cousins and their families are all alive.
But as for the rest of her relatives in the Philippines, nearly 200 in number, she has heard nothing.
“A cousin of mine who has two kids and his wife [have] all been listed as missing. So, I am not sure exactly what has become of them, but I am just entrusting them to the Lord. However, I have a niece who is almost like a daughter to my husband and me who I haven’t gotten any information about or heard from.” Barredo informs us that her niece is eight months pregnant and also has a little daughter.
“I am just waiting, hoping, and trusting that they are safe,” she says.
On seeing from afar what has happened to her city, Barredo says: “The damage is just unbelievable. I cannot recognize the city that I was born in and that I grew up in and I went to school. It’s just heartbreaking seeing all those images, all those pictures of devastation and of bodies literally littered on the streets. It’s just overwhelming.”
Meanwhile efforts to aid the survivors are not sufficient. “There are not enough people to retrieve the dead bodies, or even to provide food and water to the thousands of hungry, starving, and thirsty residents. These are my people, and my heart just goes out to them.”
As desperate individuals seek to feed their family, relief organizations face serious danger. “The security risks are just increasing as the days progress because there’s no food and so people are hungry and people would do anything to get to whatever relief goods there are.” As a result of this desperation, many aid convoys have been held up.
Barredo recognizes the help that people in other countries have given, especially through AMN. “There have been responses from kind-hearted brothers and sisters here in [the US] and I’m so thankful to them for giving through AMN. Thank you so much.”
Christians can continue to open the door to the Gospel by showing God’s love to these people in need of so much. Barredo encourages you to check out AMN’s website here so that you can learn how you to help best.
Pray that Barredo will receive good news about her family. Pray for AMN’s partners on the ground, about 30 ministries wisdom, protection. Other partners are participating in medical aid distribution in safer areas.
