Medical Clinics:  Healing Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan

Dear Prayer Team,

In February, I had the privilege of assisting Filipino believers from the US and from Manila in traveling Medical Clinics on the island of Samar.  The first team, under the leadership of Dr. Jun Garcia, treated patients in the typhoon-struck towns of Lawaan and Hernani.  The second team, led by Rina Lozada, visited Lawaan and Basey. They included both a medical-surgical team, and a children’s evangelism team.  It was a privilege to see Dr. JoVee Dignadice again.  She was in my Sunday School class in the 1980’s, when she attended medical school.  She has served in hospitals in Asia, Africa, and South America.

I joined the counseling team, along with Pastor Jun Romawac of the Lawaan church and other believers.  While patients waited to receive their medication, I had the privilege of hearing their stories.  Some were humorous, some heart-rending.

Victorio went to sleep the night of the typhoon.  He began to wake from his sleep, and noticed that it was light in his bedroom. Then he looked up.   The roof was gone!

Charito and her family sheltered in their 2 story home.  When the water started pouring in, her husband and children went upstairs, and she was left downstairs with her mother.  As the water rose, she struggled to pull her mother’s heavy frame up the stairs.  Her husband finally came to his senses and rushed to help her.

I had the opportunity to share with these people how typhoons were not part of God’s original plan for the earth.  They began after the first man and woman disobeyed God and brought a curse upon the rest of creation.  I shared also how God sent His son to deliver us from the curse of sin and death.

Some of the stories I heard demonstrated how sin continues to hurt us.  At a medical clinic in Basey, Samar, a young lady in her early 20’s with 3 children Family escaped from typhoon by running up the mountain.  Cowered for hours behind fallen coconut trees.  When they returned, their entire house was gone, except for a few posts.  Their neighbors had looted what was left of the corrugated steel roofing.  The next person I counseled was a lady who said that after the typhoon, she and her husband wandered around in a daze for a while, then began looting other houses.  Perhaps she and her husband were the ones who stole the roofing from the other family.  One of the patients was a man who was wounded in the heel during the typhoon 3 months ago, yet his infection had not yet healed.

 

Tarps Over their Heads

While we were having the clinic at the Lawaan church building, I narrowly missed getting soaked by about 5 gallons of water that poured off one of the tarps that cover the Lawaan church.  I asked the people who came to the clinic, “Do you have a roof?”  None of the people that I interviewed had a permanent roof.  All are living under tarps, mostly donated by relief organizations.  Pastors have reported that there are at least 60 families that are members of churches from New Life Baptist Mission that still do not have roofs.

I know what it is like to live in a house that has rain pouring inside.  I know what it is like to live under tarps, praying that the next strong wind doesn’t rip them apart.

ABWE is partnering with other Filipino organizations in providing roofing for many of these families. Pray that the ordering and distribution process will be handled in a way that will bring glory to God and shelter to those needing it.

We are thankful to report that repair has already begun on 8 churches that were damaged by Typhoon Haiyan.  Building materials have already been delivered to the Osmeña and Lawaan churches.  At the church in Dulag, workers are replacing the bent sections of the roof and welding them in.

Carrying the Light,

Jim and Allene Latzko