Questions have come regarding tropical storm “Sendong” that hit the Philippines Friday evening into Saturday morning. News reports have surfaced about the devastation, loss of life, and missing persons. Some reports in relation to Dumaguete, where our team is located, have made the news and certainly we appreciate the concern for our safety.
All of our team families are safe and sound and were unaffected by the storm except for periods of time without power and water pressure. Thank you for your prayers.
Unfortunately, although the bulk of the storm and its devastation was to the south of our location, the extreme rainfall that came to our city and the mountains above us brought flash floods into several areas. Areas immediately north of our church as well as areas just south of our church had waist deep waters. Most of our church families had water in their homes or shops or at minimum had to wade through water to get to church. One family in particular suffered great loss.
The Anasario’s, one of our most faithful families, came to the church on Saturday morning as they always do for soul winning. Due to the heavy winds and rain at that time we cancelled our organized soul winning. Bro. Anasario drives a jeepney for a living and we use it on Saturday mornings. I told him to go ahead and drive between the morning time and our Christmas program rehearsal that was to take place later Saturday afternoon. Shortly thereafter he received word that their house had washed away from the flood waters coming down the mountain.
Bro. Jun Anasario made an attempt to get to his house but was unable to. One of their children was left at home that morning because he had a Christmas party at school. For a while they were uncertain of his whereabouts, but by God’s grace they found him safe. This family came back and took part in the rehearsal, knowing they had no house to return to that evening and having only the clothes on their backs. Later they began to hear reports that Mrs. Anasario’s brother, who was also a member of our church, was missing. There were mixed reports that he had died, but those reports were not confirmed until later. Still, this family was in church on Sunday morning and took part in the Christmas program on Sunday evening.
A group of our men went this morning to see what could be salvaged from their house. There is not much at all to rebuild with. Please pray as this family looks for a new place to live and as they prepare for the burial of Eric Camporedondo, Mrs. Anasario’s brother.
Many people are hurting around us, please continue to pray as we work to reach the people of Dumaguete and beyond.
