In Christ alone we hope and put our Trust for He is our Only Present Help in times of need.

With the constant rains pounded for days and a horrendous sudden tornado on the mountain areas, the river rose overflowing swelling over to its banks   and carried away  the  smashed shanties along with other  floating logs, debris clothing and other things from the  homes of the brethren. Cattle pigs and chickens had been floating carried by the river to the open sea. The farmlands had been eroded by the raging waters and completely plucking bananas, trees, corns and the rest of the vegetation. It may take a year or two to get a harvest from these areas to which was left lands that has not been eroded.

So many families have lost their kitchen utensils and also their little food left in their kitchen. Some tried to salvage their things but its too late since the flood water swept away by the sudden water current especially those close by the rivers. (By the way living nearby the river here is not as good reputation here unlike there in America because living by the river here means the people are very, very poor that could not afford to buy a land such as the people here you have seen living under the bridge meaning they are squatters as people living in the slums}  Some lost their homes. The raging flood waters has even overturned trucks and jeeps sweeping many hundreds feet away. One islet in our city was completely zero visibility and people had to cling to the trees waiting for the helicopter rescue which was delayed for hours. Our city government is not prepared with equipments and rescue team to bring people to a safe place. There was no single pump boats and nothing to help them during the flood until some people has to wait on their rooftops when water will subside.  On some areas people used tire interiors to rescue their own family members.

When you will personally visit here you can see the homes ( actually shanties on stilts made of light materials)  of our brethren living  under the bridge, there  were so many  families living in one house which had been  divided into very   tiny rooms smaller than  a rich American  bathrooms. For a house with a size of 12 by 24 feet there maybe 6 to 8 families living in it with a neighbor downstairs cooking on a open stove using firewood to cook food. The people living in the upper floor has to pretend that nothing happen as life as usual while children victims of respiratory problems. So health problems due to cramped unventilated living..  These people have no running water but uses the river to wash their clothes and their bathroom as well. So they clean potable water and a better to live in. We are praying some relocation to get  them away from the risk of flood and the awful unpleasant environment. As of now they are pleading for need of food and medicines for some of them are getting sick.

Please pray with us for these poor brethren before they will lose hope after this tragic flood. Hope many precious brethren whom you will share this will  not turn their ears  from the cries of the poor flood victims. So far, as the actual  survey that has been done recently 61 families from our church are flood victims and until now we are still trying to get the exact number of affected members from other Christian  churches that had been affected as well. Please pray that Jesus will make a way for them to survive in these difficult times.

Please pray that we can do something to help the urgent needs of the brethren. Only Christ can enable us to do what we can do today. So put our trust in Him to meet the needs of our brethren.

Christ in You the Hope of Glory!

(Note: from the Editor, the identity of our correspondent for this article has been removed for their safety)