Tues Oct 27, 2009

Greetings to you all in the precious name of our Lord. He who is light and life.

We are so thankful for all of your prayers over the past weeks. I believe it was the prayers of the people of God that moved the last typhoon out to sea just hours before it was due to make landfall north of here. Instead, on the day that we were expecting stormy weather there were blue skies and sunny warm weather.

This weather has given the family from the assembly at Navy Base, who lost half of their home in a landslide, time to get some necessary repairs done. It will be another week or two before the work is completed but we are so thankful to the Lord for providing what was needed to get this work completed. Many of you sent gifts to help and for that we are so very thankful. Not only were materials for repair and securing this house made available but much needed food and supplies.

The recovery work is still on going in the Manila area. Some areas are still flooded a month after the first storm hit. But for the most part things are beginning to get back to normal. Much building and repairs are still needed, but things are beginning to dry out and chapels are being restored.

Last Saturday while returning from Tip Top, I began having chest pains again. These had been occurring on and off since Thursday. This time however my throat began to constrict and a cold sweat came over me. I immediately turned around and went to the ER in town. After some initial tests I was sent home.

Monday I returned to see a cardiologist who confined me in the hospital for further tests. It turns out that I have a number of heart problems at present. I had a stress test today and that confirmed some problems. I have not had a heart attack, for which I am thankful, but I have been diagnosised with Coronary Heart Disease, Arteral Fibrillation, unstable angina, and a few other things.

So, I am on rest for the time being. I am being treated with meds currently and will continue to be monitored for the next two months. Then depending on how well I respond to the medicines other courses of action will be considered.

So I would appreciate your prayers. It is very hard for me to just sit and rest. But I know it is what I must do at the present time.

In a couple of weeks, I am praying I can be back to doing some teaching. But for the time being doctors orders are for rest. So please be praying. I will try to keep you updated as I get information.

I spoke at Navy Base this past Sunday. But have cancelled my visit to Baguio Gold, due to the step climb down and back up. And others will continue the bible studies for these next couple of weeks.

Update Oct 15, 2009

Thank you all for your prayers. Things have settled down here at the present. We have had a few dry days. But the earth is still very soft and we had some rains again last night but it was not strong or continuous. There is however another storm on its way. It will be arriving here sometime next week. It is still a long way off but according to the latest models it is pointing right at us again. Pray with us that it will make a turn and head out to sea.

It is crucial for us to get the home of one of the believers secure before this next storm gets here, if not we fear we may lose it completely. We have had their situation evaluated and now know what needs to be done. As of yet we have been unable to begin the necessary repairs. We pray that before this week is out we will be able to buy supplies, which are becoming scarce due to demand, so that we can get started at least on the drainage and pipes we need to begin to secure this home. Another big storm could be devastating in many ways. We pray that it will move out to sea and away from us. There is too much death and sadness already in this town.

Reports in the news today is that they are going to be releasing more water from a dams north of us there and down south…and they are warning people in Pangasinan, La Union, Rosales, Bulacan and other locations of possible flooding in their towns and cities as a result. I suppose it is needed so that the dams do not burst and with a new storm coming it becomes critical. These areas were just beginning to dry out and clean up and it seems they are in for another round of trouble.

My main concern, of course, is to care for and look out for those in the two assemblies here in Baguio. We are very thankful to the Lord that none were injured and there were no fatalities as a result of the last storm. Baguio Gold had some minor damage to water supply and, of course, you already know of the one family whose situation regarding their home is critical. Continue to pray for the Lord’s protection in the coming weeks…

We will try to keep you up dated as we are able. But your prayers are much needed still, both for those in the Manila area, where Dave Harvey is carrying a great deal of responsibility with so much relief work there, and also for us here in Central Luzon.

Typhoon Followup Update, Oct 10, 2009

While I have an internet connection I wanted to send out a quick up date on the conditions here in Baguio. The typhoon crisscrossed the island three times over the course of last week and the last three days were the worst for us here. The rains caused several landslides and currently all roads in and out of Baguio are blocked. Which means no supplies from the lowland are getting through. I do believe that will be rectified today or tomorrow.

The damage is great. One of the families from the chapel, with five children, lost half of their home in a landslide, what remains is critical as well and on unstable ground. One family lost five relatives in one landslide down in La Trinadad. We visited with the family from Navy Base over the last couple of days to bring needed food and supplies. Their home will take considerable work to make it safe again. Others have suffered damage as well, we will know more details as the day progresses today.

We were able to have our study at Navy Base yesterday since the rains have now stopped and we finally have some sun to help dry things out. We received over 2 meters of rain in one week…so it will take a while for everything to stabilize again and to dry out.

Continue to pray. There will be a lot to deal with in the coming weeks. Pray that the Lord will continue to bring comfort and strength for the days ahead.

Joyce and I are fine. Flood waters came up to our door step in the front and back…but nothing entered. We have several leaks in the roof but nothing compared to what others have suffered.

Update October 6, 2009

Thank you all for all your prayers. The typhoon which threatened Northern/Central Luzon has moved across the extreme northern sections of Luzon and it now rotating out in the South China Sea. It remains stationary and so we remain under a storm signal warning. But all indications are that it will move south west and away from the islands. Although it spared us a direct hit it did cause a great deal of damage north of us. Many have lost homes and several deaths were reported.

We had some strong winds and lots of rain, which began Saturday afternoon and continued through Sunday. I was able to travel down to Baguio Gold to speak on Sunday morning. The roads were passable and we were able to drive down fairly close to where the chapel building is. The remainder of the way we walked but both on our walk down this rather steep staircase, and our walk back up the rains let up. From Baguio Gold we went straight to Navy Base for their meeting which we much enjoyed. Then in the afternoon we had our fourth session of bible school. So the routine has returned to normal.

Today we continue our study of Ilokano. It is a long hard road, and we would continue to covet your prayers. We are trying to use what we know, but currently that is still quite limited. I will continue to translate outlines and main points into Ilokano for my teaching down in Baguio Gold, this will greatly help with my vocabulary. I have found it very hard at this point in my life to get a hold on this new language, but the Lord is gracious, and the people so very happy to hear us using it.

Again, thank you all so very much for your prayers. There is still much need down in the Manila area because of the floods. Several chapel buildings were destroyed and many believers lost everything. Please keep that recovery effort in your prayers.

Update on Typhoons - Oct 2, 2009

We are bracing for super typhoon Pepeng. It is due to landfall tomorrow afternoon, but we are beginning to feel the effects of it already. The storm itself has slowed, which could indicate, according to the meteorologists, that it may change direction. Currently it is heading a bit north of us here in Baguio. But the other scenario is that the high pressure system currently over Hong Kong, could block it and cause it to track more south, or across Central Luzon, which is where we are. We are praying that it will continue to track north, although sometimes you feel guilty praying for such things as it will mean much suffering for others who live in those regions. We pray that His will would be done.

I am writing this update now because I am not sure if we will continue to have electricity tomorrow or internet service for a while if the storm tracks this way. We will try to keep you updated the best we can. Thank you all for praying. It is really our prayer that this storm will spare Manila of more heavy rain. They have already suffered much. So many of our brothers and sisters lost everything and several chapel buildings are completely destroyed. This is a huge storm and will bring rain over all of Luzon. So much suffering.

Keep praying…and we will up date you again when we can.