Flood news from Mindanao, Philippines, from CMS mission partners Eric and Sandra Read.
Thank you for all your prayers and messages.
In maybe 90% of the city, everything is normal and normal life goes on.
In the remaining 10%, people are crowded into schools and sports centres for shelter, they spend their days recovering whatever they can from what used to be their homes, queuing for water or food or other relief goods as they come, bathing at the side of the road and presumably trying to think about what they will do now. Many will also be mourning for loved ones.
Yet through all of this I (Eric) am amazed and humbled at how calm and how cheerful people are. People are chatting and laughing as though everything is normal. They form orderly queues and wait patiently their turn. If they miss out this time they just say, OK we will wait for the next lot. I have yet to hear a word of anger or even irritation. Yet these are people many of whom have lost everything, including members of their families and who are unlikely to have a house of their own for months or even years.
Water is a major problem now in much of the city, they are using fire engines to deliver it. One of the major supplies used to cross the river on a mini version of the Tyne bridge. It is now a twisted heap of steel. It must have been a massive rush of water to do all the damage it has done and so dramatically change the shape of the river.
Everything is covered in a thick layer of mud, we helped some friends recover what they could from their house, absolutely everything
Eric has been asked to help one church assemble and set up a water filtration unit which is being lent by a church in Manila. We visited one of the possible sites for it today and met one of Peter's school friends. His mother told us he doesn't want to go outside wandering around anymore now. He did go down near the river with Peter though, so hopefully is fear will subside. The filter is due to arrive tomorrow or Friday.
There are many needs, both short and longer term. Different churches and organisations are helping however they can. Pastor Lapiz (who leads the bible study in our house) church is feeding about 500 people a day in the nearest relief centre (a covered basketball court) and they plan to continue as long as they have funds. We have given them a box of clothes and a sack of rice. They are cooking 150kg rice a day costing about £70 plus some meat (in total about 30 - 35p per person per day).
People also have needs for basics like saucepans, water containers, basins etc. Sandra's sister is sending some money for us to put together bags sweets and fruit for the children for Christmas.
Please do continue to pray for people.
Eric and Sandra Read