Tindog Tacloban! - World Renew

It took me a few days to get this story out because the city of Tacloban is still without electricity. They are hoping by Christmas. Many have no lights and no internet connectivity. I, fortunately, came prepared with a USB modem with a sim card that provides wi-fi, but the 24 hours I purchased eventually ran out, and it took some doing to get access again. Thank goodness for our International Relief Managers who arrived to support me and ran around Dec 3^rd trying to source this. Praise God,the broadband version is for sale here in small shops that are starting to pop up in the city. You can even find fruits, vegetables and baking available and small restaurants opening up. Tacloban is rising. Or as they say here, Tindog Tacloban!

"I am so thankful that I still have my whole family. Even though we lost everything, it is only material things and we are not supposed to put our faith in that."

I am amazed at the spirit of every Filipino person that I meet. None of them ever complain about what they don't have. They all are just so thankful to be alive. One woman said to me, "I am so thankful that I still have my whole family. Even though we lost everything, it is only material things and we are not supposed to put our faith in that."

It reminded me of the following verses: in Matthew 6: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".

Their hearts sure seem to be in the right place. Colossians 3:2 says: "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things". How many of us if we lost everything could still say: "I am thanking God that I am alive". Look at this family sitting in the ashes of what was once their home. They were so happy to receive the goods that they say are the best they have received to date. This woman’s eyes lit up when she saw the slippers and the bedsheet from World Renew. I am humbled by their spirit.

Tacloban City Mayor, Alfredo Romualdez, who I had the privilege of meeting twice, said that his people did not come to him and say, "We are hungry." They said, "Praise God, we are alive!" Even though today he told me they are still finding 70 – 80 dead bodies a day, the city has hope, and he is a motivating force in reassuring them. He wants to rebuild the city from the ashes, to build it with God's vision of what it could be. The mayor wants to empower people, and you can too, by donating to World Renew, as I work closely in this community to walk them through early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Blessings,