Over 600,000 affected by the monsoonal rains that have fallen now for 3 straight days.
This has been an absolutely crazy week of events. Typhoon Labuyo in the Northern Philippines, the Ferry Disaster in the Central Philippines, and now the heaviest recorded rain in history is falling in Manila.
Heavy Monsoon rains have continued to pound the Philippines for the third straight day as officials report that more than 60% of the capitol, Manila, is submerged. Enhanced by Tropical Storm Maring (Trami), which is hovering just to the north of the Philippines, rainfall has exceeded any previous storm in recorded history. Prior to this week, the heaviest recorded rainfall was in 2009 when Typhoon Ketsana dropped 455 mm of rain in 24 hours. By comparison, rainfall reached 600 mm (23.62 inches) in and around Manila Bay on Sunday alone. This is more than a month’s worth of rain in one day.
More than 200 evacuation centers were opened in Manila and surrounding provinces, filled with tens of thousands of People. Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said that more than 600,000 people have been affected by the floods. At least seven people have died, including four who drowned north of Manila on Monday. So far today there have been no new reports of fatalities.
The government has suspended all work except for rescue and disaster response for a second day. Many domestic and international flights at the International Airport in Manila were cancelled.
Please pray for the people of the Philippines and for the Nazarene families impacted. At this early stage, we do not yet have information on the extent of flooding and losses for our churches and church families. Tropical Storm Maring (Trami) is forecast to move out of the area towards Taiwan by Wednesday and the rain is expected to taper over the next 24 hours.
This flooding comes on the heels of Typhoon Labuyo that made landfall in the Northern Philippines last Monday. Nazarene Disaster Response in partnership with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries provided relief supplies to Nazarene Families impacted by that storm.
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary is situated on higher ground to the east of Manila and has been spared significant flooding, although staff, students, and faculty, are in their second day of no classes as a result of the weather.
Photos from Associated Press
Please continue to pray for our Nazarene families and churches as they deal with yet another major weather event in only 8 days.
It has been quite a week here in the Philippines! We have had the opportunity of helping host a Work and Witness team this past week, where Connie has been cooking many of the meals. This has been a good distraction from our empty apartment now that Courtney is back in the states. We thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to share with the team and to make new friends. They were a great bunch of folks!
Work and Witness team from Michigan.
Speaking of Courtney, she has arrived safely and has already been blessed with a job at the Boys and Girls Club in Lewiston. She received word of the job while she was here in the Philippines, completed her application, sent it in, and told them that she would be back to interview as soon as she returned to the states. She starts work this next week. God is so very good!
Preparing bags of rice for disaster response.
After Typhoon Labuyo (Utor) rolled through, we were able to help out the Philippine Field Office as they prepared over 120 sacks of rice to go to Nazarene families who were displaced by the storm, which hit hardest in the Northern Province of Isabella. Nazarene Disaster Response is delivering the supplies this week.
Today we received news that our house may be ready for us to move in next week. Connie is really looking forward to having a place to start settling into and calling home. The house is located approximately 3/4 mile away as the bird flies, but anywhere between 15 minutes and 2 hours depending on traffic and the routing that must be taken.
Speaking of traffic…we went to the edge of the Manila Bay yesterday to the convention center at the Mall of Asia. One of the World Missions Communications team members (Ervz) was teaching a workshop and we wanted to support him. The distance from the seminary to the convention center is 13.6 miles. It took just over 2 hours to get there and 2 hours 55 minutes to get home. There were no accidents, no flooded streets, just normal Manila traffic. Let’s see…that is about 5.44 miles per hour. Anyone up for a race? I am not sure how many times I clutched for jeepneys, trucks, busses, motorcycles, cars, pedestrians, but it was definitely a workout!
Oh…and a couple more final photos of the WMC-AP team. They truly love to have fun together!
Some of the WMC-AP TeamCelebrating Sean’s Birthday.
On a very sad note…new reports are coming in today of a very serious ferry accident that occurred last night. A ferry and cargo ship collided in the area of Cebu, Southern Philippines. Many confirmed fatalities and around 200 missing. The ferry sank within minutes of the impact. As it was at night, many of the passengers were asleep inside.
Volunteers search water near where accident occurred. Damage to the front of the cargo ship can be seen.
Please see the linked news article regarding the relief supplies going to our church families in the Northern Philippines. While loss of life was minimal, which was a miracle given the power of the storm, home and crop damage was extensive. Over 120 Nazarene families are displaced due to damaged homes. See the story.
Manila receives heavy rain from Typhoon Labuyo (Utor)
We have been providing updates on our Asia-Pacific Nazarene website. Over 120 Nazarene families have been impacted. Typhoon Labuyo made landfall in the Philippines on Monday morning, August 12th with winds in excess of 125 mph. Please see the website for updates. Your prayers are appreciated.
Why do we leave homes, houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields…because there is a world that needs to hear the story.
(Saturday, Aug 9th, 2013, Manila) This has been an exciting week here in Manila. I will attempt to recap it in photos so that you can feel the story!
A week ago today, we had an exciting seminar with more than 50 Nazarene youth from around the Philippines, promoting radio in ministry and helping them to identify ways that they could get involved. There were break out sessions and the youth truly got excited about promoting one of our World Mission Broadcast programs “Perfect Rhythm” that has been produced in the Philippines for more than 19 years. See news story I (Todd) gave a presentation, Courtney and Connie were there to help with media.
Sunday, we drove about 1 hour south of Manila to the home church of our field strategy coordinator. It was a special time to meet new friends and to share food together. Connie and Courtney are enjoying a favorite dish of fried bananas.
Having lunch with our pastor and family at one of our local churchesFinding new friends in our churches across the Philippines.The Pastor’s young son, who believes that he is a pastor as well!
The week started out very rainy. Courtney loves the warm Asian rain as it reminds her of her early years in Africa. She is always wanting to go out and walk in the rain.
As the week continued, we welcomed a Work and Witness team from Michigan. They arrived late Tuesday night and spent their day Wednesday, orienting to the APNTS campus, meeting staff, and attempting to recover from jet-lag!
Work and Witness Team arrives from Michigan
The week has been very busy as we have been developing a new Asia-Pacific regional communications piece. Graphics needed designing, databases developed, and protocol established. The newsletter will come out each Friday (Lord willing) and will highlight stories and activities cross the Asia-Pacific Region with the Church of the Nazarene. We would welcome you to sign up to receive this communication.
As Thursday came, we were reluctantly facing the fact that our time with Courtney here in the Philippines was coming to a close. While I would have preferred to cancel her passport and keep her with us, we knew that this new chapter of her life was needing to start. There is a young man, Landen Ray Kelly, waiting at home for his fiance to return, a new apartment and term at Lewis Clark, a job interview, and many family members.
To help lessen the blow of Courtney’s pending departure, we decided to go out and find a French pastry shop to enjoy a last breakfast together. This was a tradition back in French West Africa, so we found just the place. Connie and I have decided that we may have to go back and visit in honor of Courtney…several times!
Courtney and Dad…really love French pastry shops…mom struggles with the gluten, but loves to come along and be part of the event! And they have some pretty good food here that is non-gluten as well!
One of the greatest blessings about being a missionary and a MK, is that you find and make new friends and family in every new “Home” country. On Thursday afternoon, the media team/family had a farewell party for CJ along with an early birthday celebration. Thanks to Facebook, Courtney now has new friends for life!
Farewell party for CJ with the media team now “family.”An MK has friends and family in many “Home” countries.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens….a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”Friday was our time to shed a few tears. We would be misrepresenting our lives and ministry if we said that these times of sorrow never came. But…while our Lord didn’t promise that we would never have times of saddness, He did promise that through them all…He would be with us. As we said goodbye to Courtney at the airport, our tears joined the warm Asian rain flowing down our cheeks.
Mom and CJ saying goodbye at the airport.We came as three and left the airport…feeling alone.
We returned home and found our apartment very quiet. But, God is good, as we have the Work and Witness team here from Michigan and we are helping with preparing the meals for them, so we were able to jump in and get busy, keeping our minds focused on serving and not on sorrow.
Saturday morning, Connie cooking breakfast for the W&W Team.Having fellowship with the team.Great breakfast honey. Way to go!
This has been our week. We are so thankful for technology. As I finish writing this story, we are watching Courtney land at Seattle (via flight aware). After transiting through Taipei, she is just one flight away from yet another temporary home.
Courtney, getting the love from her “family” in Africa…another home.
I will close with what Courtney posted on one of her social media sites this week, it sums up the Missionary life: “I have decided that home is where you are loved. If that means multiple continents, different houses, or even different states that’s okay. If you ask me where my home is I will respond by telling you it’s everywhere I’m loved.” (Courtney Aebischer – Aug 2013)
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. We are so blessed to have you as part of our team!
July 31st, 2013, Taytay Rizal, Rowenas Community, outskirts of Manila, Philippines. Jesus however said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of the Heavens belongs.” Matthew 19:14
Along a small creek, homes are literally stacked one on top of the other. Blue hoses (a Work and Witness Project) deliver drinking water to one out of every 5 homes.
The project, now in its third year, has provided a small pharmacy, public restrooms, a school for younger children, and community health training, focusing on Dengue Fever awareness and vaccinations.
Community Restrooms, Pharmacy, and Outpost
The greatest provision to this community is the hope that comes through the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. A church has been planted and organized with between 100-150 regular attenders.
The Rowenas Community Center and Church of the Nazarene
As we walked the paths that wound their way along the creek and around the homes, I was overwhelmed with the need, but also with the spirit of those whom we found along those paths. 115 children are sponsored through Child Sponsorship in this one program. I will be featuring it in a news article in the coming weeks…but had to share this evening what we had experienced today.
These Children are precious in His sight (Photo by Courtney Aebischer)
Saturday morning marks our 10th day here in the Philippines. It has been a very busy time, with a steep learning curve as I (Todd) attend meetings with various leaders and just start to scrape the surface of what will be involved in this new position as Communications Coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Region. It has been a time of adaptation, mostly with regard to climate, as we arrived during the rainy season and are learning to adapt to the heat and humidity. We definitely don’t have to worry about dry skin – we are sweating most all of the time, day and night!
There is adaptation to grocery shopping as well. We are learning what things are available, what things are within our budget, and what things are not. Connie and Courtney have spent a few hours in the grocery stores, cruising up and down the isles, finding the things they will need to make meals and set up our home. In fact as I am in Metro Manila this morning, Connie and Courtney are with another missionary, being introduced to a new grocery store that is suppose to have a better selection.
There is also adaptation to the traffic. No this is not a parking lot, this is traffic, all ebbing and flowing down a street. Motorcycles are everywhere, and the one above is working his way across the flow of traffic. I am amazed that in the driving we have done over the past 10 days, we have only seen one accident. There is just a universal common understanding between the drivers of who goes, who stops, and it all takes place in the midst of beeps and honks, motorcycles, motor tricycles, pedestrians, and street vendors. Better than any video game!
Monday night last week, the World Missions Communications – Asia-Pacific team hosted a welcome dinner for Connie, Courtney and I. It was held at Dr. Bill and Mill Kwon’s residence (Director of WMC-AP). It was a great time of fellowship as we were able to become better acquainted with our team.
Last Sunday we were blessed with the opportunity to worship with the congregation at the Taytay Church of the Nazarene, located about 1/2 mile from the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary. They have an incredible ministry to their community. Services in Tagalog and English, and then a Sunday evening service called “Generation Congregation” that reaches out to the youth and young adults. It is impacting an entire culture that has been unreached. In addition, the church has a weekly Saturday program where they reach out to around 250 children, providing a healthy meal as well as evangelistic outreach through bible teaching, games, and crafts.
And now…why on top of Manila? I am writing this morning’s blog as we are broadcasting “Perfect Rhythm” from the top of one of the tallest buildings in Manila.
The one hour, weekly broadcast, through Far East Broadcasting Company in conjunction with World Mission Broadcast, is hosted by Nazarene Youth Pastor and Philippine Radio Host, Jordan Escusa. Jordan plays contemporary music that appeals to the youth culture, and then works in his message that is usually taken from what he preaches at Taytay Church of the Nazarene to Generation Congregation. While broadcasting, social media is streaming. Today’s message was on being a peace maker. One of Jordan’s listener’s tweeted, “Tomorrow I will approach the person I have hurt, and will ask for forgiveness.” If we stopped right now, our mission would have been accomplished for the day. While we are broadcasting in the Philippines, the reach is global, thanks to modern technology. A listener tweeted in from Los Angeles, “I am always listening to Perfect Rhythm.” (8-9pm Pacific time each Friday Evening. How to listen online.
This is what it is all about. Making Christlike disciples in the nations by all means possible. Thank you for your incredible support and partnership with our family and with Global Missions as together with Christ, we make impacts for the Kingdom!
Taytay, Rizal (Manila), Sunday July 21st, 2013, 3:30pm. The last couple of days have seen meetings, trips to the shopping center (mall) as we purchase food, bottled water, cleaning supplies, and other essentials, as well as a great day of worship at Taytay Church of the Nazarene, located about 1/2 mile from the APNTS campus. Taytay is a great church with many awesome ministries. Pastor Sam preached this morning on responding to God’s call, and what it means to first be called to Him, and then be called to mission, wherever that might be. It was truly a fitting message for our first Sunday in a new country on a new assignment.
Friday, June 19th, 12:18pm Manila Time (That is for you Mom Landreth 🙂 ) We arrived yesterday afternoon and God truly blessed all of the details. All of our action packers arrived safely, immigration went very smoothly, and we cleared customs without any problems. Pastor Elmo and Tata were waiting at the arrival area with the vans, and after some heavy traffic, we arrived at Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary. God was truly in all of the details. We did find out that Courtney’s return date was just one day longer than a standard tourist visa, so this will cost an additional $75.00, but that was the only glitch.
We were welcomed with open arms by our team – such a tremendous blessing. The apartment was furnished, counters stocked with some food to get us going, and even a great welcome sign on the wall. This is the rainy season, so the temperatures are warm and the atmosphere is very muggy. It immediately reminded us of our years in Yap, Micronesia. The air conditioning unit was down, so it truly was like home in the islands, where power was so expensive that we didn’t even have AC. We made it to bed with some cold showers and fans blowing.
The jet lag did catch up with me. I (Todd) awoke at 12:00am local time (10:00am Mountain Time) and was wide awake until about 5:00am local time. We all discussed that we were only going to “think” in local Manila time. Unfortunately our bodies didn’t get the message. It did though, afford me the opportunity to get into Lee Strobels, “Case for Faith” which I have been wanting to read for quite some time.
This morning in the office, we started out with team devotions at 9:00am, and then moved into a meeting with Dr. Bill Kwon and Grace Tia (manager of World Mission Communications – Asia Pacific). It was a good initial orientation into what lies ahead. I am 100% assured now that it is only by God’s grace and strength that we will be able to accomplish the task that is set ahead of us.
Final note…went out to start the car, battery dead. Looks like I will get to start mechanic work the very first day here. Glad I threw some tools into our action packers!
Thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement,
Yours and His,
Todd
World Mission Communications Team with a welcome sign in our office. They had a similar sign in our apartment! Such a great family!
Dr. Kwon’s daughter – the youngest member of the welcoming team.
The team enjoying snacks from Cabela’s…had to bring a little Idaho with us to share!
Just a brief update. We had a great 12 hour flight over the ocean and arrived here in Taiwan just after 5:00am. We are recharging our batteries (on the social media gear) and preparing to board again in about 2 hours 30 minutes for Manila. Thank you for your prayers. The worst part of the trip so far has been from Boise to Seattle, where we had to navigate around and through several bumpy clouds. One particular turbulent bump was sufficient enough to harass me by knocking my earphones out of my ears while listening to Josh Groban. Now as a veteran flyer…that got my attention just a bit. I felt sorry for those passengers who weren’t as comfortable in rough air. We will keep you appraised.
Posted from Todd while traveling.
Formerly serving with MAF International in Papua New Guinea – Returned to USA in November to focus our ministry service on family!
Todd & Connie Lou - back in the USA! 
