| |
A
Hope Dampened by Typhoon "Marce"
September 1, 2004-- Leaving at crack of dawn, a
5 member OB team lead by Pastor Jun Mercado, hit
the road traveling some 6 hours to Barangay San
Gabriel, Bayambang, Pangasinan. Here they will once
again replenish lost hope to families stricken by
typhoon Marce through a 1 day disaster relief operation.
San Gabriel is one of depressed municipalities in
Bayambang. People live literally on a hand to mouth
existence, children walk miles of dirt roads just
to get to school, people get sick and fearfully
battle it out without any medical aid and most couples
have more than 5 children some even 10, but ironically
their meager resources are impossible to sustain
even themselves.
During OB's previous visit to San Gabriel two months
back, OB began a livelihood program, installed 2
new deep wells, conducted a medical mission, organized
a 1 week vacation Bible school for kids and shared
Christ's love and free gift of Salvation to the
residents giving them new hope. Thus, San Gabriel
is known as OB's Community of Hope in Pangasinan.
Yearly
Ordeal
Two weeks ago, after typhoon Marce spawned heavy
rain showers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces,
OB got word about San Gabriel's condition. It
had happened again, their yearly ordeal with flood
has begun.
At the height of typhoon Marce's rage, San Gabriel
and all the other surrounding land as far as the
eye could reach was unimaginably covered with
flood estimated at some 7- 8 feet deep, the flood
lasted for three days. This is the reason why
their houses are escalated by posts 7 feet above
the ground, but even so this could not totally
spare them from the water.
Grateful
When the OB team reached the area, a considerable
amount of the flood had subsided and the people
were slowly trying to start their lives again.
When word about the relief operation reached the
residents they all eagerly gathered to once again
be blessed through OB.
One of their age old problems during floods is
a source of potable water, while they are stuck
inside their homes their deep wells remain submerged
7- 8 feet under flood. But only two months ago
during OB's first visit to San Gabriel for its
Community of Hope project, OB blessed the residents
with a new deep well, its water pump mounted on
a pedestal high enough to serve useful even during
floods.
According to Pastor Ato of the Lord Reigns Forever
Church in Bayambang, during the height of the
flood caused by Marce, boats were seen lining
up to fetch water from the well. Even residents
from nearby barangays paddled their boats to conveniently
get drinking water from this well. This is the
very first year San Gabriel had clean drinking
water in the midst of a flood. Residents could
not hide their happiness and thankfulness for
this well.
As the team began giving out relief, tears of
joy and overwhelming thank you's were heard from
the residents as each family was given rice, canned
goods, children's vitamins, toothpaste, and candies
for the children. With the assistance of The
Lord Reigns Forever Church in Pangasinan,
a total of 50 families were helped.
But seeing past material provisions, it was the
sincere smiles, encouraging words, and compassionate
touches the residents received from the OB team
and volunteer church workers from Pangasinan that
really warmed their hearts, knowing that there
are people who are always ready to refuel their
hope when it runs dry.
At around 6 pm of the same day just a little past
sundown, the OB team headed back to Manila with
their mission of restoring hope, sharing Christ
love and showing genuine compassion-- Accomplished.
Touch someone who is hurting
today. Be an Operation Blessing Partner. [Click
Here...] |
