Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Flood Relief



Isaiah 43:2 – 3a – “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you, when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God.”

Paul and I are so blessed to have so many friends praying for us and for our daughter Pami as we work here in the Philippines at this time! We are seeing the hand of God at work.

My Facebook name is Patty Spencer Ellis. I am posting updates there.

We have had two good meetings with our pastors. The first was organizational and 12 area coordinators were selected. They have been busy contacting the other Life-Discipleship pastors in their areas to see what their personal needs are. The second meeting was held to get the reports.

Needs are great. Pastor Dan still has a foot of water in their home. He needs a kerosene stove so they can cook. Many other pastors in his area need similar help. His daughter made a video that is posted on my Facebook.

The typhoon death toll is over 600 and rising from disease. Pastor Rey’s son is critically ill with a flood-water-borne disease. I heard of two others today, one with kidney involvement already. I could go on.

300 bags of canned fish, powdered milk, bottled water and rice along with five big boxes of flipflops went out on Sunday afternoon at the church of one of our pastors. We have given out several very nice used study Bibles sent from churches in the US.

We ordered $2000 in relief – sleeping mats to get them off wet mattresses, tarps or cardboard, cooking pots and cups, plates, etc for 50 families. We will also have 20 single burner stoves. Delivery will be delayed until Tuesday because some items have sold out.

Pami has ordered medicines and supplies for basic medical needs resulting from the flood and remaining water. She has four doctors and another nurse to go to a needy shantytown near us Thursday. Two local pastors have set two sites up and will do the spiritual follow up. She has 9 more clinics planned before she returns to her hospital job in the US the 27th. She still needs doctors for next week and would appreciate your prayers. www.pamirn.blogspot.com

Classes are resuming this week. We appreciate your prayers for our stamina. Paul has picked up some kind of illness and can sing low bass right now. He feels good, however.

In the middle of all this, the 1000 manuals we have been praying for arrived at noon today! Duty free, too! It is a time for celebration!