How You Can Help Victims Of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolinda (Updated Again)

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UPDATE Mon Nov 11, 2013.

The reported numbers of injured and dead are much greater today than Saturday. See below for more information on how to help and whom to contact.

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UPDATE #1

The NYT is now reporting that the Red Cross thinks that as many as 1,000 people in the Philippines may have died in the massive typhoon that hit the islands. Pastor Nollie Malabuyo is a minister in the United Reformed Churches in North America. He writes this morning with news and with guidance about how to help.

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Original Post Nov 9, 2013

Reports of widespread devastation and casualties all along the path of Typhoon Haiyan (code name Yolanda in the Philippines) are starting to trickle in. Those killed might number in the few thousands. We will not know the extent of the damage for days. The whole region of about 25 million people had no power and without communication. All domestic flights to the area were grounded, and some airports were destroyed.

Evelyn and I and our household were homebound for two days, but safe by God’s mercy. Right now, the typhoon is already headed towards Vietnam. We only had light to moderate rains and winds. Earlier today, the sun was trying to peek with moderate winds.

The path of the storm was about 200-300 miles to the south of Manila, but the storm was so huge that practically the whole country, 1,200 miles from north to south, was engulfed in the storm.

Please continue praying for those who have lost everything, including loved ones. For those who want to send relief aid, I think the best thing to be sure that the aid gets to those in need would be to send cash. Our church Council will discuss this tomorrow and will make inquiries as to how and where to send aid. I’m sure that some missionary organizations working in the area will be raising relief aid.

The Philippines will need massive aid and a long time to recover from this calamity.

You can contact me at my email: dvopilgrim at gmail.com.

UPDATE

Nollie adds:

Tax-deductible funds can be sent to mission organization:

East Asia National Support, Inc.
P. O. Box 8434
Bartlett, IL 60103
(memo: R1612 (FEURM)

UPDATE Monday Nov 11, 2013

Pastor Malabuyo writes:

Pasig Covenant Reformed Church and Trinity Covenant Reformed Church (Imus) are sending a small amount of cash—a drop in the ocean—to a mission working with the Atis in Boracay. Below are a few of the mission work that I’ve learned about from other long-time missionaries here in the Philippines.

If you’re in the Philippines, and want to send funds directly to these places, please send me a message here or in my Facebook account.

On the Rock Ministries, Boracay
Dan and Tori Beaver (Facebook). Serving the Ati people and tourists. Church, school, Bible school.

The Hope Foundation, Inc., Tacloban City, Leyte
Larry & Bobby Womack (Facebook). Serving the poor. Bible school/institute

Paul & Margie Varburg (Facebook), Tacloban City
Church and Christian school

Dennis & Marilou Drake, Bohol
International Deaf Education Association. They have a website for Bohol Earthquake Relief.

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8 comments

  1. Here’s what I wrote in the Reformed Pinoy, a Reformed/Presbyterian Filipino forum:

    Mike Horton asked me if there were Reformed churches that were affected by the typhoon. This got me to think about how we Reformed have not been very active in mission work. I’ve asked many of my friends back in the States, some of them Reformed churches and believers, to help in the relief effort. Some have responded, including MH and RSC.

    Here are my thoughts. We’re all grieving for the terrible sufferings of the people, and frustrated that the government is not doing much, and we feel helpless because we’re so far away. The relief effort has to be massive and coordinated by the government. Meanwhile, we can send cash to those whom we personally know are working in the area.

    But as soon as the immediate sufferings are relieved, the long-term rebuilding is even more difficult. They need money and help in rebuilding their homes, farms, and life in general. Perhaps we Reformed can better help over the long-term by establishing a relief fund. Then we can plan on a team of volunteers going to one or two of these areas and help in the rebuilding effort. Hammers and nails can be very effective evangelism tools.

    This is why I’m asking if there’s people in this forum who have family or friends or churches that they know there. This rebuilding effort can be our beachhead for a Reformed ministry in the Visayas.

    About three months ago, my wife and I scheduled a visit to a mission to the Ati tribe in Boracay on December 9-11. The mission and the surrounding community of Atis also suffered majorly. So we’ll see first-hand how we can help, and maybe start a Reformed presence somewhere there, maybe Kalibo or Antique.

    Please pray about this. We need to brainstorm, and maybe a meeting to discuss this thing.

    Yours in Christ,
    Pastor Nollie

  2. To those who might get letters of appeal for donations, there are many who call themselves “Reformed” or “Presbyterian” who google Reformed organizations and churches who have selfish motives. Please check with me before you commit, because I’m well-acquainted with most Reformed people in the Philippines.

  3. Pastor Nollie,
    I have several relatives in the Visayan region whose lives have been affected by the typhoon. I am sending money directly to them but would you like to be able visit them?
    Leah

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