This week has been a different one for me. I have been off language school all this week as our Founder, Doug Nichols, is out here visiting for several days. I have been his driver, secretary and photographer throughout his stay here thus far. We have done many things and accomplished much. Here is the update that I typed up for him last night.
First two Days in Manila
Greetings from Manila, Philippines with clear skies. I arrived at noon Monday October 5 after leaving my house in Seattle at 9pm to catch my flight at 2am and traveling for about 22 hours. I was awake for 36 hours except for 3 hours of sleep on the plane. Too long for anybody to be awake! After unpacking and sorting relief items it was great to call and talk to many team members, friends and family. After dinner I met with ACTION missionary Adam Hussey (26) who will be assisting me in administration, correspondence and driving.
Adam first served with ACTION Uganda and the Lord has graciously brought him to the Philippines. He is currently studying the language (Tagalog) full-time but after finishing will be discipling youth in the Philippines as well as creating video’s for missionaries and ministries. The Lord has really gifted Adam with a heart for the Filipino people and is evident in how he relates to them on a daily basis.
First we visited with Christian Growth Ministries (CGM) staff and encouraged them. There is much to be done and much planning to be talked over. CGM was not damaged by the flood so the main topic of discussion was the ACTION/CGM pastors conferences 2010 and the books to be printed for BookShare. Many poor pastors lost their complete limited library as well as their bible. God is good and has continued to use the people here to minister well among the pastors and church leaders. Praise God for the work that CGM is involved with here.
We then went to The Bible League to see the ministry there (the Bible League was started by ACTION/CGM in the 1970’s and is now the largest bible league program in the world, with over 30,000 graduates in the church-based bible study program with all graduates receiving New Testament or bible. On the day that the first typhoon hit there was considerable flooding in the building with water rising upwards of 9 feet on the ground floor! There was much damage to books and the vehicles there with over five million pesos or $105,000 dollars worth of damage to bibles and study materials! This is not counting the four vehicles and one motorbike that were also ruined in the flood. Some of the materials were on the second and third floors of the building so they were not damaged. Please pray for The Bible League as they are beginning the process to raise support to cover the costs of the materials lost.
*A video was made and put onto YouTube that shows the flood at The Bible League. Click this link to see the video.
After our time at The Bible League we had lunch with the ACTION Filipino staff and heard many stories of God’s mercy during the flood. The home of our dear friend and co-worker Frank Egalla was completely flooded with water rising 12 feet with the family barely escaping with their lives. Frank with his wife Lisa have faithfully served the Lord for over 30 years. They have moved into the free use of a small apartment for several months but have absolutely no furniture, not even a mattress. And today Lisa was pick pocketed losing her cell phone (about $50). I was able to give them about $200. They will need at least $4,500 in order to set-up their house with basic furnishings for their family of five.
We spend all afternoon as a part of an ACTION relief centered in a local church called San Juan Gospel Chapel. There were over 300 families that attended the relief, each with a stub that was used to redeem a gift bag with relief goods.
The goods given out were:
-Plastic bucket
-6 plates, cups, forks, and spoons
-4 kilos of rice
-Wok for cooking
-Small pot with lid
-Vitamins, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, vitamin C, and other medicines
Before the goods were distributed, the 300 gathered for a meeting of instructions, special prayer for those suffering. Jeff Anderson, Philippine director, gave a short word of encouragement and I was also able to speak briefly from Hebrews 12:28-29. “The kingdom of Christ is not shaken.” Because of our relationship with Christ we can trust God even in times of distress. A Filipino pastor then gave a gospel message. All of the 300 have heard the gospel previously being involved in ministry outreach to the slum area by ACTION Filipino team members.
Each set of relief goods was 1380 pesos or $30 dollars. ACTION has handed out over 1000 of these in the past several days. Praise God with us for the funding that has been provided to help with these needy families. We estimate the needs of up to at least $50,000 dollars more in this initial outreach of compassionate care and the gospel.
*If you would like to see pictures from some relief work please click on this link.
Observations –
1. Jeff Anderson and the ACTION team in the Philippines are doing an excellent relief outreach for the glory of God. The efforts even in all of the confusion of need have maintained a very effective strategy in relief ministry outreach. Financial shortage causes problems but they have been able to work through this effectively for the glory of God.
2. It was very interesting to note of the effect of the encouragement that comes from simply “showing up.” Several team members said that they were very much encouraged that I would cancel ministry in the USA to come to the Philippines at this time. Saying something like “Sir, did you really cancel meetings to come here?”
3. Jeff and the team have mentioned several times of the sacrificial giving of the Filipinos to the suffering. With over $4000 dollars coming in small and large gifts. Many of the relief packages with food, clothing, and medicines have been given by local churches for ACTION to distribute, especially to some of the most affected by the flood.
In closing let me encourage you with the following, “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28-29 nasb)
Sincerely in Christ,
Doug Nichols
