Those of you reading this blog are probably well aware of the super-typhoon currently devastating portions of the Central Philippine islands. My parents have been fielding a number of worried e-mails and phone calls from church members and family friends.
For the record, I'm pretty safe. Baguio is north of the storm's path, so while we have some gusting winds and periodic rains tonight and probably through tomorrow, there's no threat to me. The other YASC missioners are also far north enough to be out of the storm path.
The same, unfortunately, cannot be said for the central islands and the people on them. There are a lot of people who are going to be homeless, a lot of people who will lose everything they've got. And, even worse, a lot of people will end die, both in the storm and as a result of storm-related issues. Please keep those people in your prayers and intentions, instead of worrying about me.
If, like many people, you feel compelled to do something, I would strongly advise you to donate to the international Red Cross, or other worldwide disaster relief agencies. http://www.ifrc.org/en/get-involved/donate/
If at all possible, I would suggest donating to the general fund, not earmarking your donation to the Philippines or any specific goal. Oftentimes there are bottlenecks in terms of how much aid can flow into an affected area at any one time, and there are cases where the fund for one country or disaster is overflowing, where other needy situations cannot be provided for.
And again, place the people of the Central Islands in your prayers. Between the earthquake a while ago and now this, their infrastructure has taken a double whammy, and that in and of itself will affect how the rescue and recovery effort continues.
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