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Emergency Funds Needed for Bohol Earthquake Victims
URGENT! The money in our “disaster relief fund” has been depleted. We need your help now. Earlier this month we helped typhoon victims. Last week we sent as much as we could for assistance to earthquake victims. The needs of earthquake victims in the weeks ahead will be tremendous as they recover from the devastation. We need your financial support now.
Late Monday night of last week, a Facebook posting from one of our FCM pastors in the Philippines alerted us to an earthquake that had just happened. The earthquake measured 7.2 magnitudes and was deep underground near the center of the island of Bohol, close to the famous “Chocolate Hills.” There have been more than 1000 aftershocks. Some have been very strong – more than 6.0. The damage is beyond words to describe.
We have 300 sponsored children and youth on Bohol as well as 10 pastors. Two towns where some of our children and pastors live are Sagbayan and Catigbian which are near the epicenter of the quake. In Sagbayan, there is much damage to buildings and several fatalities. Our FCM pastor, Rey Carnice lost his home and his church building. Everyone is thankful that his family escaped with bruises and minor injuries. They are now staying in a tent in an open field. When we talked with his wife Daliah three days later, there still had not been any relief supplies come to the town because the roads and bridges were so badly damaged. They were short on drinking water, food, medicines and gasoline. There was no gasoline or diesel available in the entire town. Many roads and bridges were out so getting to them was no small task. Most of the sponsored children in Sagbayan have also lost their homes.
In Catigbian, a boarding house where several FCM sponsored high school and college students lived collapsed. Two students were hospitalized. The pastor’s wife was trapped under their collapsed home for a time. She said they tried to get out but could not lift the debris off of them. She said later that she believes the Lord was protecting them by keeping them covered. They were not hurt. Many people, including most of the sponsored children located in this town, are sleeping in tents and under tarps in the yard of the pastor’s home. She said their house looks like an evacuation center. The pastor’s wife told us on the phone she just went to buy a couple of small tents because it is now raining so hard.
One of our pastors was able to get to these two towns (Sagbayan and Catigbian) on Friday with food, water and other necessities he purchased with money we sent to him — money from many of you.
Tagbilaran City (population 100,000) is the largest city on Bohol. In the city is much structural damage. Several homes of our pastors are damaged beyond repair. It is the only place at this time where electricity has been restored, and I is intermittent. All of the pastors are busy caring for hundreds of displaced people. We have been able to help with food and water for the victims.
There are many sponsored children in Tagbilaran City and in smaller towns around – Loon, Maribojoc, Dauis, Dimiao, Saca-on Garcia. The towns of Maribojoc and Loon were hit especially hard and are accessible only by boat or helicopter because the roads and bridges are so damaged. The house of one pastor fell into the sea. Schools are still closed. Electricity is still off except for Tagbilaran, where it is partially restored. Clean drinking water and food is hard to find.
In Dauis, the home of FCM Pastor Fernando Impang is badly damaged. His wife is not comfortable staying in it with all the aftershocks that are occurring. Even with the problems he faces in his own home, Pastor Impang led a group to Catigbian and Sagbayan to take supplies and check on our pastors and sponsored children. He took with him 15 FCM sponsored teens to help.
Our FCM pastors, especially in the Tagbilaran area, are sheltering and feeding and caring for many displaced and frightened people. Pray for all to be safe in the shelters and church buildings, some of which have been damaged. Many people are choosing to stay outside in open fields instead of in the shelters because they fear the buildings will collapse on them. Pray also for the provision of food and water needed to provide for so many displaced people.
Pray for the people in the areas affected by this disaster.
We know some of you who are sponsors are concerned about the children you sponsor. If your sponsored child is in this area and was affected by the earthquake, we will update you as we have more information.
The need is urgent! The money in our “disaster relief fund” has been depleted. With the 2 disasters so close together, we have sent everything we can. We have not sent the money you have sent to us for education for the sponsored children. Those funds are set aside and protected. The needs of earthquake victims in the weeks ahead will be tremendous. We need your financial support and your prayers.
Because of our close relationship with 10 pastors on the island of Bohol, we have a direct line to quickly get the assistance where it needs to go. Money sent to our pastors is available to them within 10 minutes from the time we send it to them. It does not have to go through any bureaucracy. The pastors who relate to us are trustworthy and report back to us carefully about how money we send to them is used.
The fastest way to get money to those who need it is to send it online. Send it securely by going to our website at the “Donate Online” link below.
If you prefer to send a check, make it to “FCM” and send it to Fullness in Christ Ministries, PO Box 136117, Fort Worth, TX 76136. Enclose a note that it is for earthquake victims.
Thank you for your prayers and for your support for ministry to the people of the Philippines. We cannot do it without you.
Blessings to all, Ras and Bev Robinson and Kathy Bohlin |
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– Ras Robinson, President – Bev Robinson, Vice President
– Kathryn Bohlin, Executive Vice President & Director of Philippine Missions
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