Depression vs the reality

Upon arrival in Tacloban, I was excited.

There was such anticipation of the mission in front of me. I was looking forward to being able to contribute in any way possible.

That, and I do not know what earthly idea was to be expected.

The first day, we went to a hamlet (we Pinoys call it a "Barangay") north of Tacloban City. The typhoon knocked out all power to this place and also destroyed a reasonably sized school hall, school bathroom and two classrooms.

These students, upon our arrival, were found in class with their teachers continuing their education, focusing on their learning and thanking God that we were in the area for a bit of momentary relief.

It was hard going. There had been so many relief efforts given to the victims of the whole of Tacloban, that the poor volunteers and government workers were flustered.

As an example, the port authorities have "lost" 8 20 foot containers filled with baby food!

Here we are at the docks, 12pm and excited

50 odd pastors with their entourage of parishoners, assistant pastors and relatives from all over Leyte. Some of them drove 6 hours to get to the dock at 11am. Some of them are lucky enough to have work to go back to the next day. Others are just unemployed... waiting in faith knowing that the Lord is in control.

There was one government representative and 5 volunteers from Campus Crusade for Christ.

Fun ensued when it was found out that a majority of the pastors were not listed down to be receiving the relief goods as they did not respond in a timely manner to register their interest.

Even more fun was that after two hours in the pier, we finally found the containers and a melee ensued. All I remember seeing was chaos, till we formed lines and started packing for people. 

Found them!!

Reality hit as I got home.

My funding is vapour because I trusted a sole financier of the Foundation and he got into a bit of trouble with the Australian Taxation Office. I was unemployed and I had a family with debts to pay.

It seems like each time I was to create momentum a massive hit to my family will happen.

I help in the Philippines? The Foundation died before it started.

I get home and start a new job to help get our finances back to our feet? My wife needed to get some needed surgery and quick.

Our finances are starting to get better and literally weeks before things get back to square one, my timing belt snaps in our Camry.

Job 1:21

21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

How does one take this into stride?

Faith.

Reflections - The Last Day at Tacloban City

There is something about this town.

I feel so at home here. The people are friendly, the atmosphere is familiar and the mood is somehow graced with Hope.

I know that my heart is to help out the poor and needy, but maybe it is here in Tacloban that I am going to be called.

No mater what, though, the pilot test is going to continue with Sta.Rosa.

Potential orders of business are:

• Meeting with the project leaders pre-existing
• Pray and dedicate the project to the Lord
• Generate a think-tank to assist in the resource funding for the School and the Foundation
• Develop a marketable business plan for Australian and Philippine funding
• Set-up partners outside of the Think Tank for continuation

So there. Now that I got that off my chest, I need to let you all know that all is not well in Tacloban City, but it is also not the apocalyptic scenario most people would have initially thought.

As with most areas affected by natural disasters, the time it takes to recover is no joke.

Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans took up to 2007 - 2009 for the relief efforts, resettlement, and re-employment to get the city back on its feet.

It has been only the 8th Nov that the Typhoon hit. It is almost 4 months and there has been power restored to 40% of the population. Businesses are starting to thrive. Displaced squatters have taken residence like mushrooms around the areas where their houses previously were.

Officially? These aforementioned informal settlers were the hardest hit. 90% of the damage, death and displacement were to the squatters / informal settlers.

It makes me sick to my stomach that anyone HAS to live in these conditions

I have heard of firsthand testimonies and a few anecdotal ones about the death and destruction they have encountered.

One story goes how this retired Sea Captain (he once was the captain of a merchant marine ship. I helped him accept the Lord Jesus) was holding on to his wife. Both were wearing life jackets and both were waiting for the storm to hit, sheltered on the top level of their home. He remembers the night before (7th Nov) his neighbours (who were informal settlers) refusing to move to secure shelters as they were still carrying on as if this was just a regular storm.

The truly sad bit was when the storm surges hit, all of these hastily-built shanties could not stand the might of the winds.

One anecdotal statement given by a government official who was in charge of getting people to the shelters, "All the women and children were going to the shelters, but the men were staying behind to guard their personal belongings!" Meagre though it may be, these "things" were vestiges of the wealth they so long to have.

It broke my heart to hear personal accounts on how this one lady survived because the entire house collapsed around her and shielded her from the storm. She and her daughter managed to stay sheltered until the winds died down and they scampered off to a shelter, only to watch what was left of their home to collapse as soon as they turned back to have a look.

Her comment to me? "The Lord has protected me."

I have countless stories of hard workers, just wanting a good-old-fashioned "Fair Go" still on a temporary contract after 9 years of working for the local Government Council. He said that he doesn't even have his superannuation (his retirement fund) paid as part of the package nor any benefits like sick leave et.al !

Now righteous indignation is mixed with despair. Impatience is mixed with fear.

I can only do so much. I feel overwhelmed.

Then I remember that when I am weak, His strength shines through me.

That my God will give me all that I need

That He will never forsake me.

That the dream in my heart is from His desire to see more people turn to Him, to receive His gifts of forgiveness and Eternal Life.

The new chapter begins as I work towards the Foundation.

Funding or no, this will not stop the Lord from using me.

Pinoy Internet Blues

We arrived at the airport Tuesday morning and clamoured into what seems like a shed.

it turned out to be the Tacloban Domestic Airport

As we were landing, I also saw the utter devastation of the land. Coconut plantations wiped out, with just bare tree trunks left, squatters illegally built on land that was previously prime beachfront and water view real estate, and tent-cities with banners ranging from the UN to World Vision.

Surprise-surprise, there was little to no internet connectivity stable enough to warrant my Forex Trading nor my consistent blog updates. The most I can do was to do consistent Facebook updates, and still they do not do the trip justice.

This .... Definitely .... DOES NOT feel like 1.88mbps

As we progressed into the main town, I am surprised to see (sarcasm translates horribly) that The Filipino Channel have lied to us again.

Tacloban is a town ravaged by incredible winds, tsunami-like storm-surges and an incredible devastation to their populace.

The realities are, there was only 20% of the town was affected. Unfortunately, the informal settlers (read: squatters) are 90% of the dead.

I was told first hand accounts of people who suffered complete family losses, and other people who were more prepared condemning their neighbours who were drinking and carrying on the night before the Typhoon hit.

People were well informed about the typhoon. There were safe houses around the area. There were marshals who tried to herald people to safety.

Women and children left their houses and went. Men stayed behind to protect their meagre belongings. Others completely ignored the warnings and continued on with life as if they were invincible.

This is what was left of the surrounding airport infrastructure.

This used to be someone's house

The exciting thing is, the place is starting to thrive. Despite the multiple political maneuvering, businesses are slowly re-opening, and life is returning to normal.

Seeing how beautiful Tacloban is now, I cannot wait to see this place again in the future

I have had the privilege to serve brothers and sisters in Apitong, Paglaum and downtown. I have translated for the doctors, set-up the clinics, moved almost 112  (metric) tons of baby food and got to personally lead someone to the Lord.

All in all a productive trip.

Once I have more time I will embellish the details of the "Tales of the missing baby food" , the " Reluctant Helper Girls" and  "Political Hobnobbing"

All for now!