Tropical Storm Ketsana

On Saturday, September 26, Tropical Storm Ketsana poured torrential rain over the Philippine island of Luzon, dumping more than 16 inches in only 12 hours. In Metro Manila, 80% of the city was flooded, affecting 500,000 of the capital's 12 million people. The death toll stands at 200+, but many are still missing.

The flooding affected a number of Every Nation's local pastors, staff, and church members, some requiring rescue from rooftops. Not to mention family and friends who are very dear to our hearts. Services at Every Nation churches across Metro Manila were canceled as church members used the locations to prepare hundreds of bundles of food and clothing for victims of Ketsana (known locally as Typhoon Ondoy).

We are blessed to witness how everyone immediately got together, brought relief goods, and deploy these bags to the affected areas.

We were told that the Nashville office has been fielding calls from individuals wanted to help financially. They have added an option for flood aid on Every Nation's online-giving website (http://www.everynation.org/FloodAid). Donations will be transferred to Every Nation in the Philippines, and will purchase canned goods, bottled water, milk, and other items for those in need.

If you have family or friends with plans to fly to Manila in the near future, clothing is also a huge help for people who have lost their homes and everything they own.

We (Robert and Samantha) are doing all right. We are grateful that God spared our home, knowing that the heavily flooded areas are only about 15 minutes from where we live. We know that this happened for a reason -- so that we can be all the more available (the way Jesus would) and serve the ones in need.

We had our weekly feeding program that morning. The feeding center started to get flooded and we had to cut it short to properly evacuate the children and the volunteers.

Upon leaving the feeding center, we realized that this hurricane was unlike any other we have encountered in the past. People on the streets were walking through waist-deep water.

Right now, prayers are desperately needed. Please stand with all of us in prayer as we try to overcome this tragedy and continue to claim that weapons formed against us shall never prosper.

We will keep on posting updates, donation gateways, sharing pictures and prayer points in the next few days. Thank you for all the messages of concern!