Wednesday, December 26, 2012

PHILIPPINES 2012 - Rice Paddies and Evacuation Centers

Mati, Philippines
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
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Rice Paddies and Evacuation Centers
Our team made it to Mati this morning where we will pray for the sick and hand out gift bags in the two hospitals where they have brought the injured victims of Typhoon Bopha. Now we are heading north along the coast of Davao Oriental until we can go no further as a bridge is out. We've heard there are many Muslims in that area. Jesus' love is so strong for these people!
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Handed out gift bags and toys today in rice paddies and an evacuation center. Shared the love of Jesus with many beautiful people and prayed for the sick. One woman had a growth completely disappear! We heard horrific stories in the evacuation center of people watching their own children die before their very eyes during the typhoon. We hope that somehow, our team has been able to bring a glimmer of hope in these dark times. Tomorrow morning we will give out gift bags in one more evacuation center. Love you all so much! Thank you for your prayers and support!
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On the day that much of the world celebrates the birth of Jesus, we witnessed firsthand the Prince of Peace enter the lives of over 200 typhoon victims who have been gripped by fear at two more evacuation centers in Mati, Mindanao. At the last place we visited, we only had 40 more gift bags to hand out, yet there were 46 families. We asked God to multiply the gift bags so there would be enough for everyone. As we handed them out, one by one we counted out all 46 that were given to each family and had 4 gift bags left over. God turned our 40 gift bags into 50 before our very eyes. We love to see multiplication miracles. There is always enough!
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Christian Young

Friday, December 21, 2012

PHILIPPINES 2012 - Distribution in Compostela and Nabunturan

Nabunturan, Philippines
Friday, December 21, 2012
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Distribution in Compostela and Nabunturan
Just arrived back in Davao City from the Compostela Valley. Wow! I stand amazed at how God can use our little lives to carry the Father's heart to the poor and the broken. Today our Iris Relief Philippines 1st Response team did a food distribution in Compostela. A church building that was still standing was packed with 193 families waiting to receive relief. We had words of knowledge for 25 people... who ALL received a healing touch from Jesus. Then the miracles of God worked through our hands confirmed the message of Christ as 230 people entered a personal, hand-holding relationship with Him this morning.
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Then we traveled to New Bataan where a moutain there literally crumbled and collapsed during Typhoon Bopha becoming an avalanche of giant boulders and mud covering an entire community, and killing many hundreds of people who are still buried underneath the mess. The spiritual atmosphere from the grief and trauma was so heavy. We worshipped and prayed in that place as our hearts broke for the people.
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Altogether in the last four days of distributing aid to the different villages near Montevista, Compostela and Monkayo, 440 people have prayed with us and given their lives to Jesus! We will return to a different area of devastation to love on these precious people here after we rest this weekend. Thank you so much for your prayers.
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Christian Young
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Thursday, December 20, 2012

PHILIPPINES 2012 - Distribution in Barangay Baru Boon and Salvacion

Monkayo, Philippines
Thursday, December 20, 2012
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Distribution in Barangay Baru Boon and Salvacion
Our IRIS Relief 1st Response Team was joined today by our FIRE International friends and Operation Blessing as we traveled to two very isolated villages, Barangay Baru Boon and Barangay Salvacion. We distributed food, cooking supplies, tarps and toys for the children to 60 families in each village. Our hearts break for them all. All 120 families prayed to receive Jesus as we shared the gospel of Christ with them. New life and restoration is springing up in the midst of devastation.
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Christian Young