We began preparing for a possible serious storm — the Category-5 equivalent super typhoon Odette (international codename: Rai) — one week before it’s arrival. We secured out buildings, we cleared our tent (used for worship and other events) of all furniture/sound equipment/other supplies, removed various pumps and motors vulnerable to water damage, fueled and moved vehicles to high ground, stocked up on water and food, and prepared the children the best we could.
Then Thursday December 16 the storm arrived late in the evening. The electricity had been shut down hours before the brunt of the storm hit…a foretaste of what was to come.
The CEA children and staff endured the storm in their respective homes. Gigi and I in the “family cottage”.
Before midnight the wind was howling, whistling and rain blowing sideways. Gigi and I began mopping water every 10 minutes blown in around/under windows and doors. A while later the wind shifted to the southwest and increased in intensity.
By about 2:30 am Gigi and I fell asleep as the intensity of the storm had diminished but we were awakened about 3:15 am with our night guard banging on our door telling us the property was flooding. As I opened the door to his knocking the water came in and I could see it was rushing waist deep water he had waded thru to alert us. The nearby Tanjay river had breached its banks and nothing was going to stop it.
Boy’s house #1 was on the brink of flooding but barely escaped any flood waters. Girl’s house #2 got about 2 inches of flood waters and mud. Gigi and I got about 4” of water and mud in the family cottage. All our homes are elevated in an attempt to protect ourselves from such a flood. While the flood waters receded and rain showers diminished, we began the clean up about 5:30am.
With no electricity for our well pump we had to begin hauling water twice daily from a nearby hand pump well outside the property after exhausting our supplies and our house parents began daily trips out to purchase fresh food as we had no refrigeration.
Cleaning the property, hauling water, and daily shopping trips became our new normal for 15 days until the electricity was restored. All this, 9 days before Christmas and all our plans for Christmas had been altered.
Regardless, the children and staff pulled together and we still celebrated Christmas and feel very blessed to have survived the storm so well when so many others lost their homes, lost their possessions, and yes…many lost their lives.
We are so thankful for all who prayed for us, who contacted us to check on us, and have sent donations for rebuilding/repairing our facility and helping others in the community that are suffering.
Donations
Checks must be made to:
Philippine Mission Inc.
Mail to:
Aaron Schwartz
c/o Philippines Mission Inc.
1108 Center Road
Rogersville, MO 65742
We helped a number of families following the storm with food supplies and we intend in the next few days to help a number of individuals/families that are connected directly with CEA or are nearby neighbors that need help rebuilding their homes.
Visit this link to view full set of photos following typhoon Odette: CEA Photos: Aftermath of Typhoon Odette
Christmas 2021 at CEA!
Despite typhoon Odette we celebrated Christmas and the children got their gifts and stockings! We had our Christmas Eve celebration outside under the solar street lamp with smiles and singing!
Thank you to everyone who sent donations for the children at Christmas! They were very happy that Santa made it thru despite typhoon Odette! They were very excited to open their gifts on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning! Thank you for blessing these children!
Philippians 4:12-13
12I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Ronald and Georgia Brown
Casa Esperanza of Angels
PHILIPPINE MISSION INC.
Tanjay City, Philippines
January 2022 Newsletter
Volume 7 Issue 83