Our brethren face severe flooding in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

Since November 24th, I have been receiving daily updates from Alex Montanano, our dear brother and wonderful pastor in the Philippines, describing the terrible effects of Typhoon "Urduja" which began to sweep over their homes last Tuesday. I was with Alex and these brethren in this area less than two months ago.

Following are the messages we have received the last 4 days from Alex describing the events leading up to the flood. Alex is requesting help for our Christian brethren who have been affected. Please take a few minutes to read this urgent appeal for our help. We will be sending a love offering early this coming week. If you are able to email me, I could include your gift in our wire. However, the recovery from this will take months, and ongoing help will also be so appreciated by these saints.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 2:34 PM
Dear Dad Court and Mom Sandy,

We have had rain here for days now, and today it's really raining so hard. There's a typhoon hitting the eastern part of our island. Please pray for our brethren living in a low lying area of Calacala where its prone to flash flood. People are afraid that the devastating flood will happen again due to the incessant rain we are experiencing right now. If the water dam releases voluminous amounts of water, a flash flood will certainly happen again. Please pray with our brethren at Calacala.

The tribal missions went well in spite of the heavy rains. Our truck almost fell off a cliff as we were going up the zigzag mountain trails, but praise God we arrived safe and sound. Our LCD projector has been broken so we had canceled the gospel film showing, but we had our evangelistic meeting at the tribal village of Iba. We gathered the village folks in that small hamlet of Iba. The youth performed an evangelistic drama and sang some gospel songs. In the midst of the fog and rainy weather people came out of their huts and listened to the Gospel receptively. After the meeting we gave some mosquitoes nets to the brethren. We shared with them the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We appreciate your kind prayers for us. In His service, Alex and Emma

Wednesday, November 25 6:29 AM
Dear Dad Court and Mom Sandy,

We are experiencing flash flooding today. The church is flooded. Our school office has been flooded. The streets along the church have been turned into rivers of murky water from the sewage overflow. The brethren living under the bridge have been affected badly as well as those brethren whose shanties are in the swampy slum areas. Please pray with us for these brethren right now. Since the flash floods happened last night, no government officials have been able to evacuate the people. We are trying to put up some tents and some temporary shelter for the brethren. We need food, mats, blankets and some clothes since all their food and stuff are under the water. They are all wet and suffering from cold sleepless nights as their shanties have been submerged in the flood waters. Their children are crying from hunger and trauma of the sudden incident. Their homes have been swept away by the flood and landslides, and some hit by rocks and trees.

Please pray with us. Please help our brethren in this hour of great need.

In Jesus Christ, Alex and Emma

Wednesday November 25 1:05 PM
Dear Dad Court and Mom Sandy,

The devastating typhoon Urduja is hitting our homes in Mindanao. Our city of Cagayan de Oro has been experiencing flash floods. At the old building where we used to have our church, the water is neck high. Some neighboring towns have had landslides, and bridges have been destroyed. Flash floods are being experienced in some of our city districts and the neighboring towns and houses are being swept away by the raging waters. I just came from the city bridge and took some pictures of houses being flooded, and some were already underwater. Some parts of the city has no electricity. Families of our brethren are asking our help. Please pray for the brethren under the bridge. I just received a word from Pastor Joseph, our tribal pastor residing along the city drainage. His shanty is under water. His kitchen utensils have been swept away by the flood. The little they had is under water. He is asking for help right now. His family has no food. We are extending some help but its not enough. We need your prayers.

Thank you for praying for our brethren.

In Him, Alex and Emma

Friday, November 27, 9:25 AM
Dear Dad Court and Mom Sandy

For the sake of the suffering brethren, we have made this humble urgent appeal for help and prayers because many of the poor Christian families I visited yesterday have lost their humble earthly belonging and kitchen items due to the devastating flood which happened in the middle of the night while they slept. When they woke up, they were just in a panic frantically trying to find a way to escape the flood in the midst of pitch black darkness since electric power had been cut off. They were not able to save their things since the flood water suddenly rose to such an extreme height. The flood water level is much higher than the previous flood we had this year. They were terrified, for the last flood had almost cost them their lives. One of the brethren, a pastor at the tribal village of Tagpange, had no food since all their food was swept away by the flood. So, we extended to him more than our prayers, but also practical assistance in their desperate hour of need.

Brother Court, those living close to Catalina's place have been safe. Their only concern is that their small livelihood business' such as vending at the streets and manual works has been hindered by incessant rain. Moses' shanty has been flooded as well this time. With all the murky water entering their humble home, the cleaning is back breaking work for them.

May God bless you as you consider to help to the poor brethren who have been severely affected by this flood.

In His love and grace, Alex and Emma

Flooding this week on Mindanao the Philippines

Flooding this week on Mindanao the Philippines

Some of the flooded streets.

very needy Christian family in flood area

I took this photo two months ago of Alex and Brother Boyat and his wife and son. Their home is in the flood zone and is now probably flooded and inaccessible.
street preaching in the slums of the Philippines

street preaching in the slums of the Philippines

This area by the sewage where Alex brought me just two months ago to preach Jesus Christ. It is now flooded with water, and many of these Christian families have lost their meager possessions.

Dear Friends, as you are able, please help us to send a generous gift to encourage and help our brethren. I have come to love these precious saints from the slums of Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. They have believed in Jesus Christ, despite threats from Muslims and extreme Catholics. The people are not lazy and work hard every day at meager jobs to feed their families. The threat of Islamic terriorism has kept development away due to the risk to their lives and property. Alex and his dear wife Emma are doing a wonderful work in leading thousands of these precious people to Jesus Christ. They need our encouragement and love, and we need them just as much.

Thank you so much for your love, your prayers, and your sacrificial gifts. It is only because of you that we are able to speak out for, and help, the Body of Christ.

Gratefully your servants in Him,

Court and Sandy Wood

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:21

Don't forget. Our address and phone numbers have changed to:

In Jesus' Name Ministries
PO Box 1059
Bristol, VA 24203

Phone: 1-276-644-1089

Email: court@injesusname.org sandy@injesusname.org

Website: www.injesusname.org