Super typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) hit Nov 8, 2013. Seven days later, after a 2 week service request was sent to AIIAS for me, ADRA sent me to help out in the island of Panay. This are some of the things I did and saw in my 2 weeks stay there. 

The new people I met (and will remember... )
1. Frank Brenda - ADRA Germany
2. Rowena Sugay - ADRA Canada
3. Kimee Echavez Santiago - volunteer from Bacolod 
4. Jesse Bliss - Loma Linda University, School of Public Health
5. Brett McPherson - Risk Management
6. Geoff White - photographer extraordinaire from Australia :D
7. Braden Blyde - ADRA Australia
8. Japhet Musico - volunteer from Mindoro 
9. Gerson "Boyet" Custodio - volunteer from Roxas, Capiz

Happy Sabbath friends and family all over the world!

This is my 2nd Sabbath in Panay Island, and I was finally able to visit a beach that was untinted with Yolanda's wrath. Plus a meal (which was our lunch and supper) courtesy of Jessie Bliss, from Loma Linda University School of Public Health (specializing in... um... disaster response... I think.. :D ). 

A beautiful way to start the Sabbath!

Moving the base camp from Iloilo City to Roxas City with representatives from ADRA Canada (Rowena Sugay, and Kimee Santiago), ADRA Germany (Frank Brenda), and ADRA Philippines (May Ann Belga and me).  As we arrived in Roxas City the same time as the truck bring the REDO machine (water purifier) from Cavite. 

9:01pm, November 14, 2013, a Thursday. 
Seat 23A of Cebu Pacific flight 5J 461 bound for Iloilo City.  

I remember last week, before I left work, I had informed my officemate that I wasn't going to go to work the next morning because I was expecting Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) to be in full effect in a couple of hours (but I did go to work the next morning).

A week later, I am saying the same thing. I am not going to go to work tomorrow, but that is because by tonight, I am bound for Iloilo City. 

It was just last night that the option of actually taking my annual vacation 2 weeks ahead of time, to be able to volunteer for ADRA for their Emergency Response in the Visayas area, and right now, I am flying at 35,000ft in a plane that is about to descend on a city that I have never been to, to help out in the aftermath of one of the strongest and devastating typhoons to EVER make landfall. 

I do not know what I will see, nor do I want to guess....  but I know I am about to begin an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. 

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All that I am, all that I have, I lay them down before You, oh Lord. 
All my regrets, all my acclaims, my heart and my hand, I give them to You... 

Lord, I offer my life to you, everything I've been through, to use it for Your glory, 
Lord, I offer my days to you, lifting my praise to You, as a pleasing sacrifice... 
Lord I offer You my life.