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

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.