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Today, hearts everywhere are sad for the people in the Philippines whose lives have been altered by a massive typhoon.
As the rest of the world gets ready for the holidays--- planning, buying, decorating, baking and so on---there are thousands of our brothers and sisters who are enduring horrible suffering.
One newspaper article ran an Associated Press story about hundreds of people jamming a clinic set up in a ruined airport in Tacloban.
It told of filthy floors, no anesthetics, horrendous conditions and very few doctors.
Looking at the photographed faces of the stricken people, especially little children, filled me with deep sadness.
Imagine losing your home, loved ones and everything you own.
If you survived, how overwhelming it must be to be sick in such adverse conditions---to see death wherever you look.
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In one photo, a couple of people were wearing masks over their faces.
The smell of decaying corpses in what is left of the streets must be beyond sickening.
Then the city experienced widespread looting and the government called for assistance.
A total of 600,000 people have been affected and an international aid effort will, no doubt, eventually stabilize the situation.
In the meantime, the people are homeless, hungry, and, no doubt traumatized by the devastation they are living, minute to minute.
Today, why not take a few minutes to think of the people there?
Pray for them, if that is something in your belief system.
It's too overwhelming to contemplate and understand but prayer can help.
WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO BE AN EMERGENCY WORKER AND GO TO HELP IN A PLACE OF DEVASTATION, SUCH AS TACLOBAN, PHILIPPINES?
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11 comments:
Yes the devastation is shocking. Thank God for people from many countries heading there to help, including the USA, China, Israel and Great Britain, and I am sure many more countries too.
That would not be my calling at all Susan but there are wonderful people out there who feel the call to do that sort of thing. I can only pray for everyone there.
We sent doctors and nurses and medical supplies I saw on the news the other night but I think a lot of the problems are that the roads and countryside is so distroyed that it is hard to get to the areas in trouble.
The devastation is so bad a lot of places are flattened with very little standing, it's so sad to see.
Merle..............
Hello from Spain: I join your tribute to the victims of the Philippines. It was horrible. I am praying for all survivors. It's very hard. In my country we sent food and medicine. Keep in touch
This tragedy has been hard to wrap my head around, as I consider such loss and devastation. And while we can't all go and offer physical help, prayer is a powerful force, spanning oceans in seconds. I believe we can pray for God to help those volunteers and medics who are in the thick of this situation, and give them strength and wisdom, and I believe the power of prayer can also help the victims who are left, who have lost so much.
May we never forget to pray for the people in the Philippines.
A friend of mine is a missionary in the Philippines. I know from her that many of the people affected by the typhoon had experienced an earthquake the week before and were living in tents! She and her husband had taken supplies to many of them the weekend before the typhoon hit. There are many stories of devastation and miracles. How I pray for these dear ones.
Just looking at the photos on the news has been shocking to me. The simple need of water has made me stop in my tracks and realize how blessed I am and that I take it so for granted that I can have fresh water at the turn of a tap. I don't think I could be a relief worker, my heart could not take it.
UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) is on site already distributing bags of food to those affected. My heart goes out to all of them! Prayers for all!
Thank God for relief efforts and those of us who believe prayer works.
I think the workers who help out others in time of need are special, indeed, Susan. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.
~Sheri
I tell you what Susan - first of all we are blessed. Being able to have running water anytime we want or need. I hate that for them and often wonder why. When I was younger - yes I did want to be in the Peace Corps. but it did not end up that way. Prayers for the people and the country.
sandie
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