The following message was received from an RBC Ministries’ (the ministry that birthed ODJ) colleague who lives in the Philippines:
“I would like to thank all of you for your prayers for us during the Typhoon Ondoy last September 26, 2009 (Saturday). Metro Manila and nearby areas were devastated by typhoon Ondoy. I didn’t expect the things that happened to us during the typhoon. We experienced very traumatic scenarios and truly terrified from what we’ve seen/encounter. The water raised so fast, it reached the second floor of our house and was about waist level. Many things were ruined, appliances, clothes, beddings, parts of our house were damaged. We tried to moved and stayed in our roof for about 6 hours. Heavy rains continous falling and we were shivering, waiting to be rescued. Our neighbors who knows how to swim rescued us & helped us to cross the flooded street (15 feet deep with strong current of flood). I, together with my mom, sister, 3 brothers & aunt swim on the flood using only 2 empty water container, tied with hose, just to reached the building on the next street. I can’t imagine how I survived. I don’t know how to swim and I’m afraid of deep water. But I swam about 250 meters far from our house. But really the Lord protects me together with my family and it is His grace that we survived the typhoon Ondoy. After the typhoon and when the flood subside, we started to clean our house. Cleaning the whole house was really very tiring. Mud, dirty water stuck inside the house and lots of trash things needed to be removed in our house. Even though almost all our things were ruined and washed out by the flood, we still thank and praise the Lord. Because all of my family were safe, and our house even some parts of it were damaged, we still can stay and live on it. Unlike the others who were hit also by the typhoon, their houses were all gone & washed out by the water. Really the Lord keeps His promises (Psalm 91). Indeed the Lord never leaved us. In the midst of these kind of trials He continue showing His great love to us. I praise Him and thank Him. We kept on singing the song “STILL” by Hillsong. Some part of the lyrics really moved me… “Father you are king over the flood… I will be still and know you are God.. Find rest my soul, in Christ alone..Know his power, in quietness and trust”.
Again, many thanks for your prayers and concern. God also shows His love through people like you. Thank you and may the Lord bless you.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (James 1:2-3).
—Heldy Malsi Arellano”
Wow. I’m impressed by Heldy’s faith. Though she experienced this incredible ordeal, her gratitude and love for God remains strong!
orly1777 on October 11, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Great faith! Great heart!
Mike on October 16, 2009 at 12:49 am
I salute you! for your Faith in Him, has taught you very valuable lessons in life… Acceptance, Trust, Perseverance & Gratitude amidst these overwhelming trials. These lessons should be shared by you first and foremost, so that you could be a living testament in evangelizing people who have not yet realized these essential lessons in life.
lesliebathan1098 on October 24, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Your faith indeed touches the core of my heart. As I read your story I can’t help but cried and realized how truly God keeps his promises to us. His unfailing love kept you safe from the storm. How wide and how deep is the love of God for us. Your testimony in the midst of the storm is truly inspirational. Your faith is soaring high like eagle’s wings, in spite of. Bless your heart and may you continue to encourage people to go back to the heart of worship and that is “JESUS”.
aimz_84tan on October 30, 2009 at 5:19 pm
your faith save you….i can relate your story
mikan14 on November 2, 2009 at 10:16 pm
God is truly faithful! (Deut. 7:9) I’m also from the Philippines, I really can relate to this testimony. At that day, the water really raised so quickly that we had no time to raise some things/appliances. The water reached so high, we evacuated to our neighbor’s second floor. From there we could see how the flood devastated our home. But we cry and sing to the Lord. We believe that whatever was happening was God’s majestic purpose for us. The flood remains till Sunday. I thought then that the water would just stay until tomorrow (Monday), just what I’ve read in Hosea 6:1-3. The water subsided in the morning, and then help came from our churchmates. The typhoon really destroyed many lives, but thank God for He is faithful in every way, we cannot fathom His thoughts nor His ways. But we know that everything in His mind is His perfect will. The typhoon made the people closer to God; we hope we reach out to Him even more even if there’s no disaster like that.
God bless everyone! 🙂