Early Typhoon report from Craig, September 29th 2009

Dear Friends,

Sorry for this pathetic email and a few photos but I desperately need sleep before we return to access the damage. Thank you so much for your prayers, thoughts and donations, I am in tears of tiredness, frustration and joy that we could do something.

One man came to me at almost four in the morning desperate to find his children, well I had asked the staff to list the over 300 evacuees we looked after (no water and not enough food but the local politician gave us an ambulance to help out). The man’s children were listed as with us but we could not find them, finally at five they woke up. You have heard of the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son, you have seen nothing until you see a father reunited with his children! Somewhere I have a photo taken some time later.

Another photo gives an idea of how it was walking 15 miles alone to get to Cashew, Mango and Papaya, the roads were blocked  and so it was a good thing my car was broken (still need a new one). My blisters hurt so much but the people were so thankful I would walk it again in a heartbeat. By the way these photos do not do justice to how bad it was! Photos and typhoons normally are not a good mixture, yes I broke a camera. The flood waters were waste deep and wellington boots made great water carriers. In my car I have an emergency pack but my car was broken so I did not have my normal supplies, not that the car would have made the journey but this is why I need a four wheel drive

Before the suffering people left to search for missing relatives (Rashelle who some of you know from her visit to the UK is officially listed as missing) we prayed together, how do you preach and pray with people suffereing so much at six in the morning after two nights of no sleep? Well Jesus had to be my example.  Most of my night was spent talking to the mother of Rashelle who has already lost a son in the rubbish slide of 2001. Please pray, I know some of you are not people of faith but please try praying for these people it cannot hurt.

One man did not care that his house was destroyed, his family were safe but he lost his only Bible:

It was a shock to see it was open at Job!

So how many people can you fit in a school with no notice? These ph0otos do not do justice.

Finally thanks to Springboard, BWA, Sarah (again and again), David Tomlinson, the AoG and those who kept my spirits up when I thought I could take no more. So many more need to be thanked, sorry if I have missed you.

Friends you are blessings, sorry some of you will think of this as too Christian but this is a Christian country so please forgive me.

When I have time I will write more but this is rushed, please forgive my spelling.

Blessings,

Craig.