CCOWESPONDENCE Care Caravan

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For Donations Account Name : CCOWEF, Phils Branch : Banawe Banco de Oro : 001370074075 Metrobank : 065-3-06515488-0 Contact Person(s) : Allen Uy - 09178309212/09228309212 Leslie Sun - 09178831115/09323303461 Calvin Chu - 09175548847

CARAVAN

ISSUE NO. 1

February 2012

Despite heavy rains, on August 28, 42 people from 16 different churches gathered at the Quezon City Sports Club for “Convergence.” The gathering was made up of leaders, representatives from different churches and individuals with a passion for outreach. It aims to mobilize FilipinoChinese Christians to work together for the less privileged sector of society and those hardest hit when disaster or calamity strikes. The program started with an icebreaker for participants to get to know each other and to say something on volunteerism, current or future involvement. The idea is to create a web with the help of a string to show that we are bound together, that churches and individuals are interconnected; by working together we will be able to create a bigger impact on society. It is wonderful to note that this short activity revealed how participants are already active advocates in helping make society a better place to live in. Reverend Rey Bechayda, President of the Messiah Mission International Ministry and EE Coordinator for NCR, gave a short but inspiring message on loving our neighbor and how the world needs us to show that we care because God cares. CCOWEF Chairman, Samson Su, also graced the event and was excited to know that his vision of extensive and coordinated social service in action is now possible.

Together, We Can Do More By Rhea Bless Lerado (Glory Evangelical Church)

Participants were then asked to form into four groups for an in-depth discussion and to answer three questions: (1) What is your/ your church’s current involvement in outreach ministries? (2) Given the resources (time, budget, network), what outreach program would you like to institute? and (3) Suggest possible names for the outreach movement . Convergence is the interlinking process emerging from a common goal. It is the act

Love Out Loud

1st Road Trip: New Cabalan, Olongapo City

by Leslie Sun, United Evangelical Church of Balintawak “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40 The Care Caravan team made its initial disaster relief assistance to victims of floods and landslides due to Typhoon Pedring and Quiel at New Cabalan, Olongapo city last November 16, 2011. More than 100 families who belong to Christian churches accredited by Convoy of Hope received family relief packs courtesy of United Evangelical Church of Balintawak and Caloocan Chinese Baptist Church. The smile on their faces upon receiving our assistance reminded us that the many blessings we receive daily should not simply be kept for personal satisfaction, but rather they can be shared to others who are in need. With this action, we extend to them God’s love in tangible ways that will make a lasting impression in their hearts. The C.A.R.E. (Christians Aspiring to Reach Out and Empower) Caravan’s vision is to mobilize Chinese Christian churches to extend assistance to the less privileged sector of our society. It is not only to provide for their physical needs, but also to empower them by providing a holistic community development plan that can uplift their standard of living on a long-term basis. We are holding a year round collection of old clothes and non- perishable items that will be stored for future emergency use as disaster may strike anytime. People who were with us on this particular trip are: CCOWEF Team (Allen Uy, Leslie Sun, Marilen Co, Sheryl Tiu) , Convoy of Hope Team ( Founder and President Hal Donaldon, Senior Vice-President of Global Initiatives Kary Kingsland, International Programs Director Kevin Rose, Country Director Raul Manuel, Jeremy Denief, Dan Block, Candice Manuel). Churches-beneficiaries of the Family Relief Packs (FRP) include the Bethel Mission Church, Jesus Christ the Living Rock church, Assembly of God church (Hermosa, Bataan), Word of Hope tribal ministry.

of joining together as one. Volunteering can be through manpower or resources. For disaster or calamity victims, we can provide immediate assistance/relief (food, shelter, bedding, and clothing to affected families); help clear debris, distribute supplies, and administer first aid; grief and psychological counseling to victims; facilitate emergency communications; extending condolences, support, and partnership in rebuilding efforts;

training communities in life-saving skills; providing community disaster education. It is also possible to have medical mission (hospital tie-up, doctor’s fellowship); soup kitchen; long term community development (livelihood and education programs i.e. recycling, computer skills); church placement and partnership with a local church for long term spiritual support; and reach out to new Chinese migrants. The possibilities are endless. But Convergence’s initial focus will be in creating an efficient and robust community response in times of natural calamities. And as the system is further developed, it will branch out to help augment the needs for Education, Healthcare, Community Development, etc. The program ended by posing a challenge to the participants. Church and individual response forms were handed out with a challenge for the church and individuals to set aside a year in making a social impact and responding to God’s command to reach out and love one another. If and when Christian young professionals agree to serve hand in hand, we can create a ripple of volunteerism, practice what we preach, and be the light in this world. Think of the magnitude of what we can do if we rally together to show that Christians care because God cares.

Love Out Loud

2nd Road Trip: Cagayan de Oro by Allen Bruce Uy, Glory Evangelical Church

I have envisioned my Christmas vacation with my family to be a long and uninterrupted affair. This is why I was at first hesitant to drop by Cagayan de Oro before heading to Cotabato. And when it comes to disaster response and relief operations, I have almost zero experience. In short, I am not an expert. I do not know what to do or say. But nevertheless, when God tells you what to do, all you need to do is trust and obey. So on December 29, I went on a road trip to CDO to oversee and facilitate the delivery of accumulated relief items (water, kitchen utensils, slippers, shoes, blankets, toiletries and boxes of nails). These are purchased and donated items from the different Christian churches and fellow believers through the CCOWEF Care Caravan. The trip also gave me the chance to get in touch with the medical and debriefing mission teams from Manila and talk to our CDO contact, Elder Frances Uy. Together with my cousin, we started our long road trip towards CDO’s city proper. Passing by some unaffected areas, it was hard to imagine that a few days ago something happened which caused massive damage to properties and claimed thousands of lives. A disaster called by a government official as a “tsunami in reverse,” volumes of water and mud from the uplands to the sea. I visited Macasandig, which is not far from the business district, one of the hardest hit areas. Along the way, visible signs of damage can already be seen – men trying to salvage usable items from their flattened houses; families cleaning their houses filled with thick mud; snakelike lines as people queued for their water supply; upended vehicles; broken bridges, missing people and debris. Electricity and water supply have not been fully restored. Taking a bath is in itself a luxury. Some areas had the look and feel of a ghost town. Upon reaching the evacuation center, I saw hundreds of people staying in a small place. It was jam packed. Our medical team was stationed besides the evacuation center. con’t. on page 2


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