MAPLINE
The Official Newsletter of MEDICAL AMBASSADORS PHILIPPINES INC. Volume XXVI No. 1
February 2014
S urging... love, hope, and joy T
project nehemiah in between two glass Plates by Joab Afuang, RN
yphoon Yolanda was an exceptionally powerful tropical cyclone that devastated some portions of Visayas, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz , Leyte, Eastern Samar and Palawan on November 8, 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record. We could not just watch the victims crying, pleading for help. We wanted to act as God’s hands and feet to reach out to these people. We may be just a drop of water in a bucket... but what prompted us to go and help is the love of Christ that brings surging hope and joy to the dying and hopeless, displaced typhoon survivors. These acts of love and compassion touched the hearts of our comrades –the typhoon survivors. One commented, “Two reasons why I am in tears, one is because the devastation caused by super typhoon Yolanda is unsurmountable; it was by God’s Divine miracle we are still here serving our fellow survivors. Another reason is, I am overwhelmed with joy because we are surrounded by loving volunteers who brought hope to us.”
Oriental and Occidental Mindoro
When Nehemiah heard about the plight of his people, he wept, prayed, and fasted. After looking up to God for strength and blessings, he visited the area and his people and called for “Bayanihan” – that people would work together in building the walls of Jerusalem. Emulating Nehemiah, MAP organized Project Nehemiah on November 11 and conducted medical and relief operations in areas our partners recommended. Our sincere heartfelt thanks to our partners/supporters, donors, volunteers (nurses, doctors, pastors, paramedics, and others) who joined the MAP team. by Alicia T. Bañas, MAP EVP
While I was assessing one sick man, he said, “Dalawang linggo na akong inuubo simula nung pagkatapos ng bagyo, minsan nilalagnat ako. Wala na akong bahay. Wala akong trabaho. At ‘di pa nahahanap yung bunso kong anak.” (I’ve been coughing 2 weeks since the typhoon ended, sometimes have fever. I lost my house. I lost my job. And I still can’t find my youngest child.) He was referring to his nine-year old daughter who disappeared because of the storm surge. He said all these things with no tears in his eyes. It seemed like he’d had enough. After he said that, I was caught speechless for a few minutes. I didn’t know what to say to him. I wanted to pray for him but I didn’t know what to say to God either.
On a flight bound for a Tacloban City medical trip, I see different groups, organizations, pastors and media. It seems like everyone wants to go and respond to the “worst natural disaster” to have ever hit the Philippines. This is my second time to go back after the typhoon. All the coordination, packing and unpacking, counting and recounting, loading and unloading prior to this trip was physically tiring. Now I have an hour to put on my earphones, slow down, and think. One thought has been circling in my mind: The God who called me to serve some of the least reached people is the same God who allowed Yolanda to hit Eastern Visayas. Of course, we all know what happened. Devastations. Deaths. Drama. I’d like to think more about this but I’m afraid it will only lead me to many intersection points and more confusion. I hope that thinking will lead me to understanding. I don’t want to sound so dramatic like the news reporters. But all the tragic scenes I saw the first time I was in Tacloban City were really full of drama. When I first got there, it felt like I was in a movie.
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