Greetings!
As the world rang in the new year filled with fireworks and resolutions, the people on the island of Bohol, Philippines, experienced an entirely different beginning to 2022. On December 16, Bohol was torn apart by Super Typhoon Odette as it hovered over the island for more than four hours with heavy rains and up to 160-mile winds. As of today, 111 have died, and over 60,000 lost their homes.
Today, the people of Bohol are still without electricity, running water, and most homes, churches, and businesses are either damaged or destroyed.
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The devastation of the Island of Bohol after Typhoon Odette |
The island of Bohol is very dear to the CCI ministry. CCI’s heritage dates back to Bohol, where CCI President David Nelson and CCI Vice President Glenn Kurka served as missionaries from 1980-2000. Here is where God gave David the burden to train and equip church leaders. Having experienced a similar typhoon in 1984, CCI leaders know firsthand how this level of devastation leaves many people with nothing, as their houses and livelihood have been destroyed. This is our time to bring relief and the hope of Jesus Christ as His church shares His love and care.
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As the people on Bohol continue to dig out from the devastation, the government hopes to restore electricity within several months. It will take months to replace the downed powerline poles and wires. The government is also providing immediate relief items such as drinking water, rice, and sardines to each town. However, CCI affiliates such as coordinators, pastors, and the CCI Vice President’s daughter, Stacy Monungolh, are filling the gap by being the hands and feet of Jesus during this crisis.
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Stacy Monungolh resides in Tagbilaran City, Bohol’s capital city. She and her family operate an elementary school and experienced the storm firsthand, with howling winds and rain tormenting her school campus. Stacy explained how she is working with local CCI leaders to use her school to provide relief and coordinate efforts for rebuilding the lives and homes of many.
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Immediate relief efforts are taking place on Stacy's campus |
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Stacy’s school in Tagbilaran City has been a refuge for many who have lost everything. With the school and church buildings still intact and a working generator, the campus is being used as a center of relief operations, a way for community members to charge devices, and a place to hear the Gospel message. She described the church’s charging station as “plugging in with a purpose.”
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“As donations come in, we plan to target three things,” explained Stacy. “First is stocking a Pastor’s Pantry with essentials—from everything under the sun. This pantry will be used to store and prepare relief goods and foods to be sent out to needy towns around the island of more than a million people. The second thing is to get the churches functioning so that they can be the beacon of light for those in the community and be the 'go-to' place to get relief goods and food. Most churches suffered damages to their roofs. And then, the third is to identify those Christian families and others that were hit double hard—to help rebuild their houses, damaged boats, and destroyed farms.”
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A local church with its roof blown off |
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Several relief teams have already delivered food, clothing, tarps, bedding, medical supplies, hammers, saws, and nails to the areas that suffered the greatest devastation.
Stacy has teamed up with Melvin Caindoy, CCI’s coordinator for Bohol. Melvin has been traveling around the island to assess the needs.
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Melvin said, “Most of our islands pastor’s houses, church buildings, and fishing boats were all destroyed. Praise God their families are safe.”
With fishing boats destroyed and crops washed away from the rains, many people in Bohol have no way to earn a living. Funds are needed to help farmers purchase seed money and for fishermen to repair or replace their boats and houses.
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Funds are needed to help repair or replace fishermen's boats. |
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All around the island, tens of thousands of coconut trees are down. CCI has sent initial funds to purchase two chainsaws and has organized teams to travel from town to town, clearing and cutting up trees into usable 2x4s and 2x6s pieces of lumber. This lumber is donated to families to rebuild their homes and businesses. Then in the evenings, the chainsaw teams share the Gospel with those in the community.
Additionally, CCI’s Camp Karis, located in Ubay, the northeastern part of Bohol, experienced the storm's eye and suffered tremendous damage. Dick Persons manages Camp Karis and rode out the storm with 100 campers. Over 200 campers were emergency evacuated to their hometowns just before the storm hit.
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“We got up early in the morning with rain coming into the cabins and tears in our eyes to a shocking view of total devastation,” said Dick. “Our 140 mango trees were either blown over or snapped off on our 16.8-acre camping ground."
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Dick continued, "The coconut trees were about 50% down. The roofs were completely gone on four buildings, and the other roofs were damaged. We went to look around but could hardly walk because of the excessive debris that was all around. Even our water tanks were thrown down and blown away. It was a miracle that no one was injured!”
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Camp Karis after Typhoon Odette |
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Our CCI leaders in Bohol are assessing needs, providing basic needs, and sharing the hope of Jesus Christ. Would you pray that many will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior through the chainsaw ministry and the various relief efforts?
The best way to provide immediate help is to make a generous donation that will be used for supplies, building material, clothing, food, etc. If you would like to give toward the rebuilding of Camp Karis or the relief efforts for churches and pastors affected by the typhoon, you can give online through the Relief Fund by clicking here or the Camp Karis fund by clicking here.
Thank you so much. May the Lord bless you.
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Grace and Peace,
David Nelson
President & Founder
Crossing Cultures International
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Address for mailing in donations:
Crossing Cultures International
235 W. Brandon Blvd., #610
Brandon, FL 33511
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