Pray for Philippine Flood Victims

My wife’s family in the Philippines was caught in the flash floods that hit the Manila area over the weekend. Their lives were saved by events that were nothing short of miraculous. I will recount here the amazing story one of my wife’s sisters told her by cell phone.

But first, let's all pray for the people of Manila and the surrounding areas. More than 240 are reported dead in the flood, thousands and thousands are homeless. A huge clean-up is beginning that will take weeks or months. Today is the feast of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, a Filipino martyr. Let's ask him to intercede for his people, who are enduring such suffering.

Tropical storm Ketsana hit the northern Philippines with little warning about the destruction it would wreak upon an area that is accustomed to violent weather. In 12 hours, about 17 inches of rain fell, which equals the average amount that falls in all of the September rainy season.

My wife’s mother and father live in the house in Marikina, a few miles east of Manila, where she grew up with her seven brothers and sisters. Living in the house with the parents at the time of the flood were a brother, his wife and their two teen sons; a sister and her 8-year-old daughter and a teen niece. My wife’s father is almost 80, with a spinal condition that makes mobility difficult.

Living a block from the river, they had seen floods before, the worst bringing some 8 feet of water into the house. With Ketsana, however, the water rose to 20 feet, forcing my in-laws to the second floor bedrooms, then onto a pitched roof.

Cell Phone Updates

It was a frantic struggle, and my wife and I heard bits and pieces by a cell phone relay as it was happening. Her sister who was in the house called her brother, who was safe in a higher suburb of Manila, with regular updates. Her brother started calling my wife at 2 a.m., Connecticut time (2 p.m. Saturday, Manila time).

First, the water was up to the twelfth step of the stairs leading to the second floor. That was one step above the highest previous flood, but still no cause to panic. In the next call we heard that the water was ankle deep on the second floor and rising quickly. Then it was knee deep, then belly deep. Those in the house were looking for something for my father-in-law to float on so they could get him to the roof. They got hammers to knock out the windows and bend the safety bars that were meant to keep out robbers. The water was just about to come in the window when they were preparing to climb out. They were praying more fervently than ever.

A Miracle of Prayer

My sister-in-law later told my wife that they felt the presence of Jesus as they prayed, and when they looked out the window, they saw a long, sturdy rope floating by. They grabbed the rope, thinking it would help them get to the roof. Then they saw a bunch of bamboo poles floating by. They were able to gather about 30 of them, and lash them together to build a makeshift raft. They put my father-in-law on the raft.

They decided to set out for a neighbor’s house, which was on a bit higher ground. Once again, the raft was a lifesaver. The two best swimmers pushed my father-in-law on the raft across the backyard to the next house. They returned to get my mother-in-law, and all the others, one by one. Amazingly, the hastily constructed raft stayed together the whole time.

Once everyone was safely across, my wife’s family and the elderly neighbors were then forced to the roof of that house, braving high winds and slashing rain for hours until the waters began to recede, gradually.

The miracle of prayer saved my wife’s family. We figured out that just about the time they were gathering the parts of the raft, my wife and I were praying the rosary at 2:30 in the morning, our time. We prayed specifically for a boat, or a raft or a helicopter to come to their rescue.

God is good. Let us continue to pray.

Comments

[school_dubl]

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[Music_master]

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[Alex]

Hi

The British Red Cross have launched the Asia Pacific Disasters Appeal to respond to the earthquakes in Indonesia, as well as the tsunami in Sumatra and typhoon in south-east Asia. They are urgently looking for donations to help support Red Cross emergency response operations across the region.All the info is at:
http://www.redcross.org.uk/asiapacificappeal

Thanks
Alex

[Bro. Norlito A. Magtibay]

Im brother Norlito Magtibay of council 9011. One of the house of our brother was damaged by the typhoon. after he back from black rosary devotion of our council because it was happened last Saturday 26 of September 2009. his house was located at Barangay Lambakin Marilao Bulacan. His house was suffered by heavy flooding and some of the house there are almost swallowed by the river, and many of the family there are become homeless, no foods, clothes and almost 12 are died mostly are children.
I in your humble resistance requesting to help those needy people to provide foods and clothing.specially medicine and your prayer. Thank U for your prayers and support.

[SK HENRI A. GIMENA - KC 4639, MINDANAO, PH]

God is Great! Amen. Prayers and Faith in GOD make us strong and hopeful to arise from any adversities such as this... together with my family and brothers in the Knights of Columbus Council 4639, we pray for the repose of all the souls of those who died, and immediate recovery for those who were injured and suffered as a result of tropical storm "Ondoy". God Bless. HENRI G.

[HENRI A. GIMENA]

God is Great! Thanks God that your family & relatives were safe... I and my family are continously praying every night for all the victims in Metro Manila, Marikina, Pasig, Cainta and surrounding areas. We are hoping life returns to normal very soon, please God! We are just so lucky in Mindanao particularly GENSAN for experiencing a relatively low rainshower. God Bless. HENRI G.

[Aliza Racelis]

Amazing! Thank God! Power of prayer, indeed! But your family likewise used the human means/effort needed to get themselves safe: I'm noting the RAFT strategy. Let's pray for the continued relief efforts & for the souls of those who perished:

http://youniv.wordpress.com/category/typhoon-relief-operations/

[July Claveria GK KofC Apokon Council 14591]

My two (2) brothers in Malanday, Marikina City are the hardest hits. We have no contact from them for 2 days. My brother Frank just contacted Sept. 30 and no word for my other brother who is our eldest brother Jaime. According to my brother Frank he and his family were saved by their neighbors with a 4 storey house but lost everything and back to zero. Thanks God for giving them a lease of life.

[Lito A.]

For my relatives in Cainta it is also miraculous that all of them are fine despite the really quick onslaught of the floods in their area in Cainta. All they were able to bring to the evacuation center were themselves and the clothes they were wearing.

And going back afterwards it was heartbreaking that they seem to have lost all their things except for the house. Yet what matters most is that they are all okay.

[Lito A.]

It is good to know that here in the US one can make a tax deductible donation for the Philippine Flood victims through the Knights of Columbus that is in close coordination with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) immediate relief efforts.
http://www.facebook.com/l/09230;kofc.org has an online link to United in Charity,and all donations received from now until oct 31 will go the the relief efforts.

[Deirdre]

Praise God. Thank you for sharing this good news, Brian.

May all her neighbors be as blessed!

[Rick]

Praise God brother Brian. By His grace all is possible. Our prayers will be with you and your family along with praises of gratitude to the Lord for saving your family from that roof top.
God Bless you.

[Rev. Skip Littelmann]

Brian, your story demonstrates so well the power of faith. God protects all those who serve Him!

[Rene]

Your story is so wonderful Brian. Thanks be to God. - Blessings

[Jonnel]

The City of Manila and some towns in the province of Rizal are really devastated. The properties damaged are enormous. Lives lost are just too much. I pray we can recover soon. Local councils of Knights are doing our share to help even if some of us are also affected by the typhoon.

[James De.]

That's quite a harrowing story; it shows the power of prayer. Glad to hear your family is safe.

[SK Alberto Faraon from Luzon Philippines]

Our hip-deep floodwater experience here in Laguna was nothing compared to theirs. God’s ways are really amazing!

[Marvin]

Hi Brian! I live a short ride away from Marikina. The house we're renting is relatively safe from the flood, thank God. The scenes on TV are indeed heart breaking. We're happy your relatives there have gotten out of the flood's fury safe and sound, in God's grace. The stories of others had a different ending.

[Ray Lanfear]

Everything is possible through prayer. God Bless
RayLanfear

[Rev. George R.]

Great news. Thank God for that.

[James]

Prayer is powerful. It is amazing that St Lorenzo Ruiz feast day is today

[Gloria M]

A happy ending! It is amazing what God can do, and what human beings can endure. Such suffering, my heart goes out to them.

[Jim B.]

What an amazing story! Thanks for sharing it. I will add your family and all Filipinos to my prayers.