Leyte, Central Philippines:  When the Highland Avenue Community Church of the Nazarene decided to come to the Philippines on Work and Witness, little did they know what God had planned for them!

PRAYER UPDATE 21-Jul-2014:  Team has arrived safely back in the U.S. after being stranded in Philippines as a result of typhoon.  Thank you for your prayers.

Dan Ireland, team leader for this team from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, shared some thoughts about their experience.

Devastation in Tacloban as a result of Typhoon Yolanda!

Dan:  This was not our church’s first work and witness experience. We had been praying as to whether we should return to someplace we had already been, or whether we should go someplace new.  As we prayed, it seemed that the Lord was really leading my wife and I to consider the Philippines.  We knew that they had been devastated by Typhoon Yolanda, and we were sure that there was still much work needing to be done.

Team interacting with kids in the community.

In February of 2013, Dan contacted the Asia-Pacific Regional Office, and inquired about the possibility of a team to the Philippines.   The Highland Avenue Community Church family gathered around this team and began to partner with them.

Building Blocks

Dan: We held fund raisers including a swimming pool boat regatta and dinner – this was a lot of fun! Some church members provided a scholarship for two of our team members who were college students (it would be their first time on a work and witness trip).  This was not just a team of five, but an entire Church body coming together to make an impact.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, the team was met by national leadership and the Regional Work and Witness Coordinator.

Building the Church

Dan: They explained to us that from here on out, we would need to just “go with the flow” and we found out immediately what that was going to look like.  Our first flight from Manila to the work zone was cancelled.  We had to book a second flight, but that flight would only get us close.  Instead of landing right in the area where we would be working, we ended up having to travel by ferry for a few hours, then overland by van for another few hours.  But it was a real blessing in disguise!  We were able to meet people and see areas of the Philippines we would have never had the chance to see.

Most of All…Building Relationships!

Our team did really well.  Even when the day before we were getting ready to leave, we were informed that Typhoon Rammasun (Glenda) was heading our way.   It would end up stranding us in a small hotel in Tacloban (the city formerly devastated by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013) and then cause us to have to extend our stay in the Philippines by three more days.  But once again, it was another blessing, as we had the opportunity to help prepare relief supplies for those impacted by Typhoon Glenda. 

One of the things that amazed our two college students was the introduction to a different world view.  They were touched to realize that there are people in the world who are content, passionate, believers in Christ,  that go without the extra possessions and comforts that the young people have back home.

The team had great opportunities to help rebuild a church destroyed by the typhoon, play with the community children, share in Bible study with fellow Filipino Christians, and be involved in a Sunday evening youth service.

Amazing Young Leaders!

Dan: We were impressed with the large number of young but incredibly capable leaders here in the Philippines.  The other thing that just really touched us was the overwhelming generosity and hospitality that we were shown.  From the moment we arrived, we weren’t treated like guests, but like family.  They were loving, generous brothers and sisters, who give not of what they have left…but of what they have.

Please pray for this Work and Witness Team as they will be leaving the Philippines on Saturday night, July 19th, headed back home.

Also continue to pray for the ongoing reconstruction of homes and livelihoods that continues in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda.

If you or your church would like an opportunity to participate in Work and Witness on the Asia-Pacific Region, please visit the Work and Witness Project site.  There are many opportunities to be part of what God is doing!