Short-term missionaries of Cell Church Missions Network (CCMN) were here when a twister struck last Friday in two urban villages in Cagayan de Oro City.
Upon learning what befell in Brgy Patag and Bulua, without hesitation, the team raised fund to buy five 50-kilo sacks of rice and four boxes of noodles and gave them to 136 families in Zone 12, Bulua on July 31, 2011, Sunday afternoon.
Ps Homer Eduave of Celebration International Church Network and Foundation (CIFN) introduced the missionaries from Hong Kong and Japan to the people who flocked around the vehicle carrying the relief goods.
“Naa mi dala nga ginagmay nga bugas ug noodles. Tuyo pud nila nga mubisita sa mga balay, sa mga pamilya ug mag-ampo (We brought a small number of rice and noodles. Our visitors would also like to visit your houses and pray for you.),” says Pastor Eduave, who also is a member of the International Disaster Response Network (IDRN).
Chief village police Eduardo Aban helped in the distribution of goods and explained, “Dili man maigo sa tanan, pero dili lang magmahay. Nangayo ko sa pagsabot (This will not be enough for everyone but don’t be upset. I hope that you will understand.).”
The CCMN and CIFN teams moved into the inner part of the village and saw more devastation caused by the twister described by Nellie Ayuban, 58, resident, “wa ko nagdahum ug ingun ato ka grabe nga dilubyo. (I did not expect for a great deluge like what happened.)” She broke into tears as she recounted what happened that fateful Friday afternoon.
She and other residents who received the rice and noodles packed in yellow cellophanes were thankful for the provision.
Nutritious bars called SoyJoy from USA and slippers, shoes, toys, and school supplies brought by the missionaries were also doled out.
“I saw the hands of the children asking for toys. These toys from Hong Kong are donations; they are not used anymore. But here, the children are so happy to receive them. We are so happy to help these children. It is so touching,” Sman Ng, leader of the CCMN team, shared.
These CCMN missionaries have been going for the past five days to Burgos, Consolacion and Tagoloan areas for an evangelistic outreach.
(This article was published in NEWSLINE Mindanao last August 4, 2011)
