It took me quite some time to purchase and distribute the GI (Galvanised Iron) sheets to the typhoon victims due to the extremely limited supply iron roofs in the market after the storm. This was due to the high demand of GI sheets because of wide extent of the damage the storm brought to various regions.
Transporting the GI sheets by boat also contributed to the delay of the distribution operation as only one commercial ship sails to Tacloban from Cebu every week.
However, we have finally distributed the GI sheets along with the roof nails last Friday the 15th.
Like what we did in my first visit, we made it a point to let the beneficiaries hear first of the gospel before we released the items to them. With the help of my friend, Pastor Nilo, who translated my message on John 14:1-6, we preached to the people the good news of the heavenly home which Jesus promised to His disciples before his return to the Father. The recipients were both believers and non-believers.
We bought 1,200 pieces of GI sheets and nine boxes of roof umbrella nails. These items were given to 120 families where each family got two kilos of roof nails and ten pieces GI sheets. More than two months now since the devastating storm struck Tacloban and destroyed the dwellings of these people yet they have not received even a single roof from the government.
It was a huge blessing that you came to them with these highly needed reconstruction materials to provide them shelter.
Their joy and happiness was such when they received items.
There are still a lot of people in Tacloban in dire need of building materials but it is a reality that we can’t give everything and can’t help everyone. It appears that the construction rehabilitation phase will apparently take a long time due to the scarcity of supply of lumber both in Cebu and Tacloban.
The remaining relief funds you sent will be poured to the North of Cebu as only ten per cent (10%) of the typhoon victims have received help from the government.
Today, I met one of the heads of the Charitable Foundation Inc. currently constructing houses in Cebu North.
Each house is placed at 300 AUD that is 12,000 pesos in Philippine currency. This Foundation has already constructed more than 300 houses and is still making more. We are considering assisting them in this project by providing the GI sheets to the 480 families, who at this time, are living in shelters with poor condition.
Each family will be given ten pieces of iron roofs along with the rest of the constructions materials for them to build their respective dwellings through a concerted effort among themselves. In this way, they can meaningfully contribute to the erection of their new dwellings and hence give value to it.
However, the Foundation can’t start distributing the construction materials to this identified group of people since they are still waiting for more donations to purchase the construction materials.
Their target distribution date is March 22, Saturday. If it’s the Lord will for us to team up with this Foundation, then, I, together with my students, will do a hands on in helping construct the houses of these people in the North of Cebu and at the same time share the gospel with them so that they can have all the opportunity to hear God’s love for them in Jesus.
I am excited to do this for them.
— Kirk Importante