I just wanted to give you an update about things here in Pilar concerning tropical typhoon (hurricane) Conson.
We are fine as the typhoon, the 1st of the 2010 season passed just to the north of us. We just received so wind, no damage or injuries, and some much needed rain! There has been a drought due to El Nino.
I will include a couple of photos from the satellite and JTW tracking data for you to see.
This is the satellite image from last night, July 13, 2010. You can see the rainfall scale at the bottom. But Tropical Typhoon Conson stranded more than 1,300 people across the archipelago before weakening further Wednesday, as it rolled westward over the Philippines,
It is difficult to describe how even a heavy rain storm can devastate people by causing the shanty homes to be damaged severely, their few possessions to be damaged or destroyed, their drinking water sources to be contaminated and their animals killed! Then come the contaminated food and water borne illnesses as well as the variety of injuries sustained in a storm and many have no access to medical care and many that do have no means to pay so they are turned away!
The picture below is but one glimpse of the kind of damage that even an average tropical depression or storm can cause to those that are poor beyond description or true comprehension! There is a saying here in the Philippines among the many small businesses that the poor struggle to keep going; yes we are profitable, ramen profitable! Meaning that there was just enough profit to buy the bare essentials of life such as soap, toilet paper, water and --- ramen noodles!
Residents repair their damaged shantyhouses along the coastal road in Paranaque, outside Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday. Up to more than 4 inches of rain has fallen in some places! The National Disaster Coordinating Council of the Philippines said it knew of 19 missing fishermen, but the weather and choppy seas precluded officials from mounting search and rescue operations. Emergency responders were on alert.
I won't include any patient photos in this blog post but I would ask each person who reads this post to consider how blessed they are by our Lord for the abundance they have and ask that each person who reads this to consider donating some small amount on a regular basis to our medical mission so that we can continue to care for those who have nothing, not because they are lazy, but because there is NO way to earn a living here on their island! I do continue to pray that one day I will be able to change that and start a small business that can employ at least some of the people so that they can have at least enough to feed their families and educate their children and receive medical care when I run out of funds to provide for them myself! You can donate (tax deductible) through Hilltop Community Church in Carson City, Nevada. Their web page is:
http://www.hilltopchurch.net/ their address is; 3588 Romans Road Carson City, NV 89705
The Outreach/Mission Pastor is Don Baumann, he can be reached at; baumannhcc@gmail.com
All donations should be marked for the Philippine Medical Mission; payable to Hilltop Community Church.
May our Lord Bless & Keep Us, Every One!
With Prayers Of Joy & Thanksgiving,
Chip & Rhome Nuttall
Christian Medical Missionaries
Pilar Camotes Cebu, Philippines
