THE MIGHTY GOD IS WITH US!
by Sr. Lynn Falsis

SOME IMAGES DURING AND AFTER THE TYPHOON 'FRANK"

God once again showed His mighty power, a power that cannot be compared to any of the strong and tough typhoon like “Frank.” The recent typhoon that hit the country was for us, especially the Ilonggos, an experience of helplessness, fear, deep anxiety and uncertainty. But this experience was turned into an experience of faith, of abandonment into the loving hands of God. On the night of June 21, Saturday, our teachers were sending text messages begging us to rescue them and their small children from their places covered with mud flow which reached up to the ceiling of their houses. My heart bled listening to their cries but cannot do anything for them at that difficult moment. Roads were impassable. The cars were pulled and swept away by strong winds and flood. I and the Sisters in the community wanted to respond to their pleading but we felt so helpless and all we could do at that time was just to pray and beg God to give them the help and strength they needed. I did not have a good sleep that evening thinking of the sufferings of my brothers and sisters who were affected by the typhoon. I, too, was called by God to trust Him fully and abandon into His loving hands the teachers, the families of our students and other people who were badly affected by the calamity. The following day, Sunday - June 22, upon knowing that the road to Pavia (one of the towns that were hardly hit) was already passable we went to rescue the family of our teacher. While on our way to Pavia my heart was so pained seeing the many people who lost their houses, livestock and other properties. They were covered with mud and shivered of coldness while crying for help. Beyond this pain I saw God’s love and providence. He listened to the prayers of His people. The heavy downpour of rain stopped and the water subsided and help and rescue were made easier and possible. Upon seeing our teacher and her small children alive and safe, God was telling me: “See, I was with them the whole night”. I believe that God was with them the whole night! The teacher recounted how God saved them. In the midst of a devastating situation God gave her the strength and courage to save her children. She placed her 4 year old boy inside the big pail and transferred him to a house much safer than her own. God’s rescue came through a banana trunk floating in the mud water. They got it and placed the two small children on top and with the help of some men transferred them to the convent of the Paulinian Fathers. There were many stories similar to this. I was struck by the faith of our lay collaborators who were directly affected sending messages to us like “Sister, please pray for us. We are afraid but we believe God will never abandon us…he is a kind Father”. God showed His fatherly love and care to all of us here in Iloilo. God gave us occasions for us to grow in our faith and trust in Him. To the victims of the typhoon and to me, as well, God is indeed a FATHER who never abandons His children! God’s mercy and love are most evident when we are in utter helplessness. For me, Frank brought out the worst and claimed many lives but for sure it has also brought something that could help us grow more and more in our life of faith with God, thus, making us see the events in the light of His purpose and love.