by Louise Joachimowski
It is no secret that ICM is able to do the work we do and help as many people as we have because of our partnership with the compassionate and hardworking partner pastors. They’re the ones who host the Transform program in our communities and sustain the impact of the program after. During the pandemic lockdowns, they were the ones who helped us know where and how much relief to send. Millions of ultra-poor Filipinos were reached through them.
When Typhoon Odette hit, many of our partner pastors suffered too. Yet, even with their own homes and churches destroyed by the strongest typhoon of 2021, they immediately got up to help their communities. That’s the heart of our pastors.
In this time of their own great need, ICM is helping our partner pastors by sending them food and materials to rebuild.
For this Typhoon Odette update, here are a few stories sent in from the field on our pastors:
Pastor Joebert
Pastor Joebert’s church, Fellowship Baptist Church, after the storm.
Delivery of much-needed food packs and drinking water.
Pastor Melanie, also in Bacolod, has no house after hers was destroyed. “We are currently staying in our pig pen. We just cleaned it and put some curtains up in order for us to have shelter,” she explained.
She was thankful for the food packs our staff brought her. “I’m planning on dividing them among my church members in order for them to have something to eat.” Pastor Melanie is holding on to the truth of Romans 8:28, that God works for the good of those who love him.
GI sheets for homes whose roofs had been blown away by Typhoon Odette.
Iloilo staff unloaded a delivery of GI sheets to help fix the roofs of houses.
Send help to our partner pastors and other families recovering from the aftermath of Typhoon Odette. Donate to ICM’s relief efforts here.
About the Author
Louise Joachimowski
With a passion for storytelling, a love for the poor, and sharp eye for analysis, Louise is ICM’s Hong Kong Executive Director. Since 2010, Louise has served ICM in Bacolod City and Hong Kong, as well as traveling the world to share ICM’s work. Spending literally thousands of hours alongside the ultra-poor and hearing their stories, she loves nothing more than sharing the stories of heroism and hope that ICM participants have to tell, whether through music, video, writing or photography.
Did you know? ICM delivers Transform for just over US$10 per person.
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