Glenn Cole's Pictorial Update

The devastation took Glenn by surprise.  He was not prepared for the level of destruction and the conditions people were living in.  He was in Thailand in 2004 shortly after the tsunami struck and although more lives were lost in the tsunami, the severity of this disaster seemed worse than that of the tsunami. We would love to hear from you.  Drop us a note and let us know how we can be praying for you. Please don't forget to check out our praise reports & prayer requests at the bottom of this email...

The library located next to the high school in Hernani.  Gov't officials were still using the building despite the huge hole in the floor. The high school in Hernani. Inside the high school in Hernani Makeshift shelters serving as homes.  Most homes were simply debris people scavenged after the typhoon with a tarp provided by the UN or USAID. A mass grave inside an old, abandoned Catholic church.  No one could give us accurate numbers on how many were buried there. The white objects are tombs that were picked up and carried up to 1/8 mile away into a nearby field by the storm surge. The storm unearthed graves, scattering human remains.  Chances are, the remains will never be able to be identified. This particular home survived the typhoon.  However, more than 60 people tried to seek shelter inside causing the second floor to collapse under the weight of too many people.  No one could tell us how many were injured or killed when the floor collapsed. What remains of a home after the typhoon. This is the local gov't center in Hernani.  This covered structure (approx. 100' x 150') used to serve as an outdoor activities center and basketball court. The elementary school in Hernani and a futile attempt to dry out schoolbooks. What remains of the kids' playground at the elementary school. Another home still somewhat standing but uninhabitable due to structural damage. Tents provided by relief organizations sit on top of piles of rubble that used to be people's homes. Don't want to be saved? Don't come on a short-term missions trip.  This guy got saved his second day there and was baptized before he went home. This is one of the abandoned classrooms at the elementary school in Hernani.  The mayor gave U-turn for Christ this building to start a feeding program for the kids in town.  Naturally, we feed their spirit first with the Gospel and then their tummies with food. The pastors from Eastern & Western Samar.  This picture was taken during our Christmas program for the families of Hernani. The group that helped with the Christmas program in Hernani. Kids during the Christmas program. The youth of CC Lalawigan sharing the Gospel through a skit aimed specifically at kids & young adults. Pastors from Samar handing out Christmas gifts to the children of Hernani. 500 people waited in line for a meal.  How do we know it was 500?  We had EXACTLY the same amount of plates as people.  Thank you Jesus! Teaching kids how to play games and sing songs about Jesus. Notice what appears to be toothpicks on the hillside.  These were actually palm trees that the typhoon had knocked over. This went on for miles and miles. A concrete column inside the airport in Tacloban City.  The column was plastered with posters of missing children.