Blessing upon Blessing

Blessed with a new cement mixer

Now teams no longer have to mix cement by hand

Typical construction in the Philippines is done with hand tools.  Mixing cement for instance is done with shovels.  The Lord has provided the ministry with a new cement mixer.  This is a tremendous blessing since it allows the rebuilding projects to be completed faster and the final cement is a better mix. 

Getting ready to pour forms at Bible School

New "2nd hand" vehicle

Now cement work will be done quickly and efficiently.  The Bible School needs their kitchen to be rebuilt and pastor housing constructed. 












Donated vehicle is a blessing to move teams back and forth across the island and to the ministry sites. We are really excited about this. It has been hard with our beat up vehicles until now. Thanks to all those that are supporting this work.

Calvary Chapel / U-Turn for Christ Hernani Floor-to-Ceiling

The completed floor at CC / U-Turn Hernani.

 Rebuilding the church at Hernani continues with local workers and relief teams working toward the day when the body of Christ can once again worship together in His sanctuary.  The cement floor has now been completed and work is continuing on the final touches to the lower parts of the building.

Meanwhile, the first rafters have gone up for the roof, and before long God's people in Hernani will be able to shelter against the sun and rain.

Praise God for His provision of materials and workers to restore this  church building.

The rafters going up for the roof at the Hernani church.

Keep the relief teams and local workers in prayer as they continue this work.  Also keep Pastor Jerome in prayer along with the entire body at Hernani.  There is still much to be done and the work is all for the glory of God!

Growing in the Spirit!

CC Lalawigan's sanctuary packed out for a Wednesday service.

As rebuilding work continues all throughout Samar, it is an encouraging blessing to see the body of Christ grow in numbers and in faith.  In His mercy, God has used this terrible storm to draw many to Himself, and to strengthen the churches of Samar.  In this update we see several examples of God's grace as His people assemble.  The sanctuary at CC Lalawigan where the roof has been completely rebuilt was full to overflowing for a Wednesday evening service. 

Another sign of spiritual growth is the new church plant in San Julian.

Mark Pentor is ordained for the work at San Julian where he will serve as pastor for the new church plant there.

Pastors Gerry and Mark close the deal for land for CC San Julian

Calvary Chapel San Julian was born out of the relief effort as Pastor Gerry and the team received a request to come do a Bible Study there.  The one-time Bible study gave birth to a weekly Bible study which gave birth to a brand new church plant there.  Now there is land for the new church as well as a brand new pastor.  Keep the new work in San Julian and Pastor Mark in prayer!

The churches continue to grow throughout the region as more and more people see the love of Christ manifested in the teams serving there. Teams continue to minister through physical service as well as bringing the word of God. 

Pastor Kyle Curry from Reliance Church teaches at Lalawigan.

The Lalawigan youth digging into the Word.

There is still much work to be done to rebuild homes, churches and public facilities.  Teams continue to arrive for the ongoing recovery work, including not just stateside teams, but even teams from our missionary churches around the world. 

Pastor Pete and his team from CC Macau, China

Please continue to pray for more teams and more resources for the people of Samar.  Now is the time, months after the typhoon that people begin to lose their focus on the recovery efforts.  Lift up the local pastors and churches that they will embrace this opportunity to minister the love of Christ and the mercy and grace of God.  And prayerfully consider joining or leading a team of your own!

MAKING PROGRESS- U-TURN FOR CHRIST HERNANI FLOOR

Finishing cement floor at CC Hernani/U-Turn for Christ

CC Spring Valley/CC Lone Mountain at church site

Ptr. Jimmy Morales & Ptr. Gerry Brown mixing cement

Adding rocks to the cement mix

The work continues with teams coming to rebuild the church.  Walls are up and cement flooring is being laid.  Out of the rubble the Lord is raising up the new building.











Teams are hard at work.  Cement mixing is done with shovels and a lot of sweat from joyful servants.











Leading by example - pastors from the U.S. are working side by side with the Filipino believers.

Ptr. Ron Brown serving as job foreman

Temporary housing Ptr. Jerome's family lived in for 3 months

Ptr Gerry, Ptr Jerome, and Ptr Jimmy

CC Spring Valley Team

Constructions projects include rebuilding homes for those affected by the typhoon.

Rebuilding the Church and Rebuilding lives

Working on 2nd Floor of CC Hernani/U-Turn for Christ

Many hands make light work.  Praise God for the many teams coming to Samar.  Construction is now being done to the second level at U-Turn for Christ Hernani.

Working together in unity (CC Costa Mesa, CC Romoland, CC SanJuanCapistrano

CC SanJuanCapistrano mixing cement by hand

Juanito's family (student at Bible School w/blue bandana) lost their father in typhoon

Establishing relationships while ministering to those who are hurting

 While at home base at CC Lalawigan, a driveway project is underway.













Juanito is a Bible School Student.  He lost his father in the typhoon along with their house and all their possessions.  We are in the process of building a new house for the family.







Teams always rent this jeep when there is a need for extra help from Tacloban. This time it was discovered that the owner and his wife lost three children in Typhoon (2 yrs. 8 yrs. and 10 yrs. old).  The team was able to give some finances to help rebuild their house, comfort them, pray for them, as well as contract with them for teams to provide them added income.

The church is growing through the storm and many come to hear the gospel.  CC Lalawigan has a new roof and new people to praise God.

Praise God for a full house during worship service

The Lord has stirred hearts for teams to come and minister and bring relief.  Here is the team that came from CC Costa Mesa.

Team from CC Costa Mesa

Thanks from Ptr Jerry Brown -Relief Teams

"Romance 2009 Score - Part 1.aif” by Church On The Move

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.

Updated List of Ministry Needs

Location / Ministry	Projected Cost of Completion	Current Percentage Complete
Laliwegan Church	$15,000.00	85.00%
Hernani Church	$40,000.00	28.00%
Bible School Kitchen/Dining and Pastor’s Housing	$25,000.00	20.00%
Hernani Children’s Church / Community Center Feeding Center - Clean Water Station	$23,500.00	0.00%
Pastor Jerom’s Parents House	$8000.00	0.00%
Church Plant in San Julian & Children’s Ministry	$38,000.00	0.00%
Mayors Staff Kitchen Equipment	$5000.00	0.00%
Rebuilding Homes in Hernani -  One Temporary 300 Families Effected	$250.00	On-going
Rebuilding Homes in Hernani -  One Permanent 300 Families Effected	$2500.00	On-going
Ongoing Feeding Ministry (Cost listed is Weekly)	$1000.00	On-going
Water Filtration Station	$3500.00	0.00%
Building for Cemetery (Chapel & Grounds Keeper)	$20000.00	0.00%
Jeepney (Transporting Vehicle)	$25000.00	0.00%
Fuel (Cost listed is Weekly)	$500.00	On-going
Police Kitchen Equipment	$3000.00	100.00%

You can give to one of the projects listed above or to the general fund for the Philippines Relief by going to info@uturnforchrist.com and your donation will go directly to the people most affected by the Typhoon, and your donation is absolutely tax deductable, with receipts available upon your request.