"Philippines: Mission in the midst of crisis"

You could call this another "guest post." Emily wrote another wonderful article about the ECP and the Diocese of Davao after our visit. Everyone knows about Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda which hit back in November. While it may have left the thoughts of many, it is still the present for a number of Filipinos. Even though it's been six months since the storm struck, the Episcopal Church has not stopped relief efforts. Please read on to learn more!

This article was posted on Episcopal News Service blog on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 and written by Emily Cherry, Communications Director for the Diocese of Virginia:

Philippines: Mission in the midst of crisis

Global partnerships deepen as typhoon response continues 

The island of Bantayan counts children in its team of volunteers. The Diocese of Davao

 supports a continuing relief and economic redevelopment project in Bantayan. 

Photo: Gideon Bustamante

Just over a week after the bishop of the newest diocese in the Philippines was consecrated on Nov. 23, 2012, Super Typhoon Bopha hit, killing more than 1,000 people and destroying homes and land. Almost 12 months later, in November 2013, came Super Typhoon Haiyan, killing as many as 10,000 people, making it one of the deadliest storms in the Philippines to date. As the Rt. Rev. Jonathan L. Casimina, bishop, put it, “We began our diocese with a typhoon, and we ended our first year with a typhoon.”

Weekend Reading

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Happy Weekend! 

I hope everyone has a fun filled weekend and isn't rushing around for last-minute gifts too much. I'm now off for Christmas and New Years break! I'm not exactly sure what I'll be doing during that whole time. While that would usually stress me out (well it still is), I'm trying to make "go with the flow" my new motto. I know it will all work out for the best even if I don't know the plan a week or a few days in advance.

The Filipinos have this saying, "bye and bye." It basically means, it will happen when it happens or he'll come when he comes. It'll happen at no certain time in the future. At first it drove me insane. But now I'm embracing it. So when will I know about my Christmas plans? Bye and bye.