The mayon volcano has been spewing lava and ash for several days. It has erupted about 50 times in the past 400 years. It is sad that up to 50,000 people have been evacutatd and are living with relatives or in evacuation centers. This has got to be an impossible living situtation for many, hardest on the children. Please pray for the poor people who have been evacuated. 
There was another earthquake in Mindanao on Wednesday (the US is 13 hours behind the Philippines) after having three tremors over the weekend. It was estimated to be a 5.5 centered off the coast of Mindanao nearst to Davao (see map, the earthquake is one of the three blue squares to the south. For the news report of the earthquake click HERE. . 
Mindanao frequently has earthquakes off their coast. The attached map from Google Earth shows recent Earthquakes in the red squares. 
Students in Hillsdale college taught principals of free enterprise to the childern of a Philippine orphange, click HERE. This type of work is so needed in the Philippines. Because of the extreme poverty of the people, many children are abandoned by their parents, they simply cannot afford to feed and care for their children. Also, many of the men die while their children are small and when the mothers remarry there is extreme pressure on the to abandon their children from their first marriage, the new husband cannot support all the children involved. When I was in the Philippines I actually met sevearl children who had been abandoned or those who had a father die and their mother and step father could not longer care for them. A Charlotte NC church, Mecklenburg Community Church, pastored by James Emery White, is soon to purchase a safe house in the Philippines to rescue girls traped in the slave sex trade. The church is the first one in the United States to open such a place in the Philippines.
To watch the news story click here.
In a related story, a 67 year old, Donald Mathias of Davie FL, received 20 years for traveling to the Philppines to have sexual relations with two minor girls. He admitted to having made two trips to the Philippines, he was arrested on the second journey. He paid the mother who allowed him to have sex with her two daughters. For the whole news story click HERE.
It is hard to imagine a mother who would do such a thing, but the extreme poverty of the region, where starvation and malnutrion is common, will drive people to extreme measures. Thru a contact I have in the Philippines I heard of a 4 year old girl who was dumped in the street markets area with her birth certificate in hand, the family could no longer care for the little girl.
Please pray for these young women and men who are caught in the sex trade, most not by choice. They are doing the only thing they can do to survive. Unemployment and other ways to make money are just not enough to supply the basic needs. One young person was working the sex trade to pay for their sibilings educations....so the "sisters would have a better life."
Please keep these teenagers in your prayers and pray for the Charlotte Church and they do their best to help these young girls.
Important news in Mindanao about the massacre. The government is considering the use of Army facilities to house up to 700 suspects and those culpable in the massacre of 57 people almost a month ago. Even the normal functions of govenment are being looked at since several cheif executives of some towns have been arrested. For more infomration click HERE.
To Email me click HERE.
The Philippine Daily Enquirer reports that Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan was mobbed by journalists and others when he appeared in court wanted as a primary suspect in the political murder of 57 people. He is next due in court on Dec. 28, he is said to be the one who directed the killings and caches of weapons have been found on his families land. The report is found HERE.
The US ambassador to the Philippines is Kristie Kenny. She writes on her blog, HERE. that she visited the Jolo airport and along with the Philippine President dedicated a new runway. This is a triumph over the terrorism that is continuing to plague the island. The Muslim Abu Sayaf has bombed new construction of bridges and roads in an effort to stop the movement of troops.
Please continue to pray for peace in Jolo and other areas in the Muslim controled areas in South Philippines. Philippine troops have evacutated 120000 people in villages surrounding the Mayon Volcano. Its eruption could be as early as next week. It is already spewing lava. Click HERE.
Many of the Abu Sayaf, estimated to be a group of about 400, are active on the island of Jolo. 
Here is a picture of the volcano taken yesterday. 
Here is picture of the volcano taken from a previous eruption.
It seems that the MILF broke into a jail and freed 31 suspected terrorists. It was nighttime raid at a jail in Basilan. The small island south and west of Mindanao has been subject to attacks for years. For a link click HERE.
The islands location can be seen in the adjoining map.
After negoations Sunday, gunman have agreed to free all hostages. The government has agreed to disarm their rival militia. For a full report click here. 
The Abu Sayyaf kidnapped yet another victim yesterday, a college president, click HERE. The Abu Sayyaf, known as the "sword of God" is a muslim separatist group, believed to have only 400 members is the most violent group of terrorists in the Philippines. They are responsible for many kidnappings and several beheadings in the southern part of the Philippines. They are active in Mindanao, Basilan and Jolo. The US state department has officially classed them as a foreign terrorist organization, for a comprehensive list click HERE. 
Today gunman took 57 hostages in the Philippines, later releasing 17 of the childeren. They are believed to be a group of bandits who were former memembers if a militia. They have been pursued by authorities in the past few days following a gunbattle. Negotiators are talking with the group and trying to ascertain their demands, believed to be the dropping of possible charges against them. For a full report of the news story click HERE. In response to the massacre of 57 people the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has pulled out its aid for the province. However, USAID will continue to fund projects in other areas of Mindanao. The World Bank has said they will continue to fund ongoing projects of development in the area. For a story of the World Bank decision click on the link below.
No letup in loans, grants to Mindanao, says World Bank - Business - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News
As a follow up to the "peace" negotiations. They representatives of the Philippine government and the MILF released a statment saying that they hoped a deal could be brokered by April. Obviousely, looking ahead of the end of the current Philippine President in May, the next Philippine President might not be as willing to work with the MILF. The Muslim population makes up only about %5 of the total population of the Philippines, the vast majority is Roman Catholic. The Roman Catholic majority is concerned about control of the land. The area of land under dispute is seen in the map in darker color. Most of the violence, kidnappings and bombings, have occured in the areas marked as "automomous" regions, particularly the Sulu archipelago.
To read more about the negotiations click HERE.
Pastors and Evangelists in fellowship with the Church of Jesus Chirst. 
A small number of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ in Cagayan De Oro. 
Our lunch party at Don Aro Beach. One of the most beautiful places in the world! 
© Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009
Back to TOP
