Substantial funds have been forwarded to the CMML mission service group in USA, and some of these have already been passed on to the Santa Domingo and Haiti contacts.

For various reasons, usage of these funds has been slow, and we are still awaiting reports as to how they have been used. We understand that government efforts to get aid through has also been hampered.

When further details become available we will report back.

Haiti update as of 30.04.10

Chile earthquake and tidal wave, 30.4.10.

 The feeding of the orphans and widows at Emthandazweni chapel is ongoing.  We also plan to give extra rations to some who are particularly in need.  The numbers attending the chapel have greatly increased over the past few years and they continue to rise steadily. On some Sundays we may get over 200 people, about half are children.

In March I had a weekend in Harare with some elders representing seven assemblies.  It was a good time both in fellowship and in discussion.  I attach a photo of those who were there.

Over the three weeks they were here we travelled over 8000 kms, from Johannesburg to Chingola and back with some deviations on the way.  Since our visitors from Italy have left I have had to make up the time lost in teaching at the College.  This is now done and we are in the throes of exams, with the marking that follows.

Report from Derek Jones, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, 12.4.10.

Report from David Harvey, missionary in the Phillippines, 12.3.10

In total more than 60 assemblies, and over a 1,000 families and four schools received much needed help.  The Lord was so gracious in supplying the needs of the saints that we still have funds on hand. Almost everyone and everything is back to normal (although we are now suffering severe water shortage though out much of the country) there are a few projects in the area of rehabilitation that we are still in the process of assisting. All of the funds where distributed by the leaders of the local assemblies. Amounts were distribution as per request from the assembly leaders and then extra cash was given to assembly to be used at the discretion of the elders.

At this stage we have been able to replenish our disaster fund and have a little extra money on hand for the next emergency.

The pre-school in Cainta which is where our home assembly is located lost almost every thing.  Water was about a meter and half deep in the classrooms which are in the chapel building.  However, school for the 140 was back in operation within two weeks and over time we have been able to replace most of the books, uniforms and equipment that was destroyed during the flooding.   Recently we were offered a new piece of property by an old lady at a very reasonable price (about 2/3rds the average price in the area) very close to where the school and chapel is located.  If we were able to purchase this piece of property we would be able to build a new school higher off the ground with facilities for a complete elementary for school for which our parents are requesting. Please pray with us concerning this marvelous opportunity.  Thanks.

Unfortunately I only have a few photos of the actual distribution process as much of this was done after the waters had receded. During the flooding we were not able to go out of our home as we were surrounded by water.  Fortunately we only had a little water in part of our home.  However, I have to admit I was thinking that we might have a major problem here at home.  In over 40 years here in the Philippines I have never seen so much as we experienced during the couple of weeks when there was water everywhere.

Truly, the Lord has been very gracious in supplying our needs above and beyond our wildest dreams.  Please pass on our sincere thanks to the saints in Scotland for their very generous gift for the saints here in the Philippines.