Davao River Flood

  

 Last Sunday I woke up to texts from my friends saying the river had overflowed and they had to evacuate in the middle of the night.  

When I walked out my back gate and down just one block, this is what I saw...

You can see how close to our house the river reached.

 People were rescuing their pigs from homes that had flooded to the top.  I heard estimates that this flood caused 10,000 families, including 36, 000 dependents to evacuate.  Praise God that I did not hear any reports of lives lost. 

 Emi and Edgar's family had left their house at 3 am.  The whole community was sleeping on this covered court trying to get shelter from the constant rain.  That suitcase there is a bunch of blankets and towels that I brought to share.
Prior to this picture they had come to our house to make breakfast.  With no cooking pots and no dry firewood, no one could even make food.

 Here's the evacuees on the covered court near our house.  We know many of these people from the community and from our local church.

 Here's the street on the way to Emi's house.  Rescue workers from the city were doing a great job searching for people, but they did not find any.  Some men were camping out in the 2nd floor of their houses to protect their things from looters.  Sadly many people did become victims not only of the destruction of the flood but from those who stole from them.

 I found my friends, Weng-Weng, Ruen and Emi....very cold and tired and hungry.  They walked around with me so nothing would happen to me while I was trailing through the flood to take pictures and investigate. 

 Thankfully, our church opened up the 2nd floor of our new community transformation center.  I believe it was about 160 families who took refuge here for most of last week, and more than 250 ate meals provided by the church.  Elijah is in white there, helping me and Emi do an outreach to the kids.

 By God's providence, 2 boxes that had been shipped in November reached us at just the right time.  Inside were tons of kids' clothes!  What a blessing to the kids who had no dry clothes, and who also lost their clothes in the flood.  What a joy to see their delight in getting something "new" that day.

 The river finally did go down this week, and the sun came out a few times.  Whenever I heard that hard rain in the night, I pray that the river will stay down.  Many were without power until just last night, and many people lost their possessions. 

 Here's Luke watching Emi distribute the clothes that arrived at the perfect time.  Thank you, Lord! AND to our supporter and her neighbors who donated these things and shipped them!!

We praise God that despite the disaster, or perhaps because of it, 27 people responded to an invitation to receive Christ on Sunday at church.  The service was full to the back as people turned to find hope in Jesus.  Pray for us, for our church and the ministry to the many people who are in need, and praise God for His many blessings in the midst of the floods.

Becker Fam Christmas Pics

 How many kids can Nate bike around with him?  So far, he's got all 3 boys on a bike ride so I can play the piano at home!  Go Nate!

After researching the trail-a-bike and bringing it with us from America in our luggage, we finally got Nate's bike fixed and ready to attach it and for Elijah to try it.  These Biking Beckers have been all over the city together!  What a spectacle!

 Christmas Date--the lovely couple.  Thanks for continuing to pray for our marriage!  God has given us much love and peace especially since January arrived!

 Luke is excited to go to the beach for the first time (that he can remember!).

 Malachi loves to poke sticks in the sand.  Fun boy!

 Beckers 5 at the beach--too bad our boys missed the snow--but then again, Mama is not sad about that at all.

 Fun Christmas present!  Can you tell we like bikes?  We miss the smooth bike trails and sidewalks in America, but we are making do with the bumps and mud.

 Christmas gifts from family in America arrived!  Very exciting to have them ready to open!  Thanks, Fam!

 This one is for my mom--I think you can see why =)

 This pic is for Nate's mom--so fun!  Thanks guys!

Our Christmas is very simple--we didn't even have a tree this year.  Just a nativity and some candles to tell the story, some songs of worship and Bible stories.  We praise God for sending His Son!

Typhoon Pics and Some Extras

 I have a few pics I collected off the internet to show you Typhoon Bopha.  Please pray for those who lost homes, loved ones and who are still recovering their livelihood.

 Many people depend on the agriculture for their income.  This was all destroyed.

 Food hard to come by, people buried in the mud and floods.  Some still missing.  Pray for those involved in the relief efforts, including people from our church.  Pray that through this calamity many will put their hope in Jesus for salvation.  He is coming again and will rescue us from every disaster and disease forever!

 The day of the Typhoon our boys played in the mud.  There were torrential rains in our city as effects from the nearby storm.  We praise God that our family and home were kept safe, though we pray and grieve with many who suffered deeply.

 The boys like to practice being heroes and planning for emergencies.  Elijah likes to say if there is a fire "It's a good thing we have a hose!"  He decided he will help our family in a fire.  (Pictured is Malachi acting like older brother).

 Here's Luke, the innocent one-year-old.  He is just a joyful guy playing with his toys and doesn't know all the things that go on around him.  How lovely to be so trusting and peaceful!

I post this one for my mom most of all--hope you don't mind the skin!  Luke usually cries when he gets in the bath, so this was the first time he actually enjoyed it!  Yay!  Progress is made!  We are thankful to be back in our home!

Mama Diding--Present With the Lord

 "For me to live is Christ

and to die is gain"

Philippians 1.21

Emi and Ate Bebe's mom died Thursday morning in her bed.  Today we buried her.  

Here is a picture of my mom with "Loreta" a.k.a. "Mama Diding" in 2008.

 Here is Mama Diding on her 70th birthday.  Ate Bebe (left), me and Elijah, and Emi (right).  They are my closest Filipino family of anyone.  We will miss her much!

 Emi says she is known as the "Hugs and Kisses Mama".  She gives huge smacks even to pastors and anyone.  So much love!  This is Nate's brother, Stephen, visiting in 2010.

 My brother, Daniel, and sister, Sarah, also came to visit in 2010.  Mama Diding was known as a faithful prayer warrior.  She said "I always pray for you every day in my quiet time."

 We just got back from America.  I didn't have a chance to visit the first week because I felt so weak and dizzy.  It wasn't until Monday that I finally visited.  Mama Diding had fallen and broke her hip.  Ate Bebe thinks she had a minor stroke when that happened.  I was shocked to see how much her health had deteriorated since she fell.  This is the last picture I have of her (taken last Monday).  This is where she died on Thursday morning, as she had prayed, peacefully in her sleep.

 I had a crazy day on Thursday, since we were supposed to fly with Elijah to Manila for his passport at the embassy.  That morning I went to be with Emi when they took her mom's body.  Then I went with Ate Bebe to the funeral home to help with the coffin.  Among other things, it was one full day.

This picture is on Saturday, all 5 of Mama Diding's kids were there.  It was their first time together in 22 years!  The oldest (in the middle) flew down from Manila on his first plane ride ever.

 The 5 of them wanted a picture with our Becker family.  We feel like a part of their family.

 My mom and dad sent their love from the USA.  I know that would mean a lot to "Loreta", and it meant a lot to the family too.  Thanks!  (If you think the flowers look unusual, these are the most common Filipino flower arrangements for funerals that you will find--very culturally appropriate).

 "We would prefer to be away from the body

and at home with the Lord"

2 Corinthians 5.8

 At her funeral this morning I have to admit, I felt jealous of Mama Diding.  I have such a longing to be with the Lord forever in glory, and she is now experiencing that joy eternally!  No more pain, no more crying!  We who are still in the body are still groaning and longing for that day.  She is free forever!

"Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead

with our heavenly dwelling..."

2 Corinthians 5.2

 We buried her body in the ground today, but she is very much alive with Jesus.  I like the custom in the Philippines of actually standing there and watching them lower the casket and shoveling the dirt onto the grave.  It brings closure.  Everyone throws flowers in the hole where the coffin is lowered, and then they shovel the dirt right then and there.

We will miss you, Mama Diding!  You are a faithful prayer warrior and loving Mama and Lola (Grandma).  You are now receiving the goal of your faith: the salvation of your soul.  Good-bye, until we meet in heaven.

Pumpkins, Taylor, Cousins & Costumes

 We're soon flying to the Philippines!  Praise the Lord!  I'm just reflecting on the fun cultural things we've been able to do these last few weeks in America.  The full album is on my Facebook (join as a friend!), but here are some highlights.

My mom and I choose some pumpkins--whose is the biggest?!

 Nate and I team up to carve our first pumpkin together.

 This just makes me laugh--Luke is not a happy cow!  Try getting your three boys to pose in their costumes!  So funny!  (Malachi is a Kangaroo with Monkey legs, if you were wondering).

 Fun to spend a holiday with cousins!  We called it "costume day".  It was the boys' first time to wear costumes and get candy!  They loved it!

 Luke's first haircut---not too happy!  Haha!  I had to get this one for his baby book--he will laugh one day.

 I have to leave my journals at my mom's house!  I got sidetracked as I packed my latest 12 journals (written in 2 years!).  I found this precious entry in 1986 when I was 6 years old!

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5.10

Thank you, Lord, for giving me a hunger for your Word even at a young age.  May the same be true for our little sons!

 Fun to spend time with my life-long friend, Trisha!  She did a great craft with us so we can bring autumn with us to the Philippines!

 Taylor homecoming--we got to see many special friends, including our special family the Stevensons!!!  So happy!

 Face painting was another first for the boys.  Malachi wanted a flower with a bee.  Cute guy!

 Elijah and Sojo!!  "I missed you!"

 Getting hoods--cold weather coming!!

 I wish I had the "before and after" for you.  We have pics of me and Nate at this sign when I first met his family, then later with our baby Elijah, and now all 5 of us!  Who knows, maybe someday we'll be back to send our son to college!

Beckers 5 at the pumpkin patch.  We're ready to fly!  Thanks for praying for us, for partnering with us, and for sending us!  We will see you on the other side!