Meet Ace, one of the fabulous young gentleman that Jun and Ed’s youth have met through their outreaches into the ‘tent cities’. Tent cities were the refugee camps set up in response to last December's severe typhoon which left thousands of people homeless (please check out our ‘EMERGENCY RELIEF for the PHILIPPINES - Act Now to Help’ page for more information)
It’s been a rough year for Ace and his family (8 of them!). About 6 months ago, Ace was working labour and fell. This fall, left him as a paraplegic with quite a nasty gash on his leg. He and his family were just adjusting to this change when “Sendong” hit and took their home. The floods came so quickly, that they were forced to all climb nearby mango trees to escape the flood waters. Ace’s family worked as a team to haul him high enough up the tree so he was safe. They then tied him to the tree and hung on for 6 hours while they waited to be rescued.
They lost everything and are now living in one of the ‘tent cities’. Despite the hardships that have befallen Ace and his family, there is a lovely peace that surrounds them. Ace talks about the youth coming to his house to pray and hang out with him and how they are like "presents from God".
His mother was sharing how it is difficult to feed all 8 mouths and take care of Ace’s health concerns (which includes a unhealed wound from his fall), but God is providing and always filling them with hope.
It’s really is amazing to see the youth rally around this lovely family and other ones like them, who have lost everything and face quite trying circumstances every day. Their testimony of peace and hope is truly inspiring.