Hello family:
People in the Philippines are used to catastrophic events
and destruction. Whether it is a Typhoon, Volcano, Sunami, Earthquake,
terrorism, fire or accident. These sort of things happens way too often all
over the world but here it happens to people you know.
Last month Daniel told me of an employee who lost everything
due to a fire in the building where he and his family lived. It’s amazing how in one instant a home can be
completely destroyed and family belongings can be turn into ashes. Special
things that they may have worked years to purchase are gone just like that. And
one has to ponder how much that person had to sacrifice of their life in order
to accumulate those things.
The fire happened on Sunday when he and his family were at church,
and damaged literally all of his material possessions they had accumulated over
the years so people from work were collecting cash and things to give to them.
Daniel emptied his wallet and his closet to give as many articles of clothes to
this fellow so he could have something to wear but on the bright side what
matters is that they are alive and whatever material things they lost can be
replaced.
Over the weekend Daniel got a call from the humanitarian
director who was aware of a tragic accident leaving one casualty. It was a
member taking nine people on one of those Tricycles they use here in the
Philippines (it’s like a motorcycle but with three wheels to add more people.)
An SUV hit them.
All are in the hospital injured with head injuries or broken
bones or in critical condition in the ICU and sadly one girl age 16, Angeline
De los Santos didn’t make it. They don’t
have any resources so the leaders are helping them as much as possible with
fast offering donations. The only good thing going for them is that they are
members of the Church and the leaders of their ward are taking care of their
needs at this time. If this had happened to someone else, they wouldn’t have
any support whatsoever. The hospitals here turn you away if you don’t have money
to pay.
I can’t even imagine the agony these families have had to
endure this past few weeks. They are in our prayers. We have shed tears
thinking of their hardships and hope they find comfort in knowing this life is
not all there is and that they will see this child, Angeline, once again.
Today all I can think about is the following:
Sit back and consider how we would feel if we knew our life
would end today? And how would we feel if we lost everything we had? What would
we wished we had done differently and what would we value more? And once we have thought through those
questions we should use our answers to make some adjustments if we need
to. Right now, while we still have the
chance to do things differently. We should never live our lives in a way we
will regret someday.
Con amor,
Vero
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