“Lord, please help us! Please save us!”
Those were the desperate cries of Nanay Nora Favon, 65 years old, in the middle of the raging winds brought by Typhoon Opong, one of the strongest storms ever to hit Masbate.
“It was the first time I’ve ever experienced a typhoon that strong,” she recalled softly. “I was so afraid. All I could do was pray. Thank God, we are safe!”
Nanay Nora and her husband, Tatay Putoy, 69 years old, earn a living from their small farmland, their only source of income. But after the typhoon, everything was gone. The crops were destroyed, leaving them with nothing to harvest. Their house was also torn apart by the strong winds. Now, they are slowly rebuilding it little by little, using whatever materials they can find.
Her four children, who now live with their own families in Bulacan, could only worry from afar. During the storm, it was just Nanay Nora and her husband alone, praying, and clinging to faith.
When Operation Blessing arrived in their community, hope came along with it. Nanay Nora received a food bag and a solar lamp, simple gifts that brought light into their home.
Since the storm, their community has been without electricity, and they rely only on candles to get through the night. According to the local government of Masbate, it may take several months before power is restored across the province.
Her eyes brightened as she turned on the solar light for the first time.
“This will help us so much, especially at night,” she said with a grateful smile. “Thank you, Operation Blessing. Thank you to all the donors, you just don’t know how grateful we are for your help.”
Even in the aftermath of the storm, God’s light continues to shine through every act of kindness, every prayer, and every hand that gives.