Christmas came to the Philippines this year in the form of a deadly storm that claimed the lives of 11 people and left more than 10,000 evacuees homeless for the holiday.

Typhoon Phanfone hit the Philippines on the 24^th and 25^th of December with reported winds of up to 130km/h (80 mph) and gustiness of up to 160km/h (99 mph).

“The typhoon passed through on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” reported Pastor Noralv Askeland during a BTJ podcast on the 26th of December. “Still there is a signal and the ferries are still not going…”

According to local news reports, more than 20,000 passengers and 157 vessels were stranded in ports on Christmas day. Most of the Philippines 7,641 islands are connected by ferry.

This disaster hit only two weeks after Typhoon Kammuri hit the Philippines that claimed the lives of 17 people and only a week after a deadly earthquake claimed the lives of 3.

“In addition to the two typhoons we just had, we have had a lot of earthquakes,” Pastor Noralv reported. “Because we are in the deadly ‘ring of fire.’”

Pastor Noralv, along with Back to Jerusalem volunteers, have been handing out thousands of Christmas baskets that have food, water, and Bibles (as pictured above). He went on to say, “We have been using these Christmas baskets for thousands of people who are not able to go back to their homes.”

At a time when most people around the world are enjoying time with their families and friends during the Christmas holidays, Noralv and his team are serving those that have lost everything.

To support the effort that Noralv and his team are doing, you can donate by clicking here:

https://backtojerusalem.com/support/disaster-relief/

100% of all donations made for natural disaster during this time will be sent to the Philippines.

To listen to the live report from Pastor Noralv in the Philippines, click here:

https://backtojerusalem.com/podcast/