The residents of barangay Abuyog and Baybay couldn’t do anything but watch as the raging flood waters sweep away their houses.

Sheila Salanawon couldn’t believe the tragedy right before her eyes.

Her family and her neighbors were crying, some were screaming, while others remained speechless as the catastrophic floods brought by Typhoon Agaton wiped out everything on its path.

“The people were screaming because the flood was sweeping away our houses,” Sheila recalled.

All they could do was to pray for their lives to be spared from the imminent danger and for the water to subside. But when it finally did, the next scenes were more devastating.

All their houses were swept away, and everything was covered in mud. Some areas remain submerged in flood. For the residents, it was a scary sight to behold.

“I am distressed that we lost our home but as others say, what’s important is that we are still alive,” Sheila said, trying to hold back tears and comfort herself.

Together with other survivors, her small family temporarily seeks shelter in an evacuation center in a nearby barangay. They rely on relief goods after losing everything they had.

Sheila shared, “Relief goods are very important to us right now because without them, we would starve to death.”

Thankfully, Operation Blessing visited their community and distributed much-needed relief. Sheila’s family and a thousand others received food bags in Abuyog and Baybay, in Leyte.

Apart from the material relief, the survivors also received prayers and words of encouragement from the team and the volunteers who dedicated their Holy Week to share God’s comfort to those in need.

The residents heard the message of hope that one day, with the help of God, they can all get back on their feet.

After receiving immediate relief, Sheila became more hopeful and shared a message to the team, the volunteers, and faithful partners who continue to support disaster-stricken families.

“Thank you so much, may God bless you all!”

Now that Typhoon Agaton has already left the country, Sheila and other typhoon survivors were left wondering about how to rebuild their lives.

Through your prayers and giving, Typhoon Agaton survivors would receive the help they need and would see that there is hope—through God and through you.

Reach out to your kababayans in Leyte and other affected communities by donating any amount through Operation Blessing’s website, through GCash (Operation Blessing), or through the following bank accounts with account name: Operation Blessing Foundation Phils., Inc.:

Banco De Oro (BDO)

Peso Account: 003-000-055-279

Dollar Account: 103-000-11-3333

Swift Code: BNORPHMM

Union Bank of the Philippines

Peso Account: 00-216-072163-9

Dollar Account: 13-216-000170-0

Swift Code: UBPHPHMM

Metrobank

Peso Account: 270-3-27050273-4

Dollar Account: 270-2-27000282-4

Swift Code: MBTCPHMM

Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)

Peso Account: 3001-0040-33

For more information on how you can bless others during the pandemic, you may visit Operation Blessing’s Facebook page or contact 0939-921-5543 or 0918-906-7753.

If you wish to support the entire CBN Asia Family of Ministries, here are the ways to give.

(DSWD-SB-SP-000061-2021-Nationwide. Valid until November 23, 2022)