Testimonies were abundant about what the Lord has done in the Higaunon church from the time of its founding in 1983 to the present. The Thanksgiving began about 9 a.m. and went until lunch time, then resumed around 6 p.m. and went to 11 p.m.

The people continued giving testimonies on Sunday morning so that their usual Sunday meeting became an extension of their Thanksgiving service.

Many of the testimonies contained stories that the missionary team had never heard before.

"We were amazed at the depth of conviction that came through concerning their firm stand on the Word of God," wrote missionaries Ron and Michelle Jennings.

Their testimonies gave evidence of the believers' hope in the Lord and their determination to trust God for his provision in any circumstance.

"It was also special to hear from a number of young men who have very recently left their home villages and started new outreaches … and from others who have come through a very difficult time," the Jennings wrote.

Please continue to pray for the Higaunon believers to read and follow God's Word and that those in the new outreaches who are now hearing evangelistic Bible teaching will understand it and place their faith in Christ.

Violent winds and major flooding destroyed power lines and cut off electricity to many homes. The school was closed for a week and provided an opportunity for several dorm kids to be involved in a relief effort.

"The kids were having fun playing in the rain and the stairs became waterfalls in our own backyard," missionary dorm parent Russ Holeman wrote. "Some of the kids went out to explore during the rain and ended up helping people cross strong flowing rivers with their children and rescuing people from their cars that were getting carried away by the water that rose very quickly."

Many of their friends lost some or all of their possessions in the flood and the kids made several trips to help flood victims clean mud and debris from their homes.

Russ and his wife, Kelly, were able to offer their home to several who were left homeless by the devastation and flooding. The flooding also caused traffic to be at a standstill for several days. Russ and his youngest daughter, Janaya, left to go to a volleyball game on a Saturday morning and were not able to make it home until Monday afternoon.

Cleaning the mud filled homes and rebuilding the homes that were destroyed continues. Pray for those who lost loved ones, especially those who were swept away by the flood waters. Pray also for dorm parents Russ and Kelly as they help the students in their outreach to the neighborhoods most severely hit by the typhoon and subsequent flooding.