HeCares360 Delivers Help to Cotabato Earthquake Victims
By Hanna Mae Bascon
A 6.6 magnitude earthquake shook North Cotabato, Philippines last October 16, 2019. According to records, almost 500 thousand Filipinos experienced very strong quake, while about 2.3 million felt strong tremors. Then just two weeks after, another seism struck Tulunan, Cotabato, this time causing several deaths and injuries. About 4,900 individuals evacuated due to the danger brought about by the aftershocks.
With thousands clearly in urgent need, GD HeCares360 relief operation planning kicked in. Funds were raised through the generous hearts of individual donors from the Philippines and abroad, as well as from churches and Bethel Baptist Hospital, Inc. With the collected resources, GD came up with 650 Grace Packs of canned goods, rice, and toiletries.
On November 5 at 4am, GD TEAM Mindanao and some church volunteers from Faithway Fundamental Baptist Church (FFBC) went to Cotabato and distributed 150 packs in M’lang, 150 in Tulunan, and 350 in Makilala. We were blessed that the distribution was pre-arranged by Pastor Rey Escovilla and Pastor Joshua Calicaran, our Missionaries to the Muslim Areas. They coordinated with the local barangays to ensure smooth distribution. Volunteers from Bethel Baptist Church with Pastor and Mrs. Ed Tarectecan, who were their guests at that time, met with the GD Team Mindanao in M’lang. They contributed water, blankets, and used clothes to the Grace Packs. We thank the 20 volunteers who came to help the GD Team, of which 15 came from Bukidnon and 5 from Davao City.
The Lord has indeed blessed the team, who travelled a total number of 16 hours in order to express love and concern for the affected Filipinos in Cotabato. Moreover, our hearts are filled with joy for the opportunity to give encouragement to the victims by sharing to them the Good News of Salvation.
Lastly, this wonderful experience that we had moves us to fully support GraceDrive Ministries, because we have seen how the grace of God drives it to help those who are in need.
“All of this is for your benefit. As God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.” 2 Corinthians 4:15