Three earthquakes of at least 6.3 magnitude hit the Philippines in the fall of 2019, leaving more than 25 people dead and tens of thousands displaced. In response, Samaritan’s Purse delivered emergency relief supplies in late November to 6,459 people in the province of Cotabato and parts of Mindanao. At a total of seven different…
Relief Distributed, the Gospel Shared Following Earthquakes in the Philippines
Cleaning Out Flooded Houses in Japan
When a pastor went to help clean a flooded house in Kure, Japan, he was overwhelmed not only by the scope of the devastation but also by the hostility of the man who lived there. The man wanted nothing to do with religion and didn’t even want the pastor spending time at his home. Feeling…
Military Couples Start Fresh During Alaska Adventure
Mike Woodard’s muscular frame stands six-foot-four. During his time as a soldier in the U.S. Army, there’s no doubt the enemy should and would have feared him in close quarters. He served bravely in a 2011-12 combat tour to Afghanistan, though it came at great cost. He got blown up three times—once each by a…
“Now I Have a Heart for God”
Each time he pricked his feet on thorns or felt the jabs of kids who jeered at his bare feet, 13-year-old Kwale thought of the shoes his parents had promised: “When we have the money.” Even his teachers seemed to pick on him, assigning him dirty jobs like cleaning the toilets or telling him to…
Fe y agua corren profundo en la rural Niger
Galba is a small, dusty village located in south-central Niger. The people who live there face many problems that are common in Niger—poverty, lack of jobs, famine, and poor health. But, until recently, perhaps the biggest problem that Galba faced was poor access to clean water. The only well in the village was dirty and…
A Village Without a Well
It’s nearing 120 degrees outside, and already the women have walked three miles in the desert heat. They’re only halfway to the well in the neighboring village, and there’s no shade to hide from the sun’s harsh rays. At the well they’ll wait in line, draw water, and pour it into their jerry cans. Then…
Volunteer at a Shoebox Processing Center!
Finding My Purpose After the Storm
Zosimo Caballero serves as the team leader for the Samaritan’s Purse water, sanitation, and hygiene program in the Philippines. I was like a speck on the sea, floating about without any direction. That’s how I can best describe my life before I got involved with Samaritan’s Purse. My only concern before that time was to…
Traveling Toward Peace
Ibraheem Alsaad didn’t want to leave his home in Syria. He and his wife, Nisreen, were teachers at the local primary school. But when ISIS surrounded their town, the school closed, and they lost their jobs. They suffered for eight months as ISIS cut off their access to electricity and then to food. Finally, their home…
Toilets: A Critical Need in the Philippines
When a natural disaster strikes, the most immediate needs that often come to mind are food and shelter. What some may not immediately consider is the need for proper sanitation to prevent illness. Florita Abitona, 67, and her family know how quickly life can change in a natural disaster. When Super Typhoon Haiyan (known locally…











