Can you imagine living on an island and being faced with a category 5 typhoon? That is exactly what happened to John and Christine and their 2 daughters.

1 year ago John and Christine and their daughters Chilli and Asha were living on the island of Siargao in the Philippine Islands, when a category 5 typhoon tore through, devastating homes and lives.

Surviving the storm was just the beginning, what followed in the days and weeks after would take a bigger toll on them and the community as they rallied together to rebuild their island and their lives.

While many people were waking on Christmas day to find beautifully wrapped presents under a decorated Christmas tree, this family  were waking to a shortage of food, water, and no electricity. But instead of focussing on what they were going without, this family got to work helping the families around them and just wait until you hear what they did for some of the other kids living on the island on Christmas day.

John and Christine share their incredible journey from the storm to rebuilding.

No means of communication

35 degree days, no shelter, no water, no medical help

“By the time that roofs were blowing off, it still had more to give.”

“Everything was destroyed.”

“Even though it was a horrible situation we still had peace and strength and not everyone had that.” - Christine

“When you’re living with a Kingdom vision and you know what is to come it makes the problems here on earth not so bad.” - Christine

“You have to surrender to the moment that you’re in but knowing that God is in control of it.” “You can fall back on those promises that God has given you in your life.”

“Are we going to be helpful or burdensome?” - John

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” - John

Connect with John and Christine on instagram @nissi_missions

Connect with Melanie @mel_lynam

Thanks for listening xx