Philippine Children’s Ministries Network

Offering My Life for the Sheep: A Testimony on Ministering to the Saints in Disaster

I am Pastor Bobby Bigtas of Jesus Christ Peace Giver Church , ministering at Brgy Silangan, Quezon City. I am a pastor of a church of about 50 people, half of whom belong to the informal settlers and are very poor. We have been here 4 years before typhoon Ondoy. We hold worship services in a small building.
When I heeded the call to become a pastor, I committed to lay down my life for the sheep. I did not know that this will be tested when typhoon Ondoy came. It was about 9 a.m. when a member who has a small sari-sari store asked for my help to carry some of her goods to upper ground of their house since there is a flood that is knee deep inside her store. After 10 minutes, a frantic text message came with this word.”Saklolo” (help me). That I hurried to where my member’s house is, only to find out that the water has risen so high that I can no longer cross the street leading to where her house is. As I can not out swam the strong current of the river, I content myself to helping other people who are swimming out of the flood and helplessly reaching for higher ground.
I stayed in the area for four hours, not realizing that I am soaked to the bone and shivering from the cold because I have to severally fish people from rampaging waters. I was hoping that my church member has moved to higher ground before the water rose to rooftop high. I decided to go home, eat and change clothes.
At about 4 p.m. the husband of that member came back from work and was looking for her wife and children in the church. Now I realized that she has not escaped and was trapped inside her house with the children. Although nearing dark, I and my church member, the husband of the frantic text message swam to where we think the house could be located. Electricity was cut and water from the over flown river nearby has changed the landscape. Landmarks were all removed; all we can see in pitch dark are rooftops. The poor visibility added to the confusion of where the house is.
My heart was pumping hard; I did not now that I have to risk my life literally for my sheep. Afloat an improvised floaters which is a water container tied to my armpits, I swam in a sleekly water ( a mixture of spilled oil and water). The mixture hurt my eyes so much, blinding me at times. In between stroke of my hands in muddy waters, I recalled to mind Psalms 23: 4 “Even though I walk (sic. swim) through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”.
Admittedly, I was just hopelessly waiting for the husband swimming by my side to quit looking for his wife and children, then I will not be so embarrassed to quit first. But he does not, he called on every rooftop we passed by, hoping that it is his house and searching intently for the sight of his family. As his pastor and a shepherd at that, I am committed to protect this man.
It was about 7 o’clock when we saw a flickering light far from where we are, and we decided to follow that light. It was the house we are looking for, the wife happened to salvage a candle, and that light served as our landmark. The whole family was saved, not one life was lost. I learned later, that it was not so with their neighbors who lost family members.
Today, 10 days away from that experience, I am still shaken by what hapened. A whole community was swept away by flood waters, many losing their lives especially women and children, as their husbands are away at work. The rebuilding of many lives is the task at hand. People, who lost their small livelihood, people who lost houses and still many whose family members are still missing need help. In my community alone, 142 people are either confirmed dead or missing. I believe that I am God’s tool in the rebuilding efforts.
I thank PCMN for visiting us last October 7. We do not know PCMN before this disaster. Pastor Obet Awa-ao of Volunteers of Christ provided the link to PCMN. Their presence, though they do not know us, provided encouragement. Together with 5 other pastors who will work alongside with me, who are themselves affected by this disaster, we will make a list of children in our church and community who were greatly affected by the flood. The school supplies and school uniform and shoes as intended by PCMN to be distributed to the greatly affected children, are like the Lord leading us to quiet water, restoring our souls.

Editor’s Notes: Barangay Silangan is one of the greatly affected areas in the aftermath of typhoon Ondoy. 142 people are dead and are missing to this day. PCMN will distribute school needs of children in this community through the five churches members of the Jesus for Silangan Movement, a local network of pastors. The Step-UP project and the Alternative Learning System may also be implemented in this area. Immediately after the October 7 visit, Ptr. Obet Awa-ao of the Rhoda network (a PCMN facilitated network) conducted an orientation on how the churches can access a skills training and employment placement of the ABS-CBN Bayan Foundation. Facilitating connections and linking the victims to job opportunities is one of the most effective ways to rebuild lives.
Story of Pastor Bob is written as told to Fe Foronda.