TAYTAY, Rizal — For Gloria Gonzales, 62 years old, experiencing the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy last September 26 is just another of life’s storms she had to bear.

“When I see that the water is continually rising, and the rain is not ceasing, I prayed to the Lord that the flood will not reach our church and pastoral house,” Gloria recalled.

She is the stay-in church custodian of Voice of Hope in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries based in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City, which is just adjacent to Lupang Arienda in Taytay.

She lives in the church building since 2006 while her children stayed in their house. She also leads Bible studies in their mission churches in Tarlac and other parts of Pasig City.

Knowing of past flooding instances in the area, “we built our church and pastoral house 2.5 feet higher than the street level so that it would be spared from floods.”

But after almost six hours of continuous rains, their area had been submerged up to neck-deep level (about 5 feet) of floodwater, just like most of Metro Manila and adjacent provinces of Laguna and Rizal.

“We tried to transfer the church equipment and things to the second floor of the pastoral house, but the floodwater rose too fast, and some of the things have been submerged or swept already even before we can transfer it,” Gloria narrated.

OB came to Lupang Arienda last October to give relief goods to the area. Since the place is still submerged up to two feet of floodwater, bringing the goods to the church had been difficult.

While waiting for the goods, Pastor Rey Dawal, a volunteer pastor from Alive with Christ Church in Taytay, encouraged beneficiaries to share their stories of how they are coping with the flood.

“I eagerly volunteered because I want people to know of God’s love and care even during this time of tragedy,” Gloria said. She also rendered a song with a line “God will never leave us or abandon us.”

Amidst the flooding, Gloria still can smile and is grateful.

“About four years ago, I experienced the lowest part of my life. My husband Sergio died. After a few months, my father Supriano Matudan, who was already bedridden for more than a year, died also. Next, the tragic death of my daughter Angel happened,” she recalled sadly.

Angel was working for a businessman who was murdered. Being an eyewitness, she was also murdered and buried in an artesian well somewhere Cavite, where his employer was also dumped. The case is still unsolved, but Gloria is still hopeful.

“I thought that after the death of my daughter, I will not be able to regain composure and hope. But God used my churchmates to help me get up again and continue with my life,” Gloria shared.

But a few months later, another tragedy took place. “My mother Concepcion followed after my father. I thought that will be the last of the series of deaths, but another death followed. After having spent just a few months with my second husband Rafael, he also died of sickness just a few month’s after my mother’s death.”

“After the fifth death, I prayed that the Lord will continue to strengthen my faith so that I can endure all the trials, and thankfully I did,” Gloria said.

Aside from God, she also drew strength from her pastor Jesus Seguerra, her churchmates and friends.

“That is why when OB came to our place, I feel strengthened and inspired with their care and concern for us. They are God’s gift to us because they brought relief goods straight to our place. The beneficiaries need not walk far anymore to receive help.”

With your donations, Operation Blessing was able to bring goods, conduct medical missions and trauma counseling and, more importantly, bring hope to persons affected by the typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

At present, OB is continually conducting medical missions and relief goods distribution in Benguet and Cavite.