a broken heart and a broken house

When I got a text today from Espy asking to borrow money, I was a bit surprised since she has never asked before.  I asked what is it for? and my heart sank as I read her reply: “A typhoon has hit the Philippines and my house is broken.”  A coconut tree has fallen thru the middle of the house.  Can you imagine having worked for several years to provide for your family that you cannot even see to have it washed away in an instant?  My heart is broken for her as it is for many of the other American families left without after the recent storms/tornadoes.   When she arrived today to pick up her advanced salary she just sobbed and sobbed.  Her three kids are there with her mother and they have to pick up the pieces.  I cannot even imagine how badly she must want to be with them now… I asked her if she needs to go and she said, no, it is better for me to just send the money (everything is expensive there and for her to go it would take away from money she could give them).   She hasn’t seen them in 2 years… can you imagine??! I cover my kids with kisses after being apart for just 2 hours. 

She and her husband both work here in Abu Dhabi and send the money they earn back – there are not many jobs there that would pay enough for her children to come up out of the poverty she grew up in.   To put things in a little bit of perspective – they still don’t even have an oven.  They cook over open fire because they cannot afford a stove and the electricity to run it…  She loves cooking and baking with me and has mentioned her new dream of someday opening a bakery in the Philippines with all of the recipes we have done together… she is just precious, y’all… and now she is just scraping anything she can together to repair her home.   A Facebook friend suggested that I accept donations for her family thru the blog and as uncomfortable as it makes me feel to do this, I will do it anyway since I want to help her so badly.  A little bit goes A LONG WAY in their country so even just $5 would make a huge difference. No pressure at all, I am not the type of person to keep tally of who has or has not donated so please, please don’t feel obligated.   If you can’t or just rather not, please just send prayers her way… However, if you really want to donate something, click the donate button on the top left side of the blog.  Thanks so much!

UPDATE: Espy and her husband were able to take a loan out so she could begin repair immediately.  Her mother and children are staying in a local church until the house is fixed (which is estimated to be complete within the week).  She is able to get this done so quickly because her former employer in the Philippines has a crew that she put on Espy’s  house as well as donated bags of concrete… which says a lot for Espy and how much her employers love her even after all these years passed they are still willing to go above and beyond to help her out.  God heard our prayers and is embracing sweet Espy in this very difficult situation.  The money donated will go directly to repay the loan.