Misty's 2022 part 2

2nd Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) "We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

On December 14, 2021, a category-5 typhoon hit the Visayas and Mindanao regions of the Philippines. It cut across a path through the region of Mindanao (see the map above). The cost of damages Typhoon Odette left has now reached 10 billion – on the agricultural sector alone. The death toll has reached 410, not to mention the untold trauma it has triggered in the lives of many. Some communities were cut off by the storm and recovery efforts will be ongoing. 

As a result of the typhoon, ICM (International Care Ministry) has formed a partnership with the American Bible Society and the Bible Society of the Phillippines to implement the Trauma Healing curriculum as part of its Recover program intervention in the coming months to those communities impacted by the typhoon. The typhoon hit a section where most of ICM’s field staff and beneficiaries live. Particular areas where trauma healing will occur (again see the map) are Cebu, Butuan, Tacloban, Bacolod, and Dumaguete.ICM has been working with the ultra-poor since 1992 implementing a holistic model as well as focusing on the right training, resources, and support to unlock the bondage of poverty. They want to implement Trauma Healing as they recognize that trauma affects every part of a person: mind, body and spirit. Through Trauma Healing and Recover, ICM will assess the needs of badly affected communities who may have lost churches, homes, savings and livelihood then provide a 6-week program to enable them to process what happened and begin to re-establish themselves.
My role in this will be helping with all of the training as well as serving as the consultant regarding the Trauma Healing program model for the next few months. Sharon and I will be serving as lead facilitators and coaches for the first training, which will occur online. That group of 25 will then facilitate healing groups in their different areas. They will then continue to their Advanced Training, which will occur face to face in the Philippines. I will also have the opportunity to visit some of the base camps where the healing groups will be occurring while Sarah (the project manager) and I are there.

When I left Zimbabwe in 2014, I worked for a year and a half as a crisis care consultant and volunteer coordinator with IDES (International Disaster Emergency Service). I left IDES to become the Executive Director of Ministry Care, which we are now entering into our 6th year. It never ceases to amaze me to see how God can bring some passions together. Though I am sorry for the devastation in the Philippines as a result of the typhoon, I am excited about the possibilities of what the Lord will do through this as a result of Trauma Healing and other plans from ICM. By the end of this year, it is possible that 20,000 people in these areas will have experienced a healing group. Please be praying as this has a tremendous possibility for impact so it also has the possibility for spiritual warfare. I cannot wait to share next month what the Lord does through this!

In the meantime, Ministry Care is still planning other things moving forward. For example, I will be in Memphis to lead a Global Outreach Training and to be a co-debriefer at the end of the month. And conversations are continuing about Trauma Healing in Zimbabwe. Could 2022 be the year for that? We are continuing to commit plans before the Lord and asking Him to direct the steps. 

Specific prayer requests for the plans in the Phillippines:

• a trauma healing initiative that will start online February 20th and lead to 3 weeks in the Philippines in March leading Trauma Healing Training in areas impacted by December's typhoon 
• this is a robust and intense training program over the next 6 weeks; the implications of these initial training can have ripple effects in months and years to come. Please pray for the facilitators to be trained (who are local in these areas, by the way, meaning they have also been impacted by the typhoon) as they deal with their own trauma and also be a light and leader in their communities as groups are being facilitated 
• the goal is to have 4 translations finished by May as another phase of the project begins. This includes the translation of one of the primary languages, Tagalog, as well as 3 area languages.
• pray for those locations mentioned above and even other areas through that region whose lives have been impacted by the typhoon
• possibilities for huge impact with the possibility of 20,000+ people in those areas devastated by the typhoon participating in a healing group
• energy and stamina
• safe travels for Sarah and I over the next month when we are in the Philippines in person
• good internet connection for our online training 
• peace for my family as I travel and continued comfort during our time of loss

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and love,

Misty

Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner of Misty Bodkins in 2022? There are 2 ways you may donate to Misty at Ministry Care. You can make checks payable to “Ministry Care” and send them to:
 
Ministry Care
14934 Pacer Ct.
Carmel, IN 46032
 
Or you can also make an online donation, using Givelify, on our website at www.ministrycareinternational.org
 
Ministry Care is a 501c3 therefore your donation will be tax-deductible.
 
If you have any questions feel free to email us at [email protected]!

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