Pastor Roy Rocha’s ministry at Novaliches, in Manila, like most of the ministries throughout Asia that we are in contact with, is suffering because of the effects of COVID-19.
In a recent communication, he said…
“COVID cases just in our own barangay/village were 34 but was reduced to 9 last week because some have recovered and 5 have died. But just this week it is now at 24 active Covid cases, which includes 1 family within our street and another family just 3 houses from us but at the back side of our house. It is becoming difficult for us to move around.”
He went on to say…
“For over 5 months now we have not gathered for church services due to this current global pandemic. But we have livestream for Sunday services which is held inside our house. We also have weeknights church devotions at 8pm to 9pm. And because we don’t have corporate worship the giving of offerings is almost zero due also to the no work-no pay situation for most of the church members.
With that, financially I am affected, in fact for 2 Sundays now that I have not received honorarium/love gifts. And bills are filling up.”
He continued…
“My eldest son’s application as an IT {worker} for the army is pending. My daughter, who used to work as a sales associate, resigned from work last April because I asked her to resign after knowing that her officemate tested positive with Covid. I have had my daughter tested but thankfully the result was negative. Both of my kids are looking for jobs and tried to apply online but it seems work is not available due to the effect of this pandemic.
May you all continue to pray for us.” (emphasis mine)
On the positive side of life for the family, they were able to move into the new house which we assisted them to purchase before both the lockdown because of Covid-19 and before the typhoon season began in June, even though there was still a substantial amount of work to be done on the new house. The old house, where they had lived for many years has already been flooded on two occasions already this year and the typhoon season is not over yet!! Please thank the Lord that they have not had to clean up after flooding and that their new home is well out of the area which is regularly flooded by the typhoons.
Because of generous donations from New Zealand work has continued on renovating the building, first to ensure easy access for Roy’s wife Llerma who cannot walk without crutches and uses an electric tricycle to travel outside the home, and then to add a second storey which includes bedrooms for their three children. The second floor has a roof-deck where Roy plants vegetables.
Roy recently wrote…
“As of today, I can say it is 95 per cent done except for little pieces of work… basically the house only needs paint and little finishings, but it is well developed and very livable and comfortable.
From the deepest of our heart, we are very much thankful for all of your help, prayers, and love. To God be all the glory! Llerma and I as we look and talk about the house during bed-time, our hearts are filled with gratitude and amazement of how good is our God to us. We never imagined that in our lifetime we can have a house like what we have now. All we know is just to serve the Lord the best way we could, being all-out in the ministry and never retreated from many challenges that came our way. So thankful for what the Lord has given us.
So, once again thank you to all of you who prayed, shared, and blessed my family with this house.”
