Isa’s Story

I’m Isa from Leyte. We praise God for how He protected us. Our experience was so really terrible! I can’t really explain all the details, but at first we praise God for giving us this kind of parsonage [where we live].  Many houses were destroyed, but this house was preserved by God.

We woke up early at 5 am, because we expected there was a typhoon, so we ate our breakfast at 5. At 6 it started to have a strong, hard wind. Then we decided to go upstairs because we knew we were safe there; because down here the windows, though they were closed, we could still feel strong hit of the wind. So we went up. From 7 am till 1 in the afternoon was the time that typhoon Yolanda hit Leyte. By 8 am we didn’t have a roof anymore; it was blown off.

Then we decided to go down because the upper [part of the house] was not safe. We were praying that God would not allow this area (on the lower level) to be open also. Because if this area would have become open, there would have been no more safe area to stay in. We decided our last option was to be in the C.R. (C.R. = Comfort Room / Bathroom). As you can see we have a small C.R., not big enough to accommodate all of us; we are 8. Out of 8, we had my 4 year old nephew and a 7 month old.

It was hard because we didn’t know what will happen. But still we just wanted to show [our faith] to our neighbors.  Though we didn’t know if they could hear us during the time of the typhoon, we just sang. We brought one of our hymnals and then we sang in the C.R. We just closed the door. I jokingly said to my mother, “You’re supposed to be the alto, but you hit the high notes; you are a soprano!” She said, “I want to praise God even in this kind of situation.” For the first time we could finish all those songs [in the hymnbook]. We sang songs again and again and again until we heard the wind was getting slower and slower; and then it was done.

We praise God because there was no flood water here in our house. We think that if there was water, I’m sure, we are sure, that it would be our last [day on earth]. [The force of the water] might lock us up inside [the C.R.]. There are only two things that could happen if the water would have come inside our house: it would lock the door or it would open [the door]. But still God showed His power; God showed His protection and His goodness. With this kind of experience, I believe, I personally believe, that out of the bad things that happen, God will make something good of them.

In this kind of situation, many people will come to think about God. Many people, especially me, are realizing how wonderful the creation of God is, especially at night. We don’t have lights right now. So every night before we had that tarp… we just put it there yesterday because it’s also one of the benefits that relief has given to us… so every night if there was a star, we always had our star gazing. Yes, and we thank God; oh how we appreciate stars! Yes, really… how God is good every night. When I hear the rooster crow, I thank God for another day, another chance to live and to serve Him again.

I know that one reason God has allowed this to happen is to exercise my personal prayer life. Some people say that many other people may try to rob our house. We don’t know if that’s true, but it’s just something that we should be aware of. So every night when we wake up, [we make] another time to talk to God and to ask for His protection again. I said, “Lord as You protected us from Typhoon Yolanda, we believe You will also protect us from people whose hearts are not good.”

We always claim His promises that He will not leave His people, and we praise God for His goodness!

(Isa Boco, as told to Jim Latzko.  Video by Ariel Ubben)

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Romeo Boco, Isa’s Father, pastors New Life Baptist Church of Alang Alang.  They continue to live in Alang Alang and give loving service to the people of the town.