Survivors urged to keep their faith in God

“KEEP going and never allow an ugly past to affect your faith.”

Fr. Martin Tobin, C.Ss.R., made this appeal to survivors of typhoon Yolanda during a thanksgiving Mass for survivors at the Redemptorist Church in Cebu City last Friday.

“There are those who say, ‘I won’t go to Mass anymore after what happened.’ But don’t give up hope in our God. Don’t give in to despair. Our God is a God of love. A God who cares,” Fr. Tobin said.

Tobin encouraged the survivors to put their trust in the Lord.

“Last November 8, hell broke loose in the coming of Yolanda. So many were killed and destruction came in various forms. But we’re here to give thanks to God for sparing your life. God will inspire you and give you hope for the future,” he said.

Survivor’s second life

Shirley Nebrija said she thought it was the end for her and her family when Yolanda hit Tacloban City last Nov. 8.

Nebrija’s house in barangay San Jose was destroyed but she said she was grateful that she and her family survived.

“This is our second life. Had we not evacuated, we would probably be dead now. We’re grateful to God for sparing our lives,” said Nebrija, a government employee with three children.

Last Nov. 12, Nebrija and her family arrived in Cebu City where they intend to stay for the next two to three months while Tacloban City tries to recover from the devastation. /Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol