Dear YCS leaders, members, animators, chaplains and friends,

Peace and joy!

We hope that this mail finds you in good health. As for us, we are safe in our IYCS Avocado house.

Thanks be to God that we were not badly affected by the typhoon Ondoy.

The typhoon Ondoy that hit Philippines took many lives and properties. As of September 26, 2009, over-100-killed-and-almost-340000-affected-by-ondoy over 150 were killed and 340,000 are affected by the typhoon. 410mm of rain fell over Northern Luzon, Philippines on September 25, 2009,
leaving much of the country's capital and the surrounding regions submerged in water, reaching up to nine feet in some areas. This amount has been the highest recorded amount of rainfall since the country's weather Bureau started recording rainfall levels in 1967, and exceeds the rainfall level of
Hurricane Katrina (380mm).  Two more tropical depressions could be under way in the midst of Ondoy's wake. As of now, there are still families stranded on the rooftops of their homes without food and potable water. Most relief aid is coming from volunteers.

It is in times like this that we are reminded of our being YCSers and we should do some concrete actions to be in solidarity with our fellow men.

With this, we request you to spend some moments of silence to pray for the victims who died, the families left behind, those who lost their houses and
properties and have nowhere to go, those who have nothing to clothe themselves. Let us light a candle for them.

Secondly, as of the moment, the IYCS Asian office is undertaking an initiative to collect funds, clothes, goods and the like to be personally
handed to these victims in the relief centers. If you want to give donations, you may send to us through Western Union Money Transfer, which is
the fastest way to send money or through our bank account (which maybe delayed):

Bank: CITIBANK
Account Name: IYCS Asia INC.
Account Number: 8541004131.

Please feel free to communicate to us for questions and clarifications.

We count on your prayers and help in this time of crisis.

In Him,
Ha, Reyna, Bonny, Deepak, Fr. Chrispin and Fr. James
The IYCS Asian Team