UPDATE - Thursday 10:30 a.m. EST

We've heard back from all of our teams last night and this morning and confirmed that all are in safe areas for handling the landfall of now typhoon Mitag.  The places where they are staying are not prone to flooding or mud slides, and none are under the government evacuation orders.  Heavy rains and winds are to be expected across all of the Philippines this weekend as the storm makes landfall, but our ministry partners have assured us that we are in good locations.  The locals are taking this in stride, saying there's nothing to worry about.

The storm has continued to gain strength with winds of 70mph, and as of 4.00am on Thursday (20H00 GMT on Wednesday) Mitag was charted 390 miles east of the eastern island of Catanduanes, moving west at 9.3 miles per hour.  Mitag is expected to be just 190 miles off Catanduanes by Saturday and is expected to make landfall at the main Philippine island of Luzon by Sunday morning.

Please continue to keep the World Racers and the people of the Philippines in your prayers.   Pray for opportunities in the aftermath of the storm to share the love of Christ by providing relief to the wonderful people of this country.

God bless you all this Thanksgiving!

Jerry

P.S.  All of the racers that I've spoken with have had a great Thanksgiving there on the other side of the world!

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We are monitoring Tropical Storm Mitag as it continues to track toward the Philippines.  It is expected to make landfall within the next 2 to 3 days.  There has been an evacuation order for about 200,000 people in the Eastern Philippines.   Mitag was gaining strength with winds of up to 85 kilometres (53 miles) an hour and was on course to hit the Bicol peninsula southeast of Manila on Friday, weather forecasters said.

We are contacting the World Race teams that are currently in the Philippines to ensure that appropriate precautions are being taken.  At this time their locations are in what we believe to be relatively safe areas on the western side of the islands.

Please keep them in your prayers.  We will keep you updated as we contact the racers and their host ministry partners.

Jerry