A Night the Water Changed Everything

By Ianpassion 

Flooding in Manang, Satun, Thailand 2025

It was around four in the morning when our dog would not stop barking. His bark was loud, urgent, and relentless. 

At first, I thought there must be a big snake nearby. Living in southern Thailand, that would not have been unusual. What made it more confusing was that there had been no heavy rain that night. Still half asleep and slightly annoyed, I got up to check on him, unaware that his warning was about something far more serious.

When I opened the back door, the shock hit me immediately. The water was already up to my knees, silently surrounding our home. In that moment, sleep disappeared. Fear and clarity came at the same time. We realized the flood had already arrived, but we were also thankful, we still had time. Those early minutes allowed us to move important belongings from the garage and barn and prepare ourselves for what was coming.

As the days unfolded, I began to see the disaster in three clear phases:

• Phase 1: During the flood — Fear was high and survival was the priority. People needed immediate rescue, food, and basic necessities as homes and roads were swallowed by rising water.

• Phase 2: After the flood (aftermath) — When the water receded, thick mud covered houses and belongings. For more than two weeks, together with friends and volunteers, we cleaned homes, pumped out water, disinfected rooms, and helped families reclaim their living spaces.

• Phase 3: Restoration — Families who had lost almost everything needed bedding, kitchenware, and essential household items to begin rebuilding their lives with dignity.

Through all three phases, I was reminded that The Father Almighty was with us, Immanuel. By the morning after that first night, roads had disappeared and familiar places in our community looked like a brown ocean. As the water slowly went down, I tried to help where I could, using my old pickup truck to move people, deliver food, and reach areas that had been cut off. 

In the middle of fear and exhaustion, I witnessed neighbors helping neighbors, choosing compassion over fear. From a barking dog that warned us in time, to muddy hands that refused to quit, to a community that chose hope instead of giving up, I saw the Father Almighty walking with us every step of the way.

He is with Us, the Immanuel in this Season. Merry Christmas to you and family.