Yes, the US Has Hurricanes, but….
In the Philippines, hurricanes are called Typhoons. Since the 1970s, there have been over 63 hurricanes in the US. These hurricanes generally make landfall in Florida, Texas, Louisiana, or in the Carolinas with occasional hurricanes making landfall in states in the upper east coast areas of the US.
As you may know, hurricanes are tropical depressions that form in the Atlantic Ocean while these same type of tropical depressions that form in the Pacific Ocean are call typhoons. Both are equally destructive. One of the biggest difference is that the Philippines has an average of 20 typhoons per year. In fact, in the last three weeks there have been two significant sized typhoons making land fall in the Philippines causing massive destruction.
Filipino are the most resilient people on the planet. After a typhoon, they simply pick themselves up and move on with an attitude that tomorrow will be a better day. Sadly, when it comes to typhoons, tomorrow is not necessarily a better day because the ability to rebuild is not as robust as it is in the US. Few have flood insurance for these types of eventualities.
Mission Leader Typhoon Stories
In a recent oral history interview with the mission leaders in the PhilippinesTacloban Mission, we gained a deeper understanding of some of the challenges mission leaders often face. President and Sister Andaya are a native Filipino couple that were called to serve as mission leaders. Their four children accompanied them on their mission to Tacloban which is located in the central part of the Philippines.
In 2013, near the end of their mission in Tacloban, Super Typhoon Yolanda (a category 5 typhoon is classified as a super typhoon), which turned out to be one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded in the Philippines, with winds of nearly 160 mph, made landfall in the Tacloban mission. Yolanda devastated large portions of the Philippines killing at least 6,300 people and leaving in its wake wide areas of devastation.
Satellite Image of Super Typhoon Yolanda as it made landfall near Tabloban City
President and Sister Andaya were away from the mission home that was located in Tacloban City when Yolanda made landfall. The Filipino house helper that was entrusted to help care for their children abandoned the children leaving mission home at the height of the storm. Fortunately, the Andaya’s were able to get back to the mission home and found their sixteen year old daughter had stepped in and was managing the situation with a maturity beyond her age. After Yolanda has subsided, the weight of the responsibility for the safety of the 204 missionaries serving in the mission settled in. This was a heavy burden especially when there was no ability to communicate and decisions were made based on inspiration vs. conventional logic.
The Andaya’s shared a number of miraculous stories they had while serving their mission and specifically the experiences they had during Yolanda. One story in particular stood out to me was about two young sister missionaries who had only been in the Philippines for less than a month. They didn’t know Tacloban City at all and they had no idea where the mission home was located. When Yolanda made landfall in Tacloban City, they were miles away from their apartment and were completely lost because all of the buses and Jeepneys they normally used to get to and from their apartment had stopped running. They were stranded with little idea on where to go, what direction they should walk, how far their apartment was, or in what direction the mission home was.
They prayed for guidance on what to do. As they ended their prayer, a light (they described as a spotlight in the sky) appeared on the horizon. They felt they should walk toward the light. As they did, the light continually moved ahead of them. After several hours of walking, the light stopped. They continued to walk toward the light and when they rounded a corner they saw the mission home. After they got to the mission home, the light simply disappeared.
As a parent, I had a deep emotional reaction to this story because I could envision our three daughters, who all served missions, being in this type of situation. As I reflected on this story of these two sister missionaries, my heart was full of gratitude for the Lord’s intervention in situations like this confirming for me that He personally watches over missionaries all over the world.
Another insight that was shared with us, is when President Andaya told us that two weeks before Super Typhoon Yolanda, he had the unmistakable impression that he needed to immediately have all of the missionary companionships to purchase rope and add it to their Go-Bags. Ropes was something that had not previously been thought of or discussed to be in Go-Bags. Just before Yolanda made landfall all of the missionaries had purchased ropes and put these ropes in their Go-Bags.
The rope turned out to be a life saver (figuratively and literally) because as Yolando began its destructive path, with rivers overflowing and flooding entire regions, and wind knocking out all communication towers, because the missionaries had rope they were able to pull themselves, their companions, and others on to rooftops. He also shared that missionaries we able to use the ropes to tie mattresses together putting mattresses in front of the windows of their apartment/houses to block debris that had become missiles driven by the 160 mph winds from allowing the debris to enter into the missionary’s apartments/homes.
The moral of the story: Living righteously enough enables mission leaders to hear the whisperings of the spirit becoming an invaluable tool to guide a mission. These mission leaders shared a number of other stories where they relied on the guidance of the Holy Ghost that we don’t have the time to share.
Of the 204 missionaries, that were scattered throughout the mission, none were serious injured and all were safe. The devastation caused by Yolanda forced the mission to close for nearly three months before the missionaries, who had been re-assigned in other parts of the Philippines, could return to their mission and continue serving. Stories like this that have been shared with us were not uncommon. The stories we hear during oral history interviews with mission leaders, always inspired me. I love what we do.
A Trip to the Rice Terraces in Batad, Philippines
A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to be in northern Luzon (the largest of the Philippines islands) and while there visit the centuries old rice terraces in an area of Batad.
A Night in Baguio
On the way to the rice terraces, we stayed in the city of Baguio. The uniqueness of Baguio is the elevation – over 4800 ft which makes the climate very moderate and a vacation designation of local Filipinos for holiday and summer vacations. The average temperature is 15-20 degrees lower than in Manila near where we live in Quezon City and the humidity is much lower as well.
The Baguio Night Market
In talking to local Filipinos that live in Baguio, they mentioned to us about the Night Market held daily from 9:00 pm to 3:00 am. We thought that sounded fun so off we went via a Grab car (the Uber of the Philippines) to visit the market. We decided not to drive because there would likely be little parking – which we may or may not be able to find. It was a good decision.
At precisely 9:00 pm, the tents were erected on the streets and with in minutes the market was open for business. We spent nearly two hours walking the market and purchased a t-shirt and wallet for a fraction of what it would cost in Quezon City near where we live.
Notice my jacket and Marcia’s long-sleeved blouse we wore to the night market – it was actually chilly – a first for us in the Philippines. This is the FIRST time I’ve wore a jacket.
The view from how hotel window in Baguio before turning in for the night.
A view from our hotel on the second morning on our way to the rice terraces
The Rice Terraces of Batad are one of the few monuments in the Philippines that show no evidence of having been influenced by colonial cultures. Owing to the difficult terrain, the tribes in this area are among the few peoples of the Philippines who have successfully resisted any foreign domination and have preserved their authentic Filipino culture. The history of the terraces is intertwined with that of its people, their culture, and their traditional practices.
The rice terraces we visited are nearly two thousand years old and title to these terraces are handed down by families from generation to generation. The innkeeper’s family where we stayed owned a small section of a terrace. The rice grown here is not sold but used to feed the families and community living in the area.
This is the view from the window of the Countryside Inn where we stayed while visiting the rice terraces.
My guide for the hike down to the rice terraces – a strenuous hike that just about did me in.
Saying goodbye to our hostess, the innkeeper, before leaving the rice terraces. She has lived her entire life in this area along with her parents and grandparents.
Marcia with a bag of harvested rice from the rice terraces at the Inn where we stayed.
On Our Way Back to Quezon City
Marcia standing next to our car and a Jeepney and motorcyle trikes (the main modes of transportation in the Philippines) in the background.
The Tail End of Our Stay in the Philippines
We have been in the Philippines for over twenty months. Our mission is scheduled to end in late February 2025. There are three things that I have learned while serving here. One, the Lord is intimately involved in the day-to-day aspects of His work. There are just too many stories we have documented that confirms this fact.
Next, that the Filipino people are special people. Decades ago President Hinckley commented that the Philippines would serve as the gateway for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be taught throughout Asia. This somewhat prophetic statement is happening now and will continue to be fulfilled in the future. Filipinos are ready and willing to serve when and where asked.
Finally, that we have grown as a couple. I’ve always said that one of the best decision I ever made was to ask Marcia to be my wife. This experience has been one of the highlights of our lives together.
Until next time…..
Scripture of the Day: Ether 12:27: Then will I make weak things strong unto them.
Thought of the Day: Put the first commandment first.