Templo Nga Mga Mata: December 2014

I'm sure all of you are aware that the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Hagupit (named Ruby in the Philippines) making landfall in Samar on December 6, 2014. Cebu was in the potential storm path so residents here were put on high alert along with much of the Philippines. On November 8, 2013, one week before we arrived in the Philippines last year, Typhoon Hiayan (Yolanda), hit Tacloban and other areas causing over 7,000 deaths and destruction that some areas still have not recovered from. Yolanda was one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded that made landfall so everyone still had the memory of how destructive that storm was so were very concerned about being in the path of Hagupit. The government took a very preventative outlook with this Typhoon and residents in potential threatened areas were placed under forced evacuations instead of just given warnings.

As always the church was very involved in helping members and non members before and after the storm. In Cebu schools were closed as the typhoon got closer and residents in high hazard areas were instructed to head for safer areas. The edge of the typhoon was forecast to hit Cebu on Saturday evening December 6, 2014 so the temple was only open for two sessions in the morning and ordinance workers who lived very far from the temple were told to not come in. Two baptism groups were in patron housing earlier in the week and the boats that they were to return home on were cancelled so they were stranded at the temple complex. The two temple sessions held were mainly members in these groups. The one group was from the Tacloban area which received the major damage from Yolanda last year so they were very concerned about family who were home.

The church was opened up to members who felt unsafe in their homes to come and stay till the typhoon was past and some members came as early as Thursday. Getting ready for the storm included putting together food bags to be sent to those in need after the storm. The Cebu Stake Center became a flurry of activity on Friday afternoon putting together over 3,000 meals in just a few hours. We had the chance to help so have included pictures of the preparations. On Sunday Dec 7, 2014 regular church meetings were cancelled, the young missionaries were told to stay in their apartments and only a sacrament meeting was held at the stake center, mainly for those who were stranded here and the temple missionaries. It was fast Sunday and we had a wonderful testimony meeting hearing from some who had gone through Yolanda last year and had family in the path of Hagupit now. After Sacrament Meeting the men loaded a truck with the bags of meals ready to be shipped where needed. The meals that were prepared were sent to Samar which was hit the hardest by Hagupit. The Typhoon moved North of Cebu so we received not much more wind or rain than a typical storm and felt blessed with being safe and also being able to provide food for those who were not so fortunate.

This information is from the Church News:

All missionaries and members are safe after Typhooon Ruby (Hagupit) struck the Philippines Dec. 6.
The Red Cross reported 25 deaths and nearly 500 injuries as a result of the storm, which destroyed 16,500 houses and damaged another 33,100 in northern Visayas and Luzon.

A million people — including the Church’s missionaries — were evacuated from the areas. Most missionaries have returned to their assigned areas, according to a Church welfare report.
During the storm, 78 Church facilities were used as evacuation centers, shelter more than 10,000 members and others.

A church class room becomes the place where bags of rice are put to begin the process of putting meals together. A great lesson in serving is being taught by hands on experience.

Rice is put into meal size bags.

The meal size rice bags are then taken into the cultural hall to be added to bags with other items. This little girl was helping and could not lift the rice bags so she would slide the chair from the class room to the cultural hall.

In the cultural hall two lines of tables were set up to expedite the process.

These girls are separating bags from the church that will hold the meals.

Cans of Corned Beef to put in the bags.

You are never to young to give service.

A completed meal bag containing rice, noodles, canned sardines and corned beef.

After the meals are put together the bags are tied so the ingredients don't fall out. Here Sister Henthorn, Sister Sorensen and Bishop Manesses of the Kamputaw Ward tie the bags then put them on the stage where you can see men putting the meals in large sacks.