TYPHOON HAIYAN commonly known as TYPHOON YOLANDA

          4:00 A.M . I woke up because of the wind outside our window , i can hear the wind's whistle . I slept back since it was too early to wake up. We waited in bed until 6:30 A.M . Me and my companion decided to do the daily Exercise . Sister Laureano open the door and I ask her why is she opening the door since it is really windy!  she just said i just like seeing the trees dancing and it is our first time to experience this kind of typhoon. After 30 minutes we started to hear the wind blowing so hard . The water is rising up and came in into our apartment . Both of us started to go to second floor took shirts and pants for extra's . We converse on how we could go to the mission office to be more safe . We thought everything was okay. We bravely come out from our terrace and check out our neighbors but we saw how this typhoon damage the whole city. At the side of our apartment there is a family who were trying to get out of their house, It was the time when me and my companion were very worried . They were trying to save their lives. it was hard for them to find refuge since the next house has a barb wires walls . We tried to wrap our extra foods and gave it to them. We even tie it using our bed sheets but to no avail since the wind is so strong. While waiting for the wind we knew that some parts of our roof are already torn off. Since we already saw water coming in through our Ceiling , can even see it shaking due to the strong wind. We decided to kneel down and Pray many many times . We ask the Lord to protect us and other missionaries and the people . We prayed that he will protect and keep the strong foundation of our apartment since we can feel that it is shaking. After that prayer we never felt our apartment was shaking , we knew the Lord have his Hands protecting us. We sang songs like "Master the Tempest is Raging"  "Come, come Ye Saint's" . While singing this songs we were comforted. We then prayed again and ask for his Guidance on what we will do. After that prayer we decided to check the door if we can get through and go to the mission home .Sister Laureano volunteered to go to the door and open it. She kick the door! there we saw two Single Adult men who were looking for us and help us get to the mission home. Answered prayer indeed. We reach the mission home safe and sound.
          Sister Missionaries came by the help of the Elder's and President Andaya. All of us were very tired and was still in instilling process on what will happen to tacloban next. What will happen to us? What will happen to the people . The night came . It seems like a dead city , you can only hear dogs barking who were left by the owners, no electricity , no water. Silence was there. We slept at the wet bed and some sisters slept at the couch sitting. It was a day of us still wondering what will happen next.  But yet each of us Stayed strong for that day, Tired but yet we have it in our minds that we were there because He know's we can do it .

Our Mission Office and Mission Van's

Took by Elder Daffon - Mission Home a few meter's away is our apartment

We reach the Mission Home! 

Our Apartment

The Mission Home's look after Yolanda 

Strength and Miracle have been Given by The Lord

        6:30 am . We were just at the mission home. President Andaya and office Elders Parson , Nath and Elder Johnson was not here. They were busy going to to city hall back and forth to communicate the Area. When they got back they gather us and President Andaya explained what was going through and ask us if it is okey we missionaries can help packing the goods. Indeed we all said yes and willing to walk for 1 hour to the city hall to help . All that we have in mind at that time was We Are "CALLED TO SERVE" . We reach the City Hall and was instructed to pack the goods.  We finish it @ 5:00 p.m together with the second batch of goods that came . As we walk home we were gathered by President Andaya and gave us further instructions . While we were walking back home we usually sing a song to entertain ourselves. We can see people sitting looking at their loved ones who are lined up and is dead. I remember taking only biscuit and water for that day but indeed as we go through we can see the hands of the Lord providing us the strength to do his work and help others do the Lord's work in Tacloban. It was once in a lifetime experience that I am blessed and had help me to more mature enough to do the Work. This work is true. Our faith , Trust and Patience was tested.

Ms. Jinky Soliman (DSWD Secretary )

Sister Malietoa and Me!

SMILE! 

A Long walk.... :D

Distributing Goods - 3rd Day

            We waited and wake up @ 6:30 am and did our sacrament meeting , we started partaking the sacrament by biscuits and mineral water using a big cup , we just sip it and ended the sacrament meeting we then went to the city hall , walk from Mission home to city hall for approximately one hour . Then we waited there for instructions and we saw some people arguing because  they were asking when to give the goods , You can definitely feel that they are hungry already. 12:00 nn we were ask to serve by distributing goods since we can be recognize because we wore yellow vest .The Elders were ask to fall in line there were hundreds of people taking a line to each of these Elders . Afterwards the sister's were ask to do the same . We give the goods after the instruction was given . I have learned even in the look in their eyes on what have they been through , as they receive those goods you can hear some of them saying "thank you" or "sister/elder can i have the rice instead " . Some of them have really serious wounds ,  The soldiers were there too . It's hot, and we were sweating but after all of those experiences for that day it was fulfilling seeing them smile .
             We know as missionaries we might not help them ease their burden but by this little service we had made a difference that there is "HOPE" . We met President Noynoy Aquino (Philippines President) after that service and Mrs. Jinky Soliman (Secretary of DSWD) who were with us and gave instruction on how we could help. We seem to see ourselves like in an action movie or a rescuer haha! . After that we packed rice for the Casualties . We then received 4 boxes of water from an Army who gave us a ride home. It was a day were all of us felt how grateful we are to be alive , we then realize how Biscuits , Water and even the small things that we had where we sometimes took for granted . We definitely realize how important these things are into our lives. That even one biscuit at that time made us feel like it was the most delicious food we had . The Lord is mindful of us , each of his children and He will never leave us unaided .

Distributing goods for Taclobanon

The Soldiers are there too...

With Ms. Jinky Soliman (DSWD Secretary)

Packing Rice for Casualties

Singing a song was our entertainment " Called to serve" or Primary songs
while packing the Rice

Waiting for the Army Vehicle who will give us a ride home

President Andaya :) and Missionaries Distributing the Goods

I know "hope" is still there - We can do it! Shot taken by
my co - STL Companion Sister Laureano

November 12, 2013 - Leaving Tacloban after Typhoon Yolanda

Nov. 12 , 2013

         4:00 am we wake up early and prepare ourselves for the flight for Manila. It was raining , very dark, wee are at the back of the car . Crying seeing the houses destroyed , broken and Abandon . You can also smell the dead people who were not yet found by the rescuer's . Then we got into the airport who were full of people and seems like people who are there were waiting since 12 midnight or earlier to wait and get the plain tickets for manila. We were standing there and just waiting for our expected flight. 9:00 am the plane informant said we cannot ride the plane to fly by 9:00 am since we don't have proof that we bought tickets from them . We don't have any papers to prove to them that the Church paid the fare because The Area bought it for us. We were tired and can't even stand for a longer period we find places where we could sit. Water's and sky flakes were our sustainable food at that time. Luckily the missionaries have seen this guy with a US Marine uniform and talk to them. The missionaries explained why we were waiting . One amazing thing that had happen was when the Guy said " I don't know why i was sent here and to be walking here at the airport specifically in the waiting area since I should be at the plane craft and assisting my men. But it seems like i now figure it out why! I can help you ride on the US C130 Plane and help you get there in Manila. So we did. All of us TACLOBAN, TOLOSA and CARIGARA zones were able to reach Manila. Drop at the US Marine office. Called our family immediately and it was like we were in a new place since we could see buildings, lights, water...etc. heheh . We waited then for the bus to arrive and a few minutes after we can see the temple and the MTC Place. We were greeted by the Area Elder Nielson and his wife Sister Nielson, Sister Ardern and some ERC Staff's , photographers at the MTC. All of them were happy and some of them even cried seeing us safe and sound. I was greatly blessed to witness a great miracle the Lord has ever been providing his children here on earth . Headed through the Gym for a welcome remarks from Elder Nielson. We have cried so many times but yet ever been grateful for being Alive and continuing helping toward Building the Lord's Kingdom.

While waiting for the Plane Ride 

The greeting moment at the MTC! 

The Young Captain who help us get to Manila ! with
President Jose Andaya our Second Dad in the Mission. 

Sister Laureano and Me! My CO-STL while waiting for the next plane 

The Bus Ride after Reaching the US Airforce Area...Heading to MTC...

The C130 Air force  that help us get through to Manila!

My Next Assignment!

I receive  a call from our Zone Leaders and was ask to travel the next day to Tacloban as a Center point. When I reach Tacloban . I drop at the Robinson's mall and was hoping to get a ride down to Burgos Chapel but unfortunately no one would stop . A guy came in with his "Potpot" and told me that he would drop me to Burgos . So I traveled with the "potpot" about 20-30 min. haha! What an experience! I reach the Chapel and Saw the New Zone Leaders with Sister Laureano. They were so excited to see me and even Handed me the opened Transfer letter . When I got it I had no words to say but in still Shock for the new assignment. I was quite nervous because I know The Lord expects my hard work and example in this kind of assignment. I'm blessed to have Sister Laureano , she taught me how to be a Good Sister's Training Leader, Exchanges and Training this lovely sister's is a divine role. It has blessed me Spiritually and learned that he knows my capability and capacity. Despite of my weaknesses He has showed me How he Trust me this sacred calling. This Assignment has bless my life. Indeed I had doubts and even questioned "why me?" . As President Andaya Said: " The Lord knows you, He knows you can do it , And you are Foreordained in this calling.Your name is Floating in the air while I was praying and asking whom I am going to call for this new assignments. " And I am grateful for that experience!

Here is the sneak peek of STL Tacloban :

Me and Sister Lindsay - Alang-Alang Area 

First Day as a Sister's Training Leader

Sister Mier and Me @ Cabucgayan Exchanges

The Sister's Training Leader's Of Philippines Tacloban Mission
consist of Ormoc,Catarman & Tacloban Area's 

Our Schedule's of Exchanges & Apartment Checks

The Sister's that we handle as Sister Training Leader.

My CO- SISTER TRAINING LEADER Companion! Sister Laureano

My Certificate

The look when we do travel's :D

Biliran Sister's! Sister Nunez,Sister Estes
 Sister Robinson , Sister Pike

Sister Estes and Me @ Naval Area Exhanges

Sister Smith and Me - San Jose Area

My Tanauan Companions

• Sister Lupe Lauano - She's my 3rd and Senior Companion Hawaiian, a very happy person . When I work with her I appreciated how life in the mission is , She taught me how be "ME" there were no days that we were not smiling. Here she is! 

Sister Lauano and Me - Before heading to church 

• Sister Rebekah Robinson  - I just love her , she is my best friend in the mission , We were Zone mates before and they usually slept over in our apartment in Balaquid and we do P-day's together in our first area's since Cabucgayan is 30 min. away from our area . We were trainee at those times and we had a chance to be companions for 1 cycle in Tanauan both our second area's. But this 1 cycle has left a lot of smiles on our faces. We learned a lot . We struggled a lot in terms of work and our own realizations . We had great experiences together . She showed me how to be grateful in all things. She showed me what really matter's when you serve the Lord. And Enjoying the work that The Lord has entrusted into our hands with a big big laughs, smiles when walking down the streets and teaching our Investigators and Less Active Members and Finding is a special one! She is my totally ever Eternal Best Friend! 

Sister Robinson and Me

Preparation Day!- Basketball! 

Planner ni Sister Robinson! hahah 

After Groceries - Super Tired! and slept at the Jeepney..

• Sister Claire Kehaulani Bray - Half Hawaiian half american. She's my 1st Anak in the mission. She's amazing ! Her smile make's me see how enthusiastic she is and how firm her desires to Serve the Lord. She even taught me how to Love - love that has no ending and unconditional. She taught me how to care  - not just a word "caring" but caring with a pure heart. She taught me how to be grateful of the Family I have and how she showed me her love for her mom . She is unique!

  

  She made me a Grilled Cheese for Breakfast - Dengue! haha

Trainer and Trainee Announcements

Kami si Sister Suave!

Shiera Mae Quintana - Baptism!