For me, on November 8th, 2013, a Friday, I was probably wearing crimson and white and enjoying a normal day of teaching at Plainfield North HS in the states. I don’t even remember hearing in the news about a typhoon, and yet, half way around the world the country and people of the Philippines had their lives changed forever.
Early on November 8th, 2013, the waters of the Pacific Ocean around the Eastern Visayas islands (south Philippines) produced one of the strongest storm surges ever experienced. Some had evacuated their homes but many stayed, as they were unaware of the magnitude of the storm. At 5am, the first wave of Typhoon Yolanda (known also has Haiyan) made landfall bringing torrential rains and winds up to 200mph. For the next 5 hours, the storm raged on leaving unthinkable damage behind.
Janito and his family (wife and two children) are locals of this region (the city of Tacloban) and also survivors of the typhoon. Their story, like many, is one of miraculous survival and display of amazing grace from our Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing that the storm could be harsh, Janito sent his family the previous day further inland to a municipal building that served as an evacuation shelter. He stayed at their house, which was right on the shore, to protect their belongings. When the storm hit, he had little time to react because of his proximity to the water. He ran out of his house looking for the nearest structure to seek shelter from the storm. What he found was a tree…..which he climbed up and held on for dear life. He endured 5 hours of strong winds (upwards of 200mph), rain, and 3 massive waves. At the storms end, by the grace of God, Janito with minimal injury, had survived the typhoon. He remained in the tree until he was able to come down because of the high water level. His family had also survived the typhoon and was safely awaiting him at the municipal building. Their house and belongings, however, did not. Once reunited, there was much joy and thanks given to God. God had spared their lives that day, which was not the case for many others in the area. It would be a long road to recovery, but they could do it together!
Janito and the tree he survived in….
This tree happens to be on the property that Kids International Ministries (KIM) purchased here in Tacloban City shortly after the typhoon. KIM first responders were one of many to respond to the devastation. Initial aid came in the form of regular feedings out of a van but has since grown to much more…..The photo below is their recently completed ministry house, the Lighthouse, that was named by the locals.
You can see the edge of the tree Janito was in on the far left of the photo…
My team and I arrived at the Lighthouse here in Tacloban on November 7th, for our month of ministry. Thanks be to God for His timing in our arrival, just one day before the one year commemoration of they typhoon. This allowed us to experience the commemoration of this event and meet several survivors, like Janito and his family, and learn their stories.
On the 8th we woke up early and walked across the street from the Lighthouse to the beach. There we worshipped the Lord through song and prayer as we ushered in the day.
Later that day we hosted a Yolanda commemoration event in which over 900 local survivors and friends attended. The event included face painting, games, ice cream, dedications of the tree (that Janito was in during the typhoon), the mural (see in photos below) with handprints from survivors, and dinner. The event also included a message from Pastor Hugh, a missionary pastor from the states who came for the event. The atmosphere of the event could be described as celebratory and joyful….the Filipinos’ displayed such joy amidst the pain and devastation they continue to battle a year after the typhoon.
But for Janito, his family and other survivors, much is being done to help them not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually too. The Lighthouse exists to reach out to the community through weekly activities and programs including women’s and men’s Bible studies, AWANA for the children, basketball tournaments and sports events, a movie night, and daily feedings out in the barangays. The basketball court and property here at the Lighthouse are open for the community to come, enjoy rest, and experience the love of Jesus!!
May we count our blessings one by one….knowing that tomorrow is not promised and that TODAY is the day the Lord has made – let us rejoice and be glad in it!!
Lauren
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P.S. I was able to spend some time with Janito and another local survivor and KIM staff member named Chris. They took some of my teammates and I along with Pastor Hugh out fishing. To see both Janito and Chris back in the very water that had destroyed much of their property just a year earlier was humbling. It as also humbling not to catch ONE fish but to see them both catch over 20!!!!
