Over the last several days we have had many emails asking if we are ok.
We are ok. We are a long way from where the typhoon struck.
Shannon, Hala, Bea and Lindy were in Manila last week for doctors appointments with a planned return north on Friday, the day Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Visayas. We had fully anticipated that the flight would be cancelled due to the rain bands that were coming towards Manila and even further north. But praise the Lord it was not cancelled. The airport was also quiet and calm. Many flights south had been cancelled the day before so people weren’t coming to the airport. It was rather funny as we looked to check in and a lady working for the airline we were flying with told us our flight was cancelled. This surprised us as Chuck was checking online to make sure it was still on. As we headed to the counter to rebook our tickets another person with the same airline stopped us and asked us where we were going. We told him and said that we were told it was cancelled. He said that it wasn’t and asked who told us that. He then checked the computer and confirmed that it was still on time. We went to the other side and checked in! Then as it was nearly time to board the plane they announced that they were waiting on a weather check from the airport in the north. It often gets too low of clouds to be able to have planes land. We waited an extra half hour and then we boarded the plane. It wasn’t long and we were in the air. There was more turbulence than usual but not bad. I didn’t feel certain that we were actually going to land. There have been many times that a plane tries to land and can’t and returns to Manila. So until the wheels were on the ground I tried not to get my hopes up. But we did land safely.
We had hoped to be able to fly by helicopter back into the village Friday afternoon but due to the low clouds we were unable to return home. The kids were sad because they missed us and because it was Mommy’s birthday! Saturday it rained all day. But Sunday morning as the fog lifted blue sky was starting to appear. We were so very thankful for the ability to fly home and be together again. As Chuck and I get older we find that we don’t like being away from each other as much! Oh, I missed the kids too!!!
I am sure many of you have seen the news reports on the devastation that so many Filipinos are living through. It is so very sad. Please pray for the people that are still alive. Many are isolated and have no access to assistance. They are in need of food, clean water and shelter. So many have died. It is hard to take in.
There are many organizations that are working to help the people here. Please look them up and donate to the relief efforts going on here.
Thank you for your continued prayers.