We are directly in the path of a typhoon predicted to come across our island starting this evening (Dec 18 evening Philippine time -Dec 18 morning US EST). It is expected to follow the same path as the one in 2012 that blew off part of our roof, most of our solar panels, and blew down our cell signal antenna pole. We now have new solar panels which are better secured to the roof framing and also plastic roofing which should be less vulnerable to wind damage than was our thin, sheet metal roofing.
The typhoon is presently over the ocean and not as strong as the 2012 one but could intensify when it hits land.
The walls of our house are mostly jalousie windows made from chain-sawed lumber so not very tight. Rain with high wind pours through the jalousies so we expect a night of constantly mopping up water.
We weren’t prepared for the typhoon of 2012 so were rushing around madly trying to protect our computer equipment from the rain pouring in. We stacked it all in the bathroom which was the only dry place in the house! This time we’ll have the computer equipment secured in plastic or metal containers.
The Manubu’ houses are, of course, more vulnerable to wind and rain. In the past, the Manubu’ didn’t like any trees growing in the village as they could be blown over on houses during typhoons. But now there are a lot of coconut trees in the village including our very tall one just a few feet from our house.
After the typhoon of 2012 there were many people who said they wanted to listen to the evangelistic phase of the teaching. Not many did listen.
Please PRAY for safety of people, housing, and crops. But, also that the Lord would use the typhoon to draw the unsaved to listen to the teaching of the good news and also that the believers would be strengthened through what they see the Lord do.