Elder Jakob Van Boerum : Super Typhoon!

So you may have heard we had a typhoon this week...

But first, the previous week because I didin't do it last week. Ha.

That week really wasn't anything too exciting. We just had the Halloween celebration here which lasts both the 31 and November 1. And here, that just means we have a curfew of 6 p.m. I guess Halloween is a really big deal here because we went by a couple cemeteries and there were thousands of people there partying around the graves and getting drunk and everything. Meaning it's too dangerous for us to be out late. But usually drunks aren't too threatening here. They just give us high fives and speak in slurred, broken English. Then on Saturday we had the Primary Halloween party that we got to help out with. All the little kids came in their costumes and they had a costume and dancing contest in the chapel while the leaders played Britney Spears and Shakira in the microphone. My costume was a Santa hat because here in the Philippines it's already Christmas, just in case you didn't know. About 3 weeks ago the lights started going up and the music started playing.

Now for this week. As you've probably heard from the news and stuff we had a Super Typhoon (category 4+) here last week, like one of the strongest that has ever been recorded and for sure the largest ever here in the Philippines. Leading up to it, I was definitely underestimating it. But as I started to see how concerned all the people here in Nabua were getting, it finally started to hit me. And I started to even get a little excited to see what it would be like.

On Thursday I had exchanges with our District Leader as just part of the routine. So he came to Nabua and I got to lead the area and our lessons for the day. But the new Nabua Sister missionaries also arrived that day, so we ended up spending most of the time showing them the areas we are giving to them, and they are taking most of our investigators because they get all of central Nabua while we will start working further out. By the time we finished showing them, it was dark and we didn't feel good about crossing the bamboo bridge to Juben's when it was already starting to rain and the current was so high. So we went back to centro and tracted for a bit. Everyone we talked to kept telling us that we should get home because of the coming storm, but we did end up leaving a short message with a couple people. Then at the advice of President Reeder, we went to stock up on food and water for our 72 hour kit. We got to the store and nobody was there. A bunch of the shelves were cleared of food as everyone was preparing.

On Friday we were supposed to have Zone Training in Iriga, but it was cancelled because of the storm. We woke up to no power and some really strong wind and rain and decided not to finish the exchange that day because we didn't think it was safe to be outside. But we couldn't tell Elder Cawit because they had left the cell phone at our house, so they ended up coming back anyway. We then we stuck inside for the whole day in anticipation of the storm getting worse, but then...nothing. While it stayed pretty windy and rainy all day, it never really ended up hitting us. Later we found out that the storm had moved farther west. Lucky for us, but bad for the people in those regions. I just barely found out that the expected death toll is now about 10,000 people in the Visayas region of the country, with many more homeless. Luckily, all the missionaries there have finally been accounted for. Compared to the destruction there, we really didn't get anything. Just no power for a couple days.

On Saturday, we had exchanges with the Zone Leaders and another chance to lead the area. All of our lessons went great, and Salvador showed a ton of interest in what happens after we die. He has the idea that all happiness ends with death, but he seemed so happy to hear that's not true. I later found out one of his children was killed in a robbery a couple years ago. I'm sad that we will be losing him to the sisters in their new area. For Juben, we were initially told we couldn't teach him because he was sick after the strom, but when he heard we were there he limped out so we could teach him and we had one of our best lessons yet. Later, when we were tracting, some minister from Iglesia ni Cristo came to talk to us and tried inviting us to his church. So I just kept inviting him to join us for Sacrament meeting and to let us come over to teach him. Eventually he left, but it was really funny.

Finally, yesterday, we got a meetinghouse in Nabua! After waiting so long, we had our first meeting there yesterday. The Reeders and the Iriga District Presidency were all there and the even let Elder McBride, who opened Nabua, return to speak in the meeting. Right now the place is just a small concrete room, barely big enough for 50 people, but they are planning on expanding. And with the attendence we had yesterday and the enthusiasm the members were showing for the work, we may even become a branch soon! Nabua really is growing so much now and with the Sisters, it will accelerate.

So that was my week. A lot of build up to a storm that luckily didn't hit here, new sisters, and a new meetinghouse. I feel so sorry for the people of Visayas as I've gotten glimpses of the destruction there. Please keep them in your prayers for comfort as they try to recover. The destruction there is enormous, and I'm even surprised at some areas that I see here in Nabua. I only hope that the people there will be able to find comfort and that the missionaries there will be able to help the people as they rebuild.

I hope you all are doing great back home! The work here is going great and I know it can only get better! I've had my tough times this past few weeks, but the storm is also helping to keep it in perspective. It reminds me of the scripture Helaman 5:12, which is all about building ourselves on a sure foundation, so that when the Devil sends forth his storms and shafts in the whirlwind, he will have no power over us because of our redeemer, which is Christ. I love you all and hope you have a great week this week! and Merry Christmas!

Elder Jakob Van Boerum
11/10/13