Home from Haiyan's Havoc

I am back; and I am forever changed. 

I witnessed only a glimpse of the catastrophe that has hit this nation. And the destruction was complete in its entirity.  Little was left in its wake. It was like a war zone. 

We just kept driving past miles of endless rubble, cars upturned, houses crushed, and people all at different stages in their grief.  

Tacloban was a growing city with concrete buildings … and even those mostly did not survive. The surrounding towns, however, were utterly flattened; landscapes of broken wood and debris as the houses changed from concrete to timber. 

There is no petrol
There is no electricity
There is no shelter for the homeless, the orphaned, the sick, the injured. 
There is simply nothing left standing. 

What you see on the news … its real. Its all so very real. 

And yet, somehow, life was still going on amid the rubble, amid the grief, the loss; still they smile. Still they are filled with hope and faith. Still the children play and laugh. Still the people are warm and welcoming. 

As I walked the streets, I met a woman hanging her washing outside what was left of her home. Our eyes locked. I had no words except "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry". Our eyes filled in a shared understanding. She spoke. She said " God must have a great plan for me, that I am still alive". "Yes, yes He does" I replied, as the tears that had threatened fell, from both of us. 

My time there was too brief. It will always be too brief. I will return though. The need is not about to disappear. 

And two in the back… 64 hours spent in this space. 

As we hit the port …. 3km queue for the ferry.
Estimated time of  arrival 2-3 days!
With military escort secured we were able to pass through as 'priority' .
Our waiting time was cut to 5 hours.

Innovation! Children diving for one peso thrown from willing passengers

The rainbow of Gods Grace. 

As we enter Tacloban. First sign of the devastation to come.
We brace ourselves. 

Our arrival at the church and delivery of goods under military protection

The roof and contents - gone.
The walls, built with reinforced rods, survived.

I had the opportunity to provide health prevention education.
Translated, naturally,although my occasional Tagalog word
created a mixture of surprise and giggles
(particularly when I got it wrong :)) 

"Take a picture of us" they asked. "Survivors of the the typhoon" they said.

Children's hearts 

At play … a bike surviving,  a child's healing

No rightful place for the dead yet

Add caption

And life goes on…..

Another body found…..

… and laid with the others 

As we distribute food parcels …. such a special reward for our 34 hour  journey there.

Strength of spirit of a great nation 

As far as the eye can see…...

The ferry ride home …. a boat filled with the homeless

And an unknown future for the young

And a full moon …

Update…..

I leave at 5.00am tomorrow.

Our departure was delayed due to gangs of (armed) looters raiding incoming relief trucks. We have been attempting to gain a military escort but to no avail. So, we find our small team moving forward despite … and in complete faith.  

The latest instructions: if stopped let them have the goods. 

I may still be tempted to put up a fight … !!  

I am packed and prepared … I hope … since I have absolutely no grid for this. 

Meagre medical supplies. Medications already in the truck. 

Clothes and wellington/gum boots - oh, boy….2 T-shirts and 2 pairs of shorts… 

My weeks food ration…..how much does one eat in a week? 

I'm sure I will just be popping this lovely powder straight into my mouth -
since I doubt very much there will be a kettle around! 

And then there is this ….what I will go through in a week is nothing. Simply nothing.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH TO ALL OF YOU … for your posts … for your encouragement, your prayers, your love and your blessings. It gives me strength more than you will ever know. 

Your words will echo in my heart. 

Supertyphoon 'Yolanda'

I leave tomorrow for Tacloban … the capital of Leyte … to offer my help, my medical skills, my anything and everything. Please, your prayers are needed. Not simply for me. But for the nation. They desperately need our help. If you don't pray, it's a very good time to start. If only for them. 

I sit and wait for my departure tomorrow. I cannot imagine what awaits … and so I don't. I do not dwell. For me, it does not achieve much. I am eager to just do … the waiting is so very hard.

The death toll is estimated at 10,000 … however, the Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands - and it is still unknown how many more lives have been lost. The stench from decaying bodies in Tacloban is now hitting the news. 

I am travelling down in a supply relief truck … an 18 to 22 hour journey. I have simple instructions … bring all your own food and drink for a week - there is nothing there …  be prepared to sleep on a concrete floor - there is no accommodation left standing… and bring what medical supplies you can - there are hundreds more becoming sick. Gulp!

I try to pack lightly as I don't know how far we will need to travel on foot. But as I look on at my load, I am all but travelling light - with my clothes (and wellington boots), the medical supplies I have gathered, my food and my water … it is an impossible task!

The Philippines has been declared a state of national calamity. 

The papers read …

"Bodies everywhere in Leyte"

"Tacloban is totally destroyed"

"Some people are losing their minds from hunger. They are walking around like zombies"

"High school teacher will never forget the last words of her daughter (whose body was pierced by wooden splinters) 'Ma, just let go. Save yourself'"

"A man brings his lifeless 6 year old daughter to the morgue" ... as the attached picture threatens to wrench your heart right out of your chest.

"12 year old died like a man to protect home"

How surreal, as I sit here in my home; safe, warm, fed and unaffected ... physically anyway. Waiting to go ... to face the worst disaster ever in the Philippines. And filled with such incredible humility and gratitude that I am able to.

The Philippine people are true survivors. I have never met such strength of character in a nation. They rise, again and again and again, against adversity. This will be their latest and greatest victory ...

As the headlines read "Supertyphoon 'Yolanda' could not bring Filipinos to their knees"

We, Gentle Hands, will continue to visit the islands over the coming months, offering our everything … and until they need us no more. It is the time following the initial aftermath that tends to fade from peoples minds … as life goes on for us all. Please stay with us and with the Philippino people; keep us in your prayers, and in your hearts and your thoughts … the road to recovery will be a long one.

I will post on my return 

xx

The community rises 

Blessed are the people in their strength and spirit. It triumphs over all adversities.  

GENTLE HANDS …… for the love of the poor.