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

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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 …