December 5, 2014
To the families of our missionaries!
This is a message of hope and notification about what we are doing to ensure the safety
of your missionaries serving in the Philippines Tacloban Mission. As you may be aware
there is a tropical typhoon (Ruby) heading towards the Philippines. We are closely
watching the developments as the storm approaches from the east. The latest projection is
that it will cross the coast at Borongan City Saturday night, and then go further West.
We have removed ALL missionaries from Borongan Zone, and have gathered each Zone's
missionaries in their respective Zones in a location that is safe. If it gets worse, then
we will move them to the Chapel, but at this stage we have no missionaries in Chapels.
The weather is currently calm, with light cloud cover.
Your missionary has been alerted to prepare for a storm. Their preparations will
include but are not limited to preparing for possible flooding, checking their 72 hour
kits, having emergency cash in small bills, food and water for 7 days and a reminder to
ensure their cell phones are kept charged.
When the storm has passed and all missionaries are accounted for, we will let you know.Â
Thank you for your prayers.
Sincerely,
President Maurer
Philippines Tacloban Mission
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Friday Night Update 2 for Ruby: Dec 5th, 2014
Dear Parents and Friends of Tacloban Missionaries, I think my initial email did not get
sent, so you may receive two in a row!!! The wind has a gentle breeze blowing in Tacloban
as I write to update you. It is calm and peaceful, and actually a little cooler...quite
comfortable! I imagine that thru the night we will find stronger winds, and may even wake
up to a little rain. As you may have guessed there is nothing much happening here, but we
are preparing for the worst. The latest projection has Typhoon Ruby moving across the
coast in Borongan about 24 hours from now. It's path appears to go west north west across
Catbalogan. It has been down-graded and no longer a Super Typhoon.
The streets of Tacloban are bare. There is little transport available as early as last
night. Most people are either moving to safer locations, or at home preparing for a
typhoon that is approaching ( about 415 kms east or south east of Borongan). Our
missionaries have each been gathered by their Zone Leaders to be together. We have had
them do this to keep them together for morale, safety and ease of contact. They are all
in fine spirits, safe and actually sharing the gospel in various locations. The people
are actually very interested to talk about a gospel of peace and joy, whilst calamity
approaches.
For those of you who know where your missionary is serving we already have them in these
locations, before the transport shut down:
Catarman Zone - Elders in the Chapel; Sisters in the Catarman sisters apartment.
Catbalogan Zone - Elders in the Zone Leaders apartment in Calbayog; Sisters in the
Calbayog apartment.
Boronogan Zone - All missionaries evacuated and living in Tacloban.
Tacloban Zone - Elders are in the Office apartment; Sisters in the Tacloban Sisters
apartment.
Tolosa Zone - Elders in the Burauen Chapel (inland); Sisters in the apartment in Burauen.
Sogod Zone - Elders in the Zone Leader apartment in Sogod, and Sisters in their
apartment.
Maasin Zone - Elders in the Maasin ZL apartment. Sisters in Ormoc Zone - Elders in the ZL
Apartment in Ormoc, and Sisters in the STL apartment in Ormoc.
Biliran Zone - All missionaries in the Biliran Chapel Carigara Zone - All missionaries in
the Carigara Stake Chapel.
The plan is to watch the development over night and move all missionaries into chapels in
the morning. We have learnt much from Typhoon Yolanda and feel more prepared to keep them
safe and facilitate a rescue should that be necessary. Please be assured that they are
safe and our hope and prayer of faith is that there will not be a catastrophe. Thank you
for your support, faith and prayers.
Wayne E Maurer
Mission President
Philippines Tacloban Mission
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Sunday afternoon Update 3 for Typhoon Ruby:
Dear Parents and Friends of Tacloban Missionaries,
Last night was a night of strong howling winds, battering rain and NO power. Needless to
say it was a LOONG night. However as day dawned it was obvious that the worst was over,
and people started to emerge to assess and fix up their homes. As we looked around the
Mission Home there were trees down, flooding on the street in front of us (6-9 inches),
debris which had been blown, and the lighter winds and rain still happening.
The Mission Home sustained some more damage, water leaking in thru windows as it was
driven, and the shattered sliding door downstairs giving rain and glass all over the
floor and furniture. We still do not know the extent of damage for missionary apartments,
since they are all in Chapels in each Zone (except for Borongan).
We have kept in touch with each Zone of Missionaries ( since they are all together in
safe locations) up until 4.00am. At that point 3 Zones appear to have lost communication
network. At that point they were ALL fine. We have since travelled to Tolosa Zone to
establish they are great, and in fine spirits. Actually loving the experience. We are in
the process of confirming Biliran and Carigara Zone.
Please be assured that this typhoon was NOT nearly as bad as the previous one (Yolanda)
last year. It is unlikely that there is any major disruption to the work, however we will
hold the missionaries in these locations at least until Monday. Thank you for your
prayers of faith and hope. We felt them and thank our Heavenly Father for his bounteous
mercy.
Warm Regards,
President & Sister Wayne Maurer
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Tuesday Morning Update 4 for Ruby:
Dear Parents and Friends of Tacloban Missionaries,
The storm has passed and blue skies and radiant sunshine abound here in Tacloban. All
missionaries have returned back to their areas, except Borongan Zone and the new arriving
missionaries. We are still to effect the transfer to incorporate these new missionaries,
but hope to do it this week. Relief efforts are being distributed to Borongan and we will
also assess the conditions in that Zone before sending missionaries to return.
There is no power in most of the mission, and so it is unlikely that missionaries will
find internet available to email home. We anticipate that power will be restored in a
couple of days. Thanks for your willingness to send your sons and daughters as
ambassadors of Jesus Christ.
Wayne E Maurer
Mission President
Philippines Tacloban Mission
