The phone call

Gary went to Vanuatu with two others as soon as commercial flights resumed after Cyclone Pam struck the island nation of Vanuatu.  One of the top priorities for Church emergency response during a crisis is to verify that the young missionaries are safe and accounted for.  There were 11 young missionaries - 5 sisters and 6 elders on the island of Tanna, an islands in the Vanuatu chain where the eye of the cyclone passed directly over.  Port Vila, the capital city is on the island of Efate which is where the mission president is located.  When he arrived in Port Vila Wednesday, electricity was not restored in the city and telephone communications between the islands was not possible.  The number one question after a disaster is ‘Are the missionaries safe and well?’ President Brewer felt that his missionaries on Tanna were okay, but he needed to confirm that feeling with a phone call or direct message. Four days went by before he received the anticipated message.  The government had instituted a dusk to dawn curfew, so the team couldn't meet until the next morning.   

 The next morning President Brewer shared the following:

 “When Tanna Zone Leader, Elder Beynon, returned to Port Vila I asked him how he was able to make phone contact with me four days after the storm. Of course, we knew that Digicel and TVL towers had been severely dam-aged by the storm and communication through those services was impossible. The battery in my personal cell phone was nearly exhausted that morning. Elder Beynon said the Lenakel group leader, who is also a po-liceman in Lenakel, permitted him to use the police satellite phone to make that contact. We spoke for about one and a half minutes before my phone died, just long enough to direct him to take all of the missionaries to the airport the next day to board a chartered plane for their return to Port Vila. To hear Elder Beynon report that every missionary in Tanna was well and accounted for was the miracle we had prayed for.” President Larry E. Brewer 

 ---  Some things are hard to explain rationally, but the Lord is aware of His missionaries and by some means communication between a worried mission president and his missionaries were available for a short period of time.



The phone call

Missionaries before the storm

Tanna missionaries after the storm

Tanna Elders after Cyclone Pam

Tanna Elders

Tanna Elders on the plane

Missionaries at Mission Home

"Miracles are everywhere to be found...... When faith replaces doubt, when selfless services eliminates selfish striving, the power of God  brings to pass his purposes."
Thomas S. Monson

(Note:  Photos courtesy of Pres. Larry Brewer. - Susan's computer is being repaired, so we are using Gary's computer temporarily.)

Baptism by Fire and Wind and Rain

Last week we trained Elder and Sister Leben and sent them on their way Monday morning to the island of Vanuatu just in the nick of time to experience a massive cyclone.  They arrived Monday afternoon and were able to get settled in, receive their cell phones and then start to prepare for Cyclone Pam to arrive.  These huge storms are called cyclones in the South Pacific where in North America they are referred to as hurricanes.

The storm hit late Friday night/early Saturday morning.  All power was out on the island.  The municipal water system stopped working and gasoline was unavailable.  The satellite phone worked some of the time.  The only way we were able to communicate was by text, which can work during an emergency when other forms of communications are unavailable.  All communications were limited as the batteries could not be charged without electricity.

As of Sunday night the water is back in Port Vila.  All missionaries on Efate (Port Vila) are safe and accounted for.  Please continue to keep the missionaries and good people of Vanuatu in your prayers.

President Brewer, Vanuatu mission president had the missionaries at the mission home and everyone there is doing well.  A tree did some damage to the roof of the mission home, but other than some roof damage, it is fine.  Members took shelter in church meetinghouses which survived the storm very well.  Many local homes did not stand up well in the high winds.  We have no doubt that the Lord is mindful of his missionaries in the isles of Vanuatu.  We are thankful that Elder and Sister Leben arrived when they did.  They will be a great help to President Brewer.  In addition, Elder Leben, a medical doctor was a practicing pediatrician before he retired, so he will be of great help with his medical background.

This link gives more details about the storm.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/67383571/cyclone-pam-vanuatu-aftermath-heartbreaking

"Now, as a Church we have worked with others in lifting the sorrow and sufferings of those who are in distress. Our humanitarian efforts have literally blessed the lives of countless thousands not of our faith. In the terrible tsunami disaster, and in other disasters incident to conflict, disease, and hunger, we have done a great and marvelous work assisting others without worrying about who gets the credit. In February of this year the president of the American Red Cross presented to the Church the Circle of Humanitarians Award, which is the highest honor given by them. It is in recognition of the effort of the Church to extend the vaccination against measles to thousands and thousands of young people.... Countless lives have been saved, and much pain and misery have been avoided ... To the extent made possible by resources which come from the generosity of our people, we are reaching down to lift those in distress. Surely the Lord is blessing us as a people, and we must reach out to bless His needy wherever they may be." (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Closing Remarks,” Ensign, May 2005, 102).

The Sights of Vanuatu

We apologize for taking so long to publish these posts, but our Internet access last week in Vanuatu was a bit sketchy.  On this post we hope to show you some of the beautiful sights in Port Vila.

We arrived in Port Vila, Vanuatu on Saturday afternoon.  We were met at the airport by Elder and Sister Larsen.  The Larsens are Perpetual Education Missionaries.  They complete their mission in December, so after having spent about 17 months there they were quite knowledgeable about Vanuatu.  It is great to be met at a strange airport by friendly faces.  After picking us, they took us to our hotel.

Sister and Elder Larsen

Back side of our hotel

View from our balcony

Elder and Sister Duke

Sister Duke is the mission nurse.  Elder Duke takes care of missionary housing, the licensing and maintenance of cars and anything else President Brewer needs done.  The Dukes were a great support as they drove us around  to our various meeings on an island without formal addresses.  We would never have been able to find our way around by ourselves.  In Vanuatu they do drive on the right side of the road, but there are also no street signs.

Port Vila, Vanuatu is a stop for cruise ships. The harbour is quite active with fishing boats, yachts and speedboats passing between the various small nearby islands.  Across the bay was an small island with a restaurant resort.  You could purchase ticket for a shuttle and then receive a voucher you could exchange for food and other things.  Not sure why, but we never did go over there to eat.

Restaurant across the Bay

Return of the afternoon cruise

Return of the Sunset Cruise

The view from our room was great.  Every time we were in our room we were drawn to the balcony and the magnificent view.  Now, we did have to work while we were there, but there were some great sites along the way.

Downtown Port Vila, Vanuatu is like Salt Lake City was in the 1950's  President Brewer told us it reminded him of the Sugarhouse area in the "old days".  We think that he is right.