Elder and Sister Whiting in the Philippines: Lando Update

Super Typhoon Lando, (or Koppu) hit our mission really hard, with record rain and flooding. Many members lost everything in the flood and the rice crop sustained heavy damage. All of our missionaries are safe, if not a little soggy. We dealt with power and phone outages and cleanup of some missionary houses. The Philippines are in "Typhoon Alley" and get about 20 a year. They just smile and rebuild. We feel blessed that all we had to deal with was a leaky roof.

We continue to have all kinds of experiences we never otherwise would have. We went to lunch with the elders to a member's eating establishment; the very definition of a hole in the wall. It was good food and we didn't get sick, and the member was grateful for our patronage, so all's well that ends well.

We drove about 30 kilometers west of Tarlac today to attend the Camiling 6th branch. Everywhere you could see the aftereffects of the typhoon, including mud around the church and flattened rice crops. We visited with members who had lost everything or who had water up to their chests in their homes. Earlier this week, President Clark set apart a sister who is going on a mission, whose family had lost everything except what was in her missionary suitcase. They insisted she leave for her mission, to go serve others, and they would be fine. What faith!

Christmas is in the air; has been since the first of September. We sang "O Little Town of Bethlehem" today in church. We delivered cookies to our neighbors and one of them wished us a "Merry Christmas". As much as we love Christmas, it's a little bit too much too early. But I guess when in Rome... or should we say when in the Philippines. ;)