March was a busy month ... and then Vanuatu was hit!

We had busy month in March. Getting ready for General Conference is a big process.  There are several meetings in Salt Lake to prepare for and we had about 10 video conference calls from Auckland (with various departments in SLC). Then the cyclone hit Vanuatu and that was a traumatic experience. It was the strongest cyclone to hit there in many years. We worked hard to get supplies and food/water to the various islands. Right after the cyclone hit, we had 51 missionaries that we could not make contact with. After 4 days we were down to just 17 unaccounted for missionaries. We were able to send a boat to one of the islands (that had 6 missionaries) and then a small plane to the island of Tanna that had 11 missionaries. The 5 sisters on Tanna were flown out on the first trip and then the 6 elders on the following day.

We heard some neat stories from the elders. We knew Cyclone Pam was on the way, so with 2 days notice we were able to get all the missionaries to a safe place. In Tanna, they went to a cement building on the west side of the island (it was not hit as hard there). There were many people hunkered down in this building. The police, seeing the missionaries there, asked them to provide a devotional including a song and prayer every morning and night.  From the reports back, it sounded like we was an uplifting and calming experience for all that were there.

Eliza helped me to create a blog for the parents of the missionaries. This was particularly helpful in the beginning when we didn't know that all the missionaries were safe. We had over 8,000 page views on the site.  Here it is:
  - Vanuatu Missionary Blog

Here's some pictures:

Our Vanuatu Staff Meeting - my computer is at the empty chair.

Vanuatu ... in many places 90% of the homes were destroyed.

We sent 800 food boxes to Vanuatu (assembled by a 2 stakes in Auckland)

The Elders taking off from Tanna!

It was fun hearing from Elder Eyring in General Conference this morning about Vanuatu. We gave several reports to those in Salt Lake (mostly to Elder Neil L. Andersen, our first contact, and the Presiding Bishopric).

One more neat story:
  - This came from President Brewer, the mission president on Vanuatu.
  - Initially after the cyclone hit, all cell towers were out so communication was difficult, we did have a satellite phone at the mission home, but it was tough getting through at times.
  - After about 2 days, phone service started to get fixed and we could more easily talk with those in Port Villa (where the mission home is at).
 - The mission home (where about 40 missionaries were staying) finally got electricity restored after 3 days and it was much nicer to them (as opposed to be in a place that was 95 degrees). They had to keep the windows closed otherwise the mosquitoes would come in.
 - After about 4 days we were still very concerned about Tanna, since we had not heard word from them yet and we couldn't fly in.
 - President Brewer would try their cell phone periodically (maybe 2-3 times a day) since the cell phone towers were working on the island of Efate (where Port Villa is at).
 - Then on the 4th day, he tried again and the zone leaders on Tanna answered!  We got the good news that all the missionaries were safe!!! The phone call only lasted 15 seconds, but we were happy to hear from them.
 - The president was in town at the time and noticed cell phone company office, so he stopped by. He thanked them for getting the service up and running in Tanna.
 - They were very surprised by his comment, since they reported that no one had made it to Tanna yet and they hadn't done anything. All the cell towers in Tanna were still down.
 - So, everyone felt very fortunate to have made connect even though none of the cell towers were operational!

It was great hearing Elder Pearson's General Conference talk on Sunday. I sent him a note congratulating him on doing such a good job. Here's his note back:
===============

Bruce

Thank you for your kind note.  We are so grateful to have you and Patsy serving in the Pacific.  

We love you both!

Elder Pearson

===============
It is certainly an honor for Sister B and I to be able to serve here in the Pacific Area!