Typhoon Update

4.5.2015

It's been a week since Typhoon Maysak went right through Chuuk State where Elder Schroath is serving his mission.  There has been a lot of information shared on a Facebook group I am a part of for parents of missionaries in Cam's mission.  I wanted to share some of the information from the group with everyone and most especially from a missionary currently serving there, an Elder Bloxham.  Elder Bloxham was in Chuuk during the typhoon and just recently returned home because of illness (not due to the typhoon) and will return to Chuuk when recovered.  He has been a blessing to the parents of missionaries there because of his first hand experience, pictures and videos he took.

Elder Bloxham has set up a "gofundme" page to raise funds to help with the recovery effort in Chuuk.  http://www.gofundme.com/qzjnzc
If you are able we encourage you to donate and share this link with others but please do not share this blog, as it is private.

We also received a very quick email from Elder Schroath just a couple of days ago!

4.3.2015 - email from Elder Schroath
hey  mom just wanted to shoot you a quick email! We are here at the
senior couples house and they were nice enough to let us shoot an
email, not many places with internet/power in chuuk haha. But yeah we
are all safe, doing lots of service! I might not email monday because
pday might be switched to thursday! Love you mom:)

These next two emails are from the Senior Couple serving in Chuuk, the Hardy's:

4.2.2015
We are safe and blessed! We got our power back on but haven't been able to retrieve our truck from the trap of giant trees, we were in Wechap to Sunday services when it hit!  Elder Schroath is doing great , no major damages! He lives in a sturdy cement home , I don't know when you will get this or if you will! Lots of love

Elder Schroath is doing great! He keeps singing what a great day to make us laugh so we won't cry! You know he came to rescue us when we had to walk home and leave our truck stranded between 2 giant trees! We just barely got home before the other half the bigger part of the typhoon! We are all so blessed and the elders are going about like the Armies of Helaman helping those in need! Got to hurry before power goes off , I will update you soon , your young son you sent out to join Gods Army has become a strong, valiant man full of love and compassion for his fellow men! love sister. Hardy! my heart breaks to think of him leaving in May but I know you will be rejoicing to have your son back home! I hope to meet the great parents that raised such a wonderful man!

FSM UPDATES new story: You can follow this link to read about the Typhoon
http://myfsm.blogspot.in/2015/04/maysak-distroys-too-much-in-chuuk-and.html

Video of Typhoon taken by Elder Bloxham.  He was on the main island in one of the church's in his area.

Information from Elder Bloxham April 3, 2015
He talks about many different islands that are all a part of the Chuuk islands.  Weno is the main island and Moen is the main city there:

From what I've heard from other elders, outer islands were hit pretty hard. From what I saw in Weno, I can only imagine what the other islands look like. All elder's were still on their islands when the typhoon hit. Elder H and few others who's houses were destroyed came in on Tuesday. The plan was to get everyone in Weno in the next few days.

The Udot and Pata homes were destroyed so those elders went to Romanum for a few days then were brought to Moen.  [Udot is the first island Elder Schroath served on.  The home he lived in there is the one referenced above].

Romanum was not destroyed, sorry if my last post made it sound that way. Romanum is where the elders were sent who's homes were destroyed until the zone leaders could come get them on Tuesday. I know the elders in Udot and Pata lost a lot of stuff, if the house has open windows it is very possible lots of stuff got wet. That was the case with the Mechitiw house.

The Mechitiw home is still standing. The roof started to come up and lots of water and debris got inside but it's fine. The missionary house and the church in Mechitiw were some of the only structures still standing in that area. The members are living in the church now.

As of Tuesday the plan was to get all outer islands in Weno in the next day. I am not sure if that was suppose to be long term or not however. If their home is ok, they may have just been coming in to get food and water and then head back out to help on their islands.

Many trees have been destroyed including the breadfruit, banana, and coconut trees local people rely on for food. They've been able to gather all the fruit that fell, but after a few days it's all going to go bad. Water tanks have also been badly damaged. Only 1 of the 8 water tanks in Mechitiw (area on the main isalnd) were still functioning when I left. The system that collects the rain water had also been destroyed. The church had sent a pallet of food and water on Wednesday, but they are going to need everything they can get. Many people will starve if more help does not arrive soon. When it comes to the missionaries, I'm sure the church will make sure they are well taken care of. The zone leaders were able to acquire some boxes of ramen, clean water, rice, and propane and were taking it to every area they could get to.

We had heard from local's the day before that a typhoon was coming, but Saturday night the baptist radio was saying the typhoon was not going to hit Chuuk. We were not notified from the church (zone leaders) until the first part of the storm was already starting to hit. They texted everyone and told us to stay in our houses. Luckily, the worst of the storm didn't hit until after the eye went through, so everyone was expecting it at that point.

Outer Islands were hit pretty hard. Because the living conditions are so primitive, most structures were destroyed. The Uman house is ok. From what I heard from Elder Smith this morning, Uman and Fono came in for a day this week to get food and do laundry then went back to their islands to help out.

Elder Schroath told me their house is fine. They live in a very large, well built house. Neaoa was not the worst hit on the island. We met him and his companion on the road to Mechitiw Monday morning, they were clearing the road trying to get to us after they heard how hard our area was hit.

The church has sent 250 bags of rice for the members, but that it will only last a short while because of the high demand for food right now. One of the Elder's is really worried there is no long term solution, and wanted me to ask as many people as possible to help send food for the members. He wanted to be clear that the food is needed for the locals, not the missionaries.

Really it means a lot to see so many families rallying around the people of Chuuk. These islands so often seem to be neglected by the rest of the world so when stuff like this happens, there is little hope for outside assistance. Elder H told me on the phone last night that they do not believe the U.S will be helping with relief efforts. The people of Chuuk are so good to us missionaries and are always willing to give, even when they have nothing. Even this past week, when they didn't know where they were going to find their next meal, they were so anxious to share what little they had with us. We had to explain to them over and over that they needed that food more than us.

Information from the Mission President.  After the typhoon hit the Chuuk islands it proceeded on to another island state called Yap which is many hundred miles away from Chuuk:

As you know, last week was extremely full. We had two islands hit by a typhoon, and relief efforts are proceeding through LDS Church humanitarian resources, Red Cross, and other programs. Our hearts reach out to the people on Chuuk and the outer Islands of Yap.
Our missionaries have been involved with much of the clean up of roads, distributing food, and other essentials as needs arise. They are a wonderful army of young men on Chuuk, and young men and women on Yap. It is gratifying to see them working selflessly to assist these people.
In the mean time the missionary work on the other islands continues. We had two zone conferences, and a Mission Leadership Council.
I don't wish to push the humanitarian efforts in the background, as this will be ongoing. (It is my understanding that a special cargo plane loaded with supplies will be leaving Guam tomorrow morning (Monday). It has pallets of supplies donated by the Church, and assembled by missionaries serving in Guam.)

Sister Zarbock and I will be personally visiting our eastern islands of Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Chuuk this week, to see first hand some needs and identify things we as a mission can do, and assist where we can.
Our missionaries have been instructed to reach out to all of the people, and assist them in the rebuilding and clean up process where they can as well.
May God continue to bless these great missionaries in their efforts as well.
President Zarbock

The following are pictures from Elder Bloxham. He has given permission to share them:

"We found Elder Schroath and Elder Robinson helping clear the road, trying to reach us with the Hardy's truck" -- Elder Bloxham

"Trying to make our way to Nantaku Monday morning.
This is the main road from Mechitiw to Nantaku." - Elder Bloxham (main island)

I believe this is the church where Elder Bloxham was when he took the video of the typhoon.

Mwan Church Building - main island

The Senior Missionaries (The Hardys) truck

Branch Presidents Office

Our family is so thankful for the Lord's watchful eye over the missionaries and people of Chuuk.  Although there have been five deaths, it could have been higher especially since they had very little notice ahead of time to prepare.  We continue to pray for the Chuukese people and ask that you add your prayers with ours that they will have the food, shelter, water, and help they need to recover over the coming months.  Please donate if you are able.