Cyclone Pam, category 5, made a direct hit to Port Vila, Vanuatu on March 13th. It is considered one of the worst natural disasters of Vanuatu. Some of the areas hit the hardest were Port Vila, and Tanna. Catastrophic damage occurred with an estimated 90 percent of the nation's buildings impacted by the storm. Telecommunications were down, and food and water shortages were abundant.
Foreseeing the cyclone, the Vanuatu Mission President, summoned all missionaries on Port Vila to the Mission Home. There they sang hymns, as the torrential storm wreck havoc on the island. They were blessed to be safe as such massive distruction took place around them.
For days, missionaries on Tanna and other outer islands were not accounted for. Kate, devastated by the destruction, believed that all missionaries were safe. She told me that they had all been trained as to what to do in emergency. She knew that they could handle whatever would come their way. Due to the communication systems being down, no one was able to communicate with the missionaries. We were so happy when we read this article from the church a couple days later.
On March 16th, the church news stated, "All missionaries in the neighboring Vanuatu Port Vila Mission, including those serving on the remote islands of Efate, Santo, Malekula, Gaua, and Tanna, are all accounted for and safe. According to Vanuatu Port Vila Mission president Larry Brewer, all missionaries were notified before the cyclone arrived, and moved to the safest location in each respective island.
The Church is chartering a small plane tomorrow from Port Vila to Tanna. Two missionaries will be on board with food and other supplies to give much needed relief to those suffering from the effects of Cyclone Pam. The plane will also be used to bring the 11 missionaries on Tanna back to Port Vila.
Many Church members and others on the island of Efate have lost their homes and are sheltering in Latter-day Saint meetinghouses.
Church leaders in Port Vila purchased food and other emergency supplies yesterday which are being distributed to Church members and others who are sheltering at Church buildings, as well as others who have moved back to their properties in order to start rebuilding their homes."
We are so grateful to be members of such a wonderful church. Kate's first area was on Tanna, second area was on Efate , third area Malekula, and finishing in Santo. She served most of her mission on the outer islands of Vanuatu. Tanna, the island that was hit the worst was one of her first areas.
On her mission she experienced several cyclones, earthquakes, fires, as well as other natural disasters. None to the extent of Pam, and for that I am grateful. Some areas, she lived in were more primitive than others. The majority of the food on the outer islands was grown in their beautiful gardens. It was very common to pick what you ate, thus making fruits and vegetables fresh and delightful. Clean water was limited, and plumbing was outdoors. On Tanna, she lived in a small house that would shake from the active volcano, Mt. Yasur, that is one of the Natural Wonders of the World.
Unlike other missions, it would be common not to hear from her each week. Communication systems in the more remote areas were far away from their area.
As I read about the islands that were hit worse by cyclone Pam, they were the exact islands that she served on. Kate's heart broke for her dear families in her areas that were hit by this awful storm. She knew that this amount of damage would have a very long lasting effect on these people. My heart is full of sadness for the people of Vanuatu, but I am definitely rejoicing in the safe return of my sweet daughter. She arrived home January 14, merely 7 weeks before the catastrophic cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu. My heart is breaking for these sweet Ni-Van people. Kate describes them as, " the happiest people on earth."
Destruction of Cyclone Pam
Tanna - Before Cyclone Pam
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