Reflecting on the One-Year Anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan

Observing a beautiful sunrise as I flew into Tacloban, the Philippines, in the early morning of Nov. 8, I couldn't help but muse over the day it must have been one year ago.

It was impossible to imagine the four hours of fear that people must have felt as Typhoon Haiyan raged.

Like Job in the Book of Job, it must have seemed hopeless. “Where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?” in Job 17:15. “What strength do I have that I should still hope? What prospects that I should be patient?”Job 6:11.

But God is the God of hope. Psalm 3:24 tells us, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

Isaiah 41:10 promises, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

This is something that the people of the Philippines have experienced in the past year.

I was so glad I could come for the one-year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Typhoon Yolanda. It was a momentous date over many parts of the Philippines with World Renew staff joining our brothers and sisters across seven locations as we all remembered with regret and sadness those who died.

The people of the Philippines have been so strong, they are an inspiration. They stand with King David who said in Psalm 6:6, “Truly He is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress. I will not be shaken.”

One year later, though there is still much to do, much has been accomplished and the local government was very grateful of all the help that came.

They held  an exhibition at city hall to celebrate the  many  international organizations that have been responding to the typhoon. At this exhibition, a model of World Renew’s  typhoon-resistant house  attracted a lot of attention.

Lucky me, World Renew was invited to send four staff members to an appreciation luncheon and I was selected to attend. While there, I was able  to meet the ex-First Lady Imelda Marcos.

As the day ended and the sun set, a candle light memorial took place from the Tacloban airport all the way to city hall, about six kms in all. It was an amazing site to see 24,000 votive candles lit, along all the major routes, young and old lighting them, with occasional pictures of lost loved ones. 

But it was also a time to celebrate how far people have come. As one sign read: “Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the hero within us is revealed.”