No Home, No Roof, But Not Hopeless
World Vision is incredibly blessed that our global reach means not only can we be among the first to react to disasters like Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines because we are already on the ground, but we can also send some of the top people in their field to help with operations.
Jonny is a logistical genius who left his wife and young family at home to fly out to the Philippines in the weeks before Christmas - and immediately after the disaster - to lend his skills to the planning and rebuilding process for the country and its worst-affected areas.
Jonny arrived safely home on Sunday night and today he share with us his reflections of a devastated country trying to prepare for the celebrations of Christmas and the renewed hope 2014 brings, thanks to your support.
By Jonny Spece, Support Services Manager (Leyte and Samar, Haiyan Response), World Vision International
Christmas is coming quickly, and on first impressions you wouldn’t think so in Tacloban here in the Philippines.
This area is recovering well from the impact of Typhoon Haiyan, but I haven’t seen a Christmas tree, a mince pie or toy advertisement! In a funny kind of way I am looking forward to seeing them, not because of what they are but what they represent: I’ll be home for Christmas.
I have seen the devastation
I have been out here since late November as part of World Vision’s global response to the crisis, working as a Support Services Manager in the worst affected area, Leyte.
I have enjoyed managing and working alongside a mixture of national and international staff, yet as I think about coming home to my wife, son, family and friends, I have been wondering what it will be like here in the city I'm leaving behind.
I have seen the devastation and destruction, the pain in people's eyes and the trauma they feel every time it rains heavily, thinking it is going to happen again. Surely Christmas will pass everyone by? People won’t feel like celebrating Christmas after what has happened to them — how can they possibly be looking forward to it?
Holding on to hope and gratitude
Something that you often need to do in a response is buy vehicles, and when visiting the only showroom I was struck by a couple of comments made by two of the employees.
The general manager said that he, his family and his staff has been living in the upstairs part of the showroom for over a month... Over a month yet he still said simply, “I am thankful to be alive”. A stark reminder of what people are going through, even businessmen with thousands of pounds worth of vehicles sitting in his damaged forecourt.
His colleague's response warmed my heart even more, and showed me that light can always pierce the darkness. Lloreta said, "We have to celebrate Christmas; it is all about Jesus. We might have no roof, no home but we are not hopeless.”
Not for the first time I was struck by the amazing resilience of the Filipino people. Christmas is a very special time of the year for the people here (and across the world) and it appears that the human spirit, that determination and sense of hope and a future, is able to shine through.
People like Lloreta are resolving to make the best of things, be thankful and celebrate the birth of the One who has given us everything.
The tension of aid work
I came to the Philippines with a tension: the pull of wanting to support my pregnant wife and energetic son of two, yet the desire to use my gifts and abilities to help those affected by the typhoon.
When asked why should I leave them to go to country 17 hours away, I said and still say "Why not?"
Often these trips are defined not by how much work you do, what the strategy is or even how many people the programmes are able to assist, it is moments with people who show you how to respond and react in the midst of a crisis.
So as I as return home, when I am enjoying seeing my son open his presents with excitement, part of me will think back to those in the Philippines.
I will be thinking of those families who have lost so much, but not with sadness, with admiration and hope.
They will be celebrating Christmas, being thankful for all that they still have and being close to those they love the most. I am looking forward to doing the very same.
