Turn you 72 hour kits into 7 day kits

Just a few hours after I sen't my email last week, we were told by our bishop that there was a super typhoon headed our way. We bought some rice bags and filled them with dirt. We completely "storm proofed" our house. We were ready for the storm to hit. But, the next day, we woke up to the bluest sky and a beautiful day. We went with out bishop and helped a member build a big room onto their house. It was crazy. We built it straight up brick and mortar style. We mixed cement, bent rebar poles, layed mortar, and built this house. It was awesome.

Then on Wednesday, we got a call and we were told to turn our 72 hours kits into 7 day kits and make our way down to San Fernando to the mission home. We stayed in a house with the AP's and all the missionaries from 2 zones (22 of us). It was nuts. The power was kind of on and off. So, when it was on, the little tiny kitchen was crazy. The house was kind of nuts. We were all stuck there for like 4 days and we didn't have a lot to do. 

On Sunday, we finally got the OK to go back to our houses. Our house had a little bit of water in it and the roof was kind of destroyed. It looked kind of ghetto, but everything inside the house was fine. 

But, we didn't have any power. Our fridge was warm, we had no running water, no fans, and no light. That is just life here. We quickly ate all the food, bought a giant jug of water. Opened all the windows to try and get a breeze to cool off. And then we sat down to study at night and lit a few candles. My comp and I felt like we were living in the stone age. I love it here.

We spent all day yesterday checking up on members and finding ways to help in the ward. The storm did lots of damage here, but it is being cleaned up pretty well. 

I love it here. I love the people. I love the gospel. And I love all of the crazy experiences. I think about you all back home and send plenty of prayers your way. Love you all!!

-Elder Thomas