Returning to Palau Amidst the Storm

We are back in Palau!

After a second week of training with the Adams, the time quickly came to turn over the office responsibilities and return to finish our work here. Our time in Guam was brief, but meaningful—we made dear friends and are truly grateful our paths crossed, even for such a short season.




All of the senior missionary couples serving on Guam went to Ice Una, a Taiwanese Snow Ice Cafe on Guam.  It was very unique and delicious!  We loved getting to know each couple! 

Our office compatriots, the Dungans.  It was a pleasure spending our days with them! 


Sister Moessing, our office helper, gave us a sweet little note.  We enjoyed working with her and appreciated her help and sense of humor! 


Our timing in leaving feels especially tender. Typhoon Sinlaku is now heading toward Guam and is expected to arrive Monday night into Tuesday. One of our final tasks in the office was to send an email to the missionaries’ parents, keeping them informed about the storm. We were especially grateful to be able to serve in this small way before leaving. 

The storm has already passed through Chuuk, causing significant damage. All of the missionaries—including our nephew—are safe and accounted for, but many are now without power or internet, and the effects of strong winds and flooding are widespread. The missionaries are busy helping with clean up efforts.  It has been sobering to see photos of places we visited just a few short weeks ago now impacted by the storm. Our hearts are with the people there.


We took the top picture at Mechitiw where we went to church a few weeks ago.  
The bottom picture is the same building after the storm. 




The boat dock where we watched missionaries and members arrive and depart a 
few weeks ago is now wiped out.




Thankfully our nephew faired better than his water tank!

We would be grateful for your prayers for those in Guam and Saipan as the storm continues on its path.

Moments like this remind us how quickly circumstances can change and how much we depend on the Lord and on one another. Even across the miles, we feel connected to these islands and their people, and we trust that the same faith and resilience we have seen in them will carry them through the days ahead.


Comments

  1. Bill and Shauna CookeApril 12, 2026 at 3:05 PM

    That Typhon and its damage reminds me of two tornadoes and hurricane that I was in all three. Tornadoes in Louisville, KY about 1961. A Tornado in Chesterfield, MO just west of St. Louis, MO in about 1965 that did lots of damage to homes and trees. And finally a Typhon on the Island of Okinawa south of Japan in 1971 that filled the water tanks on that island. Trees fell yes but as I was in the Military then in 1971 it reminded me of my tornadoes. Those storms are something one wants to avoid if they can. I was OK in all those storms. We hope those in your area are safe and the damage can be cleaned up and repaired.

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