The trip I went on for Tifie was to the Philippines.  We went in May of 2014, 6 months after the storm hit the area.

The tents we were setting up were located on a piece of land that was owned by a local family.  They cleared out part of their sugar cane crops to create a community for these tents.  The tents were designated for the families of the farm workers in the area.  As we were setting up I asked a family about their experience during the storm.

They told me that when the storm hit, the only place they could go was out into very field we were setting up the tents – to the sugar cane crops.  They put their small children underneath their own body and wrapped their arms and legs around the sugar cane and held on.  They were out in the field for over 7 hours while the storm came through.

Out of all the stories I heard, and the devastation I saw, this story hit home.  I could still see the fear in their eyes of what if.  They wanted to protect their children and themselves, but what if they could only hold on for an hour?  What if the sugar cane roots where not strong enough?  What if the storm didn’t end?

I asked if she was afraid of more storms and she had a smile on her face and said, no – because now she knows how to survive one!

She is truly an inspiration to me.  Throughout the storms of my life – I know I can make it.  Each time I go through one I learn more about how to make it through the next one!

This is Rebecca’s story, what’s yours?