Easter Friday

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.  Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).  Here they crucified him, and with him two others–one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

John 19:16-18
The New International Version

The stone was rolled away from the tomb not so Jesus could get out, but so that the world could look in.  His resurrection assures yours.  Because He lives, you will live forever.

Charles Stanley

Well the Cyclone cook has now moved on further south and will be impacting New Caledonia .  Cook got to category 2 , and for us that was an experience we wouldn't want to repeat. Monday today is a clear up and repair day.  Most businesses didn't open so their staff could get their lives back to normal.

So a summary of te last three days for us on the effects of Cyclone Cook. We have come through unscathed.  Our house is well built to survive the effects of the cyclone. We started preparations Saturday morning.  The cyclone was already making its presence felt in Vila with strong gusts of wind and heavy rain.

We went to our church on Saturday morning to help set up for the Easter Services.  However when we got there the preparations were called off and everyone was told to go home and prepare for the cyclone.

We came home, checked we had enough food and water to last three days.  The landlord put the storm shutters up on our windows.  So from Saturday afternoon until this morning (when we took the shutters down) our house has been dark inside.

Saturday afternoon Cyclone Cook started to show its full force.  Lots of wind and rain.  The cyclone apparently only got to category two (max is 5), and during the night we listened to the force of the wind and rain.  We are grateful it was only cat 2, we certainly wouldn’t want to experience 3 , let alone 5 (Cyclone Pam was a 5). 

We were safe and sound in our house.  When we got up Sunday morning we saw the effect.  Some trees blown over,  flooding in low lying areas,  Blacksands a village which isn’t far away from us had flooding and people evacuated. Vila is on the harbour hillside and so missed the worst of the flooding

The storm brought out snakes, (yes they are in Vanuatu, but they aren’t dangerous to humans apparently) There is a dead one just down the road from our house.

So we have come through our first cyclone.  It isn’t an experience we want to repeat, and definitely not if a 4 or 5 category cyclone came through.  We are surprised that the media in NZ hasn’t reported the effect of the cyclone on Vanuatu. From what we can see it has only mentioned Cyclone Cook and its path as it heads to NZ.  You are in for a lot of rain when it gets to NZ, so you look after yourselves.

Here is a picture of the snake.  It is hanging over the branch just below the plastic bottle. It is about 1.5 to 2 metres long (I wasn't going to measure it precisely)  The thickest part is about the size of an adults forearm.

Hi 

On our home page on our blog we have created a second tab called "Prayer Requests and Praise"  (See above the two tabs)

On this page we will post prayer requests and praise for the people of Vanuatu, and maybe for us as well.  We will post items of need that we see in Vanuatu.  Maybe you or a group of friends, work mates, school group or church group could help support these requests by giving items or financial support to the people of Vanuatu.

If you do feel the calling to help by either giving items or financial support please do not post your thoughts on our blog, but rather contact us directly by emailing us at nicemice@ihug.co.nz.  We will then help you to facilitate your giving to the people of Vanuatu.

Blessings

Martyn and Annette

It was a stormy night.  The cyclone has a name now it is called Cook.  Which isn't a good sign when they name them.  The radio warning this morning said it is slow moving and is likely to bring strong winds to the Shefa province this morning, Port Vila, Efate Island is in the Shefa Province. Here are some photos of our shutters and the damage this morning outside our house.  Some of the palms were cut down to prevent damage in the winds. Cook is forecast to develop into a category 3 as it heads south to New Caledonia.

There is flooding in Vila, we went for a drive this morning with our landlord (Tony) there are lots of small branches and foliage on the ground.  There are some larger trees blown over.  We can see some damage to houses, with roofing iron lifted and damage to the side of the buildings.  But it appears that Vila has survived Cook (so far)


This is one of our windows with half the shutter on.  All our windows are now covered.  The 20mm ply slides on the tracks.  very simple and effective.

Outside our house taken last night

Beside our house, branches broken and a big mess.

This pawpaw broken and fell on our tomatoes we planted this week.  I have put some soil around the plants, lets see how many survive.

Outside our building complex, pawpaw snapped off in the wind

This is the back of our house , banana palms broken, and manioc trees snapped off.  (manioc is like a taro. The roots are a staple for cooking, and making a flour.

Another shot of the back of the house

This is the flooded road behind our house (you can see the flood in some of the other shots)

This pawpaw was cut down to prevent damage to the house.  It took only a couple of cuts and the wind snapped it off.  The cyclone advisory advised to cut off branched of the bananas and pawpaw to reduce the damage caused by the cyclone.

The road outside outside our place after a hour or so of heavy rain.  That is a lake now, there is usually three separate big puddles.  It is the width of the road and about 30 metres long.  Probably about a half metre deep.  We wont be walking out that way for a while.  We will have to walk up the hill, which takes a few minutes longer to get to town.  Apparently there is bad flooding down in Vila today