This page features photos of Latter-day Saint missionaries giving service after Typhoon Haiyan devastated parts of the provinces of Cebu, Leyte, and Samar. On November 8, 2013 one of the most powerful storms ever recorded, with sustained winds nearing 200 mph, struck the Philippines. One of several landfalls was south of Tacloban. The next day missionaries from the Tacloban Philippines Mission gathered in Tacloban to offer assistance to those in need.
Missionaries along with other volunteers in Tacloban pose prior to helping prepare relief supplies for people in the community. All missionaries in the 21 Philippine missions survived Typhoon Haiyan including 204 serving in the Tacloban Philippines Mission.
Missionaries alongside other volunteers wear Helping Hands vests as they repack rice inside a warehouse of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Tacloban.
Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serve for a period of 18 to 24 months and may begin service at age 18 for young men and age 19 for young women. In addition to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, they serve in the community.
Following the repackaging of rice, the missionaries along with Filipino soldiers distribute the goods in Tacloban to those in great need. Tens of thousands of residents lost all of their possessions with many perishing due to the destructive wind and storm surge caused by Typhoon Haiyan.
Philippine cabinet member Secretary Corazon Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (second row, third from right) was at the warehouse where missionaries assisted the government in food distribution to typhoon survivors.
Sister Yolanda Andaya (wife of Tacloban Philippines Mission President Jose Andaya) is seated (far left) together with missionaries serving in Tacloban. Because of the extreme damage caused throughout the mission, the missionaries have been re-assigned among 11 missions throughout the country and hope to return soon to the cities and communities where they have loved and served the people of the Philippines.