Tsunami Scare -- Fiji Spared

When three earthquakes rattled Vanuatu today (Thursday morning at 10 AM local time / 6 PM EDT), the regional tsunami center in Hawaii issued a tsunami alert for the South Pacific islands, including Fiji.  Kent heard the announcement on the radio and Becky quickly checked the website to verify that the first wave of a potentially devastating tidal wave could be in Fiji  by 11:40 AM (Fiji time).  

The sirens at the Lautoka wharf with the PA system warnings told us that this was a real evacuation alert. By the time Kent arrived at our house, the kids and I had grabbed the evacuation pouches with all vital documents, the laptops,  bottled water, our prescription medications, and cameras. We did have time to make  the required phone call to CEF's Crisis Management Team as well as to  our parents to alert them that we were evacuating.  We took a back road up to a high mountain perch where we gathered with many others to watch the ocean and wait. It looked so peaceful.  Within an hour and a half, the all-clear sign was given to return home. 

Given the severity of destruction in Samoa caused by a tsunami last week, we are deeply grateful to the Lord for His divine protection here in Fiji today.  The destruction here could have been massive, but God was gracious to us.   

LORD,  WE THANK YOU!