The day before the eye of the super typhoon passed over the island of Saipan, Temara gathered her two sons and hurried to her father’s house for protection. In the chaos of grabbing valuables and packing the car to leave, Temara stopped, placed her hands on the doorframe, and prayed that God would protect their home—and bring them safely back.
Tamara reflects on God’s faithfulness through the help she’s received since that day.
VIDEO SCRIPT
May 14, 2026
IP-260501-Saipan-Typhoon-Response-Temara-WEB-MIX
00:00:00 Speaker 1
I was standing at the doorframe of my bedroom.
00:00:02 Speaker 1
I asked God for His protection over us, over the home that my husband and I put our love and our work into.
00:00:10 Speaker 1
I needed that strength because my husband wasn’t here.
00:00:14 Speaker 1
The winds were louder than my thoughts, and it terrified my kids.
00:00:20 Speaker 1
I got to my parents’ place.
00:00:22 Speaker 1
I’ve never encountered a typhoon this long.
00:00:25 Speaker 1
I was finally able to go outside.
00:00:28 Speaker 1
My road was blocked with branches and trees.
00:00:32 Speaker 1
I wasn’t sure that my home was going to be okay.
00:00:35 Speaker 1
And when we got here and I saw my home, immediately my heart just sunk.
00:00:40 Speaker 1
We don’t have power.
00:00:41 Speaker 1
We don’t have water.
00:00:42 Speaker 1
The mold here is starting to build up.
00:00:44 Speaker 1
This house wasn’t going to be livable for us.
00:00:48 Speaker 1
My husband was away on military training.
00:00:52 Speaker 1
There were a million things running through my mind.
00:00:54 Speaker 1
I didn’t know how to move forward.
00:00:57 Speaker 1
It wasn’t until Sunday. One of the songs that they sang was “Firm Foundation.”
00:01:07 Speaker 1
There was always some way that God reminded me that He was there.
00:01:17 Speaker 1
Samaritan’s Purse just offloaded here in Saipan.
00:01:20 Speaker 1
Puck lights, tarps, generators, all things that the people of Saipan need following this super typhoon.
00:01:26 Speaker 1
Getting these supplies out to the people of Saipan as fast as we can.
00:01:30 Speaker 1
When I got the resources from Samaritan’s Purse, I cried all the way home to my parents.
00:01:36 Speaker 1
It was God working in the midst of the chaos.
00:01:47 Speaker 1
I want everybody to know how faithful our God is.
00:01:51 Speaker 1
Even though my home was damaged, He did protect us.
00:01:55 Speaker 1
He kept us safe.
00:01:56 Speaker 1
Just the fact that we’re alive, we’re here, we’re grateful.
00:02:04 Speaker 1
“Christ is my firm foundation, the rock on which I stand.
00:02:10 Speaker 1
When everything around me is shaking, I’ve never been more glad.
00:02:16 Speaker 1
I put my faith in Jesus.
00:02:19 Speaker 1
He’s never let me down.
00:02:22 Speaker 1
Faithful through generations, so why would He fail now? “
00:02:29 Speaker 1
This is where He strengthens our faith.
People Interviewed and their Titles
Tamara – Saipan resident
Recording Location
Saipan
Organization featured in this Story
Samaritans Purse – www.samaritanspurse.org
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