'P' Day Hike

2 February 2009

Mount Pinatubo, Zambales, Phillippines

Two things that we need to report on this blog. #1- We had Sister Lant, General Primary President and her husband visit here in Tarlac on Saturday afternoon. She spoke in three consecutive meetings giving great direction to the auxiliaries. The first two were leadership and the last was a devotional meeting and we heard from her husband and Elder Ko of the Area Presidency as well. All meetings were well attended and the members thronged the group for pictures after the meeting.

#2- Was our ‘P’ day activity on February 2nd. Our mission presidency organized a senior couple’s hike to Mount Pinatubo’s crater lake. This lake was formed after the top 900 feet of the mountain blew off in a volcanic eruption in 1991. It is part of the mountain range that is close to Clark AFB and the eruption closed Clark AFB. The US turned the base over to the Philippine government for their use and they cleaned up the ash residue from most of it. Our mission home is located on the old base.

We loaded into two old Jeeps and a Dodge Ram and drove in the early morning up a river bed crossing the river a number of times. We then drove up into the mountains for an hour until we arrived at the trailhead. Fourteen of us with two guides hiked for one and a half hours criss-crossing a stream and climbing over rocks until we arrived at the lake. The view was worth it as you can tell. We rested and had our lunch in this pristine part of the world. Our hike out was a little slower because some of our group were worn out.
We had a great day, a bit of sun and would do it again.

Elder NB & Sister MB