Scenes from the Philippines

As we travel up an down the mountains in Northern Luzon we have such beautiful vistas. This is a picture Sister Perkins took as we were heading up to Baguio on Kennon Road. There are a multiplicity of Bridges crossing over the river as the road switches sides often. This reminds us of the Canyons in Utah, but with much more foilage and tropical plants



This is two shots of the Baguio Area taken from the top of Mount Santo Thomas which is about 7400 feet above sea level. You are looking down at Baguio City which sits on the tops of the mountains. In the distance you can see many of the mountains of Luzon. The bottom of the picture in terraces are vegetable farms. The Philippino's plant any piece of land possible. The mountains are covered with small farms. In this area, and only this area are strawberry farms. It is too hot in the lowlands to grow many vegetables and some fruits.






This is a shot from the road going up to the top of Santo Thomas. You can see the houses in the outskirts of Baguio.



Baguio has one airport that is built between two mountains. There is no commercial air service into and out of the city. The big problem is that clouds move in constantly so the visability is not conducive to flying planes on a regular schedule. So most people get up and down from Baguio by Jeepney, Bus, or car. You can see the end of the runway is a drop off down the mountain so there is no room for error in takeoff or landing. You get one shot.

You can see why we enjoy being here in Baguio. The climate is like the Northwest with cool nights, warm days, and rain off and on until the raining season when it rains, showers, and pours almost everyday. The people make all the difference for any inconvenience or weather. It is a joy to be here and associate with such wonderful people, members of the church, and the great young men and women who serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Flower Festival in Baguio

In Lingayen this beautiful Gazebo was covered with Flowers and Sister Perkins could not resist getting a picture of the building along with the flowers. This is not Baguio, but the flowers are in bloom everywhere.



The trees are in blossom. This is on the road to Aguilar

The next two shots were at the Lingayen Gulf World War II memorial. This is where many Philipinos and Americans lost their lives during the invasion of Luzon.

The flowers are now in full bloom in the Philippines and it is a beautiful time of year. We have had a Flower Festival in Baguio where they had parades and floats that were made 99% our of flowers. It is great to be here and enjoy the beauty of this wonderful country. I don't know the names of all the flora, but as the pictures show they are wonderful.

These floweres are just outside the mission office and greet us each day

More Beautiful Pictures of Baguio

Baguio Hills are covered with Pine trees, not like ours in the US, but still beautiful.


The sunset looking west over the roof of the Mission Home from the Misson Office, I have sen orange skies, but never pink and blue. The picture does not do it justice. The view was outstanding as the evening came on at the tops of the mountains in northern Luzon.

This is a view of the fields on top of the mountains. They farm everywhere. Most of what you see are vegetables and strawberry fields at 7400 feet high on top of Saint Thomas Mountain top.

Urdaneta Is Almost a Reality

It is exciting to see the beginnings of the Mission Office and Mission Home in Urdaneta. As you can see by the following pictures we are making progress.

The start of the Mission Office. the foundation and pillars are being built


This is looking east at the Mission Office

The Mission Home is two stories high and is further along than the office.

Hopefully the office will catch up with the home and be done at the same time.

The previous pictures were taken in November and as the work has progressed we have taken another set of pictures.

Christmas Eve Celebration

Our Christmas Celebration this year without our family was with the Mission President, President and Sister Allread at the Manor Hotel in Camp John Hay. It was an inside and outside affair. A cool breeze was wisping through the pines. There was live choirs, and a band that were playing Chrismas music as we ate our buffett dinner. They even had strawberries with chocolate covering. Yum. It was a fantastic evening. You can see the decroations which abound here during the holidays.


The hotel was decked out with beautiful Christmas decor.



This is the small choir that seranaded our evening. They were outstanding singers.

This is our party going group. We had three waiters taking care of everything for us. It was grand!.

Hey look a beautifuly decorated Christmas tree. We had to get a picture of one. Ours is non existent. Kind of puts us in the spirit for Christmas.

Christmas Zone Conference

What a great day it was on the 23rd of December to be with all the missionaries in our area of responsibility. Here you see the preparations for the gift exchange that we all participated in after the spiritual side of our meeting and lunch. Sister Perkins and I were amply rewarded with a gift from the missionaries.


This is the San Fernando La Union Zone who presented a skit on Brother Lehi and his missionary work. It was very entertaining.


Agoo Zone skit was about Alma and the Sons of Mosiah teaching the Zoramites. They even created a Rameumpton. Fun, Fun, Fun. Who said missionaries didn't have a sense of humor

The Baguio zone did an off scripture story of the convesion of King Lamoni. Again very entertaining and innovative.

December in The Philippines

On Christmas Eve day President Jensen, President and Sister Allred and President and Sister Perkins took time to drive up the very steep and sometimes rocky road to the top of Santo Thomas Mountain. There are just a few of the pictures from the top.

The picture at the start is a resevour at the top of Sto Thomas Mountain. It supplies to water to the people who live up hear at 7400 ft elevation


This is the terraced farming of vegetables that is all over the mountain. I like farming the lowlands myself.




This is the edge of the road going up to Mount Sto Thomas. Yes it is straight down and my stomach was very queezy at this point in the trip. Fortunately I was on the other side of the car.




This is looking down at Baguio and the airport from the road going up to Sto Thomas. We live at 5100 ft elevation in Baguio and are heading up to the top of one of the highest mountains. People live up at the top and farm vegetables up here. Unbelievable views!