Caves & Cake

Sunday we attended Sacrament Meeting in the Mallig Branch.  The Mallig chapel is built on stilts and was dedicated last June. 

We both gave talks and Steve did some temple recommend interviews.  After church, we drove until we found a shady spot where we could stop and eat our picnic lunch of roast beef sandwiches, chips and grapes.  We drove to Tuguegarao, the largest city in our mission and checked into the Mango Suites.  As we got our luggage out of the car, two young missionaries spotted us and stopped to say hello.  We invited them to go to the Callao Caves with us the next day.

The last time we visited Tuguegarao, we got lost in the maze of busy streets.  This time we were prepared with data on our smartphone, so we could use Google Maps to find our way. The data cost 750 pesos for a month, which is the equivalent of about $15 US dollars.  So worth it!  It was much easier than stopping and asking for directions.  In Tuguegarao it is not uncommon to see horse-drawn carts riding on the congested streets with cars, motorcycles, and tricycles. 

Monday, we packed up and headed out for the caves.  We had planned to meet the Elders at Robinson’s Mall.  They ran out of load on their phone, borrowed a phone and called to say they were at Mcdo (the Filipino term for McDonald's).  In the Philippines, if you don’t have a phone or your phone is dead, you can walk up to most any stranger and they will let you use their phone.  Filipinos love to be helpful.

It cost 20 pesos to enter the cave, but we got a discount for Senior Citizens and paid 15 pesos.  Our guide was a beautiful young woman who was a senior in high school.  The guides earn money through voluntary donations for their service.  

She not only provided us with details about the seven chamber cave, but she also took many pictures of us.  We ascended 184 steps to reach the cave entrance.  There is a chapel in the second chamber, where they hold a mass the first Saturday of every month.

Fun Photos are taken in the cave under a sky-light, by our guide.

When we arrived back at the office, the other Senior Missionaries surprised me with a birthday cake.

One of our recently returned missionaries sent me this sketch for my birthday.  She said it was a "quick sketch".  I think it's great!

Meeting in a humble home, teaching about our loving Heavenly Father, warms our hearts!  We are always grateful for the opportunity to teach with our young missionaries.

This blog is our missionary journal.