Despite the thick volcanic ash and rock that has blanketed the Philippines, Church members - many of whom were left homeless and without electricity or running water - have been resilient and "very much of good cheer," reported Elder L. Lionel Kendrick.

"We are tremendously pleased with how the members and leaders are responding to this disaster," said Elder Kendrick of the Seventy, who is president of the Philippines/Micronesia Area. "In many cases members have been frightened, but they are very up and have performed in a remarkable way under very adverse conditions. We have great faith in our members that they will bounce back and get on with their lives."Two members of the Church were killed, several meetinghouses were damaged, and the homes of many members in stakes surrounding the volcano were destroyed when Mount Pinatubo erupted June 9. Pinatubo, which lies 50 miles north of Manila, came to life after being dormant for 600 years.

Benjamin Ravanta Doctolero of the Olongapo 2nd Ward, Olongapo Philippines Stake, and Jewel F. Celestino, 14, of San Felipe Branch in the Iba District were killed in separate incidents when the roofs of their homes fell on them.

Most members have been accounted for, but priesthood leaders are still attempting to contact less-active members. All missionaries are safe and have been moved outside the danger zone.

A ward meetinghouse in San Marcelina, the Church building closest to the west side of the volcano, received the greatest damage. The weight of ash, made heavier by rain, caused the roof to cave in. San Marcelina is 22 miles west of the volcano.

The heavy weight of volcanic ash also caused significant damage to the roof of the Olongapo Stake Center. The ash was about a foot deep when it rained, turning it into almost a cement-like mixture. The stake center is about 25 miles southwest of the volcano.

Structural engineers must still assess the damage of the two buildings. Several other meetinghouses received only minor damage. The Manila Temple was not damaged.

During the heavy ash fallout in Olongapo, members of the Castillejos Branch in the Olongapo Stake, under the direction of the branch president, shoveled ash off their branch meetinghouse roof to prevent it from caving in.

"Tremendous faith is being exhibited on the part of the members," Elder Kendrick remarked. Every building had ash removed by members and priesthood leaders and there is a "great spirit of willingness to restore that which was lost."

About 5,000 members were affected by the series of eruptions, he said. "We approximate, at this point, that probably 80 percent of the homes of members in the Olongapo area have been damaged or destroyed."

The Angeles Stake on the east side of the volcano was also affected, but not as much. Elder Kendrick said leaders estimate that 40 percent of member homes have been damaged or destroyed.

Priesthood leaders are continuing to make an assessment of damage in the region. The ash covered roads two to three feet deep in some areas.

"The conditions are very bad in those regions," Elder Kendrick added. "Electricity is out. It may take two to three months for power to be restored in some areas. The water supply was out, but for the most part is back in."

Elder Kendrick and Elder Durrel A. Woolsey, second counselor in the area presidency, traveled to the Olongapo area soon after the initial eruption to make a personal inspection of damages and to try and lift the spirits of members. Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, first counselor in the area presidency, traveled to the Angeles area along with Elder Ambrosio C. Collado, the regional representative.

Both groups also went into the areas with LDS physicians to meet with people assembled at Church buildings to treat those in need and give them precautionary instructions to avoid any outbreak of disease.

About 200 people took refuge in the stake center in Olongapo, staying in a wing of the building where the roof was not damaged.

"We've taken medical and food supplies in and some equipment to help them clear up debris around homes and Church buildings," Elder Kendrick explained. "Once we are through the crisis situation, we will begin the second phase of rebuilding homes and relocating families."

With the rainy season approaching, however, many areas now face flooding problems and the threat of mud flows of deep volcanic debris down a number of rivers on the volcano's steep slopes.

Flooding in the Angeles area has already caused some people to be evacuated to higher ground, Elder Kendrick remarked.

"We feel that our members are in safe locations at the present time. Our major concern at this particular point is the potential for mud slides and flooding. We are entering the typhoon and rainy season now, so there is some concern for what will happen in the weeks ahead.

"An earthquake, the fringe of a typhoon and the eruption of the volcano all came in the same period of time," Elder Kendrick explained. "The first major explosion started about 3 p.m. and followed with a series of eruptions. We've had many tremors since then."

The volcanic eruptions from June 9-15 killed 343 people, and left about 250,000 homeless, with thousands of homes and buildings destroyed.

According to an Associated Press article, Philippine chief volcanologist Raymundo Punongbayan said Mount Pinatubo had ejected about 2 billion tons of debris, or 10 percent of its reservoir of magma, or molten rock.

Mount Pinatubo shot a cloud of ash and steam nearly 19 miles high on June 14 in the biggest eruption since it came to life June 9. The eruptions are the biggest in the Philippines this century. The 4,795-foot volcano began spewing steam in April.

*****

(Additional information)

Temple is OK; missionaries safe

The heavy ash fallout from Mount Pinatubo did not damage the Manila Philippines Temple, reported Elder L. Lionel Kendrick, president of the Philippines/Micronesia Area. All missionaries are reported safe and have been moved outside the danger zone.