When Kaneohe Hawaii State Relief Society Pres. Mary Smith watched news reports about Mount Pinatubo erupting in the Philippines, she had no way of knowing it would directly affect her or some of the sisters in her stake.

Earlier in the year, the Relief Society presidency -- following a challenge given by members of the general Relief Society board -- asked the stake's nine ward Relief Societies to increase their acts of service, not just to Church members, but to people in their communities.The chance came whe n the state's "Volunteer in Service" organization contacted Church leaders saying the family support services division of the United States Organization and the American Red Cross, desperately needed volunteers to help them with some 15,000 Americans evacuating the Philippines.

Military and commercial flights were bringing them into Hickam Air Force Base and the Honolulu International Airport.

"Most of them were arriving with only one or two suitcases and what they could carry onto the planes," said Betsy Morris, Red Cross volunteer coordinator. "They literally abandoned their homes and worldly possessions and escaped with their lives."

The evacuees were taken from Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines, to Cebu, Philippines, and then to Guam. They traveled by military planes, Navy warships and carriers and commercials flights. From Honolulu, they were sent to an Air Force base in the continental U.S. (See related story beginning on page 4.)

Volunteers were sought to help families with their needs, and to provide emotional and moral support. Booths were set up at the airports to assist the evacuees.

Volunteers were assigned to work with families from the moment they arrived until their departure. The assignment lasted anywhere from three to six hours. Babysitting, finding lost luggage and feeding and clothing families were just some of the volunteers' duties. After receiving written instructions and an orientation, the volunteers stood in line at the gates ready to assist the families.

"When the mother I was assigned to help saw me coming to assist her and her five children off the plane, her face just lit up," said Marlee Galer, Kaneohe 4th Ward Relief Society president.

"The family had been through so much, and the mother was exhausted and feeling ill. While she rested, I fed and cared for the little children and an Army officer tended the older ones. Her husband will be in the Philippines until August, so she was all alone and had her hands full. I was so glad to be there to help her."

Huanani Kauahi of the Kaneohe 4th Ward cradled a crying infant for three hours so the baby's mother could rest and get medical attention. "My youngest child is 28 years old, so it's been a while since I've carried a baby for long periods. My arms and joints were beginning to ache, but I didn't mind because [the serviceT made me feel good."

Full-time missionaries from the Hawaii Honolulu Mission also helped in the volunteer efforts.