By: Daphne Culanag

Snow Covered Peaks
Last mid-term break thirteen of us (3 priests. 3 nuns, 4 OTPs & 3 Lay Missionaries) went in a week long trip across the Northern Provinces of Pakistan to the Chinese border. We really had much fun though we spent most of it traveling (by wagons or on foot. On June 29 we left Hunea (where we had been sleeping in tents) for a seven hours wagon trip to the Chinese border and there celebrated Mass in a snow covered field, more than 16,000 feet above the sea level.

Longest Line
It was a most memorable trip for us nine Columbans as we recalled our beginnings and our new Vision 2000. Sr. Divina prayed the Our Father in Cantonese, and Auring and I had the chance to play in the snow as we came ahead of the group before Mass. I celebrated my first birthday (my 31st) in Pakistan and the owner of the Inn where we stayed for four nights wished me life a long as theirs in that place, Hunea, where the people have the world record of longevity .

His Care and Love
During the trip, we saw the wonders of God’s work here in Pakistan: the mountains, the brown, green and snow covered peaks, the trees, the many colored flowers, magnificent trees the Indus River, streams and springs (where we often stopped to draw our drinking water). All spoke of God’s love, beauty, goodness, faithfulness and generosity. The camaraderie, the joy, we shared spoke of His care and love. Indeed, God’s presence among us can be seen, felt and witnessed all around us if we are only open, and we can miss it if we are too engrossed with our own selves, our plans and projects. He offers truly the fullness of life to those who are ready and desirous of it.

Home Away from Home
Last July 17, a Sunday, the Filipino community, here in Murree has a picnic at the grounds behind Oxford Villa and what fun we all had among ourselves. Dodo, (the only priest around) the Columban sister Divs and Perlita, us five lay missionaries. Sr. Lyn, a medical mission sister and Raul, a Carmelite brother. We had chicken barbecue, inihaw na mais, a lot of mangoes, ginisang okra, spaghetti, softdrinks and a lot of Filipino music. We even put up colorful paper bandaritas on one side of the “picnic ground.” We had fun too with the games a group relay we called “Magtanim ay Hindi Biro,” musical chair- trip Pakistan, the boat is sinking, and Filipino tongue twisters like repeating “ “ Pasko Paksiw” , ang relo ni Leroy Rolex”, and Minekaniko ni Monico ang minica ni Monica “. We will be sending you photos of the unfilled day when they are developed.