First was the qualifying of Chile to go to the World Cup Soccer playoffs. The night of qualifying they played Ecuador. It was like Friday night in a small town in Texas and a rival football game in the city stadium. We could not visit anyone. No one was on the streets, the town was closed.
As the game progressed you could hear all over town if Chile scored. At the end of the game you would think the World Cup had been one. Here is a picture of the Plaza in the center of town. It was jammed with cheering crowds. All because they made the Playoffs.
The second event is the elections which occur today. The prelims were 3 months ago. Here are two pictures of two streets we travel on regularly. Every lamp post, signpost, telephone pole is covered with campaign signs. they are not small signs either. I cannot believe the money spent on signs. I would like to have the concession for one election. It is amazing.
The third event was more important to us than to Chile but it will have long term spiritual effects on this area. We were privileged to have Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, one of the Church Apostles come to visit and to have a conference with the missionaries in Santiago. There were more than a 1,000 missionaries in attendance. It was amazing to see that many young Elders and Sisters who have sacrificed so much to serve the Lord.
Bonnie and I had some fun times also. We had to go to Valparaiso which is on the coast of Chile west of us here in Santiago. I had to transfer the title on my car. We were fortunate to stay in the vacation apartment of a member here in San Jose. They are on the 10 floor overlooking the bay. We are in a little town south of Valparaiso called Algarobos. Here is the view from our apartment.
On our way to Valparaiso, we stopped by a little town called Pomaire. It is a town specializing in pottery items of all kinds. I bought a pot belly stove miniature. Here are two pictures of a man making the bowls in the second picture. All the items are hand made. It is really neat.
While we were at Valparaiso we went to Isla Negra. It is not an island, it is the home of one of the houses of Pablo Neruda. He is a famous Chilean author and poet. He won the Nobel prize for literature one year and has written several books. He loved the sea and built this house in the shape of a boat. He called the area Isla Negra because of his love of the sea.
We ate lunch at a restaurant at the restaurant by the museum.
We took a walk yesterday with a couple in the Branch up a little canyon road to a secluded little river crossing. It was a beautiful walk and the view at the end was wonderful.
Farther up the canyon they have cabins you can stay in. We are told there is a swimming pool and very nice accommodations. You just have to have the right transportation to get there.
We had a great time. It was tiring but worth the trip.
We are teaching a family that lives up higher in the mountains. They are on some property owned by his father. One day we were there was at a time of changing the goats from one pasture to another. They have the goats in a holding pen during this day until they have them all collected. The next day they start a 4-5 hour treck up the canyon to put the goats into a different pasture. You can see how they are stacked in. The two in the picture are on a narrow wall over the remainder of the herd.
Finally one of our best days was when we were able to take a member of the Branch to the Temple for the first time. She had been less active but has felt the need and completely changed her life and is very faithful. Her going to the temple for the first time was a significant event and very much an influence for good on the branch. She is actually our neighbor and has been so kind to come to our house 2 times each week to help Bonnie with her Spanish. It is very helpful.
We are doing very well and the Lord has been more than generous with us in our lives. We love the Lord and love being here in his service.
