We had an interesting and fun weekend.   We went to a Tourist Fair at a large park.  There were several huge tents set up featuring different geographic area of Chile with foods, crafts, and tourist information about each.  We got really excited to tour the country and got some great ideas of things we'd like to see and do at the end of our mission!

In the evening we went to a ward "Emergency Preparedness Fair".  It was fun to see the local police, volunteer firemen and Red Cross.  The Relief Society had a booth with Emergency Foods - Chilean style!  I tried to get some recipes but it was all a "little of this and a little of that".  We had a chuckle at the poster for "Rat Control".  We met three ward members who have received Perpetual Education Loans and heard how these loans have improved their lives.

Sunday afternoon was the Piano Recital.  Sister Mikesill and Sister Karren have been teaching 14 children piano lessons for over a year.  The children practice on keyboards.  When I moved here Sister Mikesill asked if I play piano -- when I answered, "No...well a little..." she said, "Great, we need you to teach!"  So the next week a mother cornered me at church and speaking Spanish asked me to teach her son.  I got the drift of her request, and asked Richard to help me set up a time and place.  So for two months I've been "teaching" Matias -- which is pretty scary since I can teach piano about as well as I speak Spanish! 

A replica of the capsule that was used to rescue the trapped Chilean miners

Enlarged replica of Chilean "mummy"

Our new missionary friends, the Candland's learning about the "mummy"

Traditional Mapuchi

Replica of Mapuchi hut

Mapuchi drums and chant

Cueca dancers and the hairy guy in the back is dressed like Robinson Crusoe to advertise Robinson Crusoe Island

Adorable "cueca" dancing kids

Easter Island Natives

Alfredo Hirsh, Elder and Sister Pope and Mauricio Farfan--Alfredo works at the PEF office and Mauricio is a volunteer

All Bomberos in Chile are Volunteers

 

Carabineros

Emergency Preparedness Information

Brick Hermosilla --After getting his PEF loan and 2 year degree he became a warehouse superviser at Honeywell-Chile -- wants to further his education.

Fanny Pino and her family -- she has a PEF loan

Mauricio and Bishop Fernando Campo -- both have PEF loans

The Piano Recital

Matias Cotal del Canto

        Friday was a landmark day for us in Chile.... It was our first of several required trips to the police station and other government buildings to get proper documentation to stay in the country longer than our tourist visas allow.  There is a church member here who is a taxi driver, who has "fine tuned" the art of navigating the system for LDS missionaries.  He drives missionaries to the various buildings, leads them through the maze of lines and people to the correct office and desk that is needed.
       For some unknown reason when we were on the plane the stewards passed out a form to be filled out for each passenger.  Richard says he asked and was told "one per family", but after arriving in country we found out we both needed that piece of paper.  So I needed to go to the police station to fill out a form and have it stamped.  One of the other missionaries had lost her "carne" card which is the national ID card (that's what we are all working toward), so we went to a different office and line for her.  And another missionary went to pick up her carne card -- only to be told her paper work had been lost and she must start the process over again -- that means another day of standing in several lines at several buildings!
       On a brighter note, we went to dinner at the most amazing seafood buffet that we've ever seen!  We're already planning a return visit.

     Saturday Richard and I took the metro to Santa Lucia, which is a beautiful park, trails and an old fortress/church overlooking the city.  As we exited the metro we heard music and shouting and saw a parade coming up the street -- at least we thought it was a parade  -- until we realized it was a political protest.  In the front of the parade were Mapuchi Indians dressed in native costume.  Further back, however it looked more like college-age protesters.  The police were lined along both sides of the road.
      Richard didn't want us to get caught up in a protest, so we circled wide around and went up the hill overlooking the ruckus.   We watched as the parade rounded the corner and when it was out of sight, the bands and music stopped and the shouting became very loud.  We watched the police dressed in riot gear baracade the road and armoured vehicles pulled into position as the police walked up the road.  What happened beyond where we could see we don't know, but it was obvious that the police disbanded the protest and within a short time things quieted down.

The line outside the police station -- the line was much longer inside!

The most amazing seafood buffet we've ever seen.

Santa Lucia

Skyline of Santiago

Another direction of Skyline view -- Andes in background (behind the smog)

Carabinero's ending the protest

Santa Lucia

More scenes at Santa Lucia

Gates of Santa Lucia and one of the thousands of street dogs of Santiago -- this one reminded us of Gus!

Well, it looks like it is my turn to update our blog.  These last two weeks have been very busy.  A week ago Monday night, we learned at our home evening group that a counselor in the MTC (Mission Training Center), Elder Gilbert had been diagnosed with a ruptured heart valve, and was going in the next morning for open heart surgery.  The MTC here in Santiago is a little unusual since some of the 90 missionaries live on site at the church facilities and the rest live in a 100 year old home that used to be the Swiss embassy back in the 50's.  This counselor and his wife run this part of the MTC with only one staff member.  To make a long story short, Evone and I have been over there off and on for the last couple of weeks helping sister Gilbert get breakfast for 40 hungry young missionaries, and then cleaning up afterward.  We would then return to our offices to complete our regular work.  It has been a wonderful experience being around these wonderful young missionaries, to feel of their strength, their warmth and their love of our Heavenly Father.  We truly enjoyed our experience with them and with sister Gilbert.  Elder Gilbert arrived back home yesterday, so we are back to our usual schedule.

Last week we also had the opportunity of attending a 3 day career workshop which is taught by one of our employment centers here in Santiago.  The two men who taught this workshop were simply outstanding.  I have attended many a workshop over my career, and I will tell you that this was the best workshop I have ever attended.  We had 6 people who were in attendance at the class, 5 members of the church and one non-member.  The age ran from 21 to somewhere in the 50 year range.  We had two young return missionaries, a lady from Russia who spoke very little English and very little Spanish.  The workshop helped these people learn how to write a resume, how to tell a perspective employer who they were in 90 seconds, how to prepare for an interview, and then finished up by having them come to the class dressed as if they were going to a job interview.  Each one of them had the opportunity of doing a 20 minute interview and being filmed so they could review them later.  It was amazing to see the difference in these people at the end of the workshop.  They had such confidence and radiated enthusiasm.  I would have hired any of the 6. 

Today, Evone and I ran into one of the participants in the workshop that I mentioned earlier.  She told us that she was scheduled for an interview tomorrow with a big hotel here in Santiago.  She also told us that they wanted to do part of the interview in English.  She was very nervous, but you could see here excitement and enthusiasm.  This young lady is from Spain and served her mission here in Santiago.  She married a young man from Chile and they have only been married a short time.  It is truly wonderful to be working with these wonderful young people who want a better life, and are willing to work for it.  VERY FULFILLING FOR US!!

Lastly, we had a "despedida" (a farewell party) for our director of Perpetual Education Fund, Ricardo Gonzalez.  After 5 years as director, he has been assigned to a new department and position.  We were so very sorry to see him leave.  He and his wife and their three beautiful daughters have been so kind to Evone and I since arriving here two months ago.  On the positive side of things, he is now on the floor just below us, so we will still be able to see him and continue this wonderful relationship.

The MTC for the missionaries living off site.  This was the original mission home for Chile which the church purchased back in 1962.  It was the second piece of property the church purchased in Chile.  It was the old Swiss Embassy dating back to the early 1900's.  An absolutely beautiful house.  Many of the church leaders and church presidents have stayed in this house.  It served as a mission home for the Santiago North mission up until a year ago when they had to convert it to the overflow MTC.

After an early morning breakfast of pancakes, the missionaries are heading out to the bus

A group picture of the missionaries we had the privilege of serving this past week

Sister Ruth Vargas (a volunteer at the call center) doing the Cueca (national dance of Chile) for brother Ricardo Gonzalez and his wife at the farewell party (despedida).  Ruth also comes up to our office several days a week to help Evone with her Spanish.  We truly love her.

Me inside the "Bega", Santiago's largest feria (famers market), and believe me, it is HUGE!!  Ricardo Gonzalez and his wife took us to the market

Piles of greens trimmed from the vegetables being sold at the "Bega".  There were similar piles all over the parking area