Nov 18, 2013

We haven't done anything exciting this past week.... lots of computer work...emails, reports, phone calls...just keeping the Perpetual Education Department afloat until the new Self Reliance Center opens in January!  We visited the employment center that we will be working with the other day.  With all the changes that are taking place, we sometimes wonder if what we are doing is making a difference.  As we look back at some of our experiences, we have had some very sweet and tender moments.  A young man who works as a teacher at the MTC (mission training center) called Richard a week or so ago to let him know that he was a participant in the PEF (perpetual education fund), and wanted to know if he could come up to our office to say hello and introduce himself.  Of course we were thrilled that he called.  As we visited, he informed us that he was going to be graduating this next spring with two degrees.  He was such an outstanding young man with a deep testimony of the gospel and had such confidence in what he was doing and what his future looked like.  Richard and he finished their discussion with a big abrazo (hug), the way men in Chile greet and say good bye to each other.  He was also proud to tell us that his wife also had a PEF loan, and she too would be graduating in the spring as well.  We have had a number of these types of experiences, and each one leaves us with the knowledge that we are indeed on the Lords errand.

We decided to walk the mile back to our office and we stopped off at the Costenera Center for lunch -- the largest most amazing shopping mall we've ever been in.  And even though it is starting to feel like summer, the shopping centers -- just like in the USA-- are decorated for Christmas.  I had to take a picture of the tallest Christmas tree I've ever seen!

Notice it is at least 5 stories high -- no it is not real!

It amuses me that the sign is in English

Richard -- to give proportion to size -- We need to go back and get us both in a picture -- this will be our only Christmas "decoration" this year!

Last Friday we went to the Santiago West Mission Office to meet the Livingston's -- a new senior couple who just arrived that morning to join us with Perpetual Education/Self Reliance.  Truthfully they looked like "Shell-shocked puppies" and it only got worse as the young missionaries drove us to the apartment they had rented for them.  The young missionaries were so excited to tell them the apartment was furnished with a new sofa, new table and chairs, new bed, new fridge, new stove and new washer and dryer on the way.  I was getting a little jealous as I thought about our awful, old, torn, over-sized maroon and green floral sofa, dining table with 2 broken chairs, OLD stove with only two working burners and an oven that I have to light every time I use it  and the used mattress we sleep on...  Well when we got to their apartment and saw how stark empty it is, with light bulbs hanging from the ceiling and only the things I mentioned in the apartment, I realized how lucky I am to live in an apartment that has been home to many senior missionaries over the past 10 years who have all purchased "stuff" to make it more liveable!  I told Richard on the way home to kick me in the shins if I complain about our ugly green carpet or awful sofa again .... I will still moan about our temper mental hot water heater every time I shower, but I am certainly going to be more grateful!

We checked in with them Sunday morning and learned that a hose leading to the toilet had burst, so Elder Livingston had to round up some tools from the building manager while Sister Livingston crimped the broken hose and dumped buckets of water into the tub... They got the water shut off and made it to church!  Richard then took the Metro to meet them and bring them back here for dinner.  So after a hot meal (because their new stove still doesn't work) and phone calls and Facetime with their kids -- they were ready to face a new day.  Today they are doing much better...FOREIGN MISSIONS FOR OLD FOLKS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!!!

I wanted to brag a little.... my first meal baked in my oven burned because we had the broiler and oven on at the same time.  The second meal I baked was raw and took an extra hour to cook.  But Sunday I fixed a FABULOUS dinner !

Chicken strips, grilled veggies, grilled potatoes, Artesian crusty bread and Apple crumb dessert