First week of Fall in Chile

Cathedral, post office, and art sellers on Plaza de Armas in Santiago

Inside the cathedral

The central post office is a beautiful old building next to the historical building and cathedral and has a wonderful exhibit of stamps, typewriters, phones, telegraph machines, etc.

Photo of Cerro Santa Lucia in the 1800's is part of the Historical Museum's interesting collection

First built as the Palace of the Real Audencia in 1808, the bell tower was rebuilt with one less floor after the 1850 earthquake. The brick and mortar has been reinforced, as has almost every building here.

The telephone...a great invention.... has come along way, but cell phones aren't as pretty!

Mailboxes ("buzon") over the years. As elsewhere, email, etc. has almost replaced the postal box and the "letter."

The first Chilean stamp was printed in 1853 featuring Columbus

I always enjoy exploring the city center. This view of the Cathedral was taken from the historical museum tower, which was also the Presidential Palace before La Moneda was built. 

Sunday late afternoon or evening Sister Umber and I usually take about a 2-hour walk . This is Plaza (General) Baquedano , along the river; metro hub, with lots of restaurants and businesses.

I am enjoying getting to know people in the ward. I enjoyed dinner and "Family Night" with the Ramirez (Benjamin,Silvana, Edgardo, Isidora) family. He was bishop for almost a year before being called to serve in our stake presidency (several congregations) where he has served for 3 years now. He has spent time in Palo Alto, as he works for Hewlett-Packard. Their older daughter Connie is a student at BYU Provo, and the family is going to the US in June for a few weeks.
Almost every day in the temple I have wonderful experiences. Yesterday I was pleased to be able to help a new convert (taught in creole by the young elder who brought her) of three weeks perform baptisms in the temple for those who have died without the opportunity to have saving ordinances performed. She left her four children in Haiti with family to join her husband who has been here working in the coal mines in Chile for two years, as he had no work in Haiti. She is expecting her 5th child in May and hopes to see her other children soon. I am grateful to help with her with French. Later I was able to perform another ordinance in Portuguese. I am trying hard to improve my Spanish. Chile has its own expressions. Did you know that guagua is a baby here (in the DR it is a bus); a novio/a is a fiance, a pololo/a is a boyfriend/ girlfriend?  (in some Spanish-speaking counties both are just novio/a). Learn languages!!! Your experiences in life will be greatly enhanced!!!
As we approach Easter and remember the infinite Atonement of our Savior, that we might be forgiven of our sins and weaknesses, be buoyed up in our challenges, and live again with our Heavenly Father, with healthy bodies and happy minds and hearts, I have been deeply touched this week by another incident. A young police officer in France offered himself as ransom in place of a woman taken in a terrorist supermarket attack. When his mother heard of the incident she was not surprised that her kind and courageous son offered himself, dying that the woman might live. I'm thankful for a world where there are still so many good people like you doing amazing things.
Happy Easter and Happy Spring to those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Love,
Hermana Miriam

Santiago arts and human rights

Another great week, dividing my time between service in the temple, visits to museums and other Santiago places of interest, reading, receiving news from home, lots of walking, meeting and helping and learning from people from all over, working with English learners, reconnecting with people, such as seeing a young Elder who also served in Guayaquil, Ecuador, when I did, here at the temple from northern Chile. (events like this happen often). 

 There are about 300 Haitians arriving in Chile every day. I am impressed that there are educational centers to help these new immigrants learn Spanish and adapt to the Chilean culture. Many have visited the Fine Arts Museum and chosen paintings that inspire them in their new country. At the temple we have many Haitian gardeners who do a wonderful job and work very hard in the hot sun.

I appreciate Chile's apparent love of art and culture, their work ethic, pride in the gorgeous natural beauty, and desire to preserve democracy, and acceptance today of various religious persuasions. All of these exhibits called to mind the following......

In our church, we have 13 "Articles of Faith" to briefly explain our doctrine. #13 is as follows:
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent,virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul---we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
 

Violeta Parra's self portrait (on left) and other figures promoting peace (and war with gun) which she did through visual arts, music and poetry. She was first Hispanic American to exhibit individual works in the Louvre (1964)

The national dance "Cueca" and other works in "the Common Good" exhibit

Chillan Andes painting is one of many lovely landscapes in Fine Arts Museum

fisherman

Huaso (cowboy)

I enjoyed many wonderful exhibits at the Museum of Fine Arts and learned much about the Mapuche people, and various Chilean sculptors, painters and photographers. I also came to appreciate Violeta Parra, visual artist, musician and composer, folklorist (1917-1967), known and loved throughout Chile and internationally.

 

Unlike China with no term limits, and Putin just elected for a 4th term, another 6 years, Chile has a 2-term limit like in the U.S.. New President Pinera is back again this week for a second term (having had to alternate with Bachelet who has termed out). He is a Catholic conservative, (she a socialist) so there was an elaborate ecumenical ceremony at the cathedral.

 Monday lunch at the Hurleys with missionary Sister Whitaker (who just got a new companion from Australia, fresh from the MTC) and Sister Cordova (transferred to a Santiago suburb) with the Hurleys, Sister Umber, and a nice investigator Ricardo Gonzalez, who has an MBA from Tulane University in New Orleans.

That day I got a smaller bed and recliner and more space to pull out my table to invite guests, so at my place next time, I think. I love my comfortable room now, though I would love a real oven! 

The Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos keeps alive the violent coup d'etat of Pinochet who led the Chilean military forces in bombing the presidential palace La Moneda on Sept. 11, 1973, leading to the death of Salvador Allende and the detention, torture and death of 1000's of people. The Junta regime lasted until 1990 when a plebiscite called for his removal. He lived in exile and was not brought to trial in Chile. (no photos allowed inside)
In front is a typical Ruka, or Mapuche indigenous model house with central fire circle and wonderful examples of weavings and tapestries.

Also outside the museum is a display of the 30 international human rights and examples of many of the amazing proponents of these rights. The Mapuche were defeated and put onto "reservations" much as the north American native peoples, but they are still persistently fighting for their rights. I enjoyed their great exhibit at the Museo de Bellas Artes.
see many more photos with descriptions:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SVwDYKMANgy0IaC03

These weavings and tapestries illustrate the Mapuche culture. Likewise all the threads of our individual lives, the gold and silver (the joys and successes) as well as the dark strands (our mistakes, disappointments, failures) make us who we are. We may not see the big picture from our limited perspective while we live day to day, but I believe we will, eventually. I believe God allows us opportunities to be our best, if we have a positive attitude, are hopeful, and see the potential in ourselves and others.
May we all choose well how we spend our time and use our talents, that we may have many happy moments this week.
I miss you and think of you all often.
Love,
                     Hermana Miriam

Another full and varied week

Kids are kids wherever you go! Chileans dress like we do in the US. This "class" was learning to run and jump up this wall nearby. Just down the street is the temple, where almost every day is a wedding with photos outside in the gardens..

I miss you, my wonderful Palo Alto 2nd ward at home, feel and appreciate your support, but also love my new adventure in Chile! My last calling was as counselor in the Primary. We do not have ward callings as missionaries. We have an English Sunday School class, but everything else is in Spanish.

 

The temple gardens are well taken care of by Haitians, who are immigrating in large numbers to Chile. The dahlias remind me of Lorna who carpooled and served with me in the Oakland temple until she passed away in 2017. All the plants, flowers and trees are identical to California's flora.

It was such fun to have a short visit from Channing Hancock Christiansen, who grew up in my ward in Palo Alto, CA., we were in the Provo, Utah training center at the same time, she preparing to serve in Hong Kong while I was preparing to serve my first senior mission in Santo Domingo. She is here for a week of travel with her husband and son and other Harvard business school students to visit mostly the south of Chile. She was impressed with how nice the area is, and like me, loved to see the Saturday morning members walking to and from the temple and on the grounds.

Historical center of Santiago and nearby

Huge Plaza de Armas has a little bit of everything, from art sellers, chess and checkers players, people resting in the shade of large trees, and great street musicians, many of them Andean. I am always impressed with how many wonderful violinists and other classical musicians there are,

The pedestrian streets are very clean and lots of fun! This band was great!

The beautiful neoclassical cathedral on Plaza de Armas is very large and well-attended in this 99% Catholic country, especially during Lent. It was completed in 1800, but received renovations until about 1900. Previous cathedrals of the arch diocese had been destroyed by earthquakes.

In the National archives is a wonderful display about Chilean Independence, 1818, which was linked to many other Latin American countries with such leaders as Bolivar and San Martin and Chile's Bernardo O'Higgins. 

Santiago's oldest church, St. Francis, was built in 1572 and has a gorgeous ceiling and stone walls. The cloister was added soon after.

Small Cerro (hill) Santa Lucia (remnant of an ancient volcano) is thus named because  Pedro de Valdivia conquered it on December 13, 1540. It was used as a lookout in the Spanish Conquista days. In 1816, 2 forts (one is Fort Hidalgo) outfitted with cannons were built of stone and lime, on the other side was a cemetery for "dissidents" (non-Catholics), since transferred to the General Cemetery. The current buildings are from 1872.

View from the tiny top of the Santa Lucia hill. It was a hot climb, but we appreciated the view and the size of Santiago with its 7.3 million people.

For more photos, with descriptions, please click the link below:
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipNspILcCfdKDdxIp6QjuT7LwYjw1tGPKLNvzkYI

Life is good here. It is very much still summer with wonderful inexpensive fruits and vegetables sold at the many stands along the streets.  I am finally starting to know names, faces, and make connections, find my way around on the wonderful metro and some of the buses without always looking at a map.  

School starts tomorrow, but I don't know how that will affect temple attendance. It is a joy to participate in baptisms with the youth and adults, weddings, temple ordinances received for those amazing young people about to serve missions, the sealing ordinances which allow families to be eternal. I am so grateful for the beautiful plan that our loving Heavenly Father has for each of us if we are loving, helpful and understanding of our fellow beings, if we follow basic commandments and honor our covenants with Him. I love being a part of His work, doing my small part.

Love,

Hermana de Schweinitz