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.

We began the week with a fun trip on our day off on Monday, to Cajon de Maipo, 2 hours southeast by bus from Santiago. Blue sky, fresh air, and great scenery felt good after a busy week.

Lots of rickety hanging bridges across the muddy Maipo River, and hike to two waterfalls, the "Spirits" (because some wranglers thought they had come across beautiful girls bathing in the falls, but they were seeing only "spirits") , and "Hummingbird Falls."

San Jose, a small sleepy town is gateway to Cajon de Maipo with River gorge, waterfalls, hikes to glaciers and lagoons

Santiago continues to be warm, always sunny, with lots of activity at the temple and in the neighborhood, as children and university students return to class.
Alma and I started the week with a 2-hour bus trip to the small, old, founded in 1792, adobe town of San Jose which is gateway to glaciers, lagoons, and very rugged mountains in Cajon de Maipo. We had a limited time, so chose a short but hot, dusty, strenuous hike to Las Cascades in a natural preserve, at about 6000' altitude, recommended by a couple we met there. Our small group of 6 was led by a guide/ naturalist. The mountains were beautiful, the waterfalls had only a small amount of water as it is dry this time of year. We hope to return in the spring and see more.
Chile is trying hard to take better care of its beautiful, spectacular environment. It is a highly forested land, but since lumber, water, and minerals are such valuable resources, there is a need to regulate what has been taken for granted. Recycling programs are good. We carry our plastics, paper, cans to the bins down the street.

Chile's new President Pinera takes office again on Monday. He and the out going president seem to take turns returning to office!
May you all have a wonderful rest of the weekend and a good week and soon a beginning of Spring. Because our seasons are opposite, we will end daylight savings in May! I will miss the warm summer evenings. I hope those of you who have had such a freezing winter will warm up soon!
Love,  Hermana Miriam