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