Happy Mother's Day!

(As often happens, and I still don't know WHY!, these photos pop up often in the wrong spots, but here goes my blog for this week!)

At the National Library many of the columns are covered with life vests this month. It is commemorating the thousands of refugees and immigrants who have found safety in Chile.

Inside is an interesting exhibit on novelist and journalist Joaquin Edwards Bello, born in Valparaiso, Chile, in 1887, of British descent into the prominent Edwards family. He died in 1968, after writing of everyday Chile and Chileans. I love learning about important personalities and events in Chile.

Unlike Neruda and many others, he tried to stay neutral politically, though he wrote about historical and political events such as the Titanic, and local and international leaders.

Bello was described as a rich young man with a social conscience. He studied in Europe and Chile. I believe he also illustrated many of his books and published political cartoons in the Edwards family newspapers.

He was exiled to Brazil for one book he wrote.

He wrote another: A Chilean in Madrid

           

     Some more Santiago Street Scenes



Even some women shine shoes, drive taxis and buses.

Juices are popular and delicious.

Carabineros keep the streets safe and are helpful with directions, etc.

The streets are clean and garbage-free

Besides the street sellers and nice shops there are arcades with hundreds of small shops in Santiago.

Happy Mother's Day! Feliz Dia de las Madres! Bonne Fete des Meres

A wonderful group of Latin American missionaries about to leave from their three weeks training in the center here. They represent 6 different countries: Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Chile (?). Missionaries get to call their families on Mother's Day and Christmas. So for moms and missionaries it is  a twice a year treat! We have 67,000 full-time missionaries serving in 420 missions throughout the world.

Down at the corner of Pedro de Valdivia and Nueva Providencia is the plaza where we take the metro and blue buses most frequently. (Photos taken from the cultural center which often has exhibits).

We have loved having Neil and Vickie Hurley from Idaho Falls serving with us in the temple and have enjoyed each others' company during our free time. We had to say a quick good-bye this week, as Vickie had an eye problem that was deemed serious enough by the church authorities that she go home immediately for diagnosis and treatment. We miss them already. They have sadly been released from their mission here, and did not have time to say good-bye to most of their new Chilean friends. The church takes good care of our missionaries. There has been a safety survey to young missionaries, to find out how safe they feel in order to make changes where needed. The Lord protects them, but there are sometimes unforeseen dangers. They are kept as safe as possible.

 Neil became a sort of mentor to one of the gardeners/handymen, Joseph "Fegan" from Haiti . These Haitians and others work so hard to keep the temple and grounds in great shape. I enjoy exchanging greetings in French, but they are all learning Spanish quickly.

Below is the lawn where temple visitors hang out; on the right is the building where they can prepare food and have activities, such as wedding receptions; behind is the court where the training missionaries play basketball and soccer; and the large building is the church office building where we pay our bills, get help with visas, send some mail, etc. There is also the cafeteria inside where training center missionaries eat and there are classrooms for young missionaries.

 
In one of my days of wandering this week I visited the Presidential Palace, la Moneda, again, along with many others including this school group.

On the same block is the Cancilleria or Chile's Ministry of Foreign Relations, an impressive 17- story building. Formerly the Hotel Carrera from 1940-2003, it was the grandest hotel of its time, and designed by Josue Smith Solar (with help from his son Josue) . Hotel guests included Fidel Castro, Henry Kissinger, Charles de Gaulle, Nelson Rockefeller, Indira Gandhi, and Neil Armstrong. Very close to the Palacio de la Moneda, it served as temporary home for nearly every international journalist during Pinochet's 1973 coup d'etat, and many of the photos of the Palace's bombardment were taken from its windows and rooftop. It was also a bit damaged. It was hard to get a good view of the beautiful mural of the discovery of the Americas upstairs painted by the Spanish artist Luis Egidio Melendez. It faces the Moneda park/ Plaza de la Constitution.

I enjoyed this old apothecary. One can see all the old objects and instruments used to grind, crush, weigh medicines (many indigenous herbal remedies were combined with the more scientific ideas which came with the Spanish conquistadors), when more formal medicine came into practice here.

Today's Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia, built between 1905-1930, is somber on the outside, but beautiful, open and elegant on the inside. It houses the Supreme Court , Court of Appeals, and Military and Police Courts. In 1818, at Independence, the previous building housed the first National Government Assembly. Since the early days it has been the scene of public protests.

I love the kids. They are always eager to have their pictures taken (at least most of them!) Of course they also knock on my door, look in my window and keep us awake jumping off of bunk beds on the floor above!

The Ex Congreso Nacional, completed only in 1876, after many delays, was rebuilt in 1901 after a fire. Congressional sessions were held here until the dissolution of Congress by Pinochet in 1973. Today it houses the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. I have been trying to arrange a tour. In front is a statue of the Virgin which commemorates the 2,000 people killed in 1863, in a fire at the nearby Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus

Carlston siblings via Skype (what a blessing is video conferencing when you are far away from loved ones!) awaiting the birth of their little sister, born May 11, just in time for Mother's Day!

 And what a blessing and miracle is a new baby amidst the unrest and turmoil of today's world! Phoebe Anne Carlston is my 17th grandchild (and probably the last?!). Each one is precious. My daughter Julie and husband Peter are great parents, as are all my kids who are raising their families.
She weighed 6'3" and measured 20" and will go home to Millcreek, Utah in a few days!
Today's parents play a very important role in raising a strong, wise, resilient generation to face the increasingly complex challenges facing them as future leaders and citizens. I pray that many of the political changes we hear on the news will create positive results, and that the many inspired changes in church policies will strengthen the love we need to feel and show, and the support we all need to be for each other, that we may come closer together with people of every culture, race, and religion throughout the world. May we try harder to see others with the love and compassion our Heavenly Father has for each of us. Each of you is important to me. You may be far away, but are close in my thoughts.
Happy Mother's Day to moms everywhere, and and thanks to all who share love and wisdom and time with children .   Love, Hermana Miriam