New Beginnings

                          New Beginnings and Promising Futures
It's nice to have a glamorous and lovely ceremony at this time when the world often seems to be falling apart! We have BBC, as our only English language channel, so of course the coverage was spectacular! The Royal Wedding of Prince Harry (fifth in line, I believe, to the British throne) and Meghan Markle (American actress in Hollywood, and of multi-racial parentage, was a historic and beautiful event much anticipated and watched throughout the world on a beautiful day, May 19, 2018. The African American bishop who preached a message of love, and Gospel music were part of the ceremony in Windsor chapel. 

They left the chapel in a horse-drawn coach, flanked by thousands of spectators from around the world.

 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry (often emotional) are called a very "modern couple." Both have been engaged in charitable work, she is older than he, divorced, very poised, Hollywood actress, American, and with an African- American mother.

 Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles escorted Meghan to the altar, as her own father was unable to attend. In attendance with Queen Elizabeth II was Harry's grandfather Prince Phillip, 97, recovering well from hip surgery. The radiant, much in love couple will be known as the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk.

Even the gorgeous cake was less traditional, lemon rather than fruitcake, and decorated with beautiful English flowers.

Another productive meeting bringing together black and white Americans took place this week as our new LDS President Nelson and other leaders met with NAACP president Johnson and others, calling for greater civility and racial harmony.

As children of God we all have a divine heritage. As has been said, we are divine beings having a mortal experience, to see if we will prove ourselves worthy to return to our heavenly home one day. So it really does matter how we live our lives! As my circle of friends grows, my knowledge expands, my world view and perspective grow, the more I treasure my old friends and family. As I serve in the temple, my faith in the eternal nature of family (my own ancestors and descendants) as the basic unit of society is confirmed, as well as the knowledge that we are one large human family, asked by God to be united in love and compassion. There is no room for contention, hate, intolerance.

We all love babies like my new grand-daughter, tiny Phoebe Carlston, who has succeeded her little cousin Cordelia as our family's youngest. Phoebe is blessed to join a loving family! And mom Julie says one newborn is easier to care for than her 2 sets of twins!

I am meeting so many wonderful families like the Guerras: he is a temple sealer (performs marriages and the uniting of families for eternity), son just returned from a mission, mom (Guille) is the ward primary president, temple worker and a student in the 
English class I will inherit in June.

The tree of life is a common and important symbol in Mapuche culture. We are all one huge and interconnected human family.

Sister missionaries Whitaker and Phillips, Sister Umber and I were invited for lunch with the Poulsens. Missionaries become like family, as we work and serve together.
This week I have been able to use my language skills to help twice with French-speaking Haitian sisters and with another in Portuguese. I sat by a young Indonesian-American woman and helped her in English. The world is small, and feels even smaller when we recognize we need others and learn from each other. In former days the Mapuche "longuin" (that's all one long horn) called the tribe together. I'm glad to have the internet!

 Sisters Whitaker and Phillips and a friend Gabriela and Alma came for lunch after church today. The crock pot I borrowed quit during the night, but everything turned out well food wise and we enjoyed conversation in my small apartment. Later that afternoon, Gabriela, who has been investigating the church, decided she wants to be baptized in June.

The Primary children came in to Relief Society (women's organization) today, sang and gave a rose and candy to each of us. The little boy, Alfonso, on the stool, gave a very confident little talk about mothers and shyly came up to me (not sure who I was with my white hair) and offered me his candy and flower.

I'm enjoying having so many experiences right here in the neighborhood. Finis Terrae University in the next block celebrated its 30th anniversary with the arrival of permanent exhibition with photographic replicas of the Christ's Shroud of Turin "Who is the Man (Christ) of the Holy Shroud? The story is very well documented and authenticates this relic with amazing and detailed explanations.

School groups waiting to see the exhibit

Finis Terrae began on the site (with the original building) of the English Granger School founded in 1924.

 Special photography techniques are used to replicate the imprinted cloth which was stained with Christ's blood and points of pressure from bones and wounds. It covered his body when lowered from the cross and placed in the tomb. Grains and pollens from about 58 species of plants native to the Middle East have been identified in the cloth. A map shows the route of travel from Jerusalem, through Constantinople, from where it was taken to northern Italy by the Savoy family. It eventually ended up in Turin and then at the Vatican. There are many details; this is simplification of a treasured relic.

 A replica of the crown of thorns

For centuries there were no paintings of Christ, and there are no descriptions of Jesus in the New Testament, so it was not really known what he looked like, except from Roman coins. Eastern Orthodox Catholics started making icons according to the coin images.  After the  Edict of Milan in 313 AD, and greater religious tolerance, Byzantine icons portrayed these images. From the 6th century there began to be many frescoes, mosaics, and icons throughout the Mediterranean, similar to the image and body of Christ on the Shroud.

One of my favorite places is the National Library, where I have been enjoying free university student concerts: sometimes piano, this week a chamber orchestra that played some student and Chilean compositions as well as Grieg and Mahler.

Tomorrow, May 21, is a national holiday, a commemoration of the Battle of Iquique, [part of the War of the Pacific] fought by Peru and Bolivia against Chile, off the coast of the then Peruvian port Iquique, eventually won back by Chile. The Peruvian Huascar (commanded by Grau) sank Chilean Esmeralda commanded by Arturo Prat (great naval hero). Nothing much happens in Santiago, but everything will be closed on our preparation day. It's too bad so many of our biggest holidays celebrate war victories! May you have a peaceful week. Maybe it can be the beginning of something wonderful for you!