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| Chileans love their snacks...vendors everywhere! |
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| And winter clothes, caps, scarves... |
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| wonderful fresh juices |
End of winter break, but still winter with some nice sunny days...
Santiago weather alternates between cold and sunny, cloudy, or rainy, but this part of Santiago does not have the flooding which other places have, so life goes on for us; but many don't leave home on rainy days, in places with less ideal conditions. Kids return to school this week, so there will be many fewer youth in the temple. I love those kids who come in groups or with their families, always smiling and in their Sunday best, ready to serve. Here are some playing basketball in their church clothes, taking a break. Usually the court is filled during their recreation hours by the missionaries from the training center. They play basketball or soccer on this court.
A few people said they hadn't seen a photo of ME with my daughter Anne at her wedding to Neil, so here it is. A great couple!
What a happy thing to have all five children happily married and leading good, productive lives. I just wish I didn't have to miss so many life events. My grand-daughter Lucie Taylor turned eight today and is being baptized as I write this. She is surrounded by my family who live close enough, and many Taylors, as Lucie's father's side of the family are having a giant reunion this week. In our church, children at age 8, when they are old enough to understand and choose, and can be accountable for their actions, as well as older people who choose to, are baptized by immersion usually in a font in a church building. They promise to: come unto God, be called his people, and "are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;...to mourn with those who mourn;...comfort those in need of comfort;...and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places,...even unto death,...that ye may have eternal life." The missionary program is in addition to what we are all encouraged to do as members as soon as we are baptized. And soon after we are baptized (usually on Sunday in church where they can be welcomed by the congregation, we receive confirmation, or the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide, direct, comfort, warn, teach truth, and to bring us peace and assurance. Today a middle aged man was confirmed in church after his baptism yesterday. We are so happy for him.
After church today two senior missionary couples came for lunch, along with my new friend Ricale Joseph who was born in Haiti, but spent 5 years in the DR where she and her brother (both in our Pocuro ward) joined the church and served missions. She served in Santo Domingo East mission so we know some of the same people. We got so busy talking, Ricale doing the dishes, and others helping me with appliances that needed fixing, that I forgot to take a photo, which is very unlike me!
The water in Santiago is potable but does not taste good with all the metals and "floro, cloro", etc. So, I've decided to switch to bottled water, which we should all store along with food, etc. for emergencies. It is recommended to have at least 1 gallon per person per day. That only allows for a small portion to be used for cleaning and cooking because an active person will need 1/2 -3/4 of a gallon just for drinking in mild weather. In summer here everyone is selling bottled "aguita" (ah-wheat-a).
There's snow in the mountains but not in Santiago, so I took a walk as it has been a beautiful day. The first are down the main street Pedro de Valdivia.
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| Those mountains are actually quite far away. Closer ones off to the north (left of these) have much heavier snow, but I can't get a good photo as there are too many buildings blocking the view. |
The following are happy Sunday nearby park scenes. I wish you could have smelled the caramel corn this vendor was making!
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| This could be almost anywhere. Most people live in small apartments, so love their parks, with Washington palms and many other big trees. |
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| Dogs, dogs, dogs! But most clean up after them, so the sidewalks are clean. |
I'm grateful to be basically healthy. Today in church I sat between a wonderful woman who not long ago donated one of her kidneys to her very sick daughter, and a remarkable, lively, funny 91 year old sister who thought my hands were too cold and wrapped her scarf around them and snuggled up to me. We care for each other!
Sisters Fuentes, Juarez, Vilches, Lubomirsky, Morales, Venegas
I had the privilege of sitting in the Relief Society tonight with these six wonderful young Spanish-speaking sister missionaries from around Latin America and Sevilla, Spain (Hermana Vilches, 3rd from left) in the training center. Hermana Juarez (2nd left) led a mature discussion. Next Tuesday they start their assignments in various parts of Chile, for which they are well-prepared. The N. American sisters were in another room with Sister Carmack, wife of the MTC President. The much larger group of young North and South American elders were in their Priesthood class.
I'm grateful to be basically healthy. Today in church I sat between a wonderful woman who not long ago donated one of her kidneys to her very sick daughter, and a remarkable, lively, funny 92 year old woman who thought my hands were too cold and wrapped her scarf around them and snuggled up to me. We care for each other!
I get most of my news from the BBC, which I find not too biased, very global, and quite thorough, which I appreciate when I am in such a sheltered environment so far from home. My heart goes out to all those thousands around the world who suffer from so many recent natural disasters, including the Indonesian earthquake today, and the unprecedented out of control fires along the drought-affected west coast of North America, especially in my home state of California; also for those who are so hopeful for positive change in elections, but who only see continuous corruption and tyranny. Is peace in this world possible? I think all we can hope for is for peace of mind through good moral individual choices, unselfish service to those within our own small sphere of influence, and faith that a loving, just and merciful God will make all right in the end. I realize that I am blessed to be sitting in a comfortable and safe place, with food, shelter, friends and family, good health, my faith and so much more. I can only try to put myself in the shoe of those less fortunate, or at least admit that I can't, have empathy and not judge. Only God can judge and ultimately bring peace. I know God lives and loves us and knows us each individually.
Downtown Santiago, today, Monday...
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| Titulacion (granting of degrees) on July 29, at Universidad Catolica, a beautiful and highly rated university founded in 1888 in central Santiago with religious and secular education. |
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| Center of arts, culture and people "GAM" has expositions & education |
"Third world"
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| Mapuche rights are still contested |
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| Copper for Chile |
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| Santiago cathedral on July 25, celebrating the city's patron Saint Santiago day with beautiful flowers. Founded 1775. |
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| Sanctuary first erected in 1557, 5 years after city's founding, connected to cathedral. |
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| Santa Lucia Hill |
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| Iglesia San Agustin, first built 1625 rebuilt after several earthquakes in 1730 |
The old fire station
The Santiago Cathedral is amazing. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about what we can be grateful for. I'm impressed that you're keeping track of the news. We are definitely blessed to be safe and serving the Lord. Thank you for these amazing photos as usual. Blue sky is a blessing!!! Love and hugs!
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