Another Wonderful Week

Sunday lunch with my English student Cecilia Espinoza (at head of table), her son and sister and missionary sisters at Cecilia's nice home. She has her mom's paintings on every wall. We had a great discussion about the gathering of the 12 tribes of Israel in the last days.
The sisters were going to the snow on their preparation day this week....a first for Sister Cheka from Cordoba, Argentina, but NOT for Sister Horrocks from Utah.

Later that afternoon I enjoyed being with the 
MTC Latina sisters for their last 
Relief Society meeting before they begin 
their mission assignments on Tuesday.
They are so thoughtful, ready and excited!

The Bishop's Storehouse

Sisters Janelle Black (she and her husband Ken are welfare missionaries), Avila,Villagran (she and husband are in charge of this bishop's storehouse), and de Schweinitz (interloper).

                                 Bishop's Storehouse

Monday the welfare couple, the Blacks from Livermore, CA, invited me to help at the "Bishop's Storehouse," one of their main responsibilities. There are many centers. This one in Santiago is housed in an old LDS church building. Eligible members, as decided by the ward leaders, in need of food and other small items, take their orders to their assigned storehouse once every couple weeks and receive basic items. We filled orders and restocked the shelves. Everything is carefully accounted for.

Filling an order (above). Below are the Blacks, a customer (he is 82 and setting off on his bike with his groceries) and Hermano Villagran (in charge)

Janelle re-stocking shelves. I learned to use the plastic sealing machine. Nothing is wasted, but recycled.

Hasta luego, Hna Venegas

 It's that time again when many of the MTC elders and sisters leave the protective care of the wonderful Carmacks, and begin their missions in various parts of Chile. Sister Carmack was busy hemming a few pants today. Most have brand new suitcases which they get from the closet next to my room, and as they roll them away, I feel their excitement! For some, this has been their first plane ride or time away from home. There is always overlap as new 18 and 19- year-olds will arrive this week to take their place in the training center.
The same morning these fresh new missionaries took the bus to their new assignments, another group from Vina del Mar attended their last session (with me) as they complete their mission....all elders and one sister. Every 6 weeks there are mission "transfers."
Some arrive, some leave, and most change companions, locations, or both. As I write this blog I can hear the new MTC missionaries arriving for three weeks (Latinos or those who already speak Spanish) or six weeks (non-Spanish speakers). Bienvenidos!

Among the Vina del Mar elders is Elder Erick Vega, hugged by his mom, dad, brothers, after his 2 year absence. The father's brother Victor, his wife Silvia and their two children stayed with me last year in California (friends of my friend Rachel Gilman's friend Ian), so I was excited to meet this wonderful Ecuadorian family from Queveda.  It is great to have so many fun connections with people all over the world. This family will visit their son's mission and the people he knows and loves in Chile.

Tears of joy at the reunion

  Mariana and Manuel make a heart

They know how much I loved my 2014-5 mission in Ecuador so brought me a beautiful poncho and 2 kg of panela which is the best brown sugar for cookies.

A gorgeous day for a walk across the river and up San Cristobal by teleferico, after the rain when the air is a little cleaner and there is fresh snow on the Andes which dwarf the highest building in Latin America, the Costanera building.

Once again I shared the cabin with Brazilians

Looking east there are several ski resorts

I

I am touched every time I visit the Basque plaza. The oak tree has grown from a shoot brought in 1931 from Guernica, Spain, and is the ancient symbol of liberty and justice for Basque people. The town was destroyed by Nazis practicing/ testing bombers during Spanish Civil War as preparation for WWII.

 

Looking southeast (our part of town) I was thrilled to see the first plum trees in blossom. Just like in California, the first signs of spring (February there, August here) are acacias and plum blossoms.

Just had to add my little grand-daughter
Evie in Michigan, who has just learned to ride a bike.
(not quite ready yet to tackle the hill below).

For more Santiago photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/7nRBsNXP7Rr1yfGj9

Many bike up, others take their bikes on the teleferico and ride down. Some also use the cable car or old  funicular. Looking north west is much smoggier. Santiago has a population of over 7,000,000.

English class is always fun, even when a few students are missing

This is one of my favorite church paintings, depicting Christ's visit to the Americas after his resurrection, as there were "other sheep" scattered throughout the world, from the House of Israel. He is speaking to them near the temple: teaching principles of charity, hope, faith, and comforting, blessing, and healing them.
About 600 BC God revealed to a few people to leave Jerusalem, as it was about to be destroyed by the Babylonians. They wandered for several years in the Arabian peninsula, built a boat and eventually arrived in the Americas. They built huge cities, fought many wars, their faith and endurance were sorely tested. Some were faithful, some not. Today there are descendants of these ancient Jews among the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Book of Mormon, subtitled "Another Testament of Jesus Christ," which we read alongside the Bible, is the story of these ancient inhabitants (records of their lives, their faith, and the prophecies of their prophets). God has always loved and cared about all his children, then, now, here and there.