First week of Spring

 

First Week of Spring in Chile--a burst of color at the temple! I love the fresh bright green leaves popping out on all the trees outside my window. It is still cold and gray about 1/2 the time.

Slowly Chileans returned from the beach and other places.

Yumi, Jonathan, Joel and Yaella Olmos (not sure if names are spelled correctly) are the wonderful offspring of the dear family I stayed with in Antofogasta. I met them there. The couple met on their mission in Venezuela. They traveled a long way to visit the temple this past week while others went to the beach!

 Sunday walk through the park with Mexican palms, wisteria, playgrounds, and flags still displayed. Most Chileans in central Santiago live in high rise apartments.

The Police"Carabineros"Academy founded in 1908, is right around the corner. There is an historical museum there, too. Chilean Armed Forces and police have 5 institutions that give work to 53,000 people. They are financed by the state and by 10% of the copper revenue. Chilean firemen, however, are solely volunteers...the only case of its kind in the world...with approximately 12,000 volunteers. This tradition has existed for 150 years. Amazing! 

Old police cars and "carabineros" with police puppies 
(photo from Washington Post). The most common pets in Chile are dogs; homeless or not, they are cared for. 

I was sad to miss the baby blessing of my youngest grand-child, Phoebe Carlston in Salt Lake City on Sunday. It was a wonderful family gathering, which can take place at church or in a home. Babies are not baptized, as they are innocent (and have no need to repent), but are given a father's blessing (assisted by others), and are not baptized into the church until they are eight (or older) when they can understand the commitment they are making to follow Christ. In the temple those who have died without baptism are baptized by proxy (youth 12 and up and adults perform baptisms and confirmations and the deceased person can accept it or not).





What a blessing for children to be brought up safely in healthy, happy families. It is heart-wrenching to know that so many children are daily dying worldwide of hunger, of diseases that should have been wiped out by now. Yemen, Bangladesh, Syria, etc. are some of the worst places to be a child today.
One fourth of Chile's population is under 15, and slightly over 10% of them live in rural areas. One fifth of Chilean children under 15 live in conditions of poverty. 34 out of 100 of them are homeless.
Women (whose life-expectancy is 82, as opposed to men with 76) have an average of 1.9 children. There are more males in every age group except in the very oldest.

 

 There is a beautiful Orthodox Catholic church in Providencia

These Canary Island Palms are amazing!

Language trivia: I just learned that a paper cutter is called a "guillotina"...yikes! I went to use it in the temple office and met the East Mission Pdte. William and Sister Carrie Brotherson, from Virginia, who asked if I was related to Peter de Schweinitz. Yes, they knew each other 20 years ago in Charlottesville, while Peter (my oldest son) was getting his MD and wife Rebecca her PhD in History at University of Virginia.
Many of their Santiago East missionaries were in my session. They all love the Brothersons. I can see why! Great people! 
Mission Presidents serve for 3 years

Definitely one of my favorite activities here is teaching English to these wonderful women: Cecilia, Nelly, Gema, Ljubica, Guille!

The purpose of the Cultural Foundation of Providencia, whose general theme "Create to Believe" has developed out of the corruption, inequality, political disaffection, insecurity of citizens, lack of solidarity, abuse, etc. in society. The purpose of its new exhibition "Luces del Silencio" (Lights of Silence), is to support and bring awareness to women and victims of childhood sexual abuse, and other human rights issues. Profits from sales go to organization "Para la Confianza" to support victims of child abuse. I totally agree that art can have an important role in bringing positive change. Here are a few of my favorites (titles are roughly translated; you can figure out the meaning of some):

Monica Maiocchi ""Systems"

Sonia Koch: "Everything is, and is in me"

Hernol Flores "Kites in the Wind"

Fernanda Saldivia: "I lift you so that you can lift me"

Teresa Ortuzar: "Guardians of Cleanliness"

Francisca Valenzuela  "Untitled"

Loreto Enriquez: "South"

Juan Martinez B. "Family with Sheep"

Mario Gomez "Untitled" (can a man ever really get inside a woman's head?)

Francesca Colzani "Children in front of Rancho 4" (Office of Nitrate Camp Maria Elena). Life was mostly good in the camps.

Elda Villena "The Children"

Margarita Garces "Andromeda" (the Andromeda Galaxy is the most distant thing you can see with the naked eye)

Alex Chellew "Childhood" (it should be fun and happy)

Vanessa Mac-Auliffe: "Kites" (Chilean flag kites are especially popular in Chile, especially during Fiestas Patrias)

Miguel de Lanu: "Of Silence" (and peace when seas are calm)

Francisco Cortes "Sun Tun" (suntan? sun ton?) of copper and granite, two materials with which Chile has an abundance. I am still looking for a pool, and never get to swim at a beach (too far). Funny sculpture! I'm mostly having fun here, anyway! I hope you are enjoying life, too, in whatever activities you enjoy most.
Since childhood one of my favorite Psalms has been "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, serve the Lord with gladness, and come before His presence with Thanksgiving." Even on sad, boring, or frustrating days, I try to remember how blessed I am.