A Big Blog Break

It's summer here and vacation time so I am joining the many Chileans leaving the city and heading tomorrow for more rural adventures to the south. In southern Patagonia and especially on the "bare bones" 3-day ferry among the Magallanes archipelago labyrinth, I expect to be colder than my son and kids seem to be in this Utah ski photo! My friend Kathleen from CA and I are excited and will have great photos for you in 2 weeks! Stay tuned!

Summertime in the streets of Santiago

Santiago is full of tourists and locals. I always enjoy walking around and discovering  new places when I have a break from my temple schedule. The temple has been very busy. I love to think of my grandchildren skiing and also performing baptisms at home.  This is at the Payson Utah Temple where the 3 older Taylors: Kelly (14), George (13), and Aaron (12) are able to take the research their mom Emily has done to help deceased ancestors. I am then able to continue the other ordinances here in the temple...

 Plaza de Armas was the administrative center of the Mapuche culture when Pedro de Valdivia arrived to "found" Santiago in 1541. The cathedral is cool and full on a hot day in January. The old firehouse was staffed by volunteers, as is the current fire department.

 The gas company (below) has a beautiful building and an interesting mural of people with gas masks. It reminds me of the blame (now removed from PG&E power company) for the horrendous fires in my home state of California. Almost daily we feel tremors (which would be called earthquakes most places) such as the 6.7 M last Saturday. Gas line breaks are always a risk with earthquakes, so we hope they don't break here. Buildings have strict seismic codes, but of course there are many old buildings at risk. I see that San Francisco, California is making a "recovery plan" for the "big one." 
Be prepared with storage of food, water, blankets, flashlights, etc. I hope we can prepare ourselves as much as possible emotionally and spiritually, too, that we will use common sense, not panic, have faith in God that we will have the strength to deal with hard situations. In most of the natural disaster s we have seen, people rally around and help neighbors and others across the world.
(if we are one (united) and prepared, we need not fear). Santiago is filled with musicians...when I have good music to listen to, I feel peace and calm. (Unfortunately music does not remove my inability to eliminate the duplicate fire stations at the end of this blog...please ignore!) Think of me exploring the gorgeous scenery of Chiloe Island, Lake district, and Patagonia...dream destinations.

 

What in life is of value?

This has been another week filled with a variety of things, mostly positive though some not, but isn't that how life is? Much depends upon our perspective (on the left looking from South America's tallest building, things look different than from on the ground). We tend to see life's experiences as discreet events, sometimes unrelated to each other. What does God think of us, His children, as He looks down at us, knowing we have to experience things in our own way, but hoping we will make mostly good choices, and align our will (the only thing that is truly ours to give) with His will for us?  



The Rome Temple, 162th temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, open house was announced: it begins January 28 and ends February 16, 2019 (except Sundays). The temple will be then be closed to the public and dedicated. Just beautiful! Watch this video tour inside and out:
https://ldsmag.com/video-beautiful-rome-italy-temple-to-begin-public-tours/


Last night when we experienced a 6.7 M earthquake centered near Coquimbo, 5-6 hours north on the coast, my time in Chile flashed through my mind. A Brazilian seismologist had predicted there would be a "big one" before next weekend. I hope this is as big as it will get, though for Chile it is only a temblor.

A milestone: my oldest son, Peter, turned 50, my youngest 41 this past week...how is that possible? When Peter was in high school he ran for student body president on the slogan  "I have a Dream," theme of Civil Rights activist preacher Martin Luther King. They share a birthday, January 15. His wife Rebecca is a professor of US History at BrighamYoung University, specializing in children's, women's and civil rights....fitting! He works as a medical doctor with native Americans. 
Every year when I am home, I attend a wonderfully inspiring ecumenical service to commemorate his life and teachings, which is about to begin as I write.

Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" (1963 March on Washington, attended by 250,000)
Weaving in references to the country’s Founding Fathers and the Bible, King used universal themes to depict the struggles of African Americans, before closing with an improvised riff on his dreams of equality. The eloquent speech was immediately recognized as a highlight of the successful protest, and has endured as one of the signature moments of the civil rights movement. He was assassinated in 1968...I well remember that day. Some of my most poignant memories relate to civil rights ideals. And our beloved 1960's folk songs reflect those ideals.
Although there has been much progress, inequality among races, sexes, religions, opportunity for education, jobs, pay, and more still exist worldwide. This photo of Haitian school children reminds me of how beautiful each child of God is, how much love and help we all need to give to create a better world.

Nearly 1% of the population of Haiti fled to Chile in 2018.

As he stood by the side of a dusty road in a country more than 3,500 miles from home, clutching his backpack and a phone, one man prayed: Please let one of the passing cars or trucks stop and give me a job.  This was not what he had envisioned for his new life in Chile. In October, before he left Haiti, the 28-year-old had considered going to Brazil or Mexico, the route for previous waves of Haitian migrants hoping to eventually make it to the United States, but he ruled those countries out after recent changes in U.S. immigration policy left thousands stranded at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Last Sunday afternoon 2 busloads of youth going to camp, called Especially for Youth (English) or PFJ (Para Fortelezar los Jovenes), loaded up for a week at a camp. They and some of their counselors (our friends) ran in and out of our hall, filling their water bottles and using our bathrooms. This morning at church, youth reported on and bore testimony of their wonderful life-changing week. 

With the summer break come lots of visitors (many from the US and other countries) to the temple. Such fun!

As a missionary I have come to treasure every minute with friends from all over: Sisters Gallego from Colombia and Araya from Chile, preach the Gospel, Sister Umber and I serve in the temple, the Blacks head up many humanitarian projects to help with temporary, spiritual, emotional needs in Chile. We love to serve and share experiences as we eat together. My apartment always feels warmer, our souls renewed, as we come together as brothers and sisters whatever our age and life experiences have been.

I love the quote below, which helps in an uncertain world where we cannot know the future: “Those things that persuade you to believe in God, to love Him, and to keep His commandments are from God. In this life, we will never know the meaning of all things, but we know enough. Our destinies depend on exercising embryonic faith that will grow as we act in faith.” Faith does not come from demanding signs from God, but by obeying and following his commandments.”(Elder Dale and Sister Renlund) 

We have enjoyed talking and learning from the Mehrs, missionary couple in charge of gathering the history of the church in South American, visiting from Area headquarters in Buenos Aires. (no photo). The land of South America had been dedicated to the preaching of the Gospel in 1925, but it took years to have the materials and governmental permission to begin sending missionaries in 1964.

Some important January events for the history of the Church of Jesus Christ in Chile.
In 1852 the infant son of Apostle Parley P. Pratt, one of first missionaries in Chile, died in Valparaiso.
On January, 23, 1910, was born Gordon B. Hinckley. Under his direction the first stake (group of congregations) was organized in 1972, and the Santiago Temple was dedicated in 1983.
In 1964, the first mission president in Chile, A. Delbert Palmer, finished his mission. The church now had 4,217 members.
President Spencer W. Kimball, sustained as President of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles of the Church in 1970, visited Chile in 1959,, 1965, 1977,and 1981. He is beloved here, as is current president Russell M.Nelson.

The temple with moon behind, is not nearly as high as the Costanera Center (below), but brings us much closer to heaven as we keep the covenants we make in the sacred House of the Lord. It is a spiritual beacon.

It was fun to finally ride to the top, to get a 360 degree view of Santiago,from South America's tallest building, but I will go back in the early evening in winter when the air is clearer and there is snow on the mountains.

Relative heights of the world's tallest buildings

Important events in the history of Santiago since its founding

East towards the Andes and Argentina. The Andes begin in Venezuela, end in Tierra del Fuego, and average 5000 meters. They are rich in natural, cultural and touristic resources, and provide a natural screen to keep the climate temperate for crops.

The top is open

 Looking East towards the Andes (above), and northwest ( below) towards historical center of Santiago with Mapoche River.

 We live on the south side (to the left across the first bridge). We are looking towards the historical city center, with Cerro San Cristobal (with Virgin statue on top, part of Metropolitan Park, the fourth largest urban park in the world) on the right. In the foreground is the outdoor sculpture park I often visit. Right now everything is dry and warm! At our Providencia city hall, there is an antique show, but everything is super expensive. Why did we throw away old comics, tools, dishes, and many useless articles? May we keep the best, and clear our lives of junk! I love my simplified life here!

January 2019, a little of this and that! Variety is the spice of life!
Being a lifelong bookworm, I love the Little Libraries that are popping up all over the world. This one is my favorite, built into a 110 year old tree stump in Coeur d"Alene, Idaho. Since it is very hard to get books in English in Latin America, my Kindle (for reading) and phone (for photos) are my prized possessions here.
 
Saturday morning I enjoyed climbing Santa Lucia Hill in the center of Santiago. It was a perfect clear cool summer day and the view of the far reaches of Santiago are mostly visible. The park gardens are green and immaculate. The wealthiest homes in Santiago lie at the base of the Andes northeast, nice middle class  homes a little farther south, but still against the mountains. No one lives above 3000' because there is no water supply.
 Pedro Valdivia and his fellow Conquistadores came down from the north (headquartered in Peru) in 1541, decided that this was a perfect place with a river, the widest valley in Chile, and 1000' above sea level and a temperate climate to establish their city, the area was home to several peoples. The Incas used the hill for administrative sightings, to lay our agricultural plots, etc. The Mapuches used the hill to chart the stars, etc. Both groups lived along the Rio Mapocho. The Mapuches were headquartered in Plaza de Armas (main square of downtown Santiago). Santa Lucia (a strange name considering the indigenous history) was sacred to both. (more details if you read the blue plaque below)
For the Spanish it was a fortress/lookout. And in 1817 a military fort, with Castillo Hidalgo built and named after a San Martin regiment captain who died in a battle in the War for Independence. The name was given by Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Commander of Chile. The War was fought between Chilean- born Spanish and other Europeans, and Spanish loyalists.
 

This chapel near the top honors Benjamin Vicuna Mackenna, Chilean writer, historian, journalist, politician (1831-1886). He spent quite a few years in exile in the U.S. The big statue below is in a Santiago plaza, not on the hill. His grandfather was a War of Independence hero, also.

Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1451, on this hill.
(below, looking east to the Andes, still topped with snow)

I often buy crafts and postcards across the main street (opposite side from this typical corner) in the indigenous shop under the hill Santa Lucia. Large Avenida Bernardo O'Higgins, runs through much of central Santiago and has bus and metro line one (which I most often take) stops. No lack of snacks or shoppers anywhere!

We began the week last Monday, with "Romeo y Julieta," but not your classic ballet! This amazing troupe from South Korea performed a hilarious at times version, with martial arts, Asian costumes, instruments, setting, and poetic license (a few jabs and references to Chilean empanadas, expressions, and even an alpaca!) There were subtitles in Spanish but you had to them read faster than I'm able!

Teatro de Las Condes is beautiful. It was our first performance here, as there are few shows on Mondays, our day off.

 

With an amazing young and energetic cast

Do you think you are brave and adventuresome? The Hazzard family with 7 kids (the oldest is 10) from Utah, left home in August, driving straight through (almost). It took 5 weeks on some small roads, across the Atacama Desert, to Buenos Aires. They visited Guayaquil, Ecuador, where the dad (who reminds me of my youngest son and also graduated from BYU Hawaii), served a mission. They wanted to see Santiago before heading back home this week after 5 months on the road. They sleep in the back, plus in a bunk in the middle seat of their Suburban and all seem in good spirits. They loved Machu Picchu and other sights in the U.S. and Central and South America. The kids are anxious now to get home, but mom says she would do it again. (Above) she is encouraging another family with 5 kids to make the trip themselves! But....

For those who read the January issue of our church magazine The Ensign may have seen this shot of Santiago Temple on page 67. When I showed it to the security guard in the booth, he said he hadn't seen "his house" shown in any previous church magazine.

....Sunday, the Hazzards are still here because their car needed repairs before setting off for the long trip home to Utah. Good idea to make sure the car is in good shape!

The temple gardens are blooming with crepe myrtle and other trees and flowers. It's time to take down my Christmas tree!

Sadly we must say good-bye to our friends the Ortega family with new baby Josue, who are leaving soon to teach English north of Antofagasta in Tocopilla on the Pacific, 25 hours by bus, where he served a mission., and where she grew up before studying in Provo, Utah. We become very attached to our Chilean friends. He was one of the wonderful teachers in the MTC, out of a job when it closed in December.

A little plug for my son Marc's new app to practice languages with native speakers around the world  (a son after my own heart who understands the power of foreign language learning):

 www.Flooant.com. 

Several times a week we have the wonderful opportunity to help those coming to the temple for their first visit to make sacred covenants (often because they are being married or preparing to serve a mission). As I sat facing a room full of mostly Chilean faces, homogeneous but individual, I felt a great love for these beautiful and good people, all trying to live as Heavenly Father hopes they will. I felt in small measure how much I know He loves and cares about each of us. Melany Munoz from tropical Cochabamba, Bolivia, is getting ready to serve in s. Argentina. Friday was her 24th birthday so I gathered up the warm scarves and cap and boots I hope to no longer need in Santiago, but which she will need for very cold weather on her mission.

I hope 2019 has started off well for you. If we are prepared mentally, physically, spiritually, have faith that trials are for our growth, and use common sense, the trials that come to all of us are surmountable. If we do things the Lord's way, we can avoid a lot of sorrow and hardship. He trusts us, knows we are capable of a lot more than we realize. We can keep ourselves safe by building strong families, good homes, and safe communities, where we feel loved and at peace, where the Spirit can inspire and guide us. God uses us ordinary people to bless others.