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.