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!