Almost April...no kidding!

It's hard to believe that April is almost here...no kidding! In Chile, the day to play practical jokes (like April 1st in the US) is December 28 (Dia de los Inocentes). (A dark distortion of the tradition that dates from the first years of the CE was on that date when King Herod I the Great gave the order to kill all children under 2 years born in Bethlehem, in order to make sure that the announced Messiah, future king of Israel was killed.

March 29 marks a day when a young protester was killed and is called "Dia del Joven Combatiente". Unfortunately there are those (especially the young who did not experience the Pinochet dictatorship, but who refuse to let go, keeping contention alive in Chile). The country is still divided over this era. In the more dangerous areas many people are afraid to go out, so temple attendance was low. Providencia is a safe area, so protests at the municipalidad were small and relatively calm.

If you think the world is a mess, tune in to the semi-annual General Conference broadcast from Salt Lake City this Sat. and Sun. at 10 am and 2 pm, Utah time. Our leaders have wonderful messages to share, that can bring more peace and happiness to a troubled, divided world:
https://www.lds.org/church/events/april-2019-general-conference?lang=eng
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, we invite you to reserve free tickets for a tour of the Oakland Temple open house throughout the month of May, every day except Sundays. After the re-dedication June 16, it will be closed to the general public.
https://www.lds.org/temples/open-houses?lang=eng
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxwBWSxlhHqxcJJtplkGVxwjXbrT

Chile has been undergoing a rapid process of modernization since 1980, though it is still a deeply traditional country. To generalize: compared to Anglo-Saxon societies, the family is extremely important, and has an overwhelming influence on the individual throughout life. Children and teenagers spend much more time with parents and relatives and spend vacations together. They are all very affectionate with each other, and the young tend to stay at home until they marry or have to move for work. Children, especially boys, are treated like little kings, and it is easy to spot a regalon, or spoiled child. Most Chileans work hard, enjoy their fiestas on weekends. Family name (there are about 10 or so powerful families) is very important in this socially stratified society. The importance of class is reflected in the number of words used to describe one's social position: cuico, pituco, esnob for upper-class people; roto, ordinario, flaite for the lower class. The middle class has grown with improved education and economic growth and the restoration of democracy since 1990,but it is still not enough to reach the top of the social ladder, it seems.

The Chilean Roman Catholic Church has been since the 16th century a powerful ally of the traditional elite. Although the Catholic church played a key role in opposing the Pinochet regime, when democracy was restored, it returned to its old role of defending conservative and traditional values. Divorce was legalized only in 2004, abortion is still illegal, you don't see "adult" magazines, etc.on the news stands, though women today have much better access to education, jobs, and politics.
Machismo is still prevalent, and goes beyond statistics and recent advancement for women (who still earn less and are less well-educated, especially among the poor). Piropos is the word for sexual harassment. Some married men can be very jealous and protective of their wives, and allow themselves freedom, but keep tabs on their wives: double standards! With many of the young, things are changing, fortunately. 
Our missionaries not only offer others a happier life, but return home more mature, with a new perspective on ideal families and love for others.

Elders Hartley and Beck from our Pocuro ward are teaching a lovely woman from Guayaquil, Ecuador (my last mission), having just had dinner with senior missionaries...many hands and testimonies can change lives! Blurry ideas turn into knowledge of truth.

The temple is a beacon of peace, and also the scene of much joy. The friends and family below are taking photos of a young couple just married for eternity.

Rose Maria Hoppe and Marcia Orellana love a good time, as do Daniela de Ferrari and Alejandra Canoles.

The talent and spirit was amazing at Pocuro ward's Relief Society Talent show birthday party. Most of the dances were 50's and 60's swing, country and rock 'n roll, as well as tango, performed by the women and young women. Relief Society is the largest and oldest women's organization in the world, and has a wonderful motto: "Charity Never Faileth."

Ximena Helguero, my Pathway student and friend, is in charge of RS activities. Guille Guerra is Primary President and in my English class. Marcia wears a headdress to signify her leadership of this amazing group of women.

Great dancers! Natalia in white also sang a beautiful song.

Something very tangible and positive is the enthusiasm and dedication of young missionaries. A group of 13 arrived from the Sao Paulo, Brasil training center last Sunday night, coming to serve in Chile. We helped make up beds so they could spend the night before going out to their first assignments. The three young men are from Argentina. The young women, ??

Book recommendation:
William Shakespeare's Othello is universal and powerful story of the quintessential outsider. A black man marries a white woman and is goaded into a jealous rage by an evil man (Iago). Tracy Chevalier chose the story of Othello and a school playground to set her insightful and poignant novel New Boy, which I especially recommend to parents, teachers, and young people old enough to understand the potential passion, bullying, jealousy, violence in "an intense, closed world where kids learn prejudice from parents and teachers, and take it out on one another." The children are at that awkward age, 11/ sixth graders, between childhood and full-blown adolescence where they are trying out grown-up attitudes without really understanding them. Each child in the novel cleverly parallels a character in Othello. The new boy is from Ghana, the son of a diplomat in Washington, DC, but the story is timeless and universal. It's themes are so relevant today. Unfortunately, even more so in still-stratified, social media- addicted societies with a growing number of immigrants, refugees, and outsiders.
One person can wreak havoc on a group. Fortunately one person with love, compassion, and determination, can be a powerful force for good. So, let us be the individuals who persevere, fight prejudice, stand up to injustice! Maria Prado is a dear friend here from Colombia, who spends much time doing temple work for us and for our ancestors. She has had to fight as an outsider (from Colombia) and as a black woman in Chile. We love her spirit!

I also love the spirit and talent of the women and young women of our Pocuro ward (above). As the latter go out and serve missions, they also learn to be more inclusive.

My ward in California passed an exciting milestone today, with new name and boundary changes after many years of shrinkage...so many wonderful people are forced to move out of the San Francisco Bay Area, as they cannot afford housing for their growing families. We have a wonderful new bishopric: Markus Covert, bishop; Rob Daines and Tyler Hales, counselors. How exciting to come home to change (not always easy, but invigorating and for our growth). Jesus Christ is at the head of his church. It is our task to listen to and understand his will and plans for us individually and as a church, directed by our beloved President and Prophet Russell M. Nelson.



We have been led and greatly blessed for the past 5 years by the leadership and wisdom of a wonderful bishop, Todd Miner, and counselors Shipp and Hales (and others). 

Introducing the Palo Alto Foothills Ward

If you think the world is falling apart and most of the news is bad, here are two recommendations: 
Tune in to the General Conference broadcasts of positive, inspiring messages by our church leaders, this Saturday and Sunday :https://www.lds.org/church/events/april-2019-general-conference?lang=eng
If you live in the Oakland, CA area, you are invited to the open house (May) with tour of the Oakland Temple...areas which will be closed to the general public after the re-dedication in June.
for dates, times, and tickets to take a tour:
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxwBWSxlhHqxcJJtplkGVxwjXbrT

What Legacy do we leave?

Saturday walk to the sculpture park and other exhibits is always pleasant...

and safe, in Providencia, at least....

I loved this film "Machuca" about a young boy in a good school, from a "good" family who is influenced by strong peers to rebel, and consequently bullied by opposing faction peers during the Pinochet dictatorship, creating all kinds of family and social problems.

An art form on display at the Providencia Foundation is entitled "Protagonists of Chilean Cinema". Most films, well-known to Chileans and with many stars I have never heard of.  These actors and films are part Chile's cultural heritage. On my ferry trip 2 months ago I saw these 3 (one I previously watched here) films, which were well-done and have left a lasting impression on me:

Violete se fue al cielo" (Violeta Parra, played by Francisca Gavilan was a folk artist and songwriter well-known in Chile) 

(Pablo) "Neruda", who was a politician, collector, Nobel Prize for poetry winner (just a small segment of his famous life)

Not having too much to report, and feeling very "culturally" illiterate, I decided to find out what important people were born on March 24 (Houdini and only a few others I recognized), and who died. Queen Elizabeth I (last of the 5 Tudor monarchs) died in 1603. The throne went to James VI of Scotland who became James I of England and Ireland. Her long 44-year reign brought stability and is highlighted by Shakespeare and Francis Drake and the power of the British navy. If you have nothing more interesting to occupy your time, look up a date! A sample of interesting events of this day, March 24, are:

1721- Bach dedicated the Brandenburg concertos

1829- Catholics were allowed to serve in Parliament

1832- Joseph Smith was tarred and feathered in Hiram,Ohio

1837- Canada gave African American men the right to vote

1854- Slavery was abolished in Venezuela

1933- The Reichstag and Reichsrat approval of the Enabling Act,

          amendment to the Weimar Constitution, gave the German 

          cabinet (i.e. Chancellor Adolf Hitler) the unlimited power 

          to enact laws without Reichstag (Parliament) approval.

1934- The US allowed the Philippines self government within the 

           commonwealth

1976- Isabel Peron's constitutional government was overthrown in

           a military coup.

1999- NATO (for the first time without UN Security Council 

          approval) attacked Yugoslavia, beginning the Kosovo War

2019- I look around me and see most people going about their 

          business, totally oblivious to the great mess our world is in.

          But I do have faith in many individuals who really care and 

          are doing their best to help others, of their own blood or not,

          in small ways. I applaud them!

I was not born on this day like Steve McQueen or the famous bank robber Clyde Barrow (of Bonnie and Clyde fame), and will not join the army as Elvis Presley did on this day in 1958, but pass on a few artistic endeavors around me that give form to simple or accessible materials, and beauty for the enjoyment of others. 

In the Providencia Sculpture Garden I enjoyed the granite pieces of Soledad Ramsey (that is hard work!) who says she is inspired by the rock itself, the mountain which contains it, the landscape that surrounds it, the structure and environment that form it. She continually walks around the granite block to see it from all angles.

"Insertion"

The models for her sculptures

This cute boy's grandfather told me I should love these pieces, too, as California mountains are made of the same granite. She uses different cuts and polishes to different degrees for texture.

"Scraped" (rough)

At the Cultural Foundation is a small exhibit of small-format (20x20 cm.) by Chilean and Uruguayan textile artists.

"Organic" (left) 

Universities and schools (colegios) are back in session, so there are lots of people everywhere. It's still warm and sunny in Santiago.

My usual metro station, Pedro de Valdivia, is very convenient, a 15 minute walk; packed during rush hours, otherwise very fast, convenient, and mostly comfortable! I'm often offered a seat.

Most people in the city live in small apartments in high-rise buildings.
From my Sunday summer evening walk in the neighborhood, Parque Ines de Saurez, named for the first Spanish woman in Chile, wife of Governor Rodrigo de Quiroz...

Some street scenes from Santiago center: every man in this photo was on a cell phone (so was I, but taking photos!)

Santa Lucia hill where Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago. Following the Conquest, Mapuches named this hill "Huelen" meaning Sadness or Pain

This man makes clay "flutes" and recorders, with beautiful tones with Mapuche symbols painted on them (elements: earth, air, water, fire)...I bought a few. My grandchildren loved them, and played at our McCall, Idaho family reunion !

Merced Church, first built in 1566, by the Order of the Blessed Mary of Mercy, arriving with the first expedition to Chile. The current church was built in 1760, has a lovely pulpit, the largest organ in Chile, Virgin from 1548, and bright red exterior.

Santiago sells produce on most streets almost every day

Centro Cultural Estacion Mapocho was inaugurated in 1913; built as a grand terminal for trains that connected Santiago to Valparaiso,northern Chile, and Mendoza, Argentina. It was designed by renowned Chilean architect Emilio Jecquier, who had studied in France and was greatly influenced by the Beaux- Arts movement and Eiffel. The vast steel roof was produced in Belgium, interior vaults by a Paris-based company, and shipped here and re-assembled. It was closed in 1987 when train services were suspended. It was beautifully restored and reopened as a cultural venue in 1994. The yearly signature event is a book fair with international and Chilean authors present.

Mercado Central was built (and re-assembled here) by a Scottish firm for the 1872 National Exhibition, now mostly seafood restaurants and fish market.

I always like this reflection of the cathedral

Now that universities are back in session, the National Library has resumed free Monday evening concerts. The Duo Algocon Cuerda played wonderful music by Chilean, Brazilian and Paraguayan composers, as did soloist Manuel Macias...a lovely evening.

Lunch with friends: Mariange, Cristobal, Sisters Araya and Gallego, Sophia (a psychologist and teacher trainer from northern China, here in Chile with her husband, who works for a Chinese bank, learning about the church and sharing teaching activities with me), Cecilia/Miriam. We had a great discussion about cultural topics.

Sunday evening dinner with the senior missionaries to welcome our new temple couple, Nancy and Cliff Moses (from Sacramento, CA, at the end of the long table). They previously served in the office in Perth, Australia.

This is a very inspiring story that touched my heart...
Have you wondered who are the pioneers in each land who hear the gospel and respond to the Spirit with such fervency that they can defy tradition and family pressure to join a faith that is tiny? Who are these people who become the backbone of the Church, meeting in little apartments with only a handful of others, when their peers attend church in sumptuous cathedrals? What spark has been lit in them? (read the whole story):
https://ldsmag.com/from-monastery-to-mission-president/



Vicenzo Conforte grew up in a very poor family in Italy, who sent 

 him, after WWII, at age twelve, to a monastery, saying, “At least you can eat there and have a place to stay.” Because of monastery rules, he wouldn’t speak to his family again until he was 15. Finally, he called them and said, “I can’t stay here.” He had seen too much that dismayed him. He came home, finding it impossible to be a Catholic, and so, in theory, became agnostic, a place he stayed until he was 38 years old in 1975. He finally felt the spirit, was baptized despite the opposition of his family and others, served as president of a small congregation, then district president. 

As he finished serving as mission president in Catania, it seemed he wasn’t done. He was then called to serve as mission president in Padua, then in the presidency of the Swiss temple, and then to be a Regional Representative of the Twelve. He also was one who helped in the process of getting recognition from the Italian government for the Church.

“I have a strong testimony of the Lord, Jesus Christ,” he said. “I love Him.” In fact, he cannot mention the name of the Lord without emotion. That love turned to action that so deeply touched a part of Italy, that President Nelson mentioned the name Vincenzo Conforte in his dedicatory talk as one who had helped shape the history of the Church in Italy.The Rome Temple was not built of building materials or art glass. It was built on the soul-stirring testimonies of people like Vincenzo Conforte.

I, too, have a strong testimony that Christ lives, knows and loves us individually and personally and is our best cheerleader, when we feel alone, confused, or discouraged.