From Rome to Zapallar

A few more photos and comments about the Rome Italy Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ, which is now dedicated. Service for the living and deceased has begun...

Elder Dini Ciacii, an Area Church Authority, said, “My favorite time to take people through the Visitors’ Center was at sunset because then when you look through the glass windows you can see the image of Christ reflected in the glass windows perfectly framed within the temple". 55,000 people came through the Rome Temple in the 3-week open house. Most said it was very beautiful or peaceful, but many said there were no words for how they felt, and they also no longer have doubts that we are Christians!.
“Thousands of people took that picture. They wanted to create a memory. These are people who do not share our beliefs, but they felt something special in this place and they wanted to hold on to it".

"There isn’t anything that is only unique to us in that portrayal of Christ (designed and explained by amazing couple, the Holdmans), except for one thing. We believe that He lives and this personal ministering continues today. That is the difference.  In the mural, Jesus is reaching out with his left hand to lift up a boy who has been plagued by leprosy. His body and right hand are left open, as if the rest of us are invited to come and to heal."

The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are modern-day witnesses of Christ. Watch as living apostles and prophets share excerpts from “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” from the temple site in Rome, Italy.

On the eve of the dedication, acting President Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles  addressing the huge crowd of youth, said “I want to testify to you that God’s love for you, my beloved young people, it’s real. You are His sons and His daughters. He loves you. He wants to bless you. The Lord has given you a beautiful temple.”
President Nelson offered the dedicatory prayer. An excerpt of this prayer was “In this ancient and great city that has stood since biblical times — in this historic nation of Italy — we acknowledge the ministry of two of Thy Son’s early Apostles, Peter and Paul, who once blessed this land with their labors. May the influence of their abiding testimony of Jesus Christ continue to be felt among the vital values of this great country.”

Meanwhile back in Chile...
Sunday evening as I walk, I always notice a few things of interest...

A big soccer game must have finished at the national stadium, as there were busloads of fans yelling, crowds coming up from our subway stop, and others walking or boarding local buses. Some families are out enjoying the summer evening. Others are at the dog-run or playing in the park. I always love the plants: passion fruit blooms, pomegranates, and even old cars.

All the senior missionaries drove up highway 5 (Pan American Highway) northwest a couple of hours to enjoy three small towns, but mostly to walk on the stone walkway along the lovely coast, with birds, a few distant penguins, starfish, cyprus trees, flowers, and the salty sea air I love. It was very reminiscent of the California coast.

 Valle Hermosa, near La Ligua, was a lush green valley when the Spaniards discovered it, but now it is known as a "sweater town". Many items are still hand-made or hand-loomed,others by machine. Every small shop sells ponchos, sweaters, shawls, etc. (I bought a red sweater), and "dulces de Ligua" which are very sweet and mostly filled with manjar, (boiled sweetened condensed milk).
This poem in various forms has been around for along time, but every time I see a loom (below) I am reminded of it:

                   The Weaver (by B.M. Franklin)

My life is but a weaving,
   Between my Lord and me.
   I cannot choose the colors
He weaves so skillfully.

                          Sometimes He weaveth sorrow
           And I in foolish pride
                Forget He sees the upper
        And I the underside.

Not 'til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And explain the reasons why

                           The dark threads are as needful,
                       In the Weaver's skillful hands
                           As the threads of gold and silver
                       In the pattern He has planned.

I highly recommend a true story called "The Ragged Edge of Night", by Olivia Hawker, which I just read, about a small village in Germany during WWII . The main characters (husband and wife) are deeply and courageously committed to the German resistance movement. They don't know what will happen, but trust that the small threads of their good work in an obscure place will bear fruit.

Chileans love their traditional sweets!

The popular beach resort town Papudo's Playa Grande has some older interesting hotels, but also high rises which dwarf the lighthouse and old fishing village.

We continued south to our main destination, Zapallar, with beautiful coast and secluded multi-million dollar homes. Even some California poppies, nasturtiums, green araucaria, lots of ice plant, and beautiful stonework along the walkway and leading to the lovely homes with lush gardens. And men constructing a huge platform for a wedding in this idyllic setting. A north American birding group shared binoculars, etc. to search for wildlife on "penguin island"...we found a few. Chileans eat a lot of seaweed (cochayuyo), which was abundant! Last time Alma and I never found the stone rambla (walkway) so were delighted Scott could drive and show us the way. I am having trouble shuffling the photos around without duplicating or deleting, (the reason why that blue house is at the end!), so just enjoy them!

This could be Carmel, 

We continued on our way back, stopping for dinner at an almost deserted end of season restaurant, "El Timon"... food was delicious and we were the only customers.

Scott (our awesome chauffeur!), Alma, Nina, Alan, Lorie, Miriam, Jolene, Dan. We ate upstairs, outside with sea smells and view. Now we are back at work at the temple, etc. and awaiting a new couple's arrival on Saturday. Life is full and good here for me.