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.