All's well that ends well

All's well that ends well...
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race...
I can no longer run very fast, definitely can't throw a ball very far, jump high hurdles, or walk a balance beam, but as a senior adult I have been able to serve again as a temple missionary with a happy heart and share lots of wonderful moments with many new and eternal friends before being released as a temple worker on Tuesday. As my 18 months in Chile draw to an close, my testimony of the sacredness and importance of the temple ordinances has grown, as has my love for Jesus Christ, and my faith that whatever good we can do for others helps to light the path for all of us back to our Heavenly Father. It's time now to grow in other dimensions and rejoin family and friends whom I've greatly missed.
Monday evening Nina and Scott Isaacson and I were honored at a despedida potluck dinner, at which each of us said a few words, as did President and Sister Wilhelm. We can use the 3rd floor now that, sadly, was the lounge of the missionary training center. 

And after the more formal dinner and photos we missionaries had planned to play games, but I guess some of us just wanted to get together and talk.

Dan Wallace, Scott Isaacson, Janelle and Ken Black, Jolene Wallace, Cliff and Nancy Moses, Nina Isaacson, Alan Marchant.

Three months ago I decided to finish out my mission with two trips a little closer to Chile than to California. I know "Down Under" is Australia's nickname, but it is equally appropriate for way down here. So after lots of planning and preparation and help from friends, I got picked up by shuttle at 5:30 AM to go to the airport, arriving more than 3 hours before my flight to Easter Island. One hour before take-off I sleepily but happily got in the boarding line. Since my seat was close to the front of the plane I would be (tragically) one of the very last to board. Until I showed my passport, visa and boarding pass, I didn't realize I also needed a PDI (a special police certificate needed for Easter Island, part of Chile). No one had mentioned it at my various stops. I ran up and down and through the airport, got the paper and arrived 1 minute after the doors of the plane had closed...there was nothing anyone could do, and no one seemed at all perturbed except me! So I changed the ticket (for a hefty fee rather than lose it all) for tomorrow (an even earlier shuttle pick up), took the shuttle home, and am hiding in my apartment. If I go out, I will have to explain my sad story to everyone (they can read it here). So far no one here has seen me, I think, except the Blacks who let me use their office phone to call the Easter Island hostel, and gave me a little sympathy!

I am trying to look on the bright side:

• maybe I will only have to pay for 2 nights at the hostel.
• maybe I will be less likely to get dengue fever with only 2 days' exposure to mosquitoes.
• I will only have to pay for 2 days of tours, and still get to see the dance show I have booked.
• I can eat up more of my food and pack a little more stuff.
• I can write thank you notes for some of the fun gifts I have received from generous friends.
• I have been able to start this blog.
• I can plan a little more of my trip to Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls for next week, if I am not put out to pasture for senility.
• I can encourage the efforts of the workers outside my door rebuilding the outside door for the fourth time. Will they get it right this time??
• I can pray for rain as I look at gray skies (Santiago is "enjoying" its driest year in 6 decades)
• I can commiserate with all the other travelers who miss flights, have flights canceled for all kinds of reasons, and for all those who never have the means and opportunities to do all the traveling that has brought so much joy, learning and fun to my life.
• I can remember that things happen for a reason...but what?

At Santiago's Arturo Merino Benitez Airport today (while I was waiting thinking all was well and that I would soon be seeing the famous moai) I enjoyed an exhibit about Benitez, the man who is considered the father and most important figure in Chile's aeronautical history. A graduate of the Escuela Militar, a military pilot, a postal pilot (maybe he was a friend of Antoine de Saint Exupery who wrote one of my favorite stories read throughout the world "The Little Prince"), creator of Chile's Air Force, a flying club, and founder of LAN (Linea Aerea Nacional) airlines.

I

Last week of May, first of June

This is the view out my dirty window! The apartment building is in its second year of construction. The steps down to the basement where all the garbage cans, etc. are stored, have been twice redone because they didn't pass inspection. Along with only tepid water and non-functioning heating recently, and constant construction/workers, it is just as well not to spend much time in my room. I met a woman today who had lived for 20 years in "beautiful downtown Burbank" (s. California) one of several people who tried to help me find a clinic to get a dengue vaccination (for Easter Island). I gave up after being referred to one clinic after another. As we walked she told me Santiago was a great place for senior citizens because there are so many activities, exercise classes, and good medical insurance. Providencia has a lot of cultural opportunities, too, but most, such as wonderful Royal London opera production broadcasts such as Faust, I have not been able to attend, as I work every evening. 

We have to have to create our own entertainment/ culture...

Leading the ward choir is Barbara Corro (center) and singers Sisters Marchant and Black, among others. Sister Young is the accompanist. Also singing .....

are the wonderful young missionaries serving in Pocuro Ward: Sisters Rasband (US), Gallego (Colombia), Klein (Brazil), Elders Bentley and Ashton (US). We just finished a choir practice for our ward conference June 9. 

Yvonne (in "elegant" cueca dress) and Enrique Lamartine tried their best to teach us the cueca, declared the national dance of Chile in 1979, so the senior missionaries can participate in the dance for the September patriotic days! First we practiced men and women separately, then together. It was fun, but we need more practice! It's harder than it looks to gracefully flirt in this courting dance, which has various regional forms, mimicking a rooster and hen. It had developed from the Spanish fandango or Peruvian marinera  by 1824 into a uniquely huasco (cowboy) Chilean dance. It is accompanied by guitar, accordian and tambourine. Chilean children all learn it at school.

Nancy and Cliff Moses

Lorie and Alan Marchant

Holly and Ralph Young

I'm wearing the black "men's hat" so my hair looks pretty bad!

Some of my wonderful Friday English class
Sophia from China, Gulle, Fabiola, Aura (Venezuela). Unfortunately Gema, Nelly and Cecilia were sick or taking care of sick family members for our last class. I gave them each a certificate for completing the 16 modules of English Connect. (Guille and Fabiola below) They want to continue if I can find another teacher?? I will miss them all so much. As they say, the teacher often learns more than the student (about many things!)
 

Every worker is valued and loved at the temple, but some are truly indispensable: Claudio Vidal runs the laundry (shared with Hna. Rojas); 
Sonia Bisama is secretary to the Temple President. 
(below) President Jara is second counselor to President Wilhelm and Erica Jara is assistant to Sister Wilhelm. And all help each of us! The Jaras (below) gave me a lovely copihue (a Mapuche word, and the Chilean national flower) silver, blue (lapiz lazuli), white(mother of pearl), red (jasper) (the colors of the Chilean flag) necklace to remember this special country. The roots are 3x the height of this climbing, twisting-around-trees temperate rain forest vine (red or pink bell-flower)  and are so intertwined they form a strong cord, symbolizing humanity, unity of the Chilean people. It is of common belief that the colors of the Chilean flag represent the sky and the Pacific Ocean, the snow-covered Andes mountains, and the blood that was shed to gain the nation’s independence. It is thought that the star located in the canton is a reference to independence, while others believe that it represents honor and progress. The colors of the Chilean flag are believed to have been inspired by the flag flown by the Mapuche in the Arauco War.

Symbols of Chile (tree of life, copihue, cueca) given to me as gifts, among other things.

In the metro stations are many Chilean symbols: copper and other mining produce the countries biggest source of exports.
Below: President and Sister Jara live in Santiago so do not have apartments in the hostel where the rest of us live.

Probably influenced by the Renaissance spirit, for Europeans Chile represented the end of the world, the end of the planet, but at the same time, a new world. The first to arrive was the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, who united the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the strait that was to later bear his name.

In 1536, fifteen years after that trip, Diego de Almagro made his attempt by land from the north and reached Copiapó, which began the Spanish conquest and domination, along with the Arauco War. Motivated by the search for gold, Diego de Almagro’s expedition was comprised of 500 Spaniards and a hundred natives and slaves. The Andes crossing decimated the column, either from the cold or desertions, frustrated at being unable to find gold or other riches.

The Spaniards dealt with that first confrontation between De Almagro and the Mapuches swiftly and they soon decided to return to Peru

In 1540, an expedition under the command of Pedro de Valdivia returned to Chile with the mission of definitively conquering the territory. Nueva Extremadura (western area of Spain from which Cortes and Pizarro and others came) was the name that the conquistador had picked to christen these lands. In February 1541 he founded the city of Santiago. War with the indomitable Mapuches lasted for 3 centuries and they still are proud indigenous people. I did temple sealings this week with a lovely woman of Mapuche origins.

Next, lots of the many special friends I will miss (and not forget!). 

Hna, Hernandez

Melissa Hill is planning to go to BYU Provo's English program in a few months

I have a hard time remembering all the names, as women in Latin America use two last names (father and mother). In addition, in the temple they usually go by the surname of their husband....who is who??? 

Hna Marci Marquez has lived in the US and is a special friend.

 Paola Julio (Pictured with her husband) is  an assistant coordinator, but in the temple goes by Hermana Calderon.

Faithful temple attenders and family history missionaries (above) come every week from Valparaiso. She's Brazilian, he's Croatian. Below, are some Wednesday morning shift workers. They cannot pronounce my name, and I can't remember all of theirs! It doesn't matter too much. We have loving bonds.

Hermana Huston (left) was the Sunday school teacher in the ward we visited on Sunday. She gave a great lesson on being prepared for the Second Coming of Christ.

On the left is Anny Olmos who comes with her husband Jorge, for one week each month. I stayed with them in Antofagasta.

Some workers are older, some young. Some have just returned from missions, some are about to serve. So the age range is about 18-90. All are appreciated.

Adela Calisaya

Hna Iglesias

 So many dear people have given me nice, thoughtful gifts, but most important, hugs and love, which I will not forget. We are one huge human family, and I'm grateful for the kindness of everyone here.

Lucia Orccoapaza from Arequipa, Peru, came to talk about becoming a senior missionary. Like many, she has many challenges living in a new country (even after several years).
I was so thrilled by one of the many miracles I see in the temple. My friend Nicha had become so discouraged about work, etc. that she has been working on visas to return to her native Colombia, but yesterday we were chatting with a new member of one week, who came to do the baptism and confirmation of her deceased Swiss grandmother. She was looking for someone to help in her home, and hired Nisha on the spot! A win-win! (This week, thanks to technology and the strong belief we have in the importance of temple connecting ordinances to our ancestors, I also did temple work for my great-...grandmother, one of the first babies born in 1625 in the new Plymouth Colony. Someone told me about Chinese genealogy going back to a time before Christ...the importance of good record keeping.
My challenges are small in comparison: Saturday I was thrilled to wake up to a warm radiator and hot water, which we have not had for several weeks. I also listened all night and this morning to a large party of happy/ inebriated people.
Yesterday, thanks again to technology I was able to arrange for internet, phone, utilities, insurance and more to function when I get home in 2 weeks...still more to do, but it's a start. Life is focused and simple as a missionary and only a sacrifice in terms of missing family and friends and some activities. The growth and experiences of a mission are worth it for 18 months. But family is most important in God's Plan. I look forward to our family reunion in July, and know that more challenges, joys and learning await me at home. I also know that I will see all these dear friends here, as well as my ancestors, in the next life, which is bound to be very exciting! 

Sunday the Isaacsons and I attended the baby blessing of Rose and Andres' Nachka (for whom we gave a shower a month ago) in their ward in Quinta Normal area (Santiago North mission).

Here we are in Hermana Huston's wonderful class. The girl with the "lamp with oil" (prepared) will be baptized next week. To stay strong we need to feed our testimony of Christ every day by prayer, scripture study, sharing the Gospel, service and ministering to others.

I was delighted to find my friends from Ecuador; he is a counselor in this ward's bishopric.

Here are the proud new parents Andres and Rose (whom I met and helped with their wedding on the first day of my mission in the temple, Dec. 2017, with baby Nachka after Church, with good friends Ginette and Julien

Isaacsons, Julien, Rose and Nachka, Ginette, Julien,Hno and Hna Galleguillos, Miriam, Mackinson (sp?),long time friend of Julien

After Church we walked to the Galleguillos house for lunch

After lunch we sang: the Haitians sang one of their songs...

The Galleguillos (who serve as service missionaries and as Saturday AM coordinators in the temple) sang a favorite Chilean song, then we sang "This Land is Your Land." We talked about all of us being Americans from opposite ends of the Americas, all of us patriotic but with hearts eager to take in people from everywhere. Such a fun gathering of wonderful friends.

As the sun is setting on my mission, I am grateful for the blessing and opportunity to have had a taste of a beautiful land with so many good people, all of us trying our best, hopefully using our God-given talents and time to make this troubled world a little better. We can't reach everyone, but helping and touching a few each day is what we are asked to do. Some are also mindful of street dogs!