Paranal Observatory

DEAR Children, Spouses, and Grandchildren     Sat. Jan 23, 2016  6:15 pm

This has been another busy but eventful week Jan 18 to Jan 23, 2016.

Story 30   SUMMER in CHILE  Here in Antofagasta, Chile is in their FULL hot summer and the beaches are loaded with (sun umbrellas) and people and their children. We can see the beach from our South deck and it is really something, day after day, as school does not start here again until March 1 (Dec, Jan, Feb) are  the summer months here. However, we get the "sea breeze" and if we open our doors and windows to the outside, it is cool inside our apartment even though we do not have fans or air conditioning due to this cool sea breeze.  I did put up sheets to cover the windows to block the sun as best I could and it helps, plus I also hung some black plastic trash bags.

Story 31  CHILEAN CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAY PARTIES  We went and visited Edwards family last Saturday and George took photos of the "plastic fun house" that people order for parties (anyway the more wealthy people do). Edwards said the party was for one of their friends families, and they told them they could have the party at their house. We arrived when they were setting up the fun house, and left before the party. We had gone "home teaching" to this family, and had caught them all home. We are still just friend-shipping them at this time. (see photos)

A birthday party at Edwards home.  They go all out.

We stopped to see our friend Edwards Galdames

Story 32  THEIR PDAY - CAME for BREAKFAST  (Mon Jan 18) for two missionaries. Elder Kazden Jolley who lives about next door to Stephen and Timandra Fawson in LaVerkin, and his Latin companion who does not speak any English. Kazden has a twin brother who is serving in Peru. He said the two of them are as different in looks and personality as night and day. He is the grandson of Janet Hafen who I went to school with. Janet's sister Penny Hafen is the girl who beat out Jeff Holland for Studentbody President. (just some trivia). There mother sewed and dressed these two girls and a younger sister in high fashion for our day. Velma Ruth just died recently at about age 98. At the breakfast we talked about how to get people to read the Book of Mormon. We are looking for any missionary who has actually had someone from Chile read the whole Book of Mormon clear through and so far (NIL). (see photos)

We had Elder Jolly, from La Verkin, son of Margaret’s classmate and his companion for breakfast

Story 33  FIRST ALL CHURCH MISSIONARY CONFERENCE  (Wed Jan 20th) This was broadcast all over the world starting at 10 AM in Salt Lake City, but it may have been broadcast from Provo at the MTC. The Seventies put it on. Apostles who spoke were Elder Anderson, Elder Bednar, and Elder Oaks, then Elder Clayton from the 70s and the Young Women's president Sister Oscarson, and a member of the Presiding Bishopric. It was all focused on FINDING, TEACHING, RETAINING and ACTIVATING. They had a panel of missionaries (Sisters and Elders) who answered questions, they had charts, TV screens with statistics, a church video showing people helping one another, youth bringing in other youth, etc. and then ended it with Elder Oaks talk at the MTC to the missionaries in the audience who were taking notes, etc. It also stressed working with Ward Counsels to get contacts names.  AFTER the meeting we drove the missionaries back to the office and here are some of there comments they were making:

"I have only had one referral from a ward member in all of my mission"
"The branches I have worked in don't even have a Branch or Ward Counsel"
"We have never seen anyone in Chile do the things like the video showed us."
"People here don't even know there neighbors, and won't let them in their homes."
"Being a missionary in Chile is a lot different then being one in the USA."

George and I came to the conclusion unless the Church has a big push to have the ward and branch members help with giving the missionaries referrals it won't help to tell the missionaries to get the referrals from the ward members, as the Church no longer has the Elders and Sister missionaries knock on doors.

Story 34  DINNER for JOHANN & his WIFE ROSIO  (Wed Jan 20)  This was the 2nd dinner and George gave the lesson. We have a chart that we made up about the Plan of Salvation using scriptures from the Bible and some in the Book of Mormon. I tended the two children ages 1 and 5 while he taught. They are a special family, not married, but said they would get married, when George told them they would have to get married if they wanted to be baptized in the future. We are teaching them how to pray and the little girl is now folding her arms, bowing her head, and can say AMEN.  We feel we are making progress, and they are planning on coming again to our home for dinner, next week for another lesson. (see photo from last week)

Story 35  PACKAGE from STEPHANIE  for DAD's BIRTHDAY  It arrived on Thursday (Jan 20), and came in two weeks. We were so surprised, and she had purchased him some binoculars that he immediately opened and used. It was such a surprise. We will NOT be home on Sat. Jan 30 and Sun Jan 31 as we are driving to the South for George and two of the Elders to do "Church Audits" in four of the mission Branches. A Branch is under the Mission and not the Stakes, here in Chile. We hope to be back towards early Sunday evening so perhaps we can still talk to some of you on his actual (76th Birthday) as we are 4 hours ahead of you. Appreciate the cards from Bryan and Lisa and Laura that came too!

Story 36 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATE   MOVIE from Bryan and Lisa. (Friday Jan 22) We had called them and they said they wanted us to watch a movie about the Paranal Observatory in Chile, so sent us a gift certificate and we got the MOVIE right in our apartment within 30 minutes. It was really something. The first movie (really a documentary) we have watched called "Nostalgia for the Light."  Then we got up early on Saturday. If any of you want to watch this you can order it from Amazon for $2.99.

Story 37  TRIP to PARANAL OBSERVATORY  We picked up the Elders at 7:30 am and drove South 75 miles. We arrived and parked and gave them our permits filled out for each person attending from our car. While waiting for the gate to open George met two couples and we got their names, and another family with the wife a member but husband not. We are always LOOKING for contacts and are rarely disappointed. It was a very interesting day. We went from sea level to 8600 feet above sea level. There were FOUR large observatories (look up Paranal Observatory in Chile) on the Internet if you want  to know more. Inside was incredible. The size of the telescope was monstrous!  One of the Elders fainted as he has had a history of low blood pressure. We also talked to one of the staff members while getting a medic for the Elder. He was from Santiago, but born in Evanston (suburb) of Chicago the same town that George served in on his mission, where his father worked for Northwestern University. Then the family moved to England, and he got a degree in Physics, and ended up in Chile. Married at age 42 and has a 3 year old daug. He works 4 months each year at the observatory the night SHIFT as the work is done at night.  George asked him if his work helped him religiously. He said no, as he is an agnostic.  He said they have Christians, Agnostics and Atheists working there. We were SO fascinated by the equipment all run by computers. Wish we could explain it all but it would not be possible here plus we heard most about it in Spanish, but loved the tour. We also went to the UNDERGROUND Hotel. George took lots of photos. We hope you enjoy them. (see photos)

Site of Paranal, the world’s largest astronomy observatory.  Top of Cerro Paranal.

 Facilities at Paranal Observatory.

 The complexity of the observatory tower inside.  It was amazing.

 The group listening to our guide in Spanish.

 Our guide teaching.  Notice the ring on the floor.  It was rotating.

Complex computer equipment at the site.

 A good look at the actual telescope.

 A good look at the reflecting mirror.

 One of the scientists from England examine the results.

 Waiting for entrance to the hotel at Paranal.

 Inside the Hotel at Paranal.

 Entrance to the hotel, which is underground.  Part of the James Bond movie, "Quantum of Solice was filmed at this hotel.

 Inside the hotel at Paranal.

 Left to right - Elder Spanbauer, Gonzalez, Morales, Walker and Hermana Talbot.  Elder Walker, in blue, fainted because of the 8600 ft. Elevation while inside the observatory.  That was a scare.

Margaret wanted me to take a picture of these trees.  You never see trees in the desert here.

Many European countries are participating and funding this project.  They have welcome written in the language of the countries participating.

The had many pictures on display at the museum of pictures taken of the night sky

A view of the Pacific Ocean from the Paranal Observatory.

 I posed for a picture atop Cerro Paranal.

 The tallest hill in the center is where they are putting a much larger telescope.

Margaret and I standing in front of Cerro Paranal Observatory.

 On top of Cerro Paranal, one of the several large observatories.  Notice how it can rotate.

 Smaller observatories that on tracks so that they can change position.

Story 38. BIG HAND in the ATACOMA DESERT We also visited the HAND that is out in the Atacoma Desert (about 7 miles south of  Route 5 road going to Paranal). There is not a paved road to it, you just drive over the desert up and down sand etc. The hand was HUGE. However the wind was blowing hard and blew my hat away but George caught it. You can look the hand also on the Internet.   (see photos)

A hand in the desert sculpture.  Elder Spanbauer in front.  The wind was very strong here.

 I let the elders take a picture of Margaret and I at the Hand Sculpture in the Dessert.  In addition to taking our picture, I found this picture on my camera.  It was a "selfie" of Elder Spanbauer, Elder Gonzalez, Elder Walker and Eder Morales.  They were excited to put this photo on my camera.

 Picture of Margaret and I at the Desert Hand Sculpture.

 Elder Walker couldn't resist getting one more picture of himself on my camera.

 Elder Morales posing in front of the Hand Sculpture.

Story 39.  READ BOOK of ABRAHAM 3-4 about the WORLD  The experience at Paranal sparked me  to re-read what it has in the Book of Abraham. We are so grateful for the restored gospel and the additional scriptures we have. The man at the Paranal who we talked to said there are "BILLIONS of GALAXIES" out there.  We are both so humbled to know that the God we worship created these. It is simply bigger than any of us can comprehend. I wish we would have shown you the photos from the MOVIE they showed us at Paranal of photos that they have taken, that were simply incredible with full colors, etc.

Story 40. FAMILY NEWS FOR THIS WEEK   (Jan 18 to Jan 23) Amy finding her diamond that fell out of her ring, Laura and Mike flying to Canada and noticing her passport expired the day she returns, Stephanie and baby are doing well, Waiting for a new grandson to be born this week, Zach's 7th birthday on January 28, Ethan being called to a Senior Patrol leader representing their Stake for a Scout Event in New York, Hannah's mission call went in on Monday Jan 18 (looking for her call before Valentines Day in Feb), worried about Bryan and Lisa in the big snow storm in the east. David (senior contest) and Drew (grandchildren contest) each won $20 for winning the bowl picks this year, We learned a lot about our son Jonathan on "Linkiden  Internet site) other of our men are on this site too,  and last news we heard is that Matt, Julie and family helped with Tornado cleanup in Texas. We Love  One and All!

WE LOVE the emails and phone calls from each of you and appreciate your prayers, particularly for our investigators and that we can learn and speak Spanish.

Love Mom and Dad in Antofagasta, Chile.