Our investigators came to church!

                                    STORIES  303 to 315 and PHOTOS

Dear Family    Prepared Saturday September  17, 2016   (Sent Tuesday Sept 19, 2016)

       Another week passed by, and so  very much took place that we can hardly believe we actually lived through it all. Mainly COMBIOS, which means changes in Spanish which takes place every six weeks. We had  7 missionaries go home and 16 arrived, plus we had a big meeting for 140 missionaries who came together to hear a General Authority on Wednesday September __, 2016, (Elder Bragg & his wife) arriving at 12 noon with a meeting from 2:00  to 5:20, and then this past weekend was (like 4th of July in USA) as it was the Chilean Independence Celebrations on a: (1) Antofagasta city level,  (2) family level (investigators), and (3) ward (barrio) level. 

        We are also among those waiting to hear about our granddaughter Jennah Grant's mission call which has "BEEN ASSIGNED" to her area of service, but she has not received the call. Our daughter Stephanie's husband  David Stuart had a birthday this past week too, plus we enjoyed reading family emails, and receiving phone calls.

         Also, we WROTE the big "PROMPTINGS" story that took place at the General Authority missionary meeting in regards to our helping get 25 missionaries on their way to Iquique and Alto Hospicio by the "hair of their chinny chin chin." Will not repeat here for the blog, but it is available via email.  

         Then we also had a dinner at our apartment for the TWO sisters that it has taken a "YEAR" to finally have that happen, and to their "delight" we served "Artichoke!" They were so pleased with this food choice that they demonstrated to us how to eat them and George took some photos. Then after the meal we demonstrated to them "about our church and about its teachings." So it was a good trade off, plus we have another scheduled appointment for next Tuesday. 

            So hope you Enjoy this weeks offerings!  Thank you to grand daughter Mackenzie!

STORY 303  OUR  INVESTIGATORS COME TO CHURCH

       This is the first Sunday that we finally (got Gabriella age 8 and 3/4s) to come to church along with her father Claudio (who has come two other times). It was such a thrill for us to be sitting on the church bench with Claudio, Gabriella, and also Cleyide who was in town from Ovayee (to the south in Chile) who is a member. We also brought Gabriella her own little "New Testament:" but Claudio took it and was reading in it during the sacrament. We both had tears in our eyes as Claudio has never had any religious education in the home he was raised in. He may not be baptized, but he certainly KNOWS about our church and its teachings, and will have scriptures to read after we are gone. (see photo of them in front of the church)

STORY 304  MAKING LUNCHES for 140 MISSIONARIES TO BE COMING SOON

      This was an interesting experience to make (again) lunches for the missionaries who were coming in from all over the Northern part of the mission for the yearly "general authority" visit and talk. This means they come in on a bus, take local; buses to the church where the meeting will be held, (receive a lunch to eat) and then sit for the meeting talks, etc. We purchased the 140 apples, mandarine oranges,  small juice boxes and bagged them in plastic bags along with a napkin, plate and plastic fork. Then two days later (day of the meeting) we PICKED up the 140 hot empanadas and 140 completos {with a hot dog in side) and put them in another plastic bag and slipped the hot food bag into the other bag. The photos taken were of the missionaries helping do all of the pre lunch bagging, and they had to make a GAME out of it and stacked the 12 boxes one on top of an other (the empty boxes) to see how high they could get them. We DO enjoy these missionaries. They keep us YOUNG!  (see several photos)

STORY 305  SEVEN MISSIONARIES Go HOME on SEPTEMBER 12, 2016.

     At the mission home on Monday evening it is the rule to take a photo of the missionaries going home. George became the photographer for this event, and also took a photo for us to show you. The new missionaries come "bright eyed and bushy tailed" the leaving missionaries are more "contemplative and wondering about returning home" and are generally sad to be leaving their missions.  We always MISS -  particularly the office elders who we have becoming more closely acquainted with when they leave. the office, and then finally leave to go home. This time Elder Brydon ANDERSON was leaving. He had been an AP since last June. He is from Meridian, Idaho and will be attending BYU Idaho. We are giving him our grand daughter Jennah Grants' name to have him look her up when he arrives to school.  Another bonus of serving in a mission office, is that we have been on the "look out" for GOOD husbands for our granddaughters. Obviously, our choices probably won't happen, but we have found some good candidates for them (Jennah, Kristin, Hannah, Michaela, and Heidi), if they want our opinions! (see 2 photos)

STORY 306  MAKING THREE FRUIT & VEGETABLE TRAYS

     This new presidents wife is very conscious of  wanting to serve "healthy food" to the missionaries. This means NO pop, but only bottled juices such as  = pineapple, orange, peach, etc. Juices in plastic bottles (large sizes) is very popular here, particularly due to the fact people are drinking bottled water all of the time. Therefore NO more ice cream and cookies, but now "fruit trays" for desserts, etc. We purchased: pineapple, apples, grapes, celery, carrots, brocolli, etc. and all of this had to be washed, CUT up and arranged. It took me way over an hour to prepare these three trays of food. The missionaries ate TWO complete trays at the lunch meal and the other tray was out on a table for them to snack on. Missionary parents would like this new emphasis on "healthy" foods to serve missionaries. (see 2 photos)

STORY 307  PREPARING WATER BOTTLES for NEW MISSIONARIES

      No one here in Antofagasta drinks the "tap" water. Everyone, as far as we know purchases water in large containers and put them over some type of dispenser and that is the water you drink, or you drink bottled water. When the new missionaries arrive they are each given a small bottle of water. We purchase those water bottles and keep a large supply in the closet for (1) per each new missionary, plus (2) more for when they receive their companions to have to drink on the bus when they travel to their 1st assignment. When 16 new ones arrived this time we needed  16 + 16 + 16 = 48 bottles of water. It is important to PRINT name labels and apply with tape to each bottle (ones given when they arrive) as the bottles all look alike and this way they will not get mixed up as they all look alike. After we brought the bottles to the mission home, Gina the president's daughter must have arranged them this way on the freezer that is in the kitchen area. George took a photo of them. Having big name labels also helps the new president and his wife to look at and get acquainted with the names, of which  obviously they also have printed lists too. (1 photo)

STORY 308  SERVING the NEW MISSIONARY  LUNCH to TWENTY=NINE PEOPLE

     This event takes place at the mission home. George and I came early and set up the tables and chairs. The past president liked everything moved UP to the higher lawn, which was a lot more work. Since we are 74 and 76 and had no instructions we set the tables and chairs this way;. Turned out good as it was in the shade too. PLUS I decided to serve the meal (family style) and not the line buffet style. We put the three fruit and veggie trays one per table, and platters with the empanadas etc. This missionaries LOVED visiting and their wide eyes and bushy tails were so evident having just gotten off the air plane. We LOVE meeting the new missionaries, and TWO on the left photo of them eating were from TEXAS.  We will give more on their names, and where sent next week. (2 photos)

STORY 309  TWO SISTERS  Claudia and Daniella COME for a MEAL & LESSON

    This event was historic.  Claudio only speaks Spanish, but said she had a sister who "speaks ENGLISH fluently." This was a year ago. We kept trying to get the TWO of them to come at the same time for dinner and it took 12 months to have this finally happen. It was a wonderful evening and we have another appointment next Tuesday for lunch at our apartment. Finding a TIME to meet is the big problem, as they are both so very busy. Daniella is age 22, her sister Claudio is age 35 and she  has a daug. age 13 and another daug age 4 (both by different fathers. Claudiais the one who is now attending CHURCH even before having the missionary lessons, and found out the first time she liked our church and l particularly likes the 4 year old primary class for her daughter. (1 photo of the 2 sisters)

STORY 310  THE PROMPTING to "PURCHASE" ARTICHOKES

      Promptings from the spirit are so "subtle" and so quiet that sometimes and actually most of the time, you do not know you are receiving a prompting. This was the case when we were in the grocery story the same day two sister investigators were coming for evening meal and a lesson. I just saw the file of "artichokes" and the sign (3 for 1 mil). Wow a good price, I will purchase 9. I quickly started picking out the best ones to purchase. George came back and was surprised but did not say anything. I came to the apartment later and looked up how to cook them and prepared and cooked 4 for the evening meal. When the first sister arrived she was SHOCKED that I would be serving artichokes as it was a "favorite food" of hers. She then proceeded to demonstrate how to eat them and George took several photos as it was such a "surprise" to us that she made such a BIG deal out of us serving artichokes. Now, was that a prompting or what????

STORY 311   MISSIONARY MEETING with a GENERAL AUTHORITY ELDER BRAGG

      We mentioned this meeting last week, and he and his wife did arrive. This is WHY we needed the 140 lunches for the missionaries who were bused in from the North, plus including the two zones of missionaries from Antofagasta.  It was a VERY busy time for us, getting the 12 boxes of pre prepared lunches (an apple, mandarine orange, juice box, plate, napkin etc.) then we PICKED up 150 hot empanadas  and 150 completos "have a hot dog inside" and the car was full of 15 trays holding all of this. We got to the church and started "bagging" into the prepared sacks the hot empanadas etc. It was a real rushed time, as things were running behind. Then we finally sat down for the meeting in seats Geoge had earlier picked out. Then we found out the missionaries had bus tickets to leave at 5:55. For a BREAK they sent all 140 missionaries outside for a photo session, then returned for more talks, etc. The General Authority Bragg spoke again. His talk went on and on, so we sent one of the missionaries up to tell the President that the Iquique and Alto Hospicio missionaries had bus tickets in 25 minutes and it takes 20 minutes to get to the bus station. Obviously the talk ended (fast), a (fast) closing prayer and 25 missionaries were rushed off to the bus station.  It was said around that the"Talbots" saved the day for them. Longer account written in an email.  (see group photos)

        

STORY 312   A FIREMAN WAS KILLED and FUNERAL CARS PROCESSION

     George was at Central (name for main downtown area) to get the mail and found a big funeral procession. It was for a fireman who had been killed while working on putting out a fire. The big "bombarro" (firetruck) was first in line, followed by the casket that was on top of another vehicle and followed by another car that was full of flowers. It all happened so fast he did not get the firetruck in the photo. The firetrucks here are "white with blue strips of trim".  They are NOT red!. (see photos)

        Incidetllley we heard an amazing true "Christmas gift firetruck story" from Rodolfo a few nights ago that we will have to WRITE at another time. An amazing story, with a catch 22 ending, and a lesson on a father's kind patience with a 7 year old son who set the living room on fire early Christmas morning while playing with his new firetruck. Child's logic: I I have a firetruck I need a fire to put it out with so where are the matches!!!!.

STORY 313  SHOPPING for GEORGE and " Chilean PONCHO and a Chilean HAT"

     I was the one pushing to get him a poncho and hat. We had both been so busy that we had never had any time to go shopping. Then to our surprise we met "Jose Perez" in the main big mall store all dressed in his Chilean Poncho and Hat. We stopped to talk to him to ask where he purchased them, and found out he was an "inactive baptized member" of our church. His wife and (her daug. from a former relationship) were with him. Of course we asked them (in Spanish) if they wanted to learn more about the church. We took some photos and had a good visit at the store. Then we parted and they left and we went to go and find the poncho and hat for George. It was a long walk, but we found the place and after trying on "many" different hats we finally found one the right size. (see photos)

STORY 314  ATTENDING TWO CHILEAN LDS BARRIO's NATIONAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS

       We are in the Origenes Barrio but our contacts Marta and Rodolfo live in the boundaries for the Quito Barrio. These two barrios (wards) were each having their celebrations the SAME night and at the SAME time so we went to both of them. We met our investigators  (Rodolfo, Marta and Guga) at Origenes, shared in with the games, watched the Cueca Dancers, ate empanadas and chorpian (like hot dogs), plus the Chilean drink which is (peaches - whole- with sort of a grain that is puffed up, and peach juice). This drink that you EATwith a spoon is very popular. 

      Then we both got in our separate cars and drove to the Quito barrio, where we introduced them around and had more empanadas and watched dances and games. See the photos for this story. George wore his "poncho and hat" which was a hit with the young missionaries too. We had 3 contacts to Origenes, and 5 to Quito who came. (see photos)

        END  We hope you each take every opportunity available to you to SHARE the gospel. We were talking to  our daughter Stephanie this past week and asked her how many children were in her son Tanner's four year old primary class. She said 10, but some do not come. We told her we hopes she takes on those inactive families  as "projects" to help them return back into the "gospel fold." We know it is hard when a young mother has 3 small children, but we are certain that each of us can do SOMETHING, even in Utah, and more so will be opportunities in Texas, Indiana, or Virginia, to help "bring back" those who have strayed away. We also  know that we will certainly be more anxiously engaged in this kind of effort when we return home. We are totally convinced that you do NOT have to GO on a mission to BE on a mission, we can ALL be missionaries where ever we live and where ever we go. Even being a diligent visiting teacher or home teacher is like being a missionary bringing a message to lift, inspire, and bless the members of the church.

Amor, Padre & Madre; or Tia or Tio; or Amigos!

Cleyde Colome who we found and helped get baptized, Margaret, Claudio and his daughter Gabriela.  This was their first time to attend church.  Story 303

Boxs prepared to carry lunches for the mission conference with the General Authority. Story 304

 Story 304 - Office Elders stacking the lunch boxes.  Elder Huffstutler, Elder Rios, Elder Prada and Elder Roberts.

 Story 305 - Missionaries who are departing for home the following morning.

Story 306 - Food trays prepared for the new missionaries.

 Story 307 - Water bottles with their names on them prepared for the 16 new missionaries.

 Story 308 - Setting up the tables in the back of the mission home for the new missionary lunch

 Story 308 - New Missioinaries arrive for their luncheon.  President Ferreira is in the back and the two Texas missionaries are on the far right.

Story 310 - Claudia Ulloa came to our home for dinner (She is an Investigator) and gave us a lesson on how to eat Artichokes.

 Story 310 - Eaten from the leaves until she is down to the Artichoke heart.

 Story 310 - Ready to eat the Artichoke heart.  She loves Artichokes.

 What is left of the Artichoke.  They are delicious.

 Claudia's sister Daniela ready to eat an artichoke.

 Story 309 - Claudia and her sister Daniela pose for a pictures.  It has taken us a year to finally get them to come together for dinner.  We have another appointment on Tuesday.699

Story 304 - 140 lunches prepared for 140 missionaries for the mission conference with Elder Bragg.00

 Missionaries waiting for their picture to be taken in at the Origenes Church.  Margaret is on the front row on the far right visiting with a sister missionary.  Story 311

 Story 311 - The other half of the missionaries at the Origenes Chapel.

 Story 312 - Apparently a fireman passed away and they have had the funeral and are taking him to the cemetery.  Note the fire truck just turning the corner.  The casket is on top of the vehicle just above the white car.

 Story 312 - The fire truck has now rounded the corner.  You can see the casket on top of the car between the white and red car and in front of the white hearse.

Story 312 - While the fire truck was passing, a talk was being given at the main plaza in Antofagasta.  Some of the those attending were dressed for the occasion.

 Story 313 - While shopping we met a couple and their daughter.  This is the daughter Andrea.  We did not get a picture of the mother.  The father said he was a member of the church.

 Story 313 - This is the father, Jose Perez. Who says he is a member of the church.  He is dressed in a Chilean cowboy outfit.   He told us where we could go to purchase those clothes for me.

 Margaret took a picture of me in my new Chileano cowboy outfit. Story 314

Story 314 - At the Quito Ward Barrio Fiesta with Elder Rios on the left and Elder Huffstutler on the right.  September the 18th is their Independence Day celebration like our 4th of July.  Many wear this outfit to represent the Chile tradition.

Story 314 - At the ward party at Quito, Margaret found a friends for Gustavo (Guga) who is on the right.  Vicente, in green is on the left.

 Story 314 - At the ward party Marta found a little baby to hold.  She would like another child so that Guga could have a sibling.

 At the Origenes ward party Rodolfo had this picture taken.  Unfortunately, I went to sleep in this pictures.  These were fun parties.

Chilean Walls

DEAR Family, our Siblings and Others,
                   (sent Saturday 11 am  on September 10, 2016 from Antofagasta, Chile)

       We always think we will have a calm week and it ends up being as big and full of activities as any of the past weeks. We hope you enjoy the following stories and photos if you go to the blog. We may not call our stories  "miracles" like the younger missionaries talk so much about in their emails, but know that we do have them, and we do act on the many promptings we have, but how we present them may not give you that impression.
      We want you all to know we do FEEL the help from our Savior while doing and serving on this mission, but working with the investigators we are currently working with (see list at the end) has been a long and tedious process covering 16 months for some of them.        
        The younger missionaries cannot do this, as they are told to "DROP" people who are not progressing. For example, we have the lady at Socia Bank that George has been friend shipping for 12 months and FINALLY (really truly) last week she went to one of our churchs meetings (stayed for the 3 hours) at the place she is suppose to go, and took her small daughter. She loved it. She now is going again and has NOT had any missionary lessons except talking to George and one time at our home 12 months ago.  Older couples work with missionary work a whole different way. We just keep friend shipping and friend shipping and loving and loving them, and hoping they will desire more.  Even with our limited broken Spanish we can do some good.
        Younger missionaries do SO much good, and help SO very much in the wards (and barrios here). But it is just different. They cannot invite people to their apartments for dinner. They cannot stay up past 10 pm. They push for baptism dates from almost the first lesson. We are just older and how we present things is different, plus we have the language barrier, but know that we have turned MANY  of the contacts we have found over to them, but also we have kep MANY for ourselves, who have NOT wanted the formal lessons yet. The ones we keep are the ones we TELL you about.
        However, we also like to give "family members" the CULTURE end of things here in Chile, as because we are a senior couple we can GO to those kinds of things, and the younger missionaries cannot generally do this. Most of you will never have the opportunity to visit this country, even though you could for $860 round trip ticket if you fly from Las Vegas to Santiago, otherwise it would be $1,560 if not from Las Vegas!

PHOTOS sent for this week    
Story 291  Baptism records photo
Story 292  Two sisters and wife's sister Photo
Story 293 no photos
Story 294 Puzzel photo with family
Story 295 Showing three scriptures New Testament in Spanish
Story 296 no photos (openhouse photos were shown last time)
Story 297 down town Antorfagasta Central street photos (several)
Story 298
Story 299  Day Care program photos (several) two VIDEOS
Story 300  Building walls  Chilean designs photos (3 or more)
Story 301  Elder Bragg coming to visit the South America Missions next week
Story 302  Chilean Invidations

                                               S T O R I E S 290 to 302

STORY 290 -  PROGRESS with JOSE - OUR ONLY contact who is currentlu "regularly and daily" READING the BOOK of MORMON
     This has been an long and interesting process. We have known Jose for over 14 months. He has come to our apartment for Monday evening meal for probably 40 different Monday evenings. Started out - having him help us with Spanish, has ended up talking about religion. He was raised in Santiago (near where out temple is located), attended a quite well known Catholic based school, which also taught English, speaks fluent English, and is very well read, and has a hobby of studying "ships" all kinds from all different wars, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Germany, USA, etc. What ever we talk about he generally knowns something. But says he has no FAITH!  Our effort is to try to build him some faith. We earlier asked him to read the book of Mormon and he said NO not interested, but we later asked again, and he accepted the challenge. He is now reading through the Isaiah chapters in II Nephi, and does not want to miss any of them, but he tells us that at the rate he is going he will not finish the book before we leave in 10 weeks. We asked him to try to read more chapters each week. (no photos)

STORY 291  HELPING with the BAPTISM RECORDS at the OFFICE
   This has become a big deal now with this new president who wants 100 baptisms a month. We hit 84 last week, and  89 baptisms this week and ended up at 94 for the month of August. This is SO many many more than I used to type and enter, that two different couples from Antofagasta are now taking turns coming to help with entering baptism records in preparation for when we leave. However to even do this job,  is NO small chore.
        First after they are printed from the original copies that are sent to the OFFICE, we  have to identify the Barrio and Stake with certain numbers, check the exact spelling of the name, check the exact dates of the baptism and confirmation,  make sure they put who the head of the house is, name and birthday, and if married, the marriage date and place, etc.
        BUT unfortunately some of the missionaries who FILL out the forms MISS some of the vital information such as (the converts birthday) etc. and then we have to call them to go and get the information. Therefore to now have 100 a month over the used to be 30 to 40 a month is a BIG CHANGE.  therefore we GO to the office Monday afternoon to see if any have been printed and start to fix and review them. Then on Tuesday the helping couple people come to start entering them. On this Tuesday the lady entered 20 of the 29 that had come in. It took a long time.  The mission wants 100 this month and may get it. (1 photo of baptism records)

STORY 292  CLAYIDE COMES  to HELP HER SISTERS FAMILY     (1 photo)
     This has been an interesting situation I hope I can explain to help you understand:

Wilson and Ideide and two children had plans to go to Florida Orlando Disney World.
The date was set and flight tickets purchased, etc. 7th of Sept to 17th.
Wilson's youngest sister Solance (never married) has kidney failure  & sugar diabetes.
She had surgery the week before they were to leave.
She then left the hospital and came to their home as NO other place else to go.
Ideide did not know what to do as they were leaving town.
She called her sister Clayide to come up from Ovalle on the bus to tend Solance
Then she came and Wilson and family left on their trip to Flordia.
Clayide- woman George brought into the discussion at that home & she was baptized.
Then another sister Daisey drove down from Calama to drive Solance for dialisis.
When we arrived with lunch we tried to introduce the gospel to Daisey.
This is the situation we have been taking lunch to, now today our third time.
Daisey only stays Monday to Friday afternoon as she is  driver for the dialisis treatments.
Reading scriptures with them, and sharing what we can with (ALL) Spanish speakers.
Daisy read most of this pamphlet out loud to us as we could not speak it well enough
She took the B of M and a general conference magazine in her hand that night.
We have no idea where any of this will go, we just know we are doing all we can to help.
(see 1 photo of Joseph Smith pamplet)

STORY 293  TOLD ABOUT A NEW CHILEAN HOLIDAY   (Thursday Sept 8, 2016)
     Sometimes we don't know why we do things, but it must be the spirits promptings, but we stopped by Marta and Rodolfos on our way home from Clayides just to say hello and ended up having "supper served to us" and visiting until nearly 11 pm. But the visit was really deep into "religion" and we felt impressed to stay. We just do what we can when we can no matter what hour of day or night it is. This is the night Rodolfo said "It is that MORE that your church offers that I do not wan."  We keep telling him, it is not our "church" it is Jesus Christ's church.  We have ordered them the Bible and TRIPLE to give to them this weekend. We just keep working with them. Since they told us the next day would be a "holiday" that we did not know about, they wanted to spend the day with us, so we invited them to Lunch at our apartment. It has been "chilly" here and their plans to go to the beach were cancelled due to the weather. Weather can help out sometimes!

STORY 294  LUNCH and then SUPPER at our APARTMENT(1 puzzel photo- same day)
This was a long long day for us with this family, from 2 PM to  8PM.  We invited them for lunch at our apartment, we played games and did the puzzel,d talked religion, heard a story from Rodolfo that took an hour that was so incredible of something that had happened to him 20 years ago that we were all simply "stunned." We then introduced the IDEA of Scripture Time every day and did scriptures with them. Then we had soup for supper and invited them to stay even longer and go to the open house.  (1 puzzel photo)

STORY 295  TEACHING MARTA & RODOLFO - SCRIPTURE TIME (1 photo same day)
We ordered $60 dollars worth of scriptures from the Santiago Book store for our church and they arrived. We purchased the New Testament Scriptures (only) and gave three to Marta for their family and actually opened them around our table and showed them how to have "scripture time" with their family. We told her this is how our children do it. She read the scripture and Guga repeated it. We told them to do this every day and gave them the THREE copies.  Our report back was that "Guga" loved doing it and asked the next day "when is Scripture time."  Here is a family, having Home Evening every week, now doing Scriptures daily, but have not committed to wanting to be baptized. We just keep doing the Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept approach. (1 photo of scriptures)

STORY 296  A CHURCH "OPENHOUSE" QUITO BARRIO (no photos-same day)
We were so impressed that Marta who had already attended one openhouse wanted to have her husband who was out of town attend. We had them at our home all afternoon and when time for the openhouse came (6 pm) Rodolfo said, lets go home. Marta said "Can't we please go to the Openhouse?" then Rodofo said OK. That is how close we came to not having them come. We then drove over and they followed us. I tended Guga while they went to all of the presentations. Marta left with a "stack of handouts" and Rodolfo spent extra time in the Family History room set up. We just keep WORKING trying to get them to "want" the lessons and we never know when the "bell" will ring inside of them to want more. The last we heard from Rodolfo when we said "you have fine things taught at your church" we just can add to it MORE.  Then Rodolfo said, "It is that MORE that I don't believe in.  We just keep working and waiting and hoping! (no photos)

STORY 297    DOWNTOWN CENTRAL after a HOLIDAY "DAY" (Fri Sept 9)  (4 photos)
We went down town to see Marta and she was not at her store. We were shocked at the "crowds and crowds" of people on the street and in the cars. Due to the holiday, when ALL stores have to close by law, the people flocked to the stores the next day. George took some interesting photos for you to see. The building is the post office, it is 100 years old and has the high topped rod. Enjoy these photos. This is down down Central in Antofagasta. The wide street is closed only for walking for several blocks.  ( see several photos)

STORY 298    VISITING CLAYIDE again and READING SCRIPTURES (Fri Sept 9) no photo Clayede is the young woman, sister of Ideide who was baptized in Ovalle. She received the lessons here in Antofagasta. She is the one George invited to come out of the kitchen and hear the lessons.  She has a 15 year old daughter. She is the sister who came up from Ovalle to help care for her own sister's "sister in law"  Solance who is very ill. We try to go over to that home every day (out of the ten days) she will be here or at least every other day to READ scriptures with her, take lunch to them, and just reinforce her in the gospel. She said she plans to teach her daughter the gospel when she returns to live with her in three months. (no photo)

STORY  299  A CHILEAN PROGRAM for a DAY CARE  (Fri Sept 9) (several photos)
     Marta called while we were at Clayide's and invited us to her son's Chilean Program for 3 and 4 year olds. We were at that end of town anyway, so left  where Clayide was staying and drove directly to where we would meet Maryta and Guga, which was located right by our Origens Barrio. We went into a big complex, (not the pre school building, that had a small auditorium, and following are some of the photos George took. The children were just adorable dressed in costums and trying to do the dances that the bigger Chilean people do for the upcoming NATIONAL HOLIDAY Chile's Independence celebration which is September 18 (similar to our July 4th). It is a real big DEAL down here in Chile - and this year the 18th is on "Domingo" which is Sunday.

Stage Backdrop Photo
VIDEO - Little boys dancing
VIDEO - Little girls dancing
Other Photos

STORY 300  WALL PHOTOS outside of the AUDITORIUM in a COURT area (Fri Sept 9)  The Chilean people love to decorate walls in bright colors and particularly with "mosaics".  We could not resist taking pictures of the  f o u r  different wall mosaics on the outside wall of the building that were in, that were on a wall in an outside court area. We also took some other photos here too, of Guga and his mother and one Marta took of us and Guga. Guga is a nickname for "Gustabo."   (see multiple photos)

STORY 301   ELDER MARK A. BRAGG  COMING to this MISSION NEXT WEEK (for Wed 14th Sept)
       Having a general church authority come, happens at least yearly. Next Wednesday will be the day Elder Bragg (see photo and write up from the last May Ensign conference edition) will be speaking at ONE location and all other missionaries will get it via a transmission. This is probably for the whole AREA SOUTH MISSIONS. He speaks Spanish, so we will probably not get it all, just word clusters.
      For this event we are going to be preparing 150 Lunches for the missionaries to take a eat (while sitting down in chairs) after the talks, etc. We purchased 150 boxed drinks, for this purpose on Friday. We will be bagging together - a drink, a plate, knife & fork, napkin, an apple,  a granola bar, and then add two different kinds of empanadas at the last moment.  Next week will be a busy one as 16 missionaries go home on Monday, 8 arrive on Tuesday, being assigned their companions early Wednesday, and then the meeting with Elder Bragg on Wednesday, followed by serving the 150 lunches. For this mission, missionaries will be gathering in two different locations.  (1 photo  and text)

STORY  302 SHOWING CHILEAN CUSTOM for INVITATIONS & OTHER (2 photos)
    Here is Chile (there are no cards that we see in the grocery stores, or in fact have never seen "birthday, holiday, etc. type cards that people purchase and send out."

       B a b y  S h o w e r s  I n v i t a t i o n s -  When someone at the church wants to invite the sisters "hermanas" to something they make dozens of little cards, some as small as  the size of a name card people have to advertize their business called a "business card" in the USA, and then they pass them OUT at Relief Society.  Or sometimes they go more elaborate and make such as the boat (see photo) with the words and invitation on the back side. There have been others too, not in this photo.
(1 photo find one with ship)
       P a r t y  I n v i t a t i o n s - Also in the one photo is the front of the invitation to Guga's birthday party. The back side had the photos of the super men and time and place. We have never seen an invitation in an envelope, and none are "mailed" to people - ever.
         P r i m a r y  P r o g r a m s - For the last years Origenes Barrio Program the primary leaders made little "book marks" (see a sample in the picture with the song book) that were covered in plastic and had a little ribbon at the top for each person who wanted to take one from a table at the entrance of the church. The one on a STICK was another unusual way to announce something. All in Spanish, but was very clever. I would have to say the "Chileans" are very clever in what they do. Perhaps ideas for some of you.
(1 photo see song book etc.)
        C h u r c h  S a c r a m e n t M e e t i n g P r o g r a m s - Some barrios (wards) have printed programs, and others don't. Our Origenes barrio has a printed program (in color the cover photo) for each Sunday. But they only PRINT about 20 and have them layered on a table before you enter the Chapel. Only the people who arrive "first" get them. We have shown these before, they are similar to what we have in the USA, but the "color" printed from a printer, of Christ in different photos, is unusual, and the amount they print is unusual, and how they do it is different that what we have seen in the Utah wards.  Also song books available are only about (12) and most people use their "phones" and many have all words "memorized 4 verses" and only a few books are available. Seen it this way is any ward we have attended here in Chile. We LOVE singing the Spanish songs.   (no photo)

END (Stories 290 to 302 and associated photos)

        The days and weeks just fly by. We are not necessarily counting the days but we do say to our people we are working with  "We have only NINE Weeks left with you," and it seems to "jar" them a little and they actually take us more seriously. We are not only teaching Chilean people, we are teaching people we love dearly. They know we love them, and we both (them and us) will miss our association when we leave.  We just take a day at a time and do all we can as we know our days are numbered and the number is getting lower all of the time.  We love all of you and pray for you to have the help you need for whatever your particular needs are, and we appreciate your prayers for us and for the people we are currently working with.  

       OUR CURRENT LIST:   Edward (age 25), Claudia (the mother) and Fernanda (age 4), Marta and Rodolfo & Guga (age 4), Claudio (the father) and Gabriella (age 8), Wilson and Ideide & Daniel (age 10) & Pascal (age 6),  Jose (age 27), Claramae (age 25), Daisy & Solance  (sisters of Wilson), English speaking Diego (age 27), English speakingBarbara (age 24),  Juan Carlos Castro (age 35) a father of 4, PLUS inactive members  English speaking Robert (age 30), Javier (age 27) and two other families. Now, we aren't so much now trying to FIND new people as much as trying to focus in on the people we are currently working with to see what we can accomplish in the  days and weeks we have left.

        Our statistics aren't too good (1 baptism in 16 months), and of the people on the above list Juan Carlos is the only ONE with future baptism plans, (he wants George to baptize him but no date set);  and Jose is the only ONE actually reading the Book of Mormon a chapter a day and has finished II Nephi. However, ALL of the above have attended ONE or MORE of our church meetings or programs, etc. except for Edward, the young Gabriella age 8, Diego and Barbara.  MOST are STILL blinded as accepting the "LIGHT" in the below scripture regarding the gospel message, but we have NOT given up that this may change over the next few weeks."

       A SCRIPTURE for OUR DAY  -  Doctrine & Coventants  Section 45: 28 to 30

Verse 28    And when the times of the Gentiles is come in a LIGHT shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the FULNESS of my GOSPEL;
Verse 29   But they RECEIVE it NOT; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.
Verse 30    And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Love  Madre y Padre,  Abelo y Abela,  Hermano y Hermana and Nino & Nieta