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 306 - Food trays prepared for the new missionaries.
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 304 - 140 lunches prepared for 140 missionaries for the mission conference with Elder Bragg.00
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 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.
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