Package from Home, Birthday with Soledad Rojas and Temple Workers Devotional

We have the greatest kids who love us so much that they send us packages to us that cost way too much to send but they do it anyway.  The latest installment was one from Rachel with Millie's much needed new temple shoes that she ordered.  Thanks so much as Millie is very comfortable now in the temple!


Thanks Rachel!!

It was Soledad Rojas' birthday and she came to our apartment to thank us for the gift we had left for her.  She and Eduardo are such a cute couple and we have loved getting to know them working in the temple.

Soledad and Millie

Each year the temple presidency has a devotional for all temple workers.  It was at our ward building next door to the temple.  It was a wonderful meeting with powerful messages.  The focus was obedience and going the extra mile in our service.  It was great to see all the workers we know in such a different setting.  We took advantage and took a few pictures.

Saturday morning Sealing Director Sis LaBra and Shift Co-Ordinator Sister Cisternas



Van, Millie, Sis Cisternas, Sis LaBra, ??

Same Group with More Sisters can't remember names without name badges!!



Millie and ?

Millie and Sister LaBra

Millie and Sister Perez!  She makes the necklaces of Lapizlazuli

Brother and Sister Rodriguez  She is always smiling!!!

A scripture from the D&C says "Be Still and know that I am".  I felt that several times in the last week as I have labored in the temple.  Millie and I know that we are not alone in the work that we participate in each day.  It is a wonderful feeling knowing how thin the veil is between this mortal life and the life beyond.

Thanksgiving in Santiago Chile

Dixie Bowler and Millie tasked me with finding a restaurant that would have a somewhat traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  They had no desire to cook and wanted a small gathering to celebrate the day.  It was a day in the temple in the morning so no one wanted to mess with a dinner after that.  So I talked with the following hotels:  Sheraton, Marriott, Ritz Carlton, a couple of local ones, and the Radisson.  The Radisson got back to me and said yes they would provide a dinner.  So we made reservations for 5 including Gary Davis with us and the Bowlers.  We had a fun time and the food was great.

Green Beans, Mushrooms, over an Onion Ring

Turkey, Corn, Cranberry sauce, Blue Berries, Sweet Potatoes over mashed potatoes

Millie, Dixie and Joe Bowler, Gary Davis

Pumpkin tort, Cooked Apples, and Chocolate Cookie for Dessert

Our personal piano player for 2 hours!

Joe, Gary, Van, Millie and Dixie

Pumpkin pie from De Tartas y Tortas!  Very good!

Goodbye to the Peterson's, hello to summer and our good friends the Bowlers and Rojas

My former mission companion Odell Peterson and his wife Denise and his daughter Carley visited Chile for 3 weeks.  There visit came to an end.  They visited Ovalle, Coquimbo, Vina Del Mar, La Ligua, Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, San Angelmo, Osorno and of course Santiago.  It was a trip of a lifetime for them and I was glad we were able to arrange for them to stay here at the hopedaje.  They were able to leave their stuff in their apt here while they traveled.  It turned out great.  They went with us to Church in San Miguel, FHE 2 Monday nights and out to eat as well.  Here they are leaving to go home.

Summer has arrived as the temperatures have soared into the mid 80's.  Thank goodness our apartment has central air.  But it is hard to get into the Thanksgiving mood with the warm weather.  We will try though.

We went to dinner with the Bowler's, the Roberts, Sister Onate and Eduardo and Soledad Rojas the young couple we have become such close friends with.  I think if I looked at my expenses the restaurant La Hacienda would be number 1!  It was a nice end to our Saturday shift at the temple.

We also went to eat with Elizabeth and Alex Rojas and the Bowlers at you guessed it La Hacienda.  We had traveled to their house one Monday for lunch.  They are such wonderful people and he is a great temple worker.

Elizabeth Rojas and Millie

Van Alex Rojas and Joe

Van, Alex, Joe, Dixie, Elizabeth and Millie at La Hacienda

Here are some random pictures from last Saturday of 2 Chilean wedding groups, cute girls and my close friend Gary Davis with Brother Zay manager of the Hospedaje where we live.

Gary Davis and Brother Zay

Bride is youngest daughter of a worker on Tuesday morning

A nice picture in the fountain without water

A mother after her sealing with her 2 daughters

3 cute girls waiting in the hospedjae for a 8 hour bus ride to Valdivia in the South of Chile

My elevator and me going to the 4th floor where our apartment is

She works on the corner of the temple selling her wares in the street while the cars are stopped.  A single mother going to college not letting the government pay for everything.

We realize as time flies by how blessed we are to be working in a temple 5 days a week.  I look forward to being with my family in the temple when we get home.  It is such an inspiring place to be.


 

Beautiful Saturday at the Santiago Temple

It was a beautiful day in Santiago about 82 degrees.  It was a holiday Thursday and Friday and so the temple had Saturday schedule and the people really took advantage to come.  We had to go in at 6am and 5am those 3 days.  To say that we were glad to see Sunday and Monday come would be an understatement.  We were tired.  Maybe exhausted would be a better word.  Here are some pictures from that Saturday that show some of the people here on the square soaking up the fun.  And oh of course the random wedding picture as well.

Workers putting new tile on the fountain

A ward taking pictures

3 cute little girls

Random wedding picture

Sister Zoila Orellana passes away

It is hard to express our loss with the passing of Zoila Orellana mother to our very close friend Susanna and grandmother to Eros and Lalo.  She has been sick for the last couple of years so it was not unexpected.  But it will be different going to their house and not entering her celestial bedroom to visit with her and give her a blessing(she always asked for one).  Gary Davis and Millie and I attended the funeral.  We were all asked to speak.  Millie gave 1/2 her talk in Spanish and 1/2 in English with me translating.  It was a very inspiring hour.



Patty and Jorge Seura

We got to meet Patty's new husband Jorge.  A delightful brother. 

Ariel and Nellye were there as well.

Nellye and Ariel

Eros was there with all her cousins.  They don't see each other very much.

Eros(in red) and her cousins

Teresa and her 2 sons and duaghter Romy

This is Susanna with all of her brothers and sisters.

Mario, Susanna, ?, Patty, Teresa, Nellye and Ramon Sepulveda

Goodbye to Sister Memmott, hello to Odell and Denise and Carly

The last couple of weeks have been really busy.  We said goodbye to Sister Memmott, the area Mental Health Specialist and said hello to Sister Thompson her replacement.  Their work is vital to work of the missionaries.  Many have just small problems that left unattended to might become bigger ones.  They counsel in person, on the phone, by Skype and use a translator when needed.  Sister Memmott is from Lindon, Utah near Provo. 

Sister Raejean Memmott

Sister Memmott and Sister Thompson her replacement



Dixie Bowler giving Sister Memmott her Chilean Soccer shirt

She loved the shirt with our signatures on it!

At the same time of the despedida of Sister Memmott our good friends Odell and Denise Peterson and his daughter Carley came to visit Chile on his dream vacation.  He was my companion in Coquimbo and came with me in 2004 with Gary Davis and Mike Dalton.  They attended this event and we also made it to Cerro San Cristobal.

 

Denise and Odell Peterson

Odell and Carley Peterson

The Petersons

Carley

Carley and Odell Peterson