Hi family....
Here is what we have been doing... hope you enjoy... miss ya...
Dec 14, 2008
Here it has been two weeks since I have had a minute to write. So much has happened the past two weeks that I don’t know where to start. And I probably won’t remember everything to write.
Let’s see.. After writing Sunday morning the 30th, Ron and I took the day just to be by ourselves. Too tired, too overwhelmed and felt we just needed to stay home and rest, read, study on our own, feeling a little lost and need space from people.... It wasn’t until later that day, that we knew what some of our feelings were. We got word from the family that Christine had been in a terrible auto accident. She was fine, but the car was totaled. Brad, told us it was a miracle that she was alive. We were so filled with gratitude to our Heavenly Father for watching over her and protecting her. Nothing but a miracle and angels could have saved her. We were glad for the opportunity of having modern day technology that allowed us through Skype to see that she was really okay. I was so overwhelmed with gratitude that I had to ask for a blessing on Monday. I could hardly control the tears. Ron and Pres.
Jones gave me a blessing. It was amazing and I felt so much peace overcome me that I was instantly okay, and reassured from our Heavenly Father that all was well.
The next days were very anxious for Ron, not only worried and concerned about Christine but with so many problems with his check printer and then the internet being down on one computer in the office.. And then only to have a technician come and do a dumb thing by trying to fix things, that the only thing he did was to switch plugs – re-plug the computer into another port which caused the printer not to work. To say the least we were not happy people for about two weeks with all the frustrations going on. It’s been a rough time for Ron especially.
I think I forgot to mention on Sunday the 23 of November was the Primary Program at the Pocuro Ward. I had forgotten until today, what a special Sunday that was and what a beautiful program it was. Towards the end of the program, the children sang the first verse of “Call to serve” and they had asked all the missionaries to walk up during the chorus singing. Well the Pocuro Ward is where most of the couples of the East, Area office and Temple missionaries go, so there were about 15 or twenty of us, along with the full time Elders and Sisters serving in the area walking up singing. It was an amazing feeling.
We did have the opportunity to attend a small branch in Lo Espejo on Fast Sunday. What a cute branch. Only 39 people there. The McCown couple in our mission were assigned to the Lo Espejo ward in the Ochgavia Stake. We were able to go and attend with them. I even played, that is sort of played, not very good, the piano for Relief Society. It is for sure I am not a piano player. But it was fun to try and I did my best for a quick response to their request. The people were great. We took a lunch and went to a park afterwards and enjoyed some chicken, crackers and cheese. It was such a good day.
Today, the 14th we again went to the Lo Espejo ward and it was their primary program. They only had 8 children in their primary. What impressed me was the willingness of those little kids to participate 4 and 5 times reading the parts of the program and they were not scared or anything. They sang the songs as if there were 20 or more of them. It was so cute and the spirit was so strong there. They too, asked the missionaries to walk down the isle singing the song “Called to Serve”.
There was only 6 of us! The McCowns, two Elders and us! One sister came up to me and said that when we stood up to sing, it was like the angels in heaven and that the heavens had opened up. She was so touched by the spirit. (I understood this and she was talking of course in Spanish)...
What a difference between a small branch of 8 children, verses a ward of about 50. One big and beautiful, one simple, and sweet. The message the same, the spirit the same. Amazing!
This weekend we great. Friday, was a rough day in the office, but the rest of the weekend was very special. Over at the Pucuro Ward, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, was held a special missionary, Christmas program. Hundreds of people came all three nights. They broadcasted the President’s message, ward choirs sang, and they served refreshments, and had beautiful Nativities displayed. We went Friday night, but didn’t stay the whole time. We had a problem to go and take care of that couldn’t be put off. Each night, we noticed as we looked out our window, of all the people that came and went up to 11:00 at night. VERY special event. It was a great missionary tool. It never seems to amaze me, how true the gospel of Jesus Christ is. How it blesses the lives of others.
Saturday, we went with the Dixons and the Davis’ to another Feria. This one was an Artistsian’s Feria - displaying their hand crafts. Amazing things that they had made. Mostly from Chile and I saw some from Peru and a few other countries. We had to take 2 taxi’s since a taxi can only take 4 people. The first taxi got there in no time at all and cost them 2500 mil. It took our taxi, about 45 minutes, and the total was 9 mil...
but we only paid 5 mil. Which was still too much. The taxi driver didn’t know where he was going. He got lost... stopped 3 times to ask directions. He was very nice and so sorry. He had to even stop and ask another taxi driver how to get there. We thought it was funny, inspite of being frustrated with him. We saw the most unusual display outside the Feria area. There were probably about 100 or so displays made by kids. Abstract objects made of cardboard and paper-mache, with a picture of the child and a story along with it. These were made by 5-8 year olds. Amazing... After seeing these displays, we went and had lunch downtown. We finished up about 3:30 and went back to our apartment, took a nap, and then I needed to go to the office for a couple of hours, and then about 7 pm we went over to the Dixon’s apart and watched a movie along with the Davis’. We watched Mama Mia. We all laughed, sang along with the songs. We had such a good time... Just what this one needed!
Oh and after church today, we took a nap, and then I went over to the office to finish up downloading all the pictures of the missionaries for the end of the year video. That took me about 10-12 hours of work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, to finish what I could do. I can’t find about 30 pictures of those that went home between Jan thur March.
Hopefully, we can find them from last years video. Then about 6:45 we went over to the Dixon’s for dinner, came home about 9:30.. GOOD WEEKEND!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
November 15th Journal entry
Hello everyone,
Well, I just wanted to share with you an awesome event that took place Night.
About a month ago, there was this man who came to church. We all just assumed he was a member of the church. We had a wonderful spiritual Sunday School Class. As I have mentioned before, our young teacher is one wonderful teacher, any how, as we all participated in the class, many of us were baring testimony about the subject of the lesson and the importance of the gospel in our lives. One wonderful meeting. Any how, afterwards, in visiting and introducing ourselves to him we all found out that he wasn't a member, Who would have guessed. He acted like a member and even participated in reading scriptures. The doctor went and found the full time Elders. They came and talked to him. They have been teaching him and tonight he was baptized. He is a single man probably in his 50's and in the air force. He said he learned about the church and upon arriving in Chile he looked up the church and came to the meeting. He had been living in China and couldn't be taught in
China. Amazing story.. We are all so excited for him.
Never seizes to amaze me how people here in Chile are looking for the
gospel. Everyone day, it seems that we get phone calls about people
hearing of the church and wanting missionaries and want to be baptized.
Will write more later.
Mom, (Eileen)
Well, I just wanted to share with you an awesome event that took place Night.
About a month ago, there was this man who came to church. We all just assumed he was a member of the church. We had a wonderful spiritual Sunday School Class. As I have mentioned before, our young teacher is one wonderful teacher, any how, as we all participated in the class, many of us were baring testimony about the subject of the lesson and the importance of the gospel in our lives. One wonderful meeting. Any how, afterwards, in visiting and introducing ourselves to him we all found out that he wasn't a member, Who would have guessed. He acted like a member and even participated in reading scriptures. The doctor went and found the full time Elders. They came and talked to him. They have been teaching him and tonight he was baptized. He is a single man probably in his 50's and in the air force. He said he learned about the church and upon arriving in Chile he looked up the church and came to the meeting. He had been living in China and couldn't be taught in
China. Amazing story.. We are all so excited for him.
Never seizes to amaze me how people here in Chile are looking for the
gospel. Everyone day, it seems that we get phone calls about people
hearing of the church and wanting missionaries and want to be baptized.
Will write more later.
Mom, (Eileen)
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Sunday Nov 9th
Sunday, Nov 9th
Wow... Happy Birthday to me. The past two weeks have been really busy for us in the office. With the arrival of New missionaries, that gives us a lot of paper work to do. We had 40 baptisms in the month of October and I have been busy typing and inputting the information into the computer and sending the information to Salt Lake. We are starting to feel like we might be able to do the work in the office now. The Visa process is still slow coming for me, partly because I haven’t had the time to really work on it. This past week I did start to learn more about it and process some papers for the new missionaries.
We had a fun Saturday last week. We went with the Davis’ and the Dixon’s out to a hill in the middle of town called Santa Lucia. We walked up to the Metro and then took the Metro up to where Santa Lucia was. It was a wonderful walk and we were able to walk to the top and look out over the city. I should say, all but me went to the very top and looked out. I just enjoyed the surroundings without looking out and down. It was quit a walk to the top, several switchbacks.
We also have gotten close to a couple of cute sister missionaries in the East mission, and one was going home so the 6 of us adults took them out to lunch before going on our adventure for the day. Because our office actually is in the boundaries of the East mission we see some of their missionaries more than ours. I feel like we know their office missionaries as well as ours. The two sister missionaries are assigned to the temple area. One sister is from Tonga, and the other from Alabama.
We were in charge of the family home evening this past week. We did a skit from the 40's that dad rewrote to go along with genealogy... known as “who’s on first base”. Everyone laughed. Then we showed a slide presentation with some thoughts on genealogy written on the slides with back ground music. Then each of us told about our spiritual adventures in doing genealogy work. We have had many people come up to us during the week and tell us how much they enjoyed the evening and that we inspired them to get back on theirs, and they also have shared some of their experiences with us. That has been nice.
Thursday, we had the opportunity to share in the missionary zone conference. That was really fun and special. It was amazing to watch so many missionaries sitting in one place sharing testimonies and feeling the special spirit that was there in the meeting. We have one special elder from Lehi, that is having a rough time, and without anyone really planning it, the talks seem to be specially for him. Hopefully they will help him. They really applied to us all, but because I knew of his struggles, I thought of him.
Yesterday, we welcomed two more couples into our mission and the area mission. It was kind of a crazy mixed up morning. The president and the AP’s were to meet the couples at the airport at 10 am. I received a phone call at 11 from the president to confirm with me that the couples were to arrive at 10. He couldn’t find them. I told him I would go over and recheck the schedule. He said no, he would check with the airlines and if there was further problems he would call me. I sat down to finish reading with dad, but I really felt I needed to go over to the office and recheck the schedule. Well upon arriving at the office, I found that the schedule was correct and I started back to our apartment. When I was leaving the building, I saw a taxi pull up and unloading a lot of suitcases... I looked twice and saw that two couples were getting out of the taxi as well. Behold it was the two couples were we expecting. I hurried over to them and welcomed them to the mission and called the president to tell them they were at the office. President was so sorry he missed them, and couldn’t figure how that happened. I guess their plane came in half hour early, and they thought they had waited long enough and took a taxi to the office. Well, we took them down to the office and waited for the president to come. I also called dad and told him what had happened and had him come and join us. We did some of the paper work while we were waiting and talked a little about this and that. Then president arrived and we then loaded up their suitcases and took them to their apartments and made arrangements to meet with them later to take them shopping, to an ATM, get their PIB card so they could ride the bus and metro system as needed, email their families and to show them around. We met up with them about 3:30pm. We had a good time with them. We took them back to their apartments around 6 pm.
Today, the president has asked us to take the one couple, the McCowns to a stake conference in the area that they will be working in and he will meet us there. Then after church we all have been invited out to the president’s house for dinner. Nice... And its my birthday! Sister Jones said she would have strawberry short cake for my birthday. That should be fun. The other couple will attend the ward meetings here and we have arranged for the two senior sister missionaries to meet them and show them around. Sister Graham and Sister Meyhew will also be training the Westovers in their jobs in the employment center. So today should be a wonderful day and we are looking forward to it.
Love to all,
mom and dad (Eileen an Ron)
Wow... Happy Birthday to me. The past two weeks have been really busy for us in the office. With the arrival of New missionaries, that gives us a lot of paper work to do. We had 40 baptisms in the month of October and I have been busy typing and inputting the information into the computer and sending the information to Salt Lake. We are starting to feel like we might be able to do the work in the office now. The Visa process is still slow coming for me, partly because I haven’t had the time to really work on it. This past week I did start to learn more about it and process some papers for the new missionaries.
We had a fun Saturday last week. We went with the Davis’ and the Dixon’s out to a hill in the middle of town called Santa Lucia. We walked up to the Metro and then took the Metro up to where Santa Lucia was. It was a wonderful walk and we were able to walk to the top and look out over the city. I should say, all but me went to the very top and looked out. I just enjoyed the surroundings without looking out and down. It was quit a walk to the top, several switchbacks.
We also have gotten close to a couple of cute sister missionaries in the East mission, and one was going home so the 6 of us adults took them out to lunch before going on our adventure for the day. Because our office actually is in the boundaries of the East mission we see some of their missionaries more than ours. I feel like we know their office missionaries as well as ours. The two sister missionaries are assigned to the temple area. One sister is from Tonga, and the other from Alabama.
We were in charge of the family home evening this past week. We did a skit from the 40's that dad rewrote to go along with genealogy... known as “who’s on first base”. Everyone laughed. Then we showed a slide presentation with some thoughts on genealogy written on the slides with back ground music. Then each of us told about our spiritual adventures in doing genealogy work. We have had many people come up to us during the week and tell us how much they enjoyed the evening and that we inspired them to get back on theirs, and they also have shared some of their experiences with us. That has been nice.
Thursday, we had the opportunity to share in the missionary zone conference. That was really fun and special. It was amazing to watch so many missionaries sitting in one place sharing testimonies and feeling the special spirit that was there in the meeting. We have one special elder from Lehi, that is having a rough time, and without anyone really planning it, the talks seem to be specially for him. Hopefully they will help him. They really applied to us all, but because I knew of his struggles, I thought of him.
Yesterday, we welcomed two more couples into our mission and the area mission. It was kind of a crazy mixed up morning. The president and the AP’s were to meet the couples at the airport at 10 am. I received a phone call at 11 from the president to confirm with me that the couples were to arrive at 10. He couldn’t find them. I told him I would go over and recheck the schedule. He said no, he would check with the airlines and if there was further problems he would call me. I sat down to finish reading with dad, but I really felt I needed to go over to the office and recheck the schedule. Well upon arriving at the office, I found that the schedule was correct and I started back to our apartment. When I was leaving the building, I saw a taxi pull up and unloading a lot of suitcases... I looked twice and saw that two couples were getting out of the taxi as well. Behold it was the two couples were we expecting. I hurried over to them and welcomed them to the mission and called the president to tell them they were at the office. President was so sorry he missed them, and couldn’t figure how that happened. I guess their plane came in half hour early, and they thought they had waited long enough and took a taxi to the office. Well, we took them down to the office and waited for the president to come. I also called dad and told him what had happened and had him come and join us. We did some of the paper work while we were waiting and talked a little about this and that. Then president arrived and we then loaded up their suitcases and took them to their apartments and made arrangements to meet with them later to take them shopping, to an ATM, get their PIB card so they could ride the bus and metro system as needed, email their families and to show them around. We met up with them about 3:30pm. We had a good time with them. We took them back to their apartments around 6 pm.
Today, the president has asked us to take the one couple, the McCowns to a stake conference in the area that they will be working in and he will meet us there. Then after church we all have been invited out to the president’s house for dinner. Nice... And its my birthday! Sister Jones said she would have strawberry short cake for my birthday. That should be fun. The other couple will attend the ward meetings here and we have arranged for the two senior sister missionaries to meet them and show them around. Sister Graham and Sister Meyhew will also be training the Westovers in their jobs in the employment center. So today should be a wonderful day and we are looking forward to it.
Love to all,
mom and dad (Eileen an Ron)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
october 23, 26th 2008
Dear family, Here are some clips from my journal... can't remember what I have written lately, so some of it might be a repeat...
Thurs. Oct 23, 2008
I have been so overwhelmed with the office, that I don't think I have thought much about anything else. We had a lot of computer problems for about 7 days, and now I am weeks behind. It about did me in with the stress of trying to meet so many deadlines. Everything I do, effects the rest of the office and how well the mission functions. I can't tell you how hard that was on me. Some people showed patience and others wanted everything now! and that was hard.. But finally dad realized the problem and was able to fix it. So now I am just trying to get caught up.
Tomorrow is Greenie training meeting. Those are fun.
It has been amazing how many times we are the companions to the Elders in the office when some have to do other things, and one is left with us. We had one Elder up for breakfast today, yesterday it was lunch. We try to help where we can in feeding them. We fed two for lunch today also, because I couldn't leave the office until all 15 elders came back from a visa run. That means going by metro into the Interpol to begin the visa process and then on to other stops. They come in at 7 am. I go home after they have all come to pick up their paper work and have breakfast. One of the office elders had to go on the run, so that is why we had one elder for breakfast, his companion. After returning to the office, I can't leave until they all return about 2:30 usually, but today, most were back about 12:30. So that was good, but we had already ordered lunch into the office. so we just worked straight through until 6 pm... Long days!
Sunday, Oct 26, 2008
Today, has been a great day. Church was only held long enough to pass the sacrament and make announcements. Today was voting day for the Chileans and it is against the law to hold any kind of meetings on Voting day.. We came home, took a nap, ate lunch, took a nap, went to the office for an hour and then we went for a walk with Dr. Dixon and his wife, and Brother and Sister Davis. We went on a long walk!!!! I was so tired. When we got back we went out in the back of our apartment and sat and talked, ate cookies and just visited. Then another senior couple (Andelins) were coming home from their “Campo”( ward out in the country) assignment and they were telling us about the baptism they had and about the family. It was an amazing story. They brought back fresh goats cheese and shared that with us and then to top the evening off, she played her violin for us. A poof wayfaring man.... Boy it was beautiful. What a way to finish off a beautiful Sunday.
Our meeting on Friday with the new missionaries went well. I was really proud of dad and I and that we were able to do our part and speak Spanish. I could explain what I needed to say, but didn’t understand their questions and had to ask for help. But I felt good about all of it.
Saturday, we got up about 8:30 and had a good night sleep. You will laugh at this one.... we took a mattress and laid it on the floor in our little living room and closed the bedroom and kitchen doors to shut out the street noise and we were able to sleep in quiet for the first time since being here. It felt so good.... We felt like we were camping out!!! Funny huh!
We went to the office for a few hours and then watched a movie last night. We are reading the Pearl of Great Price. We finished the book of Moses today.
Yesterday, the weather went cold again for some reason. Today it warmed back up. We had a new senior sister (Graham) arrive yesterday. She will be working in the church employment center. She replaced sister Mauldin who finished up her mission on Friday and returned home to Utah. The rest of the mission is just going, going, going. I have about 30 baptisms to type up and send to Salt Lake. We had one elder attacked on Thursday night. The guy took a iron rod and tried to beat him up. The doctor said he was smart to have put his arm up to guard his face. He will be OK. It was an attack against gringos. We will receive two more senior couples on November 8th. They are assigned as area missionaries and will also work in the employment center.
I don’t know if I wrote about a special meeting that we were called to attend at 7 pm (Oct 15th). We were told that Russell M. Nielsen was going to come and speak to us before he attended the temple with the presidents of the missions. We were all there waiting and he got stuck in traffic because of a big soccer game being played. He was supposed to be in the temple at 7:30, and at ten to eight, he finally arrived. We were only able to have a brief but fun hello and shake his hand. We sang and sang while we waited and that was awesome.
Love and prayers with all of you....
Have a good week..
Love mom and dad
Thurs. Oct 23, 2008
I have been so overwhelmed with the office, that I don't think I have thought much about anything else. We had a lot of computer problems for about 7 days, and now I am weeks behind. It about did me in with the stress of trying to meet so many deadlines. Everything I do, effects the rest of the office and how well the mission functions. I can't tell you how hard that was on me. Some people showed patience and others wanted everything now! and that was hard.. But finally dad realized the problem and was able to fix it. So now I am just trying to get caught up.
Tomorrow is Greenie training meeting. Those are fun.
It has been amazing how many times we are the companions to the Elders in the office when some have to do other things, and one is left with us. We had one Elder up for breakfast today, yesterday it was lunch. We try to help where we can in feeding them. We fed two for lunch today also, because I couldn't leave the office until all 15 elders came back from a visa run. That means going by metro into the Interpol to begin the visa process and then on to other stops. They come in at 7 am. I go home after they have all come to pick up their paper work and have breakfast. One of the office elders had to go on the run, so that is why we had one elder for breakfast, his companion. After returning to the office, I can't leave until they all return about 2:30 usually, but today, most were back about 12:30. So that was good, but we had already ordered lunch into the office. so we just worked straight through until 6 pm... Long days!
Sunday, Oct 26, 2008
Today, has been a great day. Church was only held long enough to pass the sacrament and make announcements. Today was voting day for the Chileans and it is against the law to hold any kind of meetings on Voting day.. We came home, took a nap, ate lunch, took a nap, went to the office for an hour and then we went for a walk with Dr. Dixon and his wife, and Brother and Sister Davis. We went on a long walk!!!! I was so tired. When we got back we went out in the back of our apartment and sat and talked, ate cookies and just visited. Then another senior couple (Andelins) were coming home from their “Campo”( ward out in the country) assignment and they were telling us about the baptism they had and about the family. It was an amazing story. They brought back fresh goats cheese and shared that with us and then to top the evening off, she played her violin for us. A poof wayfaring man.... Boy it was beautiful. What a way to finish off a beautiful Sunday.
Our meeting on Friday with the new missionaries went well. I was really proud of dad and I and that we were able to do our part and speak Spanish. I could explain what I needed to say, but didn’t understand their questions and had to ask for help. But I felt good about all of it.
Saturday, we got up about 8:30 and had a good night sleep. You will laugh at this one.... we took a mattress and laid it on the floor in our little living room and closed the bedroom and kitchen doors to shut out the street noise and we were able to sleep in quiet for the first time since being here. It felt so good.... We felt like we were camping out!!! Funny huh!
We went to the office for a few hours and then watched a movie last night. We are reading the Pearl of Great Price. We finished the book of Moses today.
Yesterday, the weather went cold again for some reason. Today it warmed back up. We had a new senior sister (Graham) arrive yesterday. She will be working in the church employment center. She replaced sister Mauldin who finished up her mission on Friday and returned home to Utah. The rest of the mission is just going, going, going. I have about 30 baptisms to type up and send to Salt Lake. We had one elder attacked on Thursday night. The guy took a iron rod and tried to beat him up. The doctor said he was smart to have put his arm up to guard his face. He will be OK. It was an attack against gringos. We will receive two more senior couples on November 8th. They are assigned as area missionaries and will also work in the employment center.
I don’t know if I wrote about a special meeting that we were called to attend at 7 pm (Oct 15th). We were told that Russell M. Nielsen was going to come and speak to us before he attended the temple with the presidents of the missions. We were all there waiting and he got stuck in traffic because of a big soccer game being played. He was supposed to be in the temple at 7:30, and at ten to eight, he finally arrived. We were only able to have a brief but fun hello and shake his hand. We sang and sang while we waited and that was awesome.
Love and prayers with all of you....
Have a good week..
Love mom and dad
Monday, October 20, 2008
October 19, 2008
Hi family,
We are doing great. We have finished a big week of changes within
the mission and we survived! They create a lot of work for dad and I.
But it was good and we enjoyed being around the missionaries.
We now have internet at home, YEAH!! infact I am on line with Jacob right now, and that is way fun. So watch in the evenings for us to be on line. Next Skype!
We went out to dinner friday night with two other couples (Andelin´s and Davis´) and we had such a good time. We went to this place that served wonderful, I mean
wonderful steaks!!! huge!! We shared a steak it was so large. I am
so glad that there are other couples that have learned their way around and can take us places.
We had a young man and his girl friend walk into our office last night, and he was wanting to find some missionaries to teach him. That was a awesome experience. For the life of us, though, we can't figure how they got past the guards to come to our office. But so glad they
did, it was 9 pm on a Saturday night!!! He (Francisco Horta) is so excited about the church and so looking forward to learning more. I hope we have a chance to sit in on some
of the discussions.
Have I told you about the dogs around here. If not, here goes.
Disney would have had a ball writing about one... They roam the streets
everywhere. not just a few, but hundreds are homeless. They sleep,
and wonder around waiting and hoping for some food. They aren't skinny either. But you don't want to be close by when they start in on one of
their fights. Most of the time, they don't bother you, but they are
loaded with disease and fleas, so you don't dare pet them.. Crazy...
yep, I guess as I am writing this, I have told you about them before.
oh well...
It is warming up... and the last few days have been nice and cool.
The sun seems so intense here, We can't get over that.
Today in church, was really good. We have the most wonderful young man that teaches our English Sunday school class. He served a mission
in the states. Ogden, I think.. As dad puts it, he doesn't say
much, but it is the spirit that he carries that is so powerful..
Then in Sacrament meeting the talks were really good. One of them, I almost understood..
Not much to report on this week.. Love to all...
take care... love ya Thanks for all the letters, we sure enjoy them.
mom and dad
We are doing great. We have finished a big week of changes within
the mission and we survived! They create a lot of work for dad and I.
But it was good and we enjoyed being around the missionaries.
We now have internet at home, YEAH!! infact I am on line with Jacob right now, and that is way fun. So watch in the evenings for us to be on line. Next Skype!
We went out to dinner friday night with two other couples (Andelin´s and Davis´) and we had such a good time. We went to this place that served wonderful, I mean
wonderful steaks!!! huge!! We shared a steak it was so large. I am
so glad that there are other couples that have learned their way around and can take us places.
We had a young man and his girl friend walk into our office last night, and he was wanting to find some missionaries to teach him. That was a awesome experience. For the life of us, though, we can't figure how they got past the guards to come to our office. But so glad they
did, it was 9 pm on a Saturday night!!! He (Francisco Horta) is so excited about the church and so looking forward to learning more. I hope we have a chance to sit in on some
of the discussions.
Have I told you about the dogs around here. If not, here goes.
Disney would have had a ball writing about one... They roam the streets
everywhere. not just a few, but hundreds are homeless. They sleep,
and wonder around waiting and hoping for some food. They aren't skinny either. But you don't want to be close by when they start in on one of
their fights. Most of the time, they don't bother you, but they are
loaded with disease and fleas, so you don't dare pet them.. Crazy...
yep, I guess as I am writing this, I have told you about them before.
oh well...
It is warming up... and the last few days have been nice and cool.
The sun seems so intense here, We can't get over that.
Today in church, was really good. We have the most wonderful young man that teaches our English Sunday school class. He served a mission
in the states. Ogden, I think.. As dad puts it, he doesn't say
much, but it is the spirit that he carries that is so powerful..
Then in Sacrament meeting the talks were really good. One of them, I almost understood..
Not much to report on this week.. Love to all...
take care... love ya Thanks for all the letters, we sure enjoy them.
mom and dad
Sunday, October 12, 2008
October 12, 2008
Dear family and Friends, It has been a good, busy week. I am finally over my cold, and we are doing well. We feel we are getting settled into our office routines better now, and things are going well. We are loving working with the missionaries. This coming week will be a busy week, for it is the week of changes. Some going home, some coming,, and then the companionships changing.. And the Lord's work goes forward. It is amazing how wonderful the spirit is among the Elders and the Sisters. They have such great attitudes and smiles on their faces. They are so wonderful to be around. We are still learning more about our responsibilities but I think that now that we have been through one full round of changes (a 6 week period) that we should be okay from now on. I can't express enough how much we love being here and doing what we are doing even though we have experienced tough moments in our learning process. The other senior couples are so great to us. Always there to help. We had a funny thing happen today.. Well it is time change, right, and it is Fall right,... well we changed our clocks back one hour.. When we went to church we found out we were TWO hours late! It is Spring here!!!!! That was one on us today!!! So you went back an hour, we went forward an hour... So now there is a 4 hours difference between the States and us. you would think it is fall here with how cold it is some days. But Spring really has its cold days also back home.. Funny!!! We went out to eat with the other Senior couples on Friday night and that was fun. Every other week we go out with all the senior couples, and one couple chooses where we will go that night. in two weeks it is our turn to chose a place. I think we are going to go to this Pizza place we eat at about a month ago. The pizza there was yummy. I have shared before, that the pizza here is not like American Pizza. It is so much better! It is the only food we like better here. We really don't like the Chilean food here. We are incharge of the Family home evening the first part of November and have been working on that. Of course... yep, we are thinking about talking about family history, and some of our adventures. It should be a fun night..We are reading the scriptures every night together and having great discussions. We are loving it. We are just about finished with the Book of Mormon now. That book is amazing. Everytime we read it, it just confirms that it is indeed a second witness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his ministry on the earth and his plan for us. It never stops to amaze me either, that there is no period of time that Satan isn't doing his best to try and keep us from following Christ and returning to live with Him and our Heavenly Father. Well, I guess that is about all for this week, Everyone, we love you, we miss you! Give everyone hugs and kisses for us. We send our love and prayers to be with each of you. Please keep in touch, it is your letters, and the strength that we receive from them, that makes it possible to stay here and do what we need to do. Hey grandkids, write us, even if it is only a hello and a good bye... we love you!Love,mom and dad,(Eileen and Ron)
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Journal October 3, 2008
Hi family, We are watching conference on the internet in the office.... Here is an up date from my journal. Hope you enjoy. I would really like to hear from the kids!! I sure miss them all and of course all of the adults too. Michael send me Rachael´s email.. somehow it was erased from my address book... Love ya all, mom and dad
Sunday (Sept 26), I woke up this morning not feeling good. I am afraid, the cold is winning! Even though I am taking meds to try and prevent it. We made it to church and I was cold in the church. We came home had lunch and rested and then to the office again, to get things ready for Monday morning meetings. The office is our home away from home. I emailed the kids some, but too tired to really write much. Sent out a few pictures. I really don’t feel well...
Friday, October 3, 2008
This past week has been a busy one in the office, We seem to be drowning some days with all there is to do. I think I should have something done in about a half hour and when I look up it has been three or four hours. I know the procedures are becoming more familiar now, but it always seem there is one step in the middle of some process, that I don’t remember and it takes me hours to figure it out. The cold won... I finally Wed. night started taking some antibiotics to try and stop it from getting worse. I am chilled and my ears were hurting. Today, I finally started feeling better. Wed. Dad and the Elders were able to delivery pouch mail, with out getting too lost and they made it good time!!! He was so glad!
Yesterday, the doctor and his wife, the nurse, (the Dixon’s) came and got us and we walked down to a small little place and got a sandwich for lunch. It wasn’t bad. The Dixon’s must be about 20 years apart in age. He is 80 yrs old, and she looks our age. They have been married 36 or so years. He is always pulling jokes and telling jokes. He is so young at heart. And seems to be in good health. We both enjoy them. We usually go home for lunch and rest, but I am glad we went to lunch with them. It was a nice break. Everyone has asked and called to see how I have been feeling. The doctor’s office is next to ours, and he is always checking in on us.
Today in the office was much more relaxed for some reason... Dad and I talked last night, and decided to try and not fuss over things so much, and try not to involve the Elders so much in our work. I feel it is making things harder on us and dad agreed. I think the office Elders try so hard to help, but I think they are getting overwhelmed with everything that everyone is asking them to do, so we thought we would back off. I asked the Elders to order pizza for everyone. They were more than happy to do that. We treated.. I think I have typed into the system about 13 baptisms this week. I think I typed in about that many last week and the week before that. There are still several to be done and I am waiting on more information. Sometimes information is left off the forms, so I have to try and get the Elders to call and get the information. So the mission is doing good, I just hope the people stay active! There is a terrible problem here with activation. They say one out of 5 are members here, but I think about half are active.. Sad....
The Riggs came back from Talagante yesterday, and that was a surprise. They said they were going to be gone until Monday. She seemed so sad yesterday, I was worried about her. Today we found out that there were family problems and they both were hurting inside. They came back to go to the temple and do a few office routines.
I went and got my first hair cut here... Well... I took a chance on this lady that cut dad’s hair.... all I can say... is it is way short. I asked for a half inch and she cut about two off! I finally told her, not to cut the top, or I thought I might end up bald! I had trimmed that part last week, so it was good anyways. It doesn’t look bad, just shorter than I like it, but it will grow. It is hard to describe what you want when you can’t speak the language. With hand motions and a few words, we were able to figure things out... even though it is shorter than I would have liked. Dad is reading now and I am typing and it is 10 pm... It is conference this weekend, so we will listen to it over internet in the office, or else go over to the ward house and listen to it in English.
It is Saturday morning. Dad is sleeping and I am awake so I thought I would write a little about the things that I am responsible for in the office. I type in the baptism information and send the information to Salt Lake and keep track of the Numbers that I receive from the APs. I am responsible for typing into the system and maintaining the information and pictures of all the new missionaries. Sending out the letters to the incoming missionaries. Typing up letters from the president to the families, bishops and stake presidents as needed. I keep a updated list of changes and where all the missionaries are serving and their phone numbers. I keep an updated list of all the incoming and out going missionaries so we know each month who is coming and going. The numbers are constantly changing weekly on the incoming missionaries. I am responsible for all flight information that I receive from Salt Lake for incoming and out going missionaries. I order the tickets through Salt Lake and a local person for the out going missionaries. Registering Americans with the American Embassy. Applying for the missionary’s visa papers and carnet cards. Reminding missionaries to send their weekly report to the president. We make up what we call a “Go homers” book. It has information in it about the individual missionary with the areas (sectors) he or she has served in and missionaries he, or she has served with. It also has a list of all their converts so they can keep in touch with them. I type up some of the information for that, but Sister Riggs is responsible for most of the material and putting the books together. It keeps me busy. Oh and I try and answer phones. You can’t imagine how grateful I am when the person on the other end speaks English!
Dad is responsible for all the bills for the housing for the missionaries, and making sure the missionaries get their allotments each month, and all bills relating to the mission, in other words.. All the financial needs for the mission. Plus trying to keep the missionaries happy when they spend more than they were allotted! And to keep the books balanced. He makes several trips to the banks each week trying to pay bills, and keep enough money on hand. He opens and closes new places for them to live in. He is responsible for their cell phones. Delivering mail on Wednesdays. The list seems short, but the tasks are endless and time consuming. I think he is finally getting a handle on it all and finding new ways to help himself understand the whole process. He went to a training meeting on Thursday with other financial persons from the East, South and North Missions. That was really helpful. We can always learn new tricks to simplifying our work load. One thing is for sure, and that is that this mission does a lot of data entry that we don’t feel is necessary. The secretaries before us were computer programmers and I think they loved building data bases! They do amazing things, but are not always necessary and take time to keep up. We want to accomplish our tasks and simplify things!
Dad and I are still reading the Book of Mormon each night before retiring. We try and read a few chapters each night. We finished the chapters of Mormon.. We went to bed last night feeling sort of sad for all the bloodshed that was split with the killing off of all the Nephites. I can’t imagine what a wicked people they must have been to have the Lord destroy all of them, because the Lamanites were not all that good themselves. Sometimes it is hard to understand all that must have taken place. We are also reading “Preach my Gospel” book in Spanish. We are hoping besides learning the principles of the gospel more, but to understand the language more. Dad is doing good, but I am really struggling with the understanding. That’s all for now!
Sunday (Sept 26), I woke up this morning not feeling good. I am afraid, the cold is winning! Even though I am taking meds to try and prevent it. We made it to church and I was cold in the church. We came home had lunch and rested and then to the office again, to get things ready for Monday morning meetings. The office is our home away from home. I emailed the kids some, but too tired to really write much. Sent out a few pictures. I really don’t feel well...
Friday, October 3, 2008
This past week has been a busy one in the office, We seem to be drowning some days with all there is to do. I think I should have something done in about a half hour and when I look up it has been three or four hours. I know the procedures are becoming more familiar now, but it always seem there is one step in the middle of some process, that I don’t remember and it takes me hours to figure it out. The cold won... I finally Wed. night started taking some antibiotics to try and stop it from getting worse. I am chilled and my ears were hurting. Today, I finally started feeling better. Wed. Dad and the Elders were able to delivery pouch mail, with out getting too lost and they made it good time!!! He was so glad!
Yesterday, the doctor and his wife, the nurse, (the Dixon’s) came and got us and we walked down to a small little place and got a sandwich for lunch. It wasn’t bad. The Dixon’s must be about 20 years apart in age. He is 80 yrs old, and she looks our age. They have been married 36 or so years. He is always pulling jokes and telling jokes. He is so young at heart. And seems to be in good health. We both enjoy them. We usually go home for lunch and rest, but I am glad we went to lunch with them. It was a nice break. Everyone has asked and called to see how I have been feeling. The doctor’s office is next to ours, and he is always checking in on us.
Today in the office was much more relaxed for some reason... Dad and I talked last night, and decided to try and not fuss over things so much, and try not to involve the Elders so much in our work. I feel it is making things harder on us and dad agreed. I think the office Elders try so hard to help, but I think they are getting overwhelmed with everything that everyone is asking them to do, so we thought we would back off. I asked the Elders to order pizza for everyone. They were more than happy to do that. We treated.. I think I have typed into the system about 13 baptisms this week. I think I typed in about that many last week and the week before that. There are still several to be done and I am waiting on more information. Sometimes information is left off the forms, so I have to try and get the Elders to call and get the information. So the mission is doing good, I just hope the people stay active! There is a terrible problem here with activation. They say one out of 5 are members here, but I think about half are active.. Sad....
The Riggs came back from Talagante yesterday, and that was a surprise. They said they were going to be gone until Monday. She seemed so sad yesterday, I was worried about her. Today we found out that there were family problems and they both were hurting inside. They came back to go to the temple and do a few office routines.
I went and got my first hair cut here... Well... I took a chance on this lady that cut dad’s hair.... all I can say... is it is way short. I asked for a half inch and she cut about two off! I finally told her, not to cut the top, or I thought I might end up bald! I had trimmed that part last week, so it was good anyways. It doesn’t look bad, just shorter than I like it, but it will grow. It is hard to describe what you want when you can’t speak the language. With hand motions and a few words, we were able to figure things out... even though it is shorter than I would have liked. Dad is reading now and I am typing and it is 10 pm... It is conference this weekend, so we will listen to it over internet in the office, or else go over to the ward house and listen to it in English.
It is Saturday morning. Dad is sleeping and I am awake so I thought I would write a little about the things that I am responsible for in the office. I type in the baptism information and send the information to Salt Lake and keep track of the Numbers that I receive from the APs. I am responsible for typing into the system and maintaining the information and pictures of all the new missionaries. Sending out the letters to the incoming missionaries. Typing up letters from the president to the families, bishops and stake presidents as needed. I keep a updated list of changes and where all the missionaries are serving and their phone numbers. I keep an updated list of all the incoming and out going missionaries so we know each month who is coming and going. The numbers are constantly changing weekly on the incoming missionaries. I am responsible for all flight information that I receive from Salt Lake for incoming and out going missionaries. I order the tickets through Salt Lake and a local person for the out going missionaries. Registering Americans with the American Embassy. Applying for the missionary’s visa papers and carnet cards. Reminding missionaries to send their weekly report to the president. We make up what we call a “Go homers” book. It has information in it about the individual missionary with the areas (sectors) he or she has served in and missionaries he, or she has served with. It also has a list of all their converts so they can keep in touch with them. I type up some of the information for that, but Sister Riggs is responsible for most of the material and putting the books together. It keeps me busy. Oh and I try and answer phones. You can’t imagine how grateful I am when the person on the other end speaks English!
Dad is responsible for all the bills for the housing for the missionaries, and making sure the missionaries get their allotments each month, and all bills relating to the mission, in other words.. All the financial needs for the mission. Plus trying to keep the missionaries happy when they spend more than they were allotted! And to keep the books balanced. He makes several trips to the banks each week trying to pay bills, and keep enough money on hand. He opens and closes new places for them to live in. He is responsible for their cell phones. Delivering mail on Wednesdays. The list seems short, but the tasks are endless and time consuming. I think he is finally getting a handle on it all and finding new ways to help himself understand the whole process. He went to a training meeting on Thursday with other financial persons from the East, South and North Missions. That was really helpful. We can always learn new tricks to simplifying our work load. One thing is for sure, and that is that this mission does a lot of data entry that we don’t feel is necessary. The secretaries before us were computer programmers and I think they loved building data bases! They do amazing things, but are not always necessary and take time to keep up. We want to accomplish our tasks and simplify things!
Dad and I are still reading the Book of Mormon each night before retiring. We try and read a few chapters each night. We finished the chapters of Mormon.. We went to bed last night feeling sort of sad for all the bloodshed that was split with the killing off of all the Nephites. I can’t imagine what a wicked people they must have been to have the Lord destroy all of them, because the Lamanites were not all that good themselves. Sometimes it is hard to understand all that must have taken place. We are also reading “Preach my Gospel” book in Spanish. We are hoping besides learning the principles of the gospel more, but to understand the language more. Dad is doing good, but I am really struggling with the understanding. That’s all for now!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
last week journal just received (Sept 15, 2008)
Monday, Sept 15th..
Today, the office meeting went well. I did my best to read the notes that were in Spanish of last week’s meeting and take notes of the things that took place today. Frustrating, at times. After the meeting I tried to get a few things done, but I found myself not sure of some things. I need to know about a gillion different passwords to get into the programs. I get so frustrated trying to remember which one goes to which program. We are not allowed to use the same one for security reasons and they are set by Salt Lake, not me. Both dad and I find ourselves calling back to our trainers, Elder Turley and Elder Blotter, several times during the day.
Today, finally was the day to go and pick up our famous government Carnet card! The Davis’
went with us. They needed to pick theirs up also. We walk everywhere...
it was a good mile! We will be able to order internet now. Yeah for that. I needed to ask some questions about picking up cards for the other missionaries. I was able, I think to make myself understood, but I couldn’t understand them... Crazy, I can speak a lot but I just can’t seem to understand. It is driving me crazy. I don’t think Ron understood them either. It is most frustrating! Then to top it off, this nice little lady was tiring to help us, not really understanding, we tried to do what she said, but in doing so, I guess without knowing it, we cut in front of someone else and she was really mad. We kept saying we were sorry, but she wouldn’t accept it and just went on and on telling us off. We both felt bad we offended her. We thought she gave us permission to go ahead of her, but she said, she thought we only had a short question, not a long one.. Totally a misunderstanding. The Chilean’s also have a courteous thing for seniors and usually let them go first, but I guess even that one didn’t work this time around. We haven’t tried using it, nor has it been offered, but we hear and see signs (Tercera Edad - senior citizens) all the time.
We tried to go to the pharmacy again on the way back, but they didn’t order the medicine I need. I think I am going to have the kids send it to me. We were going to stop at home for a bit to eat for lunch, but then we got a phone call and was needed back at the office. We got there, and the person waiting for dad left. Dad called him, and he said he would come later. We hurried home grabbed a sandwich and back to the office without rest. We didn’t have time, because I needed to get home before five to cook up a main dish for family home evening, and I had tons to get done for tomorrow. I made up a chicken dish. Tonight was Sister Daley’s farewell dinner. She leaves tomorrow for home. Nice, nice person. I wish I could have gotten to know her better. She is from Eastern Texas (Tyler). I had several people ask me for the recipe. I told them, I would if I could remember how I made it. I didn’t have all the correct ingredients, that I usually use, and had to substitute items. But, to my surprise it was delicious! I really think the secret was the new Mexican cheese that Christine told us about. I was really surprised to find it in the market here. The people here do not eat Mexican food. Mostly pasta’s, fruits, corn and vegetables. I tried to make it like the “Viva la Chicken” dish I used to make for the kids years ago. Oh then, I asked dad to make up a salsa for me while I rested ten minutes and after the dish was baked, I spread that on top. We arrived home about 8, and was in bed by 8:30. Then at 10:30 I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep, so I am writing this! My stomach is still sore... I just can’t find the answer why it is hurting so much. Probably nerves! I did stop by the doctors office today, (the new couple that just arrived, the Dixon’s) and ask him if he had a suggestion. He gave me some pills and told me to try drinking Coke lite. Elder Dixon is 80 years old! But he is healthy and acts young! They have the elders drink coke lite to help them with the stomach aches. It must be the water. Who knows. The saying around here is.... “You are now in Chile”! Estamos en Chile
Christine called tonight, and wanted to know if we were going to come and see her on Thursday for the holiday celebration, but we have decided not to try and go. We are just too overwhelmed here and Dad doesn’t want to try and learn one more places to get to. You can’t believe all the different places we have had to try and find to deliver “Pouches” , the mail to the missionaries. At least he does have a care for pouch deliveries. They are every Wednesday. Dad walks on the average of about 10 miles or more a week to pay bills and go to the bank. Plus whatever activities we do in the evening with the senior couples. He has lost so much weight. I think he is about 230 or less pounds now, and his blood sugar level is down also. His new white shirts just hang on him. He hurts all the time, but he is a trooper! He says he gets enough relief if he can sit down for a minute to get the feeling back in his legs. So we look for benches. Well good night diary, I need to get up at 6 am to be to work at 7, for the elders to do their visa run.!
Today, the office meeting went well. I did my best to read the notes that were in Spanish of last week’s meeting and take notes of the things that took place today. Frustrating, at times. After the meeting I tried to get a few things done, but I found myself not sure of some things. I need to know about a gillion different passwords to get into the programs. I get so frustrated trying to remember which one goes to which program. We are not allowed to use the same one for security reasons and they are set by Salt Lake, not me. Both dad and I find ourselves calling back to our trainers, Elder Turley and Elder Blotter, several times during the day.
Today, finally was the day to go and pick up our famous government Carnet card! The Davis’
went with us. They needed to pick theirs up also. We walk everywhere...
it was a good mile! We will be able to order internet now. Yeah for that. I needed to ask some questions about picking up cards for the other missionaries. I was able, I think to make myself understood, but I couldn’t understand them... Crazy, I can speak a lot but I just can’t seem to understand. It is driving me crazy. I don’t think Ron understood them either. It is most frustrating! Then to top it off, this nice little lady was tiring to help us, not really understanding, we tried to do what she said, but in doing so, I guess without knowing it, we cut in front of someone else and she was really mad. We kept saying we were sorry, but she wouldn’t accept it and just went on and on telling us off. We both felt bad we offended her. We thought she gave us permission to go ahead of her, but she said, she thought we only had a short question, not a long one.. Totally a misunderstanding. The Chilean’s also have a courteous thing for seniors and usually let them go first, but I guess even that one didn’t work this time around. We haven’t tried using it, nor has it been offered, but we hear and see signs (Tercera Edad - senior citizens) all the time.
We tried to go to the pharmacy again on the way back, but they didn’t order the medicine I need. I think I am going to have the kids send it to me. We were going to stop at home for a bit to eat for lunch, but then we got a phone call and was needed back at the office. We got there, and the person waiting for dad left. Dad called him, and he said he would come later. We hurried home grabbed a sandwich and back to the office without rest. We didn’t have time, because I needed to get home before five to cook up a main dish for family home evening, and I had tons to get done for tomorrow. I made up a chicken dish. Tonight was Sister Daley’s farewell dinner. She leaves tomorrow for home. Nice, nice person. I wish I could have gotten to know her better. She is from Eastern Texas (Tyler). I had several people ask me for the recipe. I told them, I would if I could remember how I made it. I didn’t have all the correct ingredients, that I usually use, and had to substitute items. But, to my surprise it was delicious! I really think the secret was the new Mexican cheese that Christine told us about. I was really surprised to find it in the market here. The people here do not eat Mexican food. Mostly pasta’s, fruits, corn and vegetables. I tried to make it like the “Viva la Chicken” dish I used to make for the kids years ago. Oh then, I asked dad to make up a salsa for me while I rested ten minutes and after the dish was baked, I spread that on top. We arrived home about 8, and was in bed by 8:30. Then at 10:30 I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep, so I am writing this! My stomach is still sore... I just can’t find the answer why it is hurting so much. Probably nerves! I did stop by the doctors office today, (the new couple that just arrived, the Dixon’s) and ask him if he had a suggestion. He gave me some pills and told me to try drinking Coke lite. Elder Dixon is 80 years old! But he is healthy and acts young! They have the elders drink coke lite to help them with the stomach aches. It must be the water. Who knows. The saying around here is.... “You are now in Chile”! Estamos en Chile
Christine called tonight, and wanted to know if we were going to come and see her on Thursday for the holiday celebration, but we have decided not to try and go. We are just too overwhelmed here and Dad doesn’t want to try and learn one more places to get to. You can’t believe all the different places we have had to try and find to deliver “Pouches” , the mail to the missionaries. At least he does have a care for pouch deliveries. They are every Wednesday. Dad walks on the average of about 10 miles or more a week to pay bills and go to the bank. Plus whatever activities we do in the evening with the senior couples. He has lost so much weight. I think he is about 230 or less pounds now, and his blood sugar level is down also. His new white shirts just hang on him. He hurts all the time, but he is a trooper! He says he gets enough relief if he can sit down for a minute to get the feeling back in his legs. So we look for benches. Well good night diary, I need to get up at 6 am to be to work at 7, for the elders to do their visa run.!
September 28th 2008
Hi family,
Well this has been a hard week for the both of us. More for Dad
than I. With months end, he has so much to do and still learning. We both struggle with trying to do remember all we need to do from day to day. I have some hard days also though and we have to make dozens of calls to figure things out. I haven't felt well this week either, coming down with a cold, and so that doesn't help my memory when one
doesn't feel well. We did have fun on Saturday, we got to go out to a
small town called Talagante and celebrate with the ward members as they celebrated this month's independence celebrations. We had great food and different wards demonstrated the different dances from different parts of Chile. It was fun to watch. The little kids were amazing to watch. The colorful dress is amazing also. I will attach a few
pictures. An office couple that we work with was dancing with them.
Part of their assignment is to serve out in Talagante (small town about 35 miles west).
We went out on Friday night with the Seniors and went to a fun little cafe type restrauant and had dinner. They are fun to be with. Everyone had empanadas but us. We are tired of them, and don't really like them. We just had a sandwich of chicken and avocados (platos aqui).
Not much to write about this week. Mostly just office work. Which is good, cause that is what we were called to do...
enjoy the pictures!\
Miss everyone, would love to hear from the grandkids... Hopefully we will get internet soon and have instant messanger as well...
\Love mom and dad...
Well this has been a hard week for the both of us. More for Dad
than I. With months end, he has so much to do and still learning. We both struggle with trying to do remember all we need to do from day to day. I have some hard days also though and we have to make dozens of calls to figure things out. I haven't felt well this week either, coming down with a cold, and so that doesn't help my memory when one
doesn't feel well. We did have fun on Saturday, we got to go out to a
small town called Talagante and celebrate with the ward members as they celebrated this month's independence celebrations. We had great food and different wards demonstrated the different dances from different parts of Chile. It was fun to watch. The little kids were amazing to watch. The colorful dress is amazing also. I will attach a few
pictures. An office couple that we work with was dancing with them.
Part of their assignment is to serve out in Talagante (small town about 35 miles west).
We went out on Friday night with the Seniors and went to a fun little cafe type restrauant and had dinner. They are fun to be with. Everyone had empanadas but us. We are tired of them, and don't really like them. We just had a sandwich of chicken and avocados (platos aqui).
Not much to write about this week. Mostly just office work. Which is good, cause that is what we were called to do...
enjoy the pictures!\
Miss everyone, would love to hear from the grandkids... Hopefully we will get internet soon and have instant messanger as well...
\Love mom and dad...
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
September 14th, 2008
Wow what a week! We have been so busy in the office learning more information that we need to know about our jobs. The elders have been backing off some trying to see if we can do our jobs. But, every minute it seems we have questions. My biggest frustration is the language when people come into the office. I know I have only been here 3 weeks now, but it seems much longer in some ways. Christine arrived and so Monday was a wonderful day, visiting with her and showing her our office. We had office meetings that morning. When the meetings were over she was waiting outside the doors for us. After all the introductions, and visiting, she took off and went touring on her own. We couldn’t get away. Monday’s are always really busy in the office. She went with us to our family home evening. She got up at 7:30 and took the taxi to the bus station and then a bus down to see Marjorie Rublar. Tuesday, I needed to call the missionaries that need to come to the office this coming week to start their paper work for their Visa’s. I got brave and called them myself and spoke to them in Spanish. I must say I was more than proud of myself. I wrote it all down on paper first, so I wouldn’t get to frustrated. I called the English speaking Elders first and practiced on them. Elder Turley called some of the all Spanish Speaking missionaries for me. I was afraid in speaking Spanish that if they something back to me I wouldn’t understand. It worked out though, and it was a good learning experience for me.
Tuesday night we walked down to the Parque de Pedro. (A park about 5 blocks aways) to a performance of dancing and music. Called Esquinazos en los Barrios Un maravillose encuento con nuestras tradiciones y valores. (Corner in the neighborhood. A wonderful encounter with our traditions and values.) We went with the Davis and Riggs couples. We had a wonderful time. The dancing was fun, and the customs outstanding.
Wednesday, work of course, and we got home about 6:15 and needed to be over to the Bro and Sister Benson’s about 6:30. We grabbed a bit to eat and off we went. Sister Benson is helping me with the piano. The mission was able to get me a key board for our apartment, so I can practice. The ward wants me to play for the Relief Society. I am terrified!!!! The songs they wanted me to play were really hard, so Sister Benson made a simply version for me. I practiced all week as I had time for. And prayed constantly for the ability to play.
Thursday, work and I tried to get learn as much as I could from Elder Turley, constantly asking questions about things I was unsure of. Today, Thursday, is the Elders last day in the office with us. So training is over!! Yeaks! We are also ready, to try it on our own, the Elders are eager to get back into the field. We also had to get any last minute things ready for our greenie meeting tomorrow. We got home late again, and we were exhausted. Tonight is the 11th of September and here in Chile is the most dangerous night of the year. Everyone is told to stay in their homes and not to go out. There were bombings in the streets, gun fire, fires, and all kinds of stuff happening. In our neighborhood it was quiet, but about 11 pm we could hear the sirens going off and the cop cars and ambulances going up and down the streets. We visited for awhile with the Davis’. Oh, yeah, they invited us up for a little dinner at the last minute. We had a good visit as usual. We enjoy their company. They are on the 4th floor and we are on the 6th, so it is convenient to visit a lot with them.
Friday, was our greenie meeting. President Jones picked us up to take us the chapel where the meeting was being held. Ron and I had our first experience of training the new Elders. Ron goes over how to use their debt card and what they are allowed to use their monies on. I talked to them about their visa’s and making sure all the information I have is correct. I told them we had only been here 3 weeks ourselves, so we were green also! It was a good experience and fun to be with the Elders. It was good to see Elder Hughes again, our neighbor, and see how well he is doing. Ron and I left the meeting and went back to work in the office, but it was lunch time and we were tired so we went to our apartment, eat lunch and took nap... By the time we got back to the office, we only had about 2 hours to get something done. We were going to a program fo more dancing with several couples and we were meeting them at 5-5:15 pm. What a marvelous experience that was!!! The customs and the dancing so absolutely awesome. It lasted about 2 hours, and we could have seen more. I don’t know how they could sing and dance and perform so long. Absolutely, wonderful!! It was called “Ballet Folicorico”. Accent mark on the middle “o”. We then went out to eat afterwards with the Riggs and the Davis’ couples. We stopped a nice pizza place.
I must say, you haven’t had good pizza until you have eaten pizza in Chile. They don’t use tomato sauce... It is all cheese, vegetables, and just wonderful. The only other sauce I have seen on them in Barbeque sauce, and that was yummy!
I must say, that tonight, being Friday night has been the first night that we have gone to bed since being here with heating up a bean bag to warm up our feet when we get into bed. That was a nice treat!!! The weather is starting to warm up now. We have been cold since being here. I can’t imagine how cold winter will be!!
Saturday, we were so exhausted we didn’t wake up until 10:30 am! Then we cleaned house a little and then went to the Lider for groceries. We tried to go to the pharmacy first, which is in the opposite direction, but it was closed. Then by the time we walked four blocks back and four or five more blocks to the Lider, dad was exhausted, and so was I. I think for me it was more the lack of food than exercise. Then the little cart we use to pull our groceries home, is a real pain. It just isn’t strong enough for a load. It kept tipping over and things falling out. I was about at my witt’s end. I tried to get to a bench to sit down, while dad went to buy a clock in another store.. I no longer had sat down and tired to pick things up, when I heard “Sister Gonzales”.... I turned and a missionary couple was calling me from their car and offered to give us a ride home. Was we ever releaved!!! As I stood up to greet them and a new couple the Dixons, that just arrived that morning, I knocked over my drink and it exploded and ran all over the place... It was so funny, but I was so exhausted, I couldn’t find a way to laugh... I just smiled... and greeted the new sister... What an impression that must have been.... When we got back to our apartment, I dropped the food on the floor and went straight to the bed to lay down. Didn’t take time to put one thing away. Thank goodness Dad did it, or I probably would have lost all our freezer food... We rested and eat a little bit of diner and then we went to work about 7:15- 9pm that evening. We tried to get a few things ready for Monday’s office meeting... Crazy schedule we are keeping.. We are loving it here and the time is very rewarding, even though we are very tired at the end of long days and trying to remember all that we need to remember.
Sunday, we went to church, and I was supposed to play the piano for the Relief Society, but they thought they would give me another week to practice. I did though, play the prelude music and must say I was relieved not to have to play the opening and closing songs. The songs they wanted me to learn were way hard for me, and I was afraid of making too many mistakes, plus at the last minute they changed their minds on what songs they were going to sing. It was a good experience for me. The rest of day has been restful, but we do need to go over to the office again today. Thank goodness the office is only across the street. It makes it handy for us.
Tuesday night we walked down to the Parque de Pedro. (A park about 5 blocks aways) to a performance of dancing and music. Called Esquinazos en los Barrios Un maravillose encuento con nuestras tradiciones y valores. (Corner in the neighborhood. A wonderful encounter with our traditions and values.) We went with the Davis and Riggs couples. We had a wonderful time. The dancing was fun, and the customs outstanding.
Wednesday, work of course, and we got home about 6:15 and needed to be over to the Bro and Sister Benson’s about 6:30. We grabbed a bit to eat and off we went. Sister Benson is helping me with the piano. The mission was able to get me a key board for our apartment, so I can practice. The ward wants me to play for the Relief Society. I am terrified!!!! The songs they wanted me to play were really hard, so Sister Benson made a simply version for me. I practiced all week as I had time for. And prayed constantly for the ability to play.
Thursday, work and I tried to get learn as much as I could from Elder Turley, constantly asking questions about things I was unsure of. Today, Thursday, is the Elders last day in the office with us. So training is over!! Yeaks! We are also ready, to try it on our own, the Elders are eager to get back into the field. We also had to get any last minute things ready for our greenie meeting tomorrow. We got home late again, and we were exhausted. Tonight is the 11th of September and here in Chile is the most dangerous night of the year. Everyone is told to stay in their homes and not to go out. There were bombings in the streets, gun fire, fires, and all kinds of stuff happening. In our neighborhood it was quiet, but about 11 pm we could hear the sirens going off and the cop cars and ambulances going up and down the streets. We visited for awhile with the Davis’. Oh, yeah, they invited us up for a little dinner at the last minute. We had a good visit as usual. We enjoy their company. They are on the 4th floor and we are on the 6th, so it is convenient to visit a lot with them.
Friday, was our greenie meeting. President Jones picked us up to take us the chapel where the meeting was being held. Ron and I had our first experience of training the new Elders. Ron goes over how to use their debt card and what they are allowed to use their monies on. I talked to them about their visa’s and making sure all the information I have is correct. I told them we had only been here 3 weeks ourselves, so we were green also! It was a good experience and fun to be with the Elders. It was good to see Elder Hughes again, our neighbor, and see how well he is doing. Ron and I left the meeting and went back to work in the office, but it was lunch time and we were tired so we went to our apartment, eat lunch and took nap... By the time we got back to the office, we only had about 2 hours to get something done. We were going to a program fo more dancing with several couples and we were meeting them at 5-5:15 pm. What a marvelous experience that was!!! The customs and the dancing so absolutely awesome. It lasted about 2 hours, and we could have seen more. I don’t know how they could sing and dance and perform so long. Absolutely, wonderful!! It was called “Ballet Folicorico”. Accent mark on the middle “o”. We then went out to eat afterwards with the Riggs and the Davis’ couples. We stopped a nice pizza place.
I must say, you haven’t had good pizza until you have eaten pizza in Chile. They don’t use tomato sauce... It is all cheese, vegetables, and just wonderful. The only other sauce I have seen on them in Barbeque sauce, and that was yummy!
I must say, that tonight, being Friday night has been the first night that we have gone to bed since being here with heating up a bean bag to warm up our feet when we get into bed. That was a nice treat!!! The weather is starting to warm up now. We have been cold since being here. I can’t imagine how cold winter will be!!
Saturday, we were so exhausted we didn’t wake up until 10:30 am! Then we cleaned house a little and then went to the Lider for groceries. We tried to go to the pharmacy first, which is in the opposite direction, but it was closed. Then by the time we walked four blocks back and four or five more blocks to the Lider, dad was exhausted, and so was I. I think for me it was more the lack of food than exercise. Then the little cart we use to pull our groceries home, is a real pain. It just isn’t strong enough for a load. It kept tipping over and things falling out. I was about at my witt’s end. I tried to get to a bench to sit down, while dad went to buy a clock in another store.. I no longer had sat down and tired to pick things up, when I heard “Sister Gonzales”.... I turned and a missionary couple was calling me from their car and offered to give us a ride home. Was we ever releaved!!! As I stood up to greet them and a new couple the Dixons, that just arrived that morning, I knocked over my drink and it exploded and ran all over the place... It was so funny, but I was so exhausted, I couldn’t find a way to laugh... I just smiled... and greeted the new sister... What an impression that must have been.... When we got back to our apartment, I dropped the food on the floor and went straight to the bed to lay down. Didn’t take time to put one thing away. Thank goodness Dad did it, or I probably would have lost all our freezer food... We rested and eat a little bit of diner and then we went to work about 7:15- 9pm that evening. We tried to get a few things ready for Monday’s office meeting... Crazy schedule we are keeping.. We are loving it here and the time is very rewarding, even though we are very tired at the end of long days and trying to remember all that we need to remember.
Sunday, we went to church, and I was supposed to play the piano for the Relief Society, but they thought they would give me another week to practice. I did though, play the prelude music and must say I was relieved not to have to play the opening and closing songs. The songs they wanted me to learn were way hard for me, and I was afraid of making too many mistakes, plus at the last minute they changed their minds on what songs they were going to sing. It was a good experience for me. The rest of day has been restful, but we do need to go over to the office again today. Thank goodness the office is only across the street. It makes it handy for us.
Monday, September 15, 2008
September 13, 2008
Hey,How is everyone doing. Tonight is Saturday night and we are back in the office trying to finish what we didn´t get to yesterday!! Instead of working later last night we left at 5:00 and went with some other senior couples to see a Folklorico dance. It was amazing. We got home about 11:00 am and had a hard getting started this morning. Saturdays are P days so we have to get our clothes ready, food ready, clean house and other personal needs. We still walk or use public transportation to get around. I imagine I walked about 10 miles this week. So, catch me up with all your family news. How are the kids enjoying school. The weather is finally starting to warm up a bit. We probably hit 70 today. If you add six months onto Utah weather, it is like March here in Santiago. They say in December it will be 99 degrees and eating watermelon for Christmas. That will be different.Well, I better go for now.Love to all,Dad and mom
September 2nd 2008
Hi family, Again, I am writing from work. And so I am having Keri, this time pass this on to all of you.Well, this has been another wild week, with computer up grading and loosing files... must I say more on that! We have experienced our first few days of transfers and another one tomorrow. Very interesting process and I am trying to remember everything I have learned, because I won´t do these processes for another 6 weeks. So hopefully I have taken enough notes, to get by with when I do it again. Here in Chile you have to have what is called a Carnét card. It is like a "Green Card" for the those entering the states. Ours won´t be ready until Sept 12th. Then we can try and get internet at home. You can´t do anything here without one. It is the most crazy system. I am getting a good feel of what others go through when they come to the USA. Oh and then we can´t pick it up on the 12th either, because that is the beginning of their Civil holiday, and on the 11th and the 12th, no one goes on the streets, because the Communist people come out and are shooting up the streets with bombs and guns!!!! Doesn´t that sound like an exciting time. But then they say the rest of the month is a wonderful celebration and it is fun, and very interesting and pretty safe. We had a family home evening last night with the senior couples and they explained to us all about the holiday and gave us a day by day list for the month for all the activities that go on. It really does sound wonderful. We are getting used to all the little funny things about heating in our apartment etc. You can probably see from our typing mistakes
that the key board isn{t the same!).... We had a good weekend, cleaning our apartment, going to the Lider for food with our little tiny pull cart. I think I would rather carry the food!! The cart was too short and too hard to pull! It is about a 4 block walk to the store. We are feeling a little tied down with no car to go and explore. We haven´t become brave enough to ride the bus or metro, because that is where everyone gets pick pocketed. Church was good again, and I love our English Sunday School class and teacher (German Yañez). We go away so uplifted. He is a return missionary. Served his mission in Ogden. He is Chilean, but served in the States. I guess that is about all for now. Love to everyone with lots of hugs and kisses!!! Will send pictures soon...mom and dad
that the key board isn{t the same!).... We had a good weekend, cleaning our apartment, going to the Lider for food with our little tiny pull cart. I think I would rather carry the food!! The cart was too short and too hard to pull! It is about a 4 block walk to the store. We are feeling a little tied down with no car to go and explore. We haven´t become brave enough to ride the bus or metro, because that is where everyone gets pick pocketed. Church was good again, and I love our English Sunday School class and teacher (German Yañez). We go away so uplifted. He is a return missionary. Served his mission in Ogden. He is Chilean, but served in the States. I guess that is about all for now. Love to everyone with lots of hugs and kisses!!! Will send pictures soon...mom and dad
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
