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.