January 2009

Well, family, I haven't written in weeks... so if you don't get too bored here is 3 weeks worth... We think of you all often...
Love, Ron and Eileen

Sunday, Jan 18, 2009
I woke up this morning thinking about myself and thinking of the changes that have taken place over my life time that especially pertain to me.
Yesterday’s zone conference must have triggered my thoughts. We were instructed by President and Sister Jones, Elder (President) Zaballos and is wife, and Elder Rubio from the quorum of seventies. Amazing men. The conference was focused on being the best we can and stretching beyond our normal and trying to be who the Lord wants us to be and not comparing ourselves to others and being someone we are not. The zone conference was marvelous and it was fun to be with the missionaries and learn with them and be taught wonderful life skills and great lessons for us all to learn and grow by. Elder Zaballos when he got up to speak, asked the Elders if they were very warm and would like to take off their jackets, they all nodded yes. It was strange... All these young men sitting in front of us with dark jackets on, stood up and took them off... then all of a sudden rows of white shirts! There for an instant it was like being in the temple.. It hit me funny.. He was funny, after about an hour of him speaking, he said, well you think I am about done, right, well I am not and he went on to teach another hour The Area presidency here in Chile is made of 3 Seventies. President Armado, President Zaballos and President Corbridge. Their offices are located on the 3rd floor of the office building. It has been great opportunities here to hear them speak and be in their presence at meetings and the Thanksgiving dinner.
Our grandson Spencer was baptized today and we thought of him all day.
We stayed up last night hoping Keri would come on line, but they had stake conference meeting and wasn’t able to. But Denise was on line so she was able to tell us a little about the baptism. Hopefully today sometime we will visit with Spencer on line.
Thursday was exciting for us, we got word that Rachel was in the hospital to deliver the baby. I was so excited and wanted to be there so bad. I asked Sister Davis if we could use her phone and call our kids.
It was good to talk to Michael and know what was going on. In the meantime, while waiting for the time to pass and the baby to arrive, Ron and I spent time on the computer chatting with Tina and Bryan waiting for more news. Then Bryan got word and we called Michael and then Michael was able to bring us up on Skype and we could see Rachel and the Baby. Isn’t computers and technology absolutely great these days. What a cutie. Little Sadie Ann was born. 6 lbs, 4 ozs and 19 ½ inches. It was about 7:30 pm their time and 11:30 pm our time when we got to see her.
We are proud grandparents again. Number 21.
Ron and I spent very little time in the office Thursday and Friday, trying to get away from people. We attended the temple Friday, and found much peace there and helped us both to refocus ourselves. Friday night we went over to the Dixon’s for his 80th birthday celebration and to get to know the new couple that just arrived on Monday, the Boyden’s (Steve & Pat). Good people...3rd mission. About our age I think.. He has been a mission president, MTC president, and now here. Elder Boyden and his wife will be the area presidency secretaries replacing Elder and Sister Larsen who when home Wednesday night. The funniest thing happened.... we walked over with the Davis’s and then the Boyden’s arrived at the same time, so we were all there at the same time and they all decided to try and fit in the Elevator, I said, that is not a good idea. Two should wait. But NO, they all got in and the elevator got stuck between floors!
It took 10 minutes or so to get us out. I must say that I didn’t do so well. Everyone was trying to stay happy and laugh and keep the situation light for me and Sister Davis’ benefit. We both don’t like tight places.
She did better than me. I just stood there head down trying hard to focus and breath well, as not to faint or cry or something and keep myself from reacting to the situation. Ron and Elder Boyden finally were able to force the door open and we were able to crawl out. I walked into the apt. and straight to the balcony for fresh air. It took me a good hour before my skin tone and breathing came all the way back to normal, even though I was visiting and trying to unwind. I can’t say I enjoyed that experience at all, but it gave us all something to talk and laugh about. We had a good dinner, visit, laughed a lot and learned about the experiences of the Boyden’s on their other missions. I would say Dr.
Dixon had a good birthday party.

Saturday Jan 24th.
We had a good week. Nothing too exciting to report on. Monday night was family home evening. Brother and Sister Walton showed slides of their mission in Uraquay. Most of us went away feeling very grateful for being in Santiago. They had pretty tough living conditions there. Let’s see...
Tuesday was our greenie meeting. It went really well. We went out to eat Tuesday night with the Dixon’s and found a wonderful Mexican restaurant with real Mexican Tortillas. We were excited about that. Wed. Dad went with Bro. Diez, our maintenance man and another fellow from finance, out to close down a pension in Melipilla area. He was gone most of the day.
I was about the only one in the office. Thursday, I was up at 6 and in the office for visa run, and other than that it was a usual day in the office. That evening we went grocery shopping with the Dixon’s. They bought a car so we took their car. Before we came home we caught a bit to eat at this little place we get good fried chicken and fries at. By the time we got home we were way tired. I didn’t sleep much that night either with sore legs and back. Friday in the office, I was there most of the time again by myself and Ron was out paying bills. When I am in the office by myself, it is hard, because of my lack of Spanish. I am always praying some Elder will just happen to pop in, or I am out in the hall trying to find one that is in to see the doctor or is in the East mission office, when I get phone calls that I can not understand. It is crazy some days for me that way. I am beginning to be able to say a few more things and understand some calls, but not many. My last name gets me in trouble! People assume I speak Spanish.... Friday night we went for Chinese food with the Seniors. Food wasn’t as good as we have had in the past at this restaurant, but the company was good and fun. We hadn’t been home long and Ron was off to the bathroom.... and spent several visits there that night. Then in the morning I woke up not feeling well, and spent several trips also to the bathroom. We decided we don’t want to eat there any more. This morning we were supposed to go with a group on a little adventure, but Ron was up early and went to get his Chilean drivers license and I spent most of the morning trying to get enough energy to get the house cleaned and so laundry. I would get up for a half hour or so and get some laundry done, then back to the couch and slept, then up do some more and back to the couch. I ended up not going either with the group. I kept trying to find the energy to go with them, but just couldn’t. Ron came home about noon, fixed him lunch and then I fell asleep again until 2pm. I guess I was just worn out again. We didn’t go anywhere today, just stayed in the apartment. We worked on the computer in Photo Shop today, trying to get zone conference pictures and our mission picture ready for print. Thank goodness Ron has those skills. I did some ironing and then we were able to visit some with the family on the internet, either by Instant Messenger, or Skype. We finally got to visit with Zach and Keri on Skype. Tomorrow is Zach’s farewell and birthday. I think Ron was quit bored today, but I truly enjoyed being just home all day. But I slept too much and now it is midnight and I can’t sleep. I just can’t win when it comes to sleeping.
I received a phone call tonight asking me to play the piano for Primary tomorrow.... oh I tried to get out of it, but didn’t win... so I guess another adventure in my life...
Sunday was quite, only a few senior couples at the Pocuro ward today.
Most of the temple couples are off on a two week trip somewhere. The temple is closed for cleaning. I went to the Primary, told them that I only played a little. It was kind of funny... I would be trying to play an introduction to the song.... and the gal would start singing during the middle of it... I tried... but can’t say it went well. I was surprised it didn’t bother me. I just laughed.. We had the Davis’ over for dinner. Anna Marie has been sick all week. She has asthma really bad and the air here really is hard on her. She said, she was glad to get out of her apartment room and have company. We had a nice visit. After they left, we rested and then went over to the office for a little while. Much cooler in the office.

Sunday morning early, Feb 1, 2009
Every week brings new adventures in the mission field. This week for the first week since we have been here, the week was slow. Not much to do in the office. I kept feeling like I have missed something that I am supposed to do. It was kind of nice, not to feel overly busy. I really don’t remember much of what we did this week. My mind was mostly on Zach going into the MTC and beginning his missionary experience and thinking of little Sadie Ann. Let’s see... I think it was Tuesday or Wednesday night, the van was available, so we went over to the EASY store and looked to see if we could find a wheel to fix our handcart. We finally bought a new one. It was funny though... because the next morning the McCowns came in and said, look what we found, and they had boughten a hand cart also, it turned out to be the same one we got, and we figured we were in the stores on opposite sides of town at the same time. We sure laughed over that one. Now we have two really sturdy handcarts. We felt like we went out to eat a lot this week. Thursday night we went to a restaurant that Ron spotted on one of our adventures that served steaks with the Dixon’s. It was kind of decorated up like we were in Italia. It was a nice place. Afterwards we went for a walk, looking at the different stores on the street and stopped and had an ice cream cone. Their favorite thing to do. Then caught the bus for the last half of the trip home. Friday night we went with the McCowns, Riggs, and Andlin’s to get Mexican food. We took them to that Mexican Restaurant that we went to a week or so ago. We had a good time. Ron and Elder Andlin were not up to walking so the three of us took the bus, and the other’s walked. I walked back. It is always an adventure in itself on our walks. I often wonder how far we actually walk. One, two, three miles??? A good ½ hour I would say anyhow and they don’t stroll! There has been a lot of bronchitis going around. Four couples have been down with it. The Dr. came down with it Friday morning. We are trying to stay away from those that have it and not get it ourselves.
Yesterday, Saturday, we got up cleaned house and did some wash and then went with Elder and Sister Snow to a place called Los Dominicos. Tons of little artesian shops inside what was once a monastery. Unfortunately, I guess I got too much sun and by the time we came home I was in bed and down the rest of the night. I was surprised, because it was mostly shade, plus I had a hat and sun glasses on. The sun is just so intense here. It is unbelievable. The temperature is not that high.
I have been trying to read scriptures in Spanish every night and work on my pronunciation. I think it is beginning to help.