Rosende Ward, Santiago Chile Zapadores Stake

We had the great privilege of visiting Rosende Ward on Sunday to speak about the Perpetual Education Fund.  It was a special assignment for us because Bishop Duque was a missionary companion of Scott's.  Scott was his trainer, and he told us that 3 days after Bishop Duque arrived in the mission field, his father passed away.  Scott said he had come on his mission knowing he would never see his father again in this life.  Scott has tremendous respect for Bishop Duque.  Here is a picture of his family with us.

Imagine this, you are about 30 years old, you have a young family, you work, you are going to school with the help of the Perpetual Education Fund, and you are a bishop in a poor neighborhood.  We saw three people on crutches and one in a wheel chair in this ward, and half of them were gone because January is vacation month.  Bishop Duque started Sacrament meeting on time, and 5 minutes before the meeting the people in the chapel were reminded to seat themselves, be reverent and prepare for the meeting.  There were more people on time to this meeting than we have seen in other wards.

The chapel is at the end of this street, you can see the people coming out.

Horse Travel

This is one of our favorite sights in Chile, people traveling in horse drawn carts down the highway and in the middle of town.

This horse decided to rest in front of the church.

Trip to Concepcion

We spent four exhausting and great days in the Concepcion area, presenting PEF training to the priesthood leaders in 8 stakes and districts.  This is our favorite part of our calling.  Not only do we get to see other areas of Chile, we get the spiritual strengthening that we receive every time we watch the light come on and we see the leaders understand the PEF.  They realize what a blessing it can be for their people, and the gain a greater testimony of their part in the program.

This is Blaine presenting his part of the training, the doctrine of the Perpetual Education Fund.

Independencia 2

Finding the best, true, Chilean horse (we certainly didn't know what the judges were looking for, because the judges all picked in the reverse order of us).

Demonstration of Mapuche control of their horses.

Chilean horse & huaso (cowboy) dancing with the Mapuche's (Indians from southern Chile).

Cueca (Chilean National Dance) on horseback.  Notice the white handkerchiefs the riders are waving around the horses heads, didn't bother them at all.

We had a great time watching all the horses in this program, made us homesick for ours.

Chilean Independence

Blaine finally got to see a Chilean Rodeo in real life.  This is what the rodeo consists of--hazing the bull until you can push him up on the padded wall with your horse.  This is the only event in the rodeo.  The object is to get all four feet off the ground and you are scored accordingly.

Blaine got a good picture of Presidente Pinera, the president of Chile, when we were at the Parque Padre Hurtado celebration last Saturday.  The ponchos are the ones worn by the huasos, cowboys, of Chile.

These beautiful little girls are Alicia (the younger) and Laura Ovalle, all dressed up for the ward Independence day fiesta in their cueca (Chilean national dance) dresses.

Training in Parral

Blaine is teaching the doctrine of the Perpetual Education Fund to the leaders of the Parral District, about 3 hours south of Santiago.  We love these teaching moments where our spirits are renewed as the leaders finally understand the blessing the PEF can be to their congregations and the individuals within.

The Coast

We had worked so many weekends in
August that we took a day off this week and drove with 5 other senior missinaries to the coast.  This is a beach town called Papudo. 

Valdivia

Early this month we made another trip south for a presentation at a Young Single Adult's conference and to train some more priesthood leaders.  Everyone said August was a bad month to go south, but we actually had better weather than they did in Santiago while we were gone.  We made 4 presentations at the YAS conference and trained the priesthood leaders in 9 stakes.  We also made personal visits to the homes of bishops who had been unable to attend the training.  It was a lot of driving, but worth it.  This is a picture of the conference.  We are on the right, towards the back.

Teclado Class

Here is my teclado (keyboard) class--only 10 out of the 14.  The feedback I get is that the students enjoy the class.  I am surprised at how much I enjoy teaching it.  Although we travel an hour one way on the bus and subway, and don't get back till late, I love seeing the kids and I forget how tired I am until the class is over and all of a sudden I feel really drained.  I am so grateful that Blaine is able to help me, not only with the Spanish, but with the piano part.  The students are patient with my Spanish and they get a few laughs out my attempts.  

Elders for Dinner

It has been a long time since we cooked for a house full of boys.  It was fun having the elders over.  Elder Chapman tried very hard to do the dishes, serve me first, etc.  I told him I would tell his mother he was very polite, so if she ever reads this she will know she did a good job teaching him manners.  They are all great kids, it's a pleasure to associate with them.

Cerro Santa Lucia

Cerro Santa Lucia is a hill of rock that sticks up in the middle of town.  The mayor decided to make it pretty, so they built steps, fountains, plazas, etc. all the way up.  We have been wanting to climb it but were waiting for cooler weather.  Last Saturday the weather was perfect so we climbed it with the Mason's and the Kimball's.  There is a great view from the top.  It would be even better without the smog.