Welcome Elder and Sister Roberts and Elder and Sister Hayden

Two new couples arrived at the temple on August 3rd.  Perry and Francis Roberts and Art and Edith Hayden.  Roberts are from Oxford, Mississippi.  He is a retired doctor.  This is their second mission.  They previously had served in Quito, Ecuador.

Perry and Francis Roberts at Mamut restaurant

Welcome dinner for both couples

Having fun at dinner

Why are you taking my picture

Gary Davis, Rick Lee, Van Layman, Art Hayden  All Chilean missionaries serving at the Santiago Temple except Gary who is just here living

Haydens are from Sacramento, California where he is a retired CPA.  He served his mission in Chile about 2 years ahead of me.  It is great to have them here.  They both have unique stories to tell about their marriages.  Suffice to say Roberts have been married 28 years.  The Haydens less than a year. 

New shift at the temple, new friends coming, and some dear friends departed

These last 7 days have been somewhat of a rollercoaster.  Our good friends Elder Rudy and Sister Betty Figueroa had to make the diffucult decision to return home after 4+ months here in Santiago.  Their daugther was diagnosed with breast cancer and they felt they needed to return home to be with her and her family.  They hope to return and we certainly hope they can.  Our prayers and thoughts are with them.  They have left a void here on the 4th floor of the hospedaje.

Betty and Rudy/Figueroa

Starting yesterday, we have changed shifts to the afternoon.  We go in at 2:30pm or 3:00pm and leave sometime between 10:15pm and 11:00pm depending when everyone leaves the temple.  The 2 missionary couples are the last ones to leave the temple.  It is kind of strange to be the last ones in the temple at night.  The big changes are sleep patterns, being wired upon returning home at 11pm, getting up and having the morning to do things but always worrying about getting back home in time to get to the temple on time.  The advantage is not having to get up at 3:45am or 4:45am on Saturdays.  They balance out.  We will have this schedule for August and September and then in October and November will revert back to mornings. 

This coming Saturday we will get 2 new couples to work in the temple.  The Roberts and the Haydens.  I don't know alot about them but we are going to mentor the Roberts.  Basically show them how the temple works here in Santiago, help them with language questions, shopping, buses, mission rules(aren't very many really) and anything else they might wonder about.  I have also been asked by President Otay to be the one he will communicate with to give information to the couples and give out the schedule.  Elder Rick Lee and his wife Stephanie have been doing it but they go home September 24th after their 12 month mission is done.

We had a depedida for Elder and Sister Dalton.  They are going to Buenos Aires as the Chile area and Buenos Aires area have been combined.  They will be missed.  They are the executive secretaries to the Area presidency.

Sister Oñate, Sister Sandy and Elder Craig Dalton

Gary and Debbie Davis at the Despida

Millie at the despida

Sister Oñate and her sister visiting from Vina Del Mar

Of course what would my blog be without the random marriage photo.  If I were faster, I could have caught 3 or 4 more!

What's all the fuss about?

Of course they got married!

The other highlight of the week was going to La Hacienda with 6 missionaries.  We have so enjoyed getting to know the 4 sister missionaries assigned to our Pocurro ward.  Sister Johanson from Detroit, Michigan and her companion Sister Castellon from Managua, Nicaragua, Sister Chamberlain from Utah somewhere and her companion Sister Conner and Elder Pickering from Rexburg, Idaho and Elder Christopherson from Utah.  What started out as 1 companionship for dinner ended up 3 as we just invited them all.  The elders are office elders in the Chile Santiago East mission whose office is in the Administration building next to the temple.  They are responsible for any packages you might send getting to us.  We had a wonderful time.  I always hoped that others gave the same opportunity to my missionary son and daughter.  Elder Pickering and his companion can really eat.  But as Sister Johanson said "I can't stay away from food" she was right there with them. They get 100,000 pesos a month to eat, buses, supplies etc.  That is about $200 a month.  The mission takes care of their housing.

Elder Pickering, Elder Christopherson and Sister Johanson

Sister Johanson and Sister Castellon

Sister Chamberlain, Millie, Sister Castellon, Sister Johanson, Elder Christopherson and the watiers!

Van, Millie, Sister Chamberlain, Sister Conner, Elder Pickering, Elder Chrisopherson, Sister Johanson, Sister Castellon

Same picture bigger!!

Elder Pickering and Christopherson still eating!

Last but not least Gary and Debbie Davis and Millie and I went to eat at Fuente Suiza for empanadas de queso(cheese) and barros luco(roast beef and chesse sandswich) and barros Jarpa(ham and cheese sandwich).  Great time as always.

Gary and Millie and Debbie

In honor of my good friends and current Cuna Mutual employees, I was able to take a photo of a biker on the street Irrazaval down from our fuente Suiza.  They are on their bike ride to Sturgis, South Dakota on their Harley's.  Of course my big brother wouldn't approve of the Harley's but would of the bike ride.  I think his ride of choice was a Ducati(sp).

Random biker and his Harley

I also needed to add a note to my blog this week.  Harold Clayton father to my best friend Tom Clayton passed away this week.  He was 92.  He had an interesting life as a husband, father, farmer, politician.  But I remember him best as my best friends father who allowed me to be in their home any time as a teenager.  I enjoyed his home on many occasions and always liked it when we got to ride in their cadillac or continental.  One vivid memory was on Christmas day I had gone to the movies in Yakima with them to see McClintock with John Wayne.  Coming back a car that was a more modern car for a younger driver came along side of him and gunned his motor.  He took off but to his suprise so did this cadillac.  Ray, Tom and I are were all in the back seat secretly saying go get him Harold!!  Much to our amazement he did just that.  When he hit a 100MPH, Lois esclaimed Harold, Harold!!  He finally slowed down after he proved his point.  He will missed by his extensive posterity and by one 14 year old boy who felt at home out on the Goldendale highway.

Tididngs from Chile

San Cristobal Hill Virgin Mary

Rick and Stephanie Lee and Millie

Catholic Cathedral in downtown Santiago

Santiago Post Office

Virgin del Carmen parade

La Moneda in downtown Santiago

Pretty building

Parade

Parade

Parade

What about that smog

Millie and I want you all to know how blessed we are.  We have been able to skype with Paul and Nellie and see our new granddaughter Raegan.  We are so excited for them!!

Today in the temple the 2nd counselor, President Flores told the youth from Frutillar(southern chile)"you will remember this day all of your lives".  I know that to be true.  I hope that my children remember their experiences doing baptisms for their and other peoples ancestors.  They were literally "Saviors on Mt. Zion".

Millie and I are reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish and we are having such a great experience feeling the spirit of the language and the Book of Mormon.  I once again have learned how important to know the truths of the Book of Mormon. 

A new Granddaughter, Virgen Del Carmen Holiday and Downtown Santiago

Of course the only thing of importance for this blog post is that our 7th grandchild was born on July 17th at 4:27 AM in Sacramento, California to Paul and Nellie Gonsolis!!!!  Her name is Reagan Hope Gonsolis, 19 inches and 6 pounds and 15 ounces.  We love the name and love her already.  We heard her for the first time today cooing with her mother so grandma could hear.  It is diffucult to be here in Chile away from mom and daughter but we know we are doing the Lord's work and they will be blessed because of it.  In the temple yesterday, Millie was saying that our daughter Rachel had called at 6:00 AM our time and that Nellie was at the hospital.  Sister Bruce wife to President Bruce, mission president of the Chile Antofogasta mission, told her she knew how she felt.  She had 2 grandkids born while they have been in Chile.  She gave her a big hug and I am sure it really helped Millie.

So cute when they are first born!!

So Peaceful!

Grandpa I need BYU clothes!!

Last Monday we went downtown Santiago to Cerro San Cristobal.  They have a funicular that was built in the 1920's that takes you up the hill. 

Coming into the landing from above

Attiving at the top

Along the way

Millie enjoying the day

Roundtrip about $3.50

Rick and Stephanie Lee with Millie

My RUT, Orellana Family, and P-Day

Today is Preparation day in our mission as the temple is closed on Mondays.  It seems that this day gets more important for us just to rest from our labors.  We try and wash our clothes during the week so as not to have dueling washers on Monday.  There are 3 washers and 3 dryers for about 9 couples and 1 single sister.  That gives us more time to be a little more lazy!  Millie cleaned this morning and I went with Gary Davis to the government place to get my RUT number.  What is a RUT?  It is Chile's version of a Social Security number.  When I was a missionary in 1968-1970, I was issued one and it has been in their system ever since.  Upon entering Chile this year, I entered as a tourist.  The church is doing the paperwork to register us as missionaries but it takes upwards of 4-5 months to finalize it.  So with my RUT number now I can get a cell phone, a frequent shopper card with Lider and of course with Jumbo!!

On Sunday past Millie, Gary Davis and I attended church with Susanna Orellana, her daughter Eros and family in the Villa Sur ward in San Miguel.  I have known Susanna since the day I arrived in Chile in 1968.  Her mother is now 85 and in failing health and we wanted to see her before she passes away.  Their ward is small but have a great building to meet in.  There was maybe 40 in attendance.  The full time missionaries talked on missionary work.  Sunday School class was on Ammon and Lamoni from Alma 18 of the Book of Mormon.  And High Priests was on missionary work as well.  All done very well.

We then had dinner at Susanna's.  It is a big deal to Susanna as she feels feeding us is one way she can give of herself to thank us for coming to visit.  We had chicken, empanadas, baby pizza bites, avocado salad, diet Pepsi, coke, orange juice to name a few things.  It is one of the best visits I make while I am in Chile.  We always are asked to give everyone blessings that want one.  It was a very sweet spirit that attended us.  Susanna invited her best friend to dine with us.  She had a Russian last name I didn't catch very well.

Susanna and her friend cooking

Susanna and Eros

Table ready for dinner

Gary Davis and Millie

Friend and Teresa Orellana

Susanna, Millie and Eros looking at pictures

Susanna, Millie and Eros

Gary in the dining room

Looking at pictures

Susanna's friend

Eros and Millie with a tender moment

Eros Millie, Susanna, friend, Teresa

Eros, Millie, Susanna, friend, Teresa and Van

All with Gary Davis

We had 7 buses from out of town on Saturday at the temple.  We had a warm day 60 degrees so there were alot people on the square.  It was a very spiritual day in the temple as many people brought their family cards to do their ordinances.  Always special doing your families vicarious temple work.