Feliz Navidad and more

Today is my oldest daughter Nellie's birthday and Saturday will be Alexandra's birthday.  I have such vivid memories of their births.  But most of all I remember how overwhelmed I was to think that Heavenly Father blessed me with my wonderful daughters.  And I was blessed to repeat that same feeling 4 more times.  I am so thankful for all 6 of my children and their families.  Working in the temple here in Santiago, I am acutely aware of the importance of families as they come to be sealed for time and all eternity.  Last night there were two couples with teenage children from San Juan Argentina that had traveled on Christmas to come to the temple.  What faith and testimony of the our Savior Lord Jesus Christ.  Millie and I are so blessed to serve here at this time. 

Christmas was different for us.  One we are in the southern hemisphere.  But the weather isn't all that much different from the Phoenix area and our Christmas's there.  But with our little Christmas tree and 1 string of lights at the window, we felt the Christmas spirit.  And of course Hallmark Christmas movies and our IPODS with our Christmas music helped us as well.  There are alot of advantages of serving as couples in the mission field in these days.  The rules are very different for couples but as our temple president has shared with us "it is a great blessing that the Lord let's you decide the things you can do and still be ready to serve 100% with the Spirit leading you".  In other words moral agency is at work here. 

Millie and I enjoy reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish.  She reads very well and understands pretty well.  We follow up in English with the things we need help on.  Last night Millie was given a huge compliment from a Chilean brother Morales(1 of 4 that serve in the temple) about how good her accent is in Spanish.  I am so proud of her. 

Christmas Eve the Missionary couples got together for a FHE and a cookie exchange.  We had a nice time and lots of fun and food!  Then on Christmas morning we had a brunch with waffles, crepes, omelettes, fruit, and juice.  We sat with President Otay and his wife so I got to practice my Spanish on super overload!  They are wonderful people.  This was the first Christmas they had not been able to spend with family and Sister Otay was a little sad!  But hey there were more than a few tears shed by the missionary couples.  We then came and opened the few presents we had and ate the goodies we had.  I especially am hoarding my black licorice from Rachel, Jr Mints and York Peppermint patties and peanut butter from Nellie and Rachel.  And Milie was thrilled with the lotion that will last for the rest of the mission.  Interesting how very basic things can thrill you to the core.  Philip reminded me of when the peanut butter we had sent to him in Ecuador was the hit of their district meeting. 

I hope that we can all remember the true meaning of Christmas and keep that spirit with us all year.

Sweet Sister Johanoson from Detroit her first transfer from Pocuro to La Florida

For Geroge Migliaccio, Dianne and Lisa

Had pulled pork sandwich very tasty!

Millie directing music on Christmas Eve

We acted out the birth of our Savior

Brother Fisher last to guess what we was to be.  Sister Graham helping

White Elephant exchange and Elder Karen was lucky to get the hat Milie brought!

Brunch on Christmas day on the 2nd floor of the hospedaje



Elder Berthrong fell while running.  You have to watch out!  I walk that is dangerous enough!

Sister Berthrong serious!

Sister Berthrong happy side!

Sister Gonzales(greenie from Paraguay) Sister Rhineheart from Bountiful, Utah having Christmas brunch with the senior missionaries

Joe and Dixie Bowler at the brunch

President and Sister Otay Santiago Chile temple president and matron

Millie ready to open gifts



Van and his Chilean soccer shirt

Van #2

Millie and her new sweater

New sweatshirt from you know where



Goodies to eat

Our Christmas tree with all the goodies!

Millie and Van with el Viejito Pascuero in Santiago Chile

Christmas dinner and Family Home Evening in Santiago Chile

As Christmas fast approaches it is not hard to see the differences being in the southern hemisphere.  It is about 85 degrees each day.  Kind of reminds me of our Christmases in Mesa Arizona.  Much less decorations in the stores and almost none on houses.  We hope that our little decorations help us get through the holiday season.  We have been playing our Christmas music on our I Pods and watching the occasional Hallmark Christmas movie.  Millie made cinnamon rolls for our Family Home Evening last night.  She also made her crocheted Stars for the Christmas trees and gave each couple one.  It was a wonderful Family Home Evening.  We talked about Christmas traditions and Gifts.  The Gift of the Savior being the most important. 

Last Sunday night we had a wonderful Christmas dinner here on the 4th floor with the missionary couples and Pres and Sister Otay.  Pres Otay played his guitar and sang us Chilean folkloric Christmas songs.  It was a wonderful evening and one we thoroughly enjoyed.

Frances and Perry Roberts

Sister Onate doesn't like her picture being taken!

President Otay and his wife

President Otay and his guitar and Millie

Pepe Pardo giving us all our Christmas trees made of Rice Crispy treats

Pelusa and Pepe Pardo.  Pepe recovering from surgery

We went shopping yesterday with Joe and Dixie Bowler in downtown Santiago.  They go home in 5 weeks and Dixie is getting her last minute shopping done.  We will miss them dearly.  But we will get a new couple the Saturday before they go home, so that will help the work.

2012 Christmas Devotional Santiago Chile

We are so blessed to be here in Santiago at Christmas time.  The public affairs arm of the church has traditionally done a Christmas pageant and Devotional next to the temple on the big soccer court next to where we live.  They did 6 shows over 2 weekends.  We could hear it from our apartment.  Over 1,000 people attended each one with probably 1,500 for the second Saturday night that featured Elder David Archuleta of the Chile Rancagua mission.  He of American Idol fame.  Millie said his rendition of O Holy Night in Spanish was the most powerful one she had heard.  We feel so very blessed at this Christmas time to be surrounded by so many who care about us and love us.  We miss our kids and grand kids but thru the miracle of Skype we can talk with them and see them. 

Millie and Lara Fuenteabla

Van and Millie with Lara and her friends

Vivian Villanueva and her mother and Millie

Millie and Soledad and Eduardo Rojas

Elder David Archuleta and a friend of Charles Acevedo

Package from Home, Birthday with Soledad Rojas and Temple Workers Devotional

We have the greatest kids who love us so much that they send us packages to us that cost way too much to send but they do it anyway.  The latest installment was one from Rachel with Millie's much needed new temple shoes that she ordered.  Thanks so much as Millie is very comfortable now in the temple!


Thanks Rachel!!

It was Soledad Rojas' birthday and she came to our apartment to thank us for the gift we had left for her.  She and Eduardo are such a cute couple and we have loved getting to know them working in the temple.

Soledad and Millie

Each year the temple presidency has a devotional for all temple workers.  It was at our ward building next door to the temple.  It was a wonderful meeting with powerful messages.  The focus was obedience and going the extra mile in our service.  It was great to see all the workers we know in such a different setting.  We took advantage and took a few pictures.

Saturday morning Sealing Director Sis LaBra and Shift Co-Ordinator Sister Cisternas



Van, Millie, Sis Cisternas, Sis LaBra, ??

Same Group with More Sisters can't remember names without name badges!!



Millie and ?

Millie and Sister LaBra

Millie and Sister Perez!  She makes the necklaces of Lapizlazuli

Brother and Sister Rodriguez  She is always smiling!!!

A scripture from the D&C says "Be Still and know that I am".  I felt that several times in the last week as I have labored in the temple.  Millie and I know that we are not alone in the work that we participate in each day.  It is a wonderful feeling knowing how thin the veil is between this mortal life and the life beyond.

Thanksgiving in Santiago Chile

Dixie Bowler and Millie tasked me with finding a restaurant that would have a somewhat traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  They had no desire to cook and wanted a small gathering to celebrate the day.  It was a day in the temple in the morning so no one wanted to mess with a dinner after that.  So I talked with the following hotels:  Sheraton, Marriott, Ritz Carlton, a couple of local ones, and the Radisson.  The Radisson got back to me and said yes they would provide a dinner.  So we made reservations for 5 including Gary Davis with us and the Bowlers.  We had a fun time and the food was great.

Green Beans, Mushrooms, over an Onion Ring

Turkey, Corn, Cranberry sauce, Blue Berries, Sweet Potatoes over mashed potatoes

Millie, Dixie and Joe Bowler, Gary Davis

Pumpkin tort, Cooked Apples, and Chocolate Cookie for Dessert

Our personal piano player for 2 hours!

Joe, Gary, Van, Millie and Dixie

Pumpkin pie from De Tartas y Tortas!  Very good!

Goodbye to the Peterson's, hello to summer and our good friends the Bowlers and Rojas

My former mission companion Odell Peterson and his wife Denise and his daughter Carley visited Chile for 3 weeks.  There visit came to an end.  They visited Ovalle, Coquimbo, Vina Del Mar, La Ligua, Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, San Angelmo, Osorno and of course Santiago.  It was a trip of a lifetime for them and I was glad we were able to arrange for them to stay here at the hopedaje.  They were able to leave their stuff in their apt here while they traveled.  It turned out great.  They went with us to Church in San Miguel, FHE 2 Monday nights and out to eat as well.  Here they are leaving to go home.

Summer has arrived as the temperatures have soared into the mid 80's.  Thank goodness our apartment has central air.  But it is hard to get into the Thanksgiving mood with the warm weather.  We will try though.

We went to dinner with the Bowler's, the Roberts, Sister Onate and Eduardo and Soledad Rojas the young couple we have become such close friends with.  I think if I looked at my expenses the restaurant La Hacienda would be number 1!  It was a nice end to our Saturday shift at the temple.

We also went to eat with Elizabeth and Alex Rojas and the Bowlers at you guessed it La Hacienda.  We had traveled to their house one Monday for lunch.  They are such wonderful people and he is a great temple worker.

Elizabeth Rojas and Millie

Van Alex Rojas and Joe

Van, Alex, Joe, Dixie, Elizabeth and Millie at La Hacienda

Here are some random pictures from last Saturday of 2 Chilean wedding groups, cute girls and my close friend Gary Davis with Brother Zay manager of the Hospedaje where we live.

Gary Davis and Brother Zay

Bride is youngest daughter of a worker on Tuesday morning

A nice picture in the fountain without water

A mother after her sealing with her 2 daughters

3 cute girls waiting in the hospedjae for a 8 hour bus ride to Valdivia in the South of Chile

My elevator and me going to the 4th floor where our apartment is

She works on the corner of the temple selling her wares in the street while the cars are stopped.  A single mother going to college not letting the government pay for everything.

We realize as time flies by how blessed we are to be working in a temple 5 days a week.  I look forward to being with my family in the temple when we get home.  It is such an inspiring place to be.