We left there about 9:30 and drove to the Nunoa Platanos Ward to attend Sacrament Meeting. Then during Sunday School, we presented our power point presentation to the ward. It went so good. We really could feel a wonderful spirit in the meeting. Elder Thompson didn't even seem nervous at all. He really does like to teach. They now have 2 weeks to invite non members and encourage less active members to attend. They are having a Christmas Choir Devotional after the Capilla Abierta so the hope is to get many to attend.
This is the chapel that houses the office of the East Mission
You just drive to the back of the chapel
And there is the office
Elder Thompson is trying to help Elder and Hermana Hughes close their door on the van. It is stuck open and won't close. No luck. We had to take it to the dealer the next day.
This is the office. These are the secretaries to the President. Elder Torres, who will be leaving to return to the field to serve in about 2 weeks. Elder Saldarriago who will be going home in January. He is heading to BYU Idaho in March. And Elder Gonzalez who is training to take Elder Torres' place.
When we arrived, the last desk where Elder Gonzalez is sitting was given to Elder Thompson. He got all the files set up there for the pensiones and was awaiting a computer to use. About a week later, Elder Gonzalez arrived as did the computer and Elder Thompson lost his desk. But that's OK. Elder Thompson and I usually work together so we only need one desk. We use our computer, hauling it back and forth each day, and back it up to the other computer. (I am so good at loosing things on the computer that this is a must)
This is Hermano y Hermana Acevado. They are serving a Stake Mission. They help here in the office.
Hermano Acevado sorts the mail and prepares the pouches to be delivered each week to the 10 different zones. He also repairs broken items such as heaters, fans, frigs, etc. He keeps the bodega filled with whatever is needed in the apartments of the young missionaries.
The bodega is located in the underground parking below our office.
In this side are the items to furnish an apartment
Hermana Acevado takes care of the clothing in the bodega. Here, any of the missionaries can come and get clothes, shoes, coats ect. The Hermana's love to come in and exchange clothes so they have a new wardrobe every few months. When the missionaries leave, many of them leave their clothes behind and this is where the inventory comes from.
Hermana Acevado takes anything that needs repaired and fixes it and irons it. She really takes pride in fixing things for the missionaries.
When we were introduced to the Acevados', Hermana Acevado said her name was Nancy. I told her that my name was also Nancy and Hermano Acevado asked me if it was REALLY my name. He went on to explain that he was introduced to his wife and they dated and everyone called her Nancy. However when they were married, he found out that her real name is Maria.
She explained that one day her piano students saw the name "Nancy" on a piece of music and assumed it to be her name and began calling her Nancy. She didn't correct them and from that time on she has been known by that name. They are so cute. They come in on Tuesdays, Thursdays and half a day on Fridays. They say that they will never be released from their mission cause they love it so much.
This is the entrance of the underground parking where the bodega is located
Underground parking
One day while coming up out of the bodega, Elder Thompson's truck tires spun out on him while making the curve and he hit the wall.
He was so sad that he put a scratch on his truck. It just scraped the paint off.
Hermana Hughes, she does all the visa's, Elder Thompson at our desk, and Elder Hughes, he handles all the finances of the mission.
Sometimes the office is just overcrowded and very noise. How we love these young missionaries and their enthusiasm for life!
We have a small kitchen with a frig and microwave so we bring our lunches each day
The hallway with the safe and materials, the President's office behind the door
Hermano Acevado sorting mail
The ward building begins beyond these doors.
The mission uses the whole church when we have meetings with the mission leaders. Zone leaders, trainers, ect. The office can get really noisy when the young missionaries come.
We bought a 4 foot tree.
Our nativity was made here. Everything we have seen in the stores have been made in China or Mexico. This is the first one we found that was actually made here. It is made of dyed wool.
This is Jose Luis Lagos. He makes things out of copper. We bought our Christmas gift to ourselves. This is a picture of the Santiago Temple. It is a very thin sheet of copper.
We continue to inspect pensiones. We have completed 42 out of the 74. These are the type of duplexes where the Hermana's in the Puente Alto Zone live in. They are little two story apartments. This area doesn't have high rises. It is in the rural area of the mission.
The area where we live. It was a very clear day
Even in the poorer sections of town there are parks for all, just not quite as green. It is really a dry climate here.
Our first Capilla Abierta!
As people entered the chapel they were greeted with one of our banners
This ward decided to have a short Christmas Devotional before the Capilla Abierta. They had videos and music about the Navidad.
After the devotional, we had 20 people begin the tour. In the first room, our missionaries played a tape of the Savior declaring his mission. Then the Hermana's testified of the reality of their Savior.
In the second room the Hermana's explained in 3 minute per banner about the plan of happiness, the mission of our Savior, and about the great apostasy.
Then the group is taught about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and the importance of modern Prophets. Again they are to only take 3 minutes per topic and bear testimony of each. It was quite a challenge to keep their presentations short and to the point.
Then our Elders explained about the importance of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. This ward then took our visitors to the Family Search center and taught them about our desire to gather families and link our families together forever.
The ward had set up displays to explain about the different organizations
The Primary
The kitchen help
Young Womens
Relief Society
Sacrament Meeting
All of the books and pamphlets that we bring with us, along with all of the banners. We really do use our truck. The refreshments were really good. They make a cake here that is kind of like a fruit cake, nothing like Kim's comfort cake, but it was really tasty.
The evening was very nice. We didn't get many referrals for the missionaries because of the devotional being first but the ward had a wonderful time being together.
We are thrilled to finally get these started and look forward to next week.
Well, we have no internet again today in our apartment so we are at the church getting this finished and posted. We send our love to all. Hopefully you have had a wonderful week, without the stress of the Holidays. Enjoy everyday. Time just goes by so fast. Please keep us in your prayers. We need our angels to be with us as we drive these busy streets. Only 8 miles to go and it took us one hour!!!
Love you all.
Que pasen una Feliz Navidad que el señor los bendiga los extrañamos mucho Ysidro y yo seguimos llenado al templo y tratamos de cumplir con los mandamientos,los queremos mucho
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