Monday we met with the final zone and presented our cleaning power point and also the Capilla Abierta one. We have now been to all 10 zones, so from now on we will train the new missionaries as they come into the mission. We think that we can see a difference in the cleanliness of many of the apartments. It's fun when the missionaries come to the office with questions about how to clean something or fix something. Line upon line they are learning.
Elder Thompson bought a new toy - tool- and we were able to use it for the first time on Tuesday. We can now get toilets unplugged with his new auger and save the church a bunch of money on service calls. It has already paid for itself. We did 3 service calls on Tuesday, another 2 on Wednesday and one on Friday. It is good to get out of the office, but at the same time it is ugly at times to be on the roads! Friday was a holiday here. We headed out to do a service call and were shocked as the roads that are usually bumper to bumper were empty!
We just pulled out of the Mission Office onto Ave Cristobol Colon. It is always busy here. We didn't realize that Good Friday is celebrated in a big way here.
This was a perfect day to travel.
Our temple day is Thursday mornings. The temple was very empty this week. Oh how we enjoy the peace and perspective that the temple gives to us. It is nice to be able to get out of the rat-race of 77 pensiones. And we are looking for 3 more so we can get the 4-somes split up. Some of them are in very little homes with only 1 bathroom and 4 Elders. Friday evening we tried out a new restaurant. Luckily the traffic was nothing due to the holiday cause it was located in Providencia which is a section close to the temple. It has lots of one way streets, no parking, and is usually packed. Kind of reminds me of a Sun Valley with all of the little specialty shops and eateries. We ate at the "Mr. Fish" fish and chips restaurant.
Just as we were leaving, a procession from one of the churches passed by with a cross and a priest chanting something. I am always just amazed that people want to celebrate the death of Jesus Christ. It is his resurrection and life that we need to celebrate. He lives and because He lives, we all will live again. That knowledge brings comfort and peace. We love our Savior.
Saturday morning we walked to our little fruit and vegetable market to get a few items. It is right across the street from the Mission Office. We picked up the truck and headed home to get some baking done. We had to leave for the Capilla Abierta by 3:30.
Our mission assignment consists of taking care of 77 pensions (houses/apartments) of 160 young missionaries. This is the "meat and potatoes" of our mission and takes up most of our time and energy, sometimes leaving us exhausted and frustrated. But the "gravy" is being able to help the wards and missionaries put on Capilla Abierta's.
Saturday Evening was amazing as we helped the Alvardo Casanova Ward and the La Reina Zone at their chapel.
This Zone has had 3 Capilla Abierta's in the 6 months that we have been here. They are very well trained and know exactly what to do. They have 5 wards in their Zone and a 4th ward is scheduled to have one in June. The last ward has a brand new Bishop so it may be a little while before they have theirs.
Hermana's Horrock (4 months) and Ybarra (2 months) began each of our 10 tours with their sweet testimonies of their Savior and His love for each of us. No one cared that their Spanish was not perfect. The Spirit taught the 88 people that participated in the tours about their love of their Savior.
The ward was amazing as each organization presented an outline of how they can bless the lives of everyone. This Primary boy is teaching about his love for his Savior and what he is learning in Primary. Each organization did a fantastic job.
While many of the 12 Elders and Hermana's were in the chapel doing the tours, these two Zone Leaders, Elders Ascarrus and Ramariz were in the streets inviting people to come and see.
We ended up with a little over 100 people in the chapel this evening, 37 of them non-members and in the chapel for the first time. It was a perfect evening. The best tasting "gravy" for our souls. We came home in time to watch the Tabernacle Choir's Easter program. We are two hours ahead so we were able to watch the whole program. What a wonderful day for us. (and not one water leak!)
We are looking forward to Sunday. We have another Capilla Abierta.
Our hearts are full with love for our Savior, our Redeemer, our Brother Jesus Christ. We are so thankful, so indebted to Him for His atoning sacrifice for us. We love Him and are thrilled to be here serving Him at this time. May each of you have a peaceful, restful, "gravy" Easter Sunday is our prayer. We send our love this beautiful fall day from Santiago, Chile.
t.
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