Zone Conference week

Can't believe that it is already Saturday and I haven't even started the blog for this week.  It has been a full week with little time to do anything extra.
     Our week started on Sunday by attending the Tobalaba 1st Ward.  Our GPS took us to the middle of an intersection and then announced "you have reached your destination".  Luckily the Elders answered their phone and were able to give us better directions so we arrived on time.  The Elders presented the power point to their ward and did a wonderful job.  Luckily I always bring my computer and an extra pin-drive so everything turned out great.  We had these two Elders present the power point on Monday morning to their zone to prepare the zone for the 2 Capilla Abierta's that are scheduled in their zone this month.
     Monday evening we were invited to supper and Family Home Evening with the Rius (spelled correctly) family again.  They had also invited the full time missionaries to come and give Selva another lesson.

We met Selva Verde at a Capilla Abierta.  She is investigating the church.  She really already lives the gospel, except her tea which she doesn't think she can live without.  She has come a long way in her knowledge since we saw her a month ago and enjoys having the young Sisters come to lunch and answer her questions.  She really has a special spirit and she and Elder Thompson love giving each other a tough time.  We are praying that her family will support her as they see the changes in her countenance as she learns more about her Savior.  

Ignacio is the son of Alberto and Gloria Rius.  He helps answer questions that Selva has about the gospel.

Ignacio, Hermana Thompson, Selva, Elder Thompson, Elders Robbins and Banega, Alberto y Gloria Rius.

After a lesson about the Savior's visit to the American Continent, we had a soup and then our first Chilean empanadas.  Sorry Chile, but the Peruvian empanadas are so much better. If you zoom in you can see an empanada on my plate.  They were so big that Elder Thompson and I shared one and took this one home to eat.  They were filled with onions, hamburger, an olive, and a slice of hard-boiled egg.  Selva had baked another Banana bread and we of course gorged ourselves again.  She says that she will teach us how to make this before we leave.  It is sooo good.  The traffic was awful going and coming home from here.  We always say as we are in the middle of it that we won't go again at this hour, but when Gloria calls, we know we will go.  It is always at 7 and from 5-9 you just don't want to be on the roads as everyone is heading home from work. 

We went to the temple on Tuesday morning because of zone conferences Wednesday and Thursday.  We needed to be in the office on Wednesday so everyone else could attend the conference that day and we attended on Thursday.  

Tuesday evening we drove out to Gabriela to inspect the pension that was just refinished for our young missionaries.  It was a total remake right down to the bathtub.

  Don't think we could silicone that drain from leaking.  The Lord has helped us get two new pensiones, one in Gabriela and one in La Reina, so we can split up 4 somes that live in homes with only one bath.  We only need about 4 more but they will come when the Lord is ready.  We truly see his hand in this work.  We didn't get home till after 9.
     Wednesday it was our responsibility to be in the office to answer the phone, collect the mail, and deliver the empanadas to the zone conference at the area office building next to the temple.  The office elders needed our truck that evening to pick up some drinks and fruit for the break at the zone conference the next day so we walked home in the rain.  The only problem was that our umbrellas were at home.  We weren't soaked by the time we got home, just damp.  It felt good to be home before 7.
     Thursday morning we had to be at the temple grounds by 9:10 for pictures with the half of the mission that had zone conference today, our mission president and his wife, the Brotherson's and Elder and Hermana Benjamin De Hoyos, the General Authority Seventy who came to visit our mission.

It was a great conference.  The De Hoyos were very easy for me to understand and when I found out that they were from Mexico I knew why, they talked just like my neighbors at home.  The Puente Alto Zone sang the special number.  It brought tears to our eyes.  We love these young people so much.  We love being with them and our testimonies are strengthened by their love for the Gospel.

     We have 19 finishing their missions in two weeks.  This will be a tough cambio for us as we know and love each of these young missionaries.  We were privileged to hear from 12 of them at the conference.  We were spiritually uplifted and after the conference ended we headed back into the rental business by inspecting the second new pension that we are getting for the elders in La Reina.  It will be great.  The landlord has it all painted and clean and ready for them. Then we drove out to Cordillera to unplug a toilet!  From one extreme to the other!  Had another storm this night but we decided to walk home from the office anyway.  We got home just after 8, had supper and bed.
     On Friday morning, we headed out to Elder Robbins and Elder Banega's house to show them how to turn on their sprinklers so they can water the trees and bushes.  Elder Thompson turned on the first nozzle and everything looked OK.  He then turned on the second one but one of the sprinkler heads was broken so the water shot straight up, hitting Elder Robbins right in the face.  Elder Thompson really "baptized" Elder Robbins who was bent over to see how to turn on the sprinklers.  He was soaked.  Elder Thompson felt so bad, but the rest of us just had to laugh.  The shocked look on Elder Robbins face was priceless.  Elder Robbins said that he was definitely wide awake!

Mom left the Elks Rehab on Wednesday the 29th.  

The Bridgeview van picked her up and she is getting settled in and meeting new people.  Bridgeview is evaluating her and will have their report ready for a family council about her next steps on Monday.  Her swallowing continues to improve and she can eat regular foods now.  Elks didn't feel that she would improve with more physical therapy so they didn't send her with orders for any.  Bridgeview is evaluating her to see what they can do to best help her.  We are thankful for the many tender mercies and miracles she has experienced this month.  She is in the arms of a loving Heavenly Father.  

It is Saturday night and we just got home from an underground adventure.  I am exhausted physically and emotionally so I am going to close for tonight and will tell you all about our mishaps of today in next weeks blog.  

We send our love to all.  We love you.  We miss you.  You are in our thoughts and prayers always.  

Till next week, Chao!