Solar Eclipse here in Chile!

Sunday the 30th of June.  Wow, where did June go?  Can't believe that it is already over!  We attended church in the Vicuna MacKenna Ward in the Vicuna MacKenna Stake today.  Before Sacrament began, a man was playing the piano so I figured he would be playing for Sacrament meeting. When it was time for the opening hymn, Elder Moon got up and played.  When it was time for the sacrament hymn, Elder Moon did not get up so we sang it acapella.  I figured that he didn't know how to play that hymn, Rock of Ages, which was kind of a strange sacrament hymn!  So when I saw that the closing hymn was one that is only in the Spanish hymn book, I went up and played it.  Elder Moon told me later that he had never heard that one before.  It is always good when I can get a chance to play the piano.
        Elder Moon and Elder Chavarria did an excellent job teaching their ward about the Capilla Abierta that they will be having on the 13th.  They received more than 20 referrals today.  It should be a good evening with them.  The ward seemed very excited about it.
     We had lunch with the Hughes.  They fed us spaghetti, tossed salad and garlic bread.  We have had such a busy week that we haven't had time to do any cooking so it was great to have a home cooked meal, not just a sandwich for lunch.
     Monday morning was a bit cold as we walked to the office.

There was a good frost on the cars.  It was 32 degrees but the sun had come out so it was a pleasant walk to the office and it warmed up into the 50's.

     Monday morning Elder Thompson took the office Elders to the North Mission to purchase 2 bikes for the missionaries in Pirque.  Everything there is so far away from the Elders home that the bikes will really be a blessing for them.  I spent the morning in the office catching up on some of the computer stuff that needed done.  We got home early and prepared for bed early as we have to be up early on Tuesday for our temple shift.  We had just crawled into a nice warm bed when the phone rang.  There is never a good reason for the phone to ring that late.  Sure enough, 2 hermanas had locked their keys in their apartment!  It is easy to see that one missionary could forget their key but for both of them--I just don't understand how they can do it.  We got up, got dressed, and drove to the office to pick up their keys and drove to their apartment to rescue them.  Luckily they live here in Las Condes so it didn't take too much time to drive there.  Right on their door, the last thing that they see as they walk out their door were 2 sign reminding them to take their keys?  So instead of getting to bed early, we didn't get to bed till about 11.  The sad thing is that we know this will not be the last time that this happens!
     Tuesday was a great day at the temple.  Oh how we love serving here, no stress, no broken toilets, no flooded floors.  We love the peace and quiet as we serve our Heavenly Father in his house.  We are so blessed!  After our shift, we went to lunch at the home of the Wallaces.  We had our phone with us so the missionaries could reach us if we were needed.  It really added to our restful day in the temple.  We sure do love these two.  We had a wonderful visit and at about 4 we discovered that Chile was having an almost total solar eclipse.  We don't have a TV so we don't hear about what is going on in the world much.  (Elder Thompson keeps up with sports on his iPad )

We watched part of it on the TV in the Temple President's apartment

As we walked to our truck, several young people were outside the temple and offered us their special glasses so we could see it for ourselves.

We had 95 percent of a total solar eclipse visible here.  People were out with their special glasses all over the city as we drove home.  We had one in Idaho 2 years ago so we have now seen 2 in our lifetime.

     We spent Wednesday on the road.  The office elders didn't get the spread sheet done in time for us to know what supplies were needed by the missionaries for the pouch on Monday.  We found out that there were pensions that needed heaters and electric heating pads and blankets.  We couldn't stand the thought that these missionaries would have to wait for 5 days to get warm!  We delivered these items to 7 different pensions.  That was a lot of traveling in traffic.  We were glad to get home.  We did the same thing on Friday as more calls came in for heaters and blankets.  These concrete walls and floors are keeping the homes very cold. We went to 6 more homes and did some repairs while we were.   there.
     Saturday morning, the Hughes and us headed to San Jose de Maipo to put on a Capilla Abierta for this branch.  The Hughes tagged along and visited the feria (outside shops of all kinds).

Elders John and Rivas who serve in this area.  We just love it here.  It is a small town in the mountains.  It was cold when we arrived and they had a wood burning fire going to warm up the chapel.  Elder Rivas is just freezing all the time here so I gave him some of the hand warmers that I brought from the states.  He had never seen anything like them and was so excited as I handed him one.  When I told him that they would last for 8 hours and then just throw them away, his whole countenance fell.  It was so cute.  I gave him about 4 more to use on other days and he brightened up again.

The chapel is a house that has been remodeled into a church

Hermana Isaacson y Gutierrez were so excited to be on the streets to invite people in.  They actually brought in one man.  

This was our youngest missionary.  He would go up to anyone who walked by and give them a pass -a-long card and invite them to come in.  He was so disappointed when they wouldn't come in.  These three brought in at least 5 non-members to learn about their Savior.

As you can see, the sun came out and it was a beautiful fall day.

We had 20 young missionaries here to help.  After the Capilla Abierta we went to lunch with the Hughes at the Sabores de Montanas Restaurant.  We took a different road back to the city and went through Pirque.  It was a beautiful drive through farm and vineyard country.

We ended up in Puente Alto to look at and apartment for these two Elders above, Elders Behrmann and Cloward.  They live in a very small apartment behind a little old lady and the apartment has some very expensive problems with the sewer system.  The President figures that it is time to upgrade the living condition for this teaching area.  The apartment is brand new and in a perfect area for them.  The Elders were shocked at how big it was, 2 1/2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  They are so excited.  I think we will have it next week.  But until we sign the papers and have the keys in our hands we don't count on it.

Today was a great day.  We really accomplished a lot.  We got to spend the day with 20 young missionaries, the Hughes, and found a new apartment.  We had 17 non-members attend the Capilla Abierta and learn more of their Savior and about his doctrine.  The members were amazing and so fun to be with.  What a perfect way to end a busy week.  

We send our love to all.  You are always in our thoughts and prayers.  Hope you have a wonderful week.  We are so thankful for angels who watch over us and our family.  We are so thankful for missionary miracles that trickle down to benefit our loved ones.  We are all being watched over and blessed by our loving Heavenly Father.  Chao till next week!