A Quiet Saturday

Saturday the 26th and in our section of town, everything seemed to be normal.
     Yesterday's huge protest ended up with over 1,000,000 people.

  It is reported to have been very peaceful until dark when most of the people were headed home.

The tear gas had to be used to get the disorderly to leave the plaza

This is the entrance of one of the subway entrances

It only takes a few to ruin the peaceful efforts of thousands

The images this morning were of families and neighbors working hand in hand to clean up the mess after the protest.  The people of Chile don't like the violence and destruction.  The wealthy east side of Santiago, where we live, has remained relatively calm in the evening lockdowns.  The poorer side has seen wide spread vandalism and looting.   

Saturday morning's news:  

SANTIAGO, Chile—Chilean President Sebastián Piñera on Saturday called for his entire cabinet to step down, one day after more than a million people took to the streets in the capital of Santiago to protest inequality and the high cost of living in the Andean nation.

“I’ve asked all of the ministers to resign in order to create a new cabinet to confront these new demands,” Mr. Piñera said from the La Moneda presidential palace. “We’ve heard the profound message from citizens, from the Chilean men and women asking for and demanding a more just society.”

The curfew has been lifted but the State of Emergency has not yet.  If we can have a calm weekend, that could happen next week.  That means that the military will be out of the streets.

     We took a drive with the Hughes this afternoon and our section of town felt normal.  We had a late lunch and took a drive to the top of the hill behind us.  There were no lines at gas stations or grocery stores.  

A foto of Santiago from the top of this hill.  You can see the Costanera Center above everything in the distance

It amazes me that it is so green here with so many trees and so little rain

This hill really has some rich people living on it.  Lots of razer wire.  Haven't really seen much of this here till now.

We are having church tomorrow so life is starting to get back to normal for many.  In the south of our mission it is not going to be so easy as many of the stores have been burned and others looted.  But spirits are high and people are digging in and cleaning up.  Our prayer is that all of this will bring the change needed here for the humble, hardworking class.  

I will go back to my weekly letters unless something really big happens.  The crisis seems to be over and now we can get back to doing what we have been called to do.  I do have to admit that I have enjoyed wearing my levis this week.  But back to dresses and name tags and driving and service.  Thank you for all the prayers in our behalf.  We have felt the power of them in our lives, especially this past week.  We are looking forward to attending church tomorrow.  Hope you all have a wonderful Sabbath.  We send our love