Riot Update

Its Sunday morning and we could hear the birds singing in the trees!  Let me explain.
      We never hear anything but buses and cars from 6am on in the mornings.  Saturday evening at 6pm the State of Emergency was enforced and no one was allowed on the streets except for medical reasons. All soccer games were cancelled - very serious!  School classes were cancelled until Tuesday.  The buses were shut down till Sunday morning.  All church services were cancelled in the Santiago East Mission.  This was done because the violence continued all day Saturday in some parts of the city.  The military and police patrolled the city all night to enforce law and order.
     This mornings news says that the government is meeting today to address the concerns of the people.  The bus and metro price increase has been cancelled. This was just the "straw that broke the camel's back".   The average income here is $400.000 pesos which is about $600.00.  The average rent here is about $400.000 pesos or about $600.00 dollars a month.  The utility prices are very high.  There is a big gap between the rich (most think they are the government) and the working people and the working people are trying to get the government to address this problem.
     We heard the first bus go by at about 9am this morning and there are 1 or 2 people on each bus.  Most will just stay home today and let things quiet down a bit more.  We are going to enjoy a session of General Conference again this morning.  
     The government hopes to have the metro up and running, at least some of the lines, this week.  Updates to come as they happen.  We think that the worst is behind us.  Looking forward to a great week serving here in Santiago.  We send our love.