The Potters are here!

Sunday the 27th we attended church in the Apoquindo Ward which meets in the church where our office is so we walked down to church.  All of the talks and lessons centered around being prepared.  With what has transpired here last week, they were very concerned that everyone had a 72 hour emergency backpack.  We were also encouraged to make sure we had a spiritual backpack ready for whatever is to come in the future.  It was very interesting to think about this aspect.  What if you had one chance to send a note to your family before you were going to die, what would you want to tell them?  What can you do to bring peace into your home in the middle of chaos?
     Monday morning here in Las Condes felt just like a normal day.  School was in session, traffic was busy as usual and buses were running.  Even the grocery store was open without a line.  You would never guess what had transpired last week.  This morning Elder y Hermana Hughes took care of our medical run, picking up and taking 2 Hermana's to their doctor's appointment with their companions and taking them back home.  We took care of the pouch run.  We went to 8 of the 10 zones and delivered their pouch (mail) and picked up their empty pouches.  Our eyes were opened to the reality that last week left.

notice the building in the center with the warped metal.  This is one of the grocery stores that were vandalized and burned.  It is to the south of the chapel and across the street to the west of the chapel is another grocery store that was burned.  To the north is yet a third one that was also burned.  The Elders here in Cordillera are not sure where they will find a place to buy food this week.  There were still military tanks in this area.  We saw a large group of people heading to the entrance of a metro station where a huge group were already assembled.  It really felt like a war zone here and we were glad to head for home.  Schools are not open here.  A few of the chapels were not used Sunday as they combined wards in the safer parts of this area.  The traffic was really heavy as more are having to drive because the metro is so damaged.  They have a few areas open on each of the 5 lines but the red line that runs out here will probably be down for at least 6 months.  This will make it very hard on the missionaries is this area to get to the office for zone meetings.

I had a wonderful birthday.  I was sang to at least 5 times, had messages and phone calls from many of our wonderful young missionaries, and hugs from all the young Hermana's from the Las Condes Zone.  Each of our children and many special friends and family also sent love my way.  Thank you all for making me feel so special today.  68 - wow am I ever getting old!  

We served in the temple on Tuesday.  We still only had the 11:30 and 12:30 sessions this week.  But we did have more patrons than last week.  Elder Thompson was the only sealer so he was super busy the whole shift.  It felt good to be in the House of the Lord and to feel the peace and love that abides in His House. 

When we got into the truck to head for home we got a call from President Brotherson telling us that the Potters were on the airplane and would arrive on Wednesday morning instead of Saturday.  Oh boy, we had a lot to do.  The mall was closed all last week and had only just begun to open at 10 and to close at 5.  We drove straight there to shop for the things that we needed in the apartment.  Luckily Hermano Martinez had gotten the bed delivered.  We bought the pots and pans, dishes, sheets, towels, toaster, and everything else that you need to set up housekeeping.  We only had a couple of hours before the store closed so we had to hurry.  We came home and changed and spent the next few hours cleaning and getting everything set up for them.  Got the bed made and the floors mopped and got home about 9:30.  It looks good.  Can't wait to meet them.

The Brotherson's and Hughes met the Potters at the airport on Wednesday morning. 

We headed out to Cordillera and Gabriela to get 2 pensiones inspected and 4 other ones needed small repairs done.  The traffic was awful but we got to all 6 homes and found them in good shape.  We think that the missionaries are really trying to clean up after themselves.  They are thrilled to be out of their apartments for most of the day now actually getting to do missionary work again.  But we had to cancel Zone Conferences this week because of the threat of more demonstrations.  We were saddened to find out that someone threw a rock through the Temple President's office window last night at the temple.  There seems to be hot spots here and there around the country so everything is not back to normal yet but things are improving in some parts as well.

We had 5 baptisms on Saturday.  As Joseph Smith said, "Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country and sounded in every ear."  The temple was open for 4 sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and it was filled!  The work of salvation on both sides of the veil was not stopped this week.

The demonstrations have gone on all week.  We had to cancel Zone Conferences as it is very dangerous and hard for the missionaries to get to the office with the metro down and so many needing to ride the buses now.

Friday morning we had 4 inspections and repairs scheduled when we found out that one of our Hermana's had to go home because of health problems.  We need to deliver a bed to the apartment where her companion will now be in a three-some.  We went to our first appointment, delivered 2 mattresses for inter-cambios and hauled off an old sofa for the Elders.  It was in an apartment on the 4th floor with no elevator.

Then we went to install a smoke detector in an apartment on the 3rd floor with no elevator.

Next to the 4th floor apartment to fix an electrical plug, no elevator.

We went to the apartment of the missionaries where one is leaving to get the bed.  4th floor and you guessed it , no elevator.  We hauled the bed, luggage, boxes, ect. down to the truck and headed to the new apartment for Hermana Rasband who will now be in a three-some.  

Now we have to haul the bed, luggage, boxes, ect. up to the 5th floor!!  And of course no elevator.  I think we got our steps in today going up and down and up and down.  Today is a national holiday here so we had to deliver the bed as our contractors are on vacation with their families today.

We have had demonstrations all week.  Some have been peaceful but others continue to be violent.  We are blessed to live where we do and really feel sorry for the good people of this country who just want peace again.

Riot police using the water cannons

 

These were on the 31st.

We stopped on our way home this evening, Nov. 1st, to eat supper at one of the Chinese restaurants and watched the news while we were eating.  Tonight's protests were all over Chile. There has to be someone orchestrating all of this as it happens at the same time in the north and in the south in every major city of Chile. 

Saturday we spent the day inspecting zone leaders apartments and found them very clean and orderly! We will be moving next week into a new apartment that is about 5 minutes walking distance from the mission office so we are packing in the evenings.  We would have just liked to stay put for the next 6 months but the President has other plans for us so we will be obedient and move.  

We have had a busy week and look forward to a quiet Sabbath.  We send our love to all.