2020! Happy New Year!!

On Sunday the 29th we picked up the Wallace's and headed to the Pirque Branch to attend church.  Pirque is the farming area.  There are huge orchards, grape fields, hay fields, and huge wine factories in this area.  The Wallace's had never been to this part of Santiago before.  It is about an hour out of the city.  We love being away from the city and it is a beautiful drive.  The branch remembered us from their Capilla Abierta.  I was privileged to be able to play the piano for Sacrament Meeting.  We returned to the city and had the Wallace's over for dinner.  It was a very relaxing Sabbath Day.
     Monday the 30th of December we did the pouch run.  The pouch run is the mail delivery.  All letters and packages for our missionaries come to the mission office.  We sort it into zones and put everything for the zone in a big pouch (duffle bag).  On Monday mornings these are delivered to the 9 zones at their district meetings which meet in the 9 Stake Centers.  The 10th one is the Las Condes Zone and they meet in the mission office chapel so we don't have to deliver theirs.  The Hughes took care of delivering the pouch when they were here but the Potters really don't have the time as they are still trying to learn and do their new assignments here.  So for the next 4 months we will be delivering the pouches.  As long as we have our phone with us, we can take care of our duties.  When we delivered the last pouch in Cordillia we did 5 service calls as we headed back to the office.  It was a very productive day.
     Tuesday the 31st of Dec. New Year's Eve we went on splits!  Elder Thompson and Elder Potter went to our new pension to meet with the owner and get the keys.  Hna. Potter and I stayed at the office and did work on our computers.  When our husbands got back, Elder Thompson and I did another service call and then met with our contractor to get him lined out on getting the new pension ready for the missionaries to move into.  We were invited to the Potters for dinner that evening.  We fixed taco salads and watched an episode of Hogan's Heros while we ate.  Then we watched "Coco".  We had ever seen the movie before.  It is a cute movie which stresses the importance of family.  We enjoyed a great evening with the Potters to celebrate the new year, even if our celebration ended at 10.  It was 12 somewhere in the world so it was ok to go to bed then.
     While we were at the Potters I received a phone call.  Elder John was on the phone.  I asked him what the problem was.  We had been at their pension on Monday when the phone rang and I commented that I didn't like the phone cause every call was about a problem.  Well, he and his companion called just to wish us a Happy New Year.  He called it a happy call with no problems attached.  What a thoughtful thing to do.  We sure do love these young missionaries.
     Happy New Year's!! 2020!  We pray that each of our family and friends will be able to enjoy a year filled with health and happiness.  We are thankful for the many miracles and tender mercies that we have received from our Heavenly Father this past year.  We look forward to this new year filled with adventures and hope to share them all with family and friends.
     We spent the 1st doing 4 service calls. Being a holiday, there are hardly any cars on the roads so it is a perfect time to be out and about for us.

This is Scissors.  He entertains at red lights on the streets.  He has just finished and taken off the scissors on his hand.

Juggling with soccer balls

Stop lights are never boring here

We spent Thursday morning in the temple.  Time to unwind and get our lives back in balance.   Friday we were able to get 5 more service calls done.  Come Monday the people will all be back to work and the traffic will be its normal jumbled up mess so it is great to get so much accomplished this week while the traffic is slow.

This morning, Saturday, we hopped on a bus and headed downtown.  I call it the war zone.  This area is where the worst of the rioting took place and is still taking place.  We had to get 15 more back packs for 72 hour kits for the missionaries.  The bus is the only way to travel in this area.  Most of the traffic lights are still not working in this area and the traffic is bad.  We had no trouble and it only took a little over 2 hours to go and get back with the new back packs.  We took care of another service call this afternoon.  It has been a very good week.  

Next week is transfer week.  Can't believe it is already here again.  We have 12 leaving and 16 arriving.  How many beds will be have to move this time??

We pray that you have all had a wonderful week and that 2020 will bring you health and happiness.  You are in our thoughts and prayers.  We send our love.  Chao!