Santiago Sunday

We rode a lot of buses in Chile. This kid was a pro by Sunday!

We got out of the hotel in time to catch a couple buses, and headed to church in the area where Mike served 6 months.  We all went to our Relief Society and Priesthood classes first (luckily, church did start at 10, when Rosa said it would, and not at 9 when the Internet page said it would).  In priesthood, there were two teachers (the Elders serving in the ward), and our family of men.  In Relief Society, there were 8-10 women.  Sunday school was a little larger, as we accumulated a few more students of the gospel.  In both classes, we were able to follow along with conference talks and Sunday school manuals in English (our wi-fi hooked right up, just like it does in Utah).  I only answered one question in class, and I think I may have misheard the question anyway, because I got a few giggles.  In sacrament meeting, they had one assigned talk, and filled the rest of the meeting with testimonies, assigned by the bishop.  Mike got to go first.  He thought maybe he would get called up, and he did :)  It was an emotional message and testimony for those in attendance, including me.  Then, 4 Relief Society sisters who had gone on a temple trip, 2 of them for the very 1st time, shared their testimonies.

Afterward, we spoke with a few members, then followed Sister Rosa Perez home.  I hope we all remember the feelings we felt there.  Her husband has worked so hard, his whole life, carrying produce up a hill to be delivered from trucks, and now, at age 60, is tired and also unable to retire because he needs to continue supporting his family, including his son and 2 grand kids, who all live there.  It was mentioned by them, and others in Chile that their home may be small, but the heart is big, which was certainly true.  She fed us pop, cookies, and chips, while they drank water.  They offered us lunch, even though they had so little to give.  This was the visit for me, that humbled me the very most and had me counting my blessings, in ways I hadn't counted before.  So many of the sisters were a great example to me, of serving and attending church so faithfully, even though so many of their husbands were not there with them.  Their faith was amazing.

Martinez Family

We walked all around the ward, and also visited with the Mathews, who Mike had lived with for several months, the Mendizabals, who had been a diligent bishop for nearly 20 years, including the time Mike was a missionary, and the Martinez family.  We were definitely made out to be very special guests in each of their homes.  We are thankful for all their dear kindness!

Luis, Mom, Michael. Not pictured, was the 16 year old grandson who had eyes for Adelyn

The Mathews family, and Mikes home for 4.5 months

The Mendizabal Family in the beautiful home they built for themselves

The way home was definitely a view into a different world than the visits we had just made.  Near the bus station, there were some big, over-the-top Christmas celebrations and shows around.  One was a kids' show, doing a Christmas special, and with costumes of animated characters for kids.  Once we got off the bus stop (which stopped way earlier than we had expected, and in a different part of town than we had hoped), there was another big parade/event that had just finished up.  Kids were all spoiled, going home with all sorts of county-fair type balloons and stuffed animals.  There were families everywhere, with white flakes in their hair.  The white flakes were EVERYWHERE on the streets too.  Probably, at least a mile, where a machine had shot paper snow on families everywhere.  The street sweepers who followed, were mostly workers with small push brooms and dust pans.  It seriously appeared impossible to do the work that needed to be done, but I'm sure the event was one of the city's biggest events of the year.