TAXIS & TREASURES IN TALCA

We left Friday morning on our first project trip. We have a travel kit that we will never unpack. So far it includes TP, toilet seat covers, umbrellas, water bottles, hand sanitizer, travel pillow, a door stop to put under the hotel room door (safety tip from the MTC), a water bottle with a 6-liter refill bottle in the truck) and some pesos. We will see as time goes on if anything needs to be added.

After leaving a very smoggy Santiago, we drove 3 ½ hours south to Talca where there were blue skies and views of the snowcapped Andes.  We left autumn in North America to come to springtime in South America. As we drove, we saw beautiful yellow and orange wildflowers and wild roses along the roadside. We passed orchards and vineyards where they grow grapes, peaches, kiwi, blueberries, strawberries, and cherries. There were horses and sheep grazing but few cows. Chile imports beef from Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil.  We also saw Del Monte, Dole and Nabisco processing plants along the way.

When we arrived in Talca we met the president of the Talca stake who is our local church leader in this area.  He took us to a restaurant on the Rio Claro River and ordered a typical Chilean family style meal called Pollo y Mariscos.  It consisted of chicken on the bone and clams in a brothy soup.  It was served with french fries, biscuits, salsa, and sopapillas and was very delicious!

We followed several “Talca” taxis in bumper-to-bumper traffic. There were always three passengers in the back and one in the front- just different passengers. When the taxi stopped at a corner one or two passengers would scramble out and new passengers would cram themselves in. Comfy way to meet your neighbors.

From Talca we drove up into the mountains for 1 ½ hours, passing olive groves, to the town of Curepto. Population 9000. There we met with the leader of what we would call a residential living home for the elderly. It was a sweet experience to meet the 18 residents of Hogar Padre Jose Cappel (one gentleman was 100 years old) and to witness the loving care they are receiving. We assessed their needs, which were many and will wait to see what their priorities are when we receive their solicitude.

We stayed the night in Talca at a charming old hotel called Hotel Marcos Gamero. The main areas were charming- the room not so much. We ate dinner and breakfast at the hotel.  

The next morning we did some more grocery shopping in Talca taking advantage of having a car. Lider, the local grocery market, is the equivalent of Walmart at home. The highlight of our shopping was buying fresh strawberries, from a vendor on the street, that were piled high on a table. On the drive back to Santiago we stopped at a roadside stand and purchased a sack of fresh oranges.  We also had our first empanada called a “Pino.”  It was filled with beef and onions with one olive and one piece of hard-boiled egg in the middle.

SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES AND INSIGHTS this is Hermana Lamb speaking

• When I was feeling a little low and displaced during quarantine, I found myself hearing the words to a Primary song in my head- the one I used to sing my freshman year at BYU walking to class in the snow feeling so homesick- ‘I am happy today for the sunshine, for the skies of grey or blue. For within my heart is a song of life, I’ll live, I’ll work, I’ll do. No cloud can cast a shadow over courage such as mine. But I’ll sing my song as a go along. I’ll live, I’ll work, I’ll do!’ This was not one of my favorite songs as a child. In fact, I have no memory of even singing it in Primary. It is such a blessing that in times of need the Holy Ghost brings something back to me I didn’t even know was in my subconscious to comfort me and give me courage. 

• We had planned a trip to Curepto with President Vasquez to check out one of our SENAMA projects: Hogar Padre Jose Cappel for Friday. On Wednesday I read online that a Health Passport was required to cross state lines in Chile. When we got online to register it went fine for Ed but mine would not go through because it said I had tested positive for COVID (which of course was not true).  We spent hours on hold on Thursday and the brother in the church travel department made phone calls, but we went to bed Thursday night not knowing what we were going to do. We had planned this trip weeks ago and this was the only day the stake president could go or we would have to wait for three more weeks. I kept having flashbacks to the MTC safety videos and nightmares of me being put in jail or us being sent home from our mission for not obeying the laws of the land!  We wanted so badly to make this trip; #1 – because it would be weeks before we could reschedule. When we met with this organization weeks ago on Zoom it was determined that they had many more needs that clinical beds and that a visit was necessary, #2 – we were stir crazy and ready to get to work.  We prayed Thursday night and again Friday morning. We decided we would not go if we could not get my pass. We sat down at the computer again Friday morning and it went through. It was such a miracle. I had the overwhelming feeling that Heavenly Father wanted to remind us that this is His work and that He is in charge. We both felt a wash of the spirit and a strong confirmation that He is aware of us. He opened the door for us to make the trip.

• I was feeling down today during church, not understanding much of what was said. It is so frustrating not to be able to participate. I felt a little panic when I realized it was Relief Society (the women’s organization of our church) today and I wouldn’t be with my companion.  I had three thoughts come to me; 1- Don’t panic. Just relax and let the language come. 2- Maybe I need to be alone, just depending on the Lord instead of my husband, 3- during the sacrament I ask Heavenly Father each week, what I am doing that I shouldn’t be doing and what I am not doing that I should be doing. What lack I yet? Today I got the same answer I did when I was diagnosed with CLL – ‘This experience can help you become more humble.’ Apparently, that’s what I need to work on. Language isolation compels me to be humble. You see, I’m confident and capable and perhaps not used to relying so heavily upon my Heavenly Father. I could be rocking an English-speaking mission right now because I have those skills. Our daughter Becca asked when we were visiting her why the church just didn’t use local Spanish speaking people to do what we are doing. She saw our struggle with the language and the process. I’ve been pondering that question for the last two months and I think the answer goes along with the feelings I had today about humility. I think the Lord is less concerned about efficiency than He is about our personal growth.

With love, Élder y Hermana Lamb, (aka Ed & Debbie, Mom & Dad, Pop Pop & Tu Tu)