CENAS ESPECIAL -NOCHE DE HOGAR FAMILIAR
On Monday we were invited to have dinner (cena) and Family Home Evening with Silvana Mauna, her husband Edgardo, and their son Benjamin. In our church, we set aside Monday evenings to spend time with family, learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and enjoy activities together. Their warm hospitality and friendship mean a lot to us.
CENTROS DE VACUNAS
We spent Wednesday out of the office in the suburbs of Santiago. Our first stop was Conchali to visit two of our chapels that are being used by the municipality health department. Vaccinations are given at the first chapel we visited. Serendipitously we were able to receive our flu shots there. It is autumn time here and time for flu vaccinations. The man in the pink shirt, Ricardo Castillo set up these visits for us. He is the stake communications director. He was our chauffeur for the day. He taught us much about the vulnerable areas we were visiting. We began discussions with the alcalde (mayor in the purple jacket) of Conchali for a humanitarian project with the local health department.
The second chapel is being used for COVID-19 testing.
CESFAM
Then on to the CESFAM (family clinic) in Lampa. As we drove into town, we saw makeshift homes on the hills. This is one of five immigrant camps in the commune. They have no water, sewer, or electricity. Mudslides are common after it rains. The immigrants are from Haiti, Peru, Venezuela, and Bolivia and arrive with all sorts of health issues like tetanus, TB, etc. This clinic, built to serve 20,000 is now serving close to 50,000 people. We await their solicitude.
One fascinating thing about this campus is the inclusion of traditional Mapuche medicine. The physicians work with Ruth, a Mapuche healer, to heal body, mind, and spirit. A Ruka (a traditional thatched roof, dirt floor hut) sits right next to the clinic with gardens filled with herbs used for medicinal medicine.
CEREMONIA ESPECIAL
On Thursday we attended the ceremony for Escuela Especial el Nazareno in a suburb of Santiago. Escuela Especial is a school for children with intellectual disabilities. It is funded by government assistance that the children receive and by the founder donating her pension. The school serves 60 special needs youth ranging in age from 9 to 26. 70% belong to the most vulnerable sector of the population. Seven teachers teach classes from 3rd to 6th grade. In addition, three workshops focus on practical life skills to help train students to integrate into society and be more self-reliant. The workshops consist of woodworking, cooking, and gardening. A donation of laptop computers, projectors, and a printer will help teachers optimize learning. It was a very special day with repeated hugs and a love note as we walked out the door.
COMPUTERS
We spent Good Friday in an empty office preparing 50 plus used computers for donation.
CENAS ESPECIAL
Friday dinner date with Élder y Hermana Lindquist
The sister missionaries in our ward came to our home on Saturday for dinner
CENA DE PASCUA- CUASIMODO
Chileans celebrate Easter as most South American Catholic nations, beginning on Palm Sunday. During Holy Week many attend masses, ceremonies, and processions. They are given bales of corn-leaves, straw, or palm leaves that have been blessed by a priest. They take these items home and use them to bless their houses. A typical Easter dinner might consist of crab, lamb, avocado, puffy potato balls, and a traditional Chilean salad of tomatoes and onions. The celebrations extend to one week after Easter ending with the observance of ‘Running to the Christ Day.’ On Cuasimodo, priests make their rounds accompanied by cowboys. This is a daylong celebration that involves a mass procession, music, dance, and holy prayers.
We enjoyed Easter dinner with the missionaries in the Santiago North Mission, organized by Hermana Mendez who was in our MTC training group. She carefully organized the meal to represent parts of the Passover feast. We discussed the symbolism as we ate.
To our Christian friends, we hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Easter Holy Week commemorating the Atonement and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. We love Him. It is because of Him and for Him that we are here serving a mission in Chile. Because of Him, we feel joy, hope, courage, and peace. Because of him we can change and grow and forgive and become the best version of ourselves. Because of Him, we will all live again.
And to our Jewish friends, may this coming week of Passover remembrances bring you joy, peace, and hope.
With love, Élder y Hermana Lamb, (aka Ed & Debbie, Mom & Dad, Pop Pop & Tu Tu)
Lambs in Central Europe 