Last week those living in the US and Canada observed Ground Hogs Day. We hear that there will be six more weeks of winter in North America. We check the cameras mounted outside our home in Utah and are grateful for the much-needed snow we are receiving. Our week started out feeling like Ground Hogs Day -the movie but instead of repeating the same day over and over we repeated PFJ in the same two locations.
On Tuesday we were on the plane with Salgados again headed to Temuco. Last week we had a view of volcanos as we landed. This week we had an aerial view of the wildfires that are burning nearby.
This trip requires an overnight stay, and we always find good food wherever we go.
Wednesday morning found us on the road to Traigen for PFJ with the outstanding youth in the Concepcion Mission boundaries. They assembled another 500 school kits.
On Friday our faithful friends Salgados, Lindquists, and Acevedos shared a marvelous spirit-filled day at Camp Cumorah Casablanca with the youth of the Santiago North Mission. Words simply cannot describe the experience. These wonderful youth assembled 550 school kits.
Our friends from ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) joined us to receive 2000 of the kits that have been assembled at this location over the last several weeks. One of the wonderful services they provide is to sponsor foster children all over the country. These kits will be donated to these vulnerable children.
After the assembly of the kits, the youth sang for us, and the spirit was exhilarating. We started the week off feeling rather robotic going through the motions of repeating the process again but ended on a high note feeling energized and empowered and so grateful to be a part of this unique moment in time. These few hours we shared will forever remain in our hearts and minds.
On Friday evenings at PFJ sessions all over the world, a dance is held. We were asked to demonstrate the waltz, swing, and macarena. The youth then showed us a wonderful local dance whose name we cannot pronounce. Counselors were working hard to teach some steps to willing youth before the dance began.
We enjoyed a good meal back in Santiago with our faithful helpers. We could not do this school kit assembly project without this team of senior missionaries.
In between these two PFJ sessions we prepared emergency projects for eight different communities where wildfires are burning. The church donated food, water, and eye drops to firefighters and clean-up supplies like wheelbarrows, rakes, and shovels to communities.
We met with ADRA leadership in our office for a brief ceremony surrounding the donation of school kits. And had a meeting with a senator to discuss the needs of a hospital in one of his communities.
We had a surprise visit from Jorge Romero from Argentina. He is our supervisor’s supervisor.
We watched the temple next door being thoroughly cleaned, inside and out.
On Saturday we attended a ceremony for the Bomberos in El Monte, a community about an hour outside Santiago proper. The volunteer firefighters in El Monte are working out of an old rundown building, wearing uniforms that are discolored with age and use. Uniforms were stored on the floor and rats chew on them. This firefighting company of 70 dedicated volunteers only receives funding for 30. They are working under very inferior conditions compared to other companies we have visited. New uniforms, with lockers to store them in, will provide safe firefighting suits and prevent further rodent damage. The projector and computer will be used in community training for first aid and fire prevention classes.
We invited the Elder and Hermana Bruland and Ruiz to join us at this ceremony so we could take them to the nearby pottery village of Pomaire. We enjoyed a typical Chilean almuerzo there.
Elder and Hermana Lindquist hosted Sunday dinner this week.
May you find joy and satisfaction in your weekly routines and discover wonders among the ordinary hours of your day.
Abrazos, Élder y Hermana Lamb, (aka Ed & Debbie, Mom & Dad, Pop Pop & Tu Tu)
Lambs in Central Europe 