MARATHON MODE

MANAGEMENT IN THE OFFICE

This picture of our office shows where we have spent some very long days during the last two weeks preparing carefully for the new missionary couple who will take our place. We are closing out projects and preparing detailed notes for each prospective and in-progress project.

MOMENTS TO OURSELVES

We enjoyed a special evening in the Santiago temple with Elder and Hermana Salgado

We spent last weekend exploring a beautiful part of the country. We flew to Temuco and then spent two days in the Villarrica/Pucon area. We spent one day driving around Lago Pullinque and Lago Panguipulli. The scenery was beautiful as we drove through the villages of Licanray, Conaripe, Panguipulli, and Puerto Fuy. The view of Volcan Villarrica was spectacular. It is an active volcano.

There were lots of good foods to be found, even a lakeside stand selling kuchen.

200-MILE MULTI-CITY TREK- MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

We woke up Monday morning in Temuco and drove one hour north to Victoria for the ceremony at Hospital Victoria. This was a tender mercy. The last two items for this project were not due to be delivered until August but they arrived early, and we were able to see the completion of this project. The special part about this was the service project. Relief Society sisters from this district made 31 blankets for hospital beds. It was a labor of love. The church donated hospital beds, pressure mattresses to help prevent bed sores and other medical equipment.

The next three days centered around having the acuerdo documents signed for 12 emergency incendio projects for the fires that occurred in February. This was a 200+ mile, 3-day trip with 13 stops. Notice our new humanitarian shirts.

Renaico Neighborhood Association- a donation of 18 water tanks for water storage for rural homes

Nacimiento Neighborhood Association- This donation also consisted of water tanks and pipes.

Lota, Coronel, & Arauco bomberos – The donations to these three bomberos companies consisted of food, water, and toiletry items for the firefighters.

Municipality of Penco- the church donated refrigerators for 45 families who lost their homes. There was a sweet spirit at this meeting with the alcalde (Mayor). He was a humble man who expressed gratitude and told us that our church was the first call he received after the fire started. We hear this repeatedly, that our church was the first to respond with donations of needful items and with people to serve.

Municipality of Coelemu- here we met with another mayor to sign documents for the donation of pumps for wells and space heaters for homes.

In Coelemu, we found a food truck that sold Venezuelan empanadas and Columbian Arepas, both consisting of a cornmeal dough stuffed with meat.

Chillan City and Forest firefighters & Quillon Bomberos- donations of eye drops, sunscreen, water, and food.

We spent a pleasant afternoon in Chillan in between appointments with Raul and Roxanna Seguel. We had lunch at their home and explored the central market.