September 20, 2010

Hey all,

We have a few minutes on the office computer while the elders are gone to lunch. We miss our computer and Skype!!! We’re still bummed.... No news and not much sympathy from anyone. We have fotos we want to send. The bicenntennial was fun. We went to the branch Fri for barbeque, music, dancing, etc. We both danced the queca (handkerchief dance). They danced for over an hour. We for about three minutes. There were about 50 people and two cars at the church. They walk or ride the bus. The elders dropped us off, but we have used the taxi a few times this week. Tonite, we may take the metro train into the area office for a meeting and home evening with other missionary couples--or not. Stores are still closed, fourth day of holiday. It´s a national vacation without leaving home. Most people celebrate in their yards with friends and family. You must cook over charcoal, and drink a lot (coke Zero for us). Going all out means putting up a flag, eating, drinking, and sleeping. Each Sunday we understand a little more of the talks, lessons, and conversations. We are making friends and remembering a few names. They are really nice to us and carry on conversations with us as if we could understand what they are saying. We nod and say si. It doesn´t do to ask questions. We don´t understand the answers, but they seem to understand much of what we try to say, so I guess that´s progress. Once in a while we meet a Chilean returned missionary and most of them learned English on their missions. Sunday a BYU grad spoke with us in perfect English. Another of Kevin´s mish comps came to see us yesterday while he was in town to celebrate and go to the temple. That’s three companions and two other missionaries who knew him. He paved the way for us.

Our trainer leaves next Tues. so we have one more run to learn the pouch routes and all the ordering and record keeping. We don’t think he is being replaced in the office. We hear that all the office elders will soon be replaced by a couple serving their third mission. We’ll miss these young men. They are the greatest. The church is in good hands. The weather is warming. Trees are in bloom and starting to leaf out. On a clear day (read--no smog--rare) the Andes mountains are majestic, snow capped, and run as far north and south as you can see and hundreds of miles farther.

We are working with the branch choir. Not many and not much experience. BJ has BP singing a duet Sun for branch conference. Nothing has changed. BJ has given some small piano lessons to missionaries, but without a car to carry the keyboards and tables and stuff we are pretty much stuck at home as far as the piano mission goes. We´ve only been here three weeks, but hope to get started soon. That sounds like a fun way to do missionary work. We’re going to some car dealers tomorrow with the assistantes. Keep your eyes open for us. Cars are smaller--everything is smaller--and fewer. Half the cars on the road are taxis.

Mom will miss being with her girls for the women´s broadcast and Dad will miss ice cream after p-hood meeting with his boys. Happy birthday to Beth, Emmy, Hilton, and Sophie this week. No bad news this week. We hope that is all behind us. We are well and happy. Challenged and tired.

luv ya luv ya

Mom & Dad