December 24, 2010

They are calling it the children's Christmas party. Pink and blue balloons, loud radio music, a blow-up play castle and a pint-sized tub of ice cream for each child. We contributed a few bucks two weeks ago when they sold pizzetas and completos. Lots of kids and parents having a good time on the apartment playground Sunday afternoon. Maybe Santa will make an appearance later. Otherwise how will we know it's a Christmas party? But wait. . .Maria from Australia has on a little Santa hat with her sun dress. A dead giveaway. Feliz Navidad everyone!!
I'm at the little desk by the open window again trying to write, but my heart is not in it. My brother's heart is fighting for life in a hospital a million miles away and I am totally helpless to do anything but pray. Thank you for joining me. Steve collapsed Thursday night after the Tabernacle Choir Christmas broadcast, was rushed to the hospital, and has been in extremely critical condition in a drug induced coma, from which he may or may not awake. His life is in the balance. His heart has stopped several times since that first attack. I hope before I finish this in the next few days I have better news to report. Right now he is a very sick man getting the best care they can give, kept alive with machines, 18 IV's, and the prayers of many. His son Ryan is on a mission somewhere in Guatamala excited to call home for Christmas and talk to his dad. My heart goes out to him.

Last night we went to the mission office to call Delores on the office phone, our only line out, for the latest report. After we finished the call all five of the office elders crowded into our little mail room and proposed to fast for Steve today after their dinner appointments. They hugged me like sons; their eyes were as wet as ours; we love these young men; our hearts were touched and knit together in love. This morning the President's wife called to check. As people at church found out they too rallied round us. Literally. We were surrounded. We have no family here, but we have a great family here. They bear our burdens and share our grief. We feel such love for and from all of them.

The Christmas program in the branch consisted of my tie, Mom's YW lesson of Luke 2 and Christmas carols for one girl, and the Cerda family and I singing “Angels We Have Heard on High” in Sacrament meeting. The chorister didn't know the sacrament hymn, nor did 98 percent of the people so she sat down in tears half way through the second verse, leaving BJ playing on in puzzlement. What's a girl to do? The first counselor got up and finished the hymn; the chorister was ok for the closing hymn. Maybe this has happened before. Wish they'd put Mom in charge next year. I have marveled at her Christmas programs for the last 47 years. She works miracles and Emily is following in her footsteps.

Last night I played Santa's helper at the Los Libertedores Ward party. BJ had told her friend Bristella that I was Santa in the US and offered my services. The Primary President had a suit big enough. I had tried to buy one, but none fit. I found four stores on one street selling them from puppy size to almost big enough. I'll probably have one made for next year, or next week. They are cheap, ten to fifteen dollars, and Beth had sent the critical stuff for the face and head.

The ward program was sweet with all the children decked out in fine costumes of angels, shepherds, wise men, wooly lambs and spotted cows, and a real baby Jesus who played his part perfectly without a peep. They make the most beautiful costumes, good enough for the real stage-- no towel turbans and bathrobed shepherds, but silky, shiny wise men and the sweetest Mary you've ever seen rocking her baby and cooing him into tranquility. The stars in the heavens kept falling down but the show must go on and did to loud acclaim from an appreciative audience of parents and grandparents.

Santa was nervous and pretty much speechless, but the kids just lined up for their bag of candy. He said “Feliz Navidad. Te Amo” and they said “Gracias”. They didn't care if Santa was a foreigner; the parents loved it. Thursday he appears live at the mission wide Christmas party. I've got to get more Super 8 candy bars and gum filled Tip Pops; I gave mine all away after church today. They rushed me once the word got around that Santa from the US was attending church in Chile this morning.

The condo party has deteriorated into balloon popping and little kids crying, sure signs that it's about over. I guess Santa didn't get the memo. No one seemed to miss him.

In the stores and on the streets of downtown Maipu there are signs of Christmas, but the mall Santa looks like he got run over by a reindeer. In our neighborhood, some houses have a few lights, always blinking, and last night we saw a street with half a dozen houses in a row with icicle lights on the eaves, but other whole streets without a single light, only one nice manger scene in a yard with a decorated door. We have a pretty wreath with a red ribbon on our door. Inside, a small tree, a cute manger scene, and table décor of candles, red runner and placemats, etc. it's festive.

Here in the condo at night it looks like Las Vegas. The only non-blinkers are the gaudy red lights to our left. We have no balcony, hence no outside lights. Across the way the lead contender for Lights of the Year has all kinds of lights, tinsel, a tree, and fluffy cottony angels and dozens of golden stars hanging from the ceiling twirling in the breeze, as Santa descends from a cottony cloud. Amazing what you can do to decorate a 4 by 6 space. Get with it folks, only five more days 'till Christmas.

At church I seemed to be the only one wishing “Feliz Navidad”, but when I did people brightened up and laughed. Try it; you'll like it. It's not an anti religious thing here, just not a big tradition. Santa comes, leaves something, Christmas dinner, and life goes on. School is out for the summer. Let's go to the beach.

BJ and I hope to do just that next week for our Anniversary trip. We are told you can drive up and get a room without a reservation for the next two weeks, then it gets really crowded. Think we'll try it after we get our deliveries made. Can senior missionaries go swimming? We'll ask, but maybe not till after we get back.

A breakthrough. Bishop Rivera with whom we have lunch on Wednesdays speaks only Spanish and only to those who likewise speak Spanish. Therefore he does not speak to me. We've been going there for three months. His daughter teaches in an English speaking school here and for 5 years in Arizona. His wife wants to and tries to speak English. Not a lonely Anglo syllable from him. Until last night after his ward party and Santa (dressed down) was packing up to leave. Face to face he smiled, said “Merry Christmas” and hugged me!! The ice cracked a little. I think he understands the language of the heart. Maybe our language skills are better than we thought.

The fruity news. I didn't think I'd ever get through all the fruit we bought last week, but his morning I finished the last of it, except half a little pale green softball sized melon, like a honeydew, which I will lick up this evening. We have sliced and frozen sugared strawberries just in case we can't buy them all year. We had our first watermelon on Wednesday at Bristella's lunch.

Lunch is the main sit down meal of the day, served between 2 and 4 pm. Kids go home for lunch and don't go back to school. Missionaries eat with members virtually every day; members are expected to feed them, well; and they do. After lunch is prime proselyting time. Our missionaries aren't expected to do much missionary work outside the apartment before lunch, then work late into the night when people are at home relaxing. They told me on my mission that the Holy Ghost went to bed at 10:00 o'clock; guess He stays up later in Chile. Fits my internal clock.

I think Santa is about to show. Maria is clapping and calling the ninos to gather; they are chanting something and looking toward the front entrance. The kids last night called Santa with the same chant and song. Call louder. He can't hear you all the way from the North Pole. I think I hear his sleigh bells. Louder. Stronger. Keep trying.-------------------------

OK smart alec, take it all back. Santa showed all right, tacky beard and all, and did a wonderful job if Santa2 says so himself. The Committee had bought individual gifts for each child. Santa sat as names were called and kids great and small came forward for their gift and obligatory foto. Grateful kids hugged him; frightened babies protested having to sit on his lap; parents clapped. There was joy all around, except for two kids dragging their faces behind them who walked by our window (we were leaning out the bedroom window taking it all in.). I guess their parents opted out for whatever reasons. I'm guessing about 50 kids each got a nicely wrapped gift, Barbies, GI Joes, playground balls, fit the shaped pieces into the right hole thingys, dart games, nice stuff, age and gender appropriate—thoughtfully done. Santa spent a HAPPY half hour with the kids. Another first class event. Thanks to Maria, the condo mover and shaker. My apologies.

Maria waved at us, threw us kisses, came over to our window and talked. They had trouble getting a Santa; her son was going to do it and had a last minute conflict, but they found a neighbor. Guess who they have lined up for next year? You got it. Now I've got to get a suit made or brought from home. And, by then Santa will be able to speak to los ninos in their own language. Gladly. I'm looking forward to it. Real gifts; not candy canes and chew pops. Santa brightened my day. My heart is healed for a while. I want to be like him. Thanks Santa, and Maria, and our Dear Father for a sweet and tender mercy.

The blow up slide and palace are gone but the laughter and joy remain. Merry Christmas everyone. And to all a good night.

Friday, Dec. 24th at the office:

I was really frustrated and depressed for a couple of days, but then a miracle happened. A Christmas miracle. A missionary miracle. Thanks for all your faith and fasting and prayers. My brother, Steve, is awake, off the ventilator and most of the IV's and is talking. I hope to talk to him in person over the weekend and wish him A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. The doctors and nurses didn't give us much hope on Sunday, and Monday they did a complete reversal. He is not out of the woods, but is standing at the edge of the trees looking out at the meadow, getting ready to take the next step into the warm sunshine of LIFE! So far it appears that his mind and heart and other organs are working. With every miracle there is an element of mystery because we just can't explain everything. The doctors can't. I can't. You can't. I just accept it as a miracle without asking how or why. Thank God.

The mail tally for 8 weeks leading up to Christmas. . . .

• 58 Latinos and 1 Gringo got no mail, zero letters, 00 packages

• 17 Latinos and 4 Gringos got only one lousy letter/package

• 5 Latinos and 29 Gringos got between 2 to 5 items; this includes about 50 who came or left 1 week or 7 weeks ago

• 36 Gringos got from 6-14 the most any Latino got was 5

• 8 Gringos got from 15 -29 Two tied with 29 each and more on the way no doubt.

I don't know who gets email and some Chilean elders get their stuff delivered by family or friends who come to the temple, etc. One elder who arrived three days ago had a package and ten letters waiting here for him.

Yesterday was the all-mission all-day Christmas party, starting with homemade hot donuts, several hundred fried in two pans because we blew a fuse and couldn't find the breaker. A movie and a looooong area Presidency/General Authority talk about Joseph Smith and a ton of evidence that he was and did what he said he did and was. Very convincing, but the mind can only absorb as much as the seat can endure. Then a very nice lunch of roast beef, turkey, broccoli, mashed potatoes with a drop of “gravy”, and a table full of dessert choices. Well done. We all brought something not very worthwhile and left with something worth even less after the white elephant/silly Santa gift exchange. My Mississippi tee shirt was one of the favorites along with Michael Jackson and Minnie Mouse towels. I got a key chain. Mom's program was wonderful. Half the mission (85) was in the choir and the other half in the audience. She knows what she's doing and what she wants and how to get it out of people who don't really know what to do next and have never practiced together. She signals and animates and holds up signs and points and mimes and mouths her instructions and they are so enraptured watching her that it goes off without a hitch, except the violin player who had to improvise at times. At the end of a 12 hour party Santa finally came with a bag full of TipPops, photos, laughing, and 200 suckers later we finally went home and crashed.

Mom invited her (3) young women to our place (palace) for pizza, salad, pop and cheesecake. Of course she had decorations and candles and gifts. We picked them up at the church and chauffeured them to and from in our red chariot. They had a ball. We talked, sort of, laughed, ate, and had a grand time. We wonder what they thought of it all. We've never seen where or how they live, but I'm sure it's different from ours. After they washed their hands they came from the bathroom smelling the perfumed soap in the pump bottle. That gave us a little hint. We love them and they love us and we gladly gave and they gladly received the leftover pizza.

It's Christmas Eve. We're going to the King/President's house for Mexican after we Skype for an hour or two. WE LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL , BUT WE ARE HAVING A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HOPE YOU ALL WILL TOO. REJOICE!!

PS: Tomorrow I'm taking Mom out for her Birthday dinner at the fanciest restaurant I can find. Just hope it's not Mikey Dee's. We hear that lots of places are open on Christmas—for the money. We have turned down two dinner invites to do this. (Together Forever)

LOVE, MOM AND DAD