BLOG ENTRY: “Faith to Move Mountains”
Saturday, October 16, 2010
This past week, Chile experienced yet another event to the see the hand of God perform miracles right within its borders. What a blessing to be here in this spectacular country, and observe how merciful God is to all of His children, as we watched with great interest in what took place here in a secluded and previously quite unknown pueblo of Copiapo’, in northern Chile. There are many types of disasters or catastrophes world wide, including Chile’s previous 8.8 earthquake back on Feb 27 of this same year, when news from here again rocked the world. However, the question this time is not how you drill into the seafloor and connect with a blown-out oil well like was needed in the U.S.A., but how do you drill a half-mile-long tunnel into very hard rock, and then use that hole to extract trapped men? The whole story changes to become one more with human interest when there are lives at stake.
Here the local television broadcasts all labeled the specific event that was requiring the success during the challenging feat of rescuing 33 trapped miners as ‘El Rescate” (The Rescue). We found that quite interesting, since in our notes the main theme of our dear prophet’s comments for last year was labeled, The Rescue. It is with these thoughts we would like to share some of our observations and comparisons we discovered and discussed during this process.
To share a bit of background and insight from a local here, we found many details flung at us, left and right, from the news, media, neighbors, members, missionaries, etc, all sharing their tidbits and opinions about the whole ordeal. This is a journal entry, and not a published article, so take the details and thoughts as only personal insights, not doctrine!
The accident happened on Aug. 5, where the 33 miners suddenly found themselves trapped in a copper and gold mine, that unfortunately, (and this would be considered illegal in the USA,) had no second, back up exit. They found their way to the small, emergency shelter down below, but the problem was, they had no communication with those up above, to tell them they were still alive. This was their lot for 17 days! Meanwhile, they survived off 2 days worth of rations of food, water and oxygen that was there, 700 meters below/ or 2,300 feet; practically ½ mile below the earth’s surface. This took organizational skills, leadership, patience, faith, prayer, and much more.
The newly sworn in Harvard trained businessman, millionaire President, Sebastian Pinera had the wisdom to insist they begin the work to search for the apparently trapped men. As with any mining disasters, locating these men entombed in the mine in Copiapo posed the first challenge for rescuers.They were searching in certain areas, drilling where they might imagine they could be. After another cave-in blocked a ventilation shaft, the only option rescue workers had for reaching the missing mining team was to drill six-inch (15-centimeter) exploratory holes deep into the ground. Attempts to reach an underground shelter where the miners might have sought refuge failed seven times – blamed on the mining company's poor maps – but the eighth try finally reached the sanctuary at a depth of 2,257 feet. This mountain on top of these men consisted of about 700,000 pounds of rock overhead, enough to give anyone a newly acquired case of claustrophobia!
“Drilling straight down over hundreds of feet can be tricky business, according to Jeffery Kravitz, a U.S. Mine Health and Safety Administration (MHSA) technical expert. After all, drilling just a single degree off of a straight line (perpendicular to the surface) to a target can leave one more than 40 feet off-base.”
After 17 days, there literally became a ‘light at the end of the tunnel,’ as workers sent down another probe that came back up with a tattered paper attached which was written in scribbled red pencil, “Estamos bien en el refugio, los 33.” (All 33 of us are well inside the shelter.) When the elation died down, and the reality set in, it was obvious it would take quite monumental efforts to find a way to get the men out of the mine. Chilean rescuers on Monday started sending down five-foot- (1.5-meter-) long tubes called palomas, or "doves", like carrier pigeons. A large drilling machine, donated by Codelco copper company in Chile, soon began drilling the 26-inch hole through which the trapped miners would be hauled back to the surface. This rig would be a rotary-type drill, meaning its drill rotates with several diamond-tipped, teeth-like "bits" that chew up the rock underneath. The mine's veins of gold and copper ran through quartzite with a high level of abrasive silica, rock so tough that it took all their expertise to keep the drill's hammers from curving off in unwanted directions. At one point, the drill struck a metal support beam in the poorly mapped mine, shattering its hammers. Fresh equipment had to be flown in from the United States and progress was delayed for days as powerful magnets were lowered to pull out the pieces.
On day 26, a team from the US space agency, NASA arrived at the mine to offer their advice on keeping the miners healthy. Previously the miners had been surviving on water, cans of tuna, and then after they were discovered, began to receive only glucose tablets and high-protein milk. Finally they were able to have Meatballs, chicken and rice piped through a tube, which changed their attitudes. They were told that it might be 4 months to get the escape tunnel drilled through the massive rock mountain, but now those above had goals and made plans. The workers above began to monitor each individual miner and follow his health and well-being to ensure the safety for the men. They began to have communication with their families who were all waiting anxiously, in the impromptu tent city dubbed affectionately, “Campamento Esperanza—Camp Hope.” After a total of 69 days underground, they had a new perspective on their future, as the miners really had hope to be rescued.
As we began to see the results of the rescue come to pass, we observed different actions, comments, comparisons that reminded us of the Savior and His way of rescuing us in this life. We might be listing these ideas in future blog entries, but
we continue to see sybolism in this rescue and how the Savior rescues each one of us
in our lives here on earth.
This whole miner experience was compared to the spectacular world wide phenomenon that occurred 41 yrs ago, on 21 July 1969, when mankind left the safety of the earth and took their first step to walk on the moon. Now here we were trying to send people from the safety of the world as we know it, to enter deep into the earth and help bring people from the dark, into the light.
What we learned from Gordon B. Hinckley is true, more so now than ever before, (“The Faith to Move Mountains,” Liahona, Nov 2006, 82–85,) “Increased faith is what we most need. Without it, the work would stagnate. With it, no one can stop its progress.” We know that faith can move mountains!
In this recent Oct 2010 session of General Conference, Bishop Edgely said, “When the disciples asked Jesus why the could not cast a devil out as they had just witnessed the Savior do, Jesus answered, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove. (Matthew 17:20) I have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism. Because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of pain replaced with peace, hope, and gratitude. Yes, I have seen mountains removed.”
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Showing posts with label Chile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chile. Show all posts
Friday, October 22, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Faith to Move Mountains....
In light of the Chilean mining rescue, we would like to include some information regarding the details we learned about the rescue. One impressive thought we felt so apropos was heard in this recent Oct 2010 session of General Conference, when Bishop Edgely said, “When the disciples asked Jesus why the could not cast a devil out as they had just witnessed the Savior do, Jesus answered, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove. (Matthew 17:20) I have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism. Because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of pain replaced with peace, hope, and gratitude. Yes, I have seen mountains removed.”
More to be added soon.
Read more!
More to be added soon.
Read more!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Bicentenario, 200 year Independance Day Celebration in Chile, el dieciocho/18th de Setiembre!
This year in Chile, as the Bicentenario marks their 200 years of independence, the Chileans are even more ready to celebrate. The government legally made the holiday official for this year to include Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, to make the 17, 18, 19, and 20th all holidays for everyone. This was to allow total rest and complete partying to the nth degree! Our missionaries participated in their wards.
Some of our observations we noticed throughout our mission as we visited different celebrations:
• All stores, businesses and local restaurants are closed.
• Celebration parties include typically, empanadas, to start. This should always be accompanied by a choripan/hard French roll, sliced vertically with a sausage inside. Homes have their personal hibachi set up, to the large size parilla/grilling bar-b-q that allows great quanties of meat, chicken, sausages, and completes to be cooked. Even on street corners a metal trash can, will soon serve with a grill on top to cook anticuchos-a favorite of Chileans, of shish-ka-bobs with hotdogs, and some type of meat, unknown and unimportant to most.
• People are bustling around in groups, families, with children in tow, in the dusk, early mornings, late hours, etc, that looks like trick-or-treaters on their way to some fun activity.
• Ferias and bonfires are roaring on street corners, down the blocks, in the roads and lighting the neighborhoods.
• Typically quiet neighborhoods have speakers blasting cueca music, and most people seem to know and recognize the music and we hear them singing along, with the words. It feels like piped in Christmas music, but more lively and elevates their spirit after a long winter.
• KITES: September, which is just on the brink of spring in South America, is a pleasantly breezy month in Chile. Ideal for flying a kite! And, as in some other countries (The Kite Runner, for example, describes the same passion for kites in Afghanistan), in Chile kite flying is supreme. In the past, most kites were homemade, but now more and more are commercially produced and more elaborate than those that come out of the family workroom. Nevertheless, homemade kites still, and always will, have a charm that will keep them flying. As everywhere else, the idea of kite flying is to see who can stay up there the longest and the highest. At the same time, however, the person controlling the string can experience a good run on the beach, through a soccer field, or in any open space in the neighborhood. All through September in all parts of Chile the kites fly, and sometimes besides the person flying the kite, you can still see groups of youngsters who run with long poles, gladiator-fashion, after the kites that take a nosedive and get caught in telephone wires and on tree limbs. On Dieciocho, there are kite-flying contests all over the country, with the bright colors of the airborne paper dotting the sky. One of the most popular designs for the kites is the Chilean flag.
• FLAGS: Chile’s national emblem
Chile’s flag is very similar to the flag of the state of Texas: a lone star on a blue background in the top left corner, complemented by wide stripes of red and white. On Dieciocho, flags fly all over Chile. Flags are flown on tops of houses, off the roofs of businesses, on balconies in the ‘bloques’ or housing ‘projects’, on windows in shorefronts, flapping in the wind behind vehicles or from their hoods and wearing them on pins and lapels. Before Dieciocho, there are announcements on the radio and TV about how to fly the flag properly, and, on September 18, a homeowner could be fined for not having a flag displayed in the yard or hanging on the house. This may seem quite a rigid requirement on the part of the Chilean government, but in the meantime the thousands of flags make a spectacularly colorful scene in every town and city of the country.
• CUECA Dance and Costumes: The cueca is traditionally danced by a male and a female. There are specific steps (sliding and stamping) and movements in circles and semicircles. These movements change according to the three parts of the sung cueca, so the dancers’ steps have to coincide with each section of the song. The dancing is very mathematic and geometric but also very engaging and personal. Each dancer has to end each part of the dance in the spot where he/she began. The man and woman can join arms and talk in the preliminary promenade before the singing begins, as well as when the singers have finished. However, during the dance, they can’t speak, touch each other, or take their eyes off each other, except when they make turns.
Both dancers carry handkerchiefs, which act as silent but expressively integral members of the dance. The handkerchief conveys festivity and, since the cueca is basically a dance of courtship, it acts as the “language” of the people who are dancing. The woman keeps her handkerchief near her face or at shoulder level. The man can wave his handkerchief over his head, at waist level, or around the woman’s feet. Occasionally the dancers hold their handkerchiefs with both hands. If the cueca is done correctly, what looks to the uneducated eye like a dance floor full of people just whirling around happily waving handkerchiefs is a very precise performance with a flirtatious and joyous spirit.
During Independence Day celebrations, those who really know how to dance the cueca will come to the fondas or appear in presentations dressed in traditional dance clothes. Men wear riding pants, chaps, spurs on their boots, a short jacket, a short poncho called a manta, and a flat-brimmed felt or straw hat. Women wear a long black skirt, white blouse, and short jacket, with the same type of a hat as the man’s; or a flowered dress with an apron, and no hat. The other people visiting the fonda join the experts on the dance floor, even if they aren’t sure of the cueca steps. The bottom line is that the cueca is an expression of joy, and national independence is something to celebrate happily. When you dance cueca, it doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, rich or poor, from northern, central or southern Chile. All that matters is that you’re Chilean, you love your country and you cueca proudly to show it. Read more!
Some of our observations we noticed throughout our mission as we visited different celebrations:
• All stores, businesses and local restaurants are closed.
• Celebration parties include typically, empanadas, to start. This should always be accompanied by a choripan/hard French roll, sliced vertically with a sausage inside. Homes have their personal hibachi set up, to the large size parilla/grilling bar-b-q that allows great quanties of meat, chicken, sausages, and completes to be cooked. Even on street corners a metal trash can, will soon serve with a grill on top to cook anticuchos-a favorite of Chileans, of shish-ka-bobs with hotdogs, and some type of meat, unknown and unimportant to most.
• People are bustling around in groups, families, with children in tow, in the dusk, early mornings, late hours, etc, that looks like trick-or-treaters on their way to some fun activity.
• Ferias and bonfires are roaring on street corners, down the blocks, in the roads and lighting the neighborhoods.
• Typically quiet neighborhoods have speakers blasting cueca music, and most people seem to know and recognize the music and we hear them singing along, with the words. It feels like piped in Christmas music, but more lively and elevates their spirit after a long winter.
• KITES: September, which is just on the brink of spring in South America, is a pleasantly breezy month in Chile. Ideal for flying a kite! And, as in some other countries (The Kite Runner, for example, describes the same passion for kites in Afghanistan), in Chile kite flying is supreme. In the past, most kites were homemade, but now more and more are commercially produced and more elaborate than those that come out of the family workroom. Nevertheless, homemade kites still, and always will, have a charm that will keep them flying. As everywhere else, the idea of kite flying is to see who can stay up there the longest and the highest. At the same time, however, the person controlling the string can experience a good run on the beach, through a soccer field, or in any open space in the neighborhood. All through September in all parts of Chile the kites fly, and sometimes besides the person flying the kite, you can still see groups of youngsters who run with long poles, gladiator-fashion, after the kites that take a nosedive and get caught in telephone wires and on tree limbs. On Dieciocho, there are kite-flying contests all over the country, with the bright colors of the airborne paper dotting the sky. One of the most popular designs for the kites is the Chilean flag.
• FLAGS: Chile’s national emblem
Chile’s flag is very similar to the flag of the state of Texas: a lone star on a blue background in the top left corner, complemented by wide stripes of red and white. On Dieciocho, flags fly all over Chile. Flags are flown on tops of houses, off the roofs of businesses, on balconies in the ‘bloques’ or housing ‘projects’, on windows in shorefronts, flapping in the wind behind vehicles or from their hoods and wearing them on pins and lapels. Before Dieciocho, there are announcements on the radio and TV about how to fly the flag properly, and, on September 18, a homeowner could be fined for not having a flag displayed in the yard or hanging on the house. This may seem quite a rigid requirement on the part of the Chilean government, but in the meantime the thousands of flags make a spectacularly colorful scene in every town and city of the country.
• CUECA Dance and Costumes: The cueca is traditionally danced by a male and a female. There are specific steps (sliding and stamping) and movements in circles and semicircles. These movements change according to the three parts of the sung cueca, so the dancers’ steps have to coincide with each section of the song. The dancing is very mathematic and geometric but also very engaging and personal. Each dancer has to end each part of the dance in the spot where he/she began. The man and woman can join arms and talk in the preliminary promenade before the singing begins, as well as when the singers have finished. However, during the dance, they can’t speak, touch each other, or take their eyes off each other, except when they make turns.
Both dancers carry handkerchiefs, which act as silent but expressively integral members of the dance. The handkerchief conveys festivity and, since the cueca is basically a dance of courtship, it acts as the “language” of the people who are dancing. The woman keeps her handkerchief near her face or at shoulder level. The man can wave his handkerchief over his head, at waist level, or around the woman’s feet. Occasionally the dancers hold their handkerchiefs with both hands. If the cueca is done correctly, what looks to the uneducated eye like a dance floor full of people just whirling around happily waving handkerchiefs is a very precise performance with a flirtatious and joyous spirit.
During Independence Day celebrations, those who really know how to dance the cueca will come to the fondas or appear in presentations dressed in traditional dance clothes. Men wear riding pants, chaps, spurs on their boots, a short jacket, a short poncho called a manta, and a flat-brimmed felt or straw hat. Women wear a long black skirt, white blouse, and short jacket, with the same type of a hat as the man’s; or a flowered dress with an apron, and no hat. The other people visiting the fonda join the experts on the dance floor, even if they aren’t sure of the cueca steps. The bottom line is that the cueca is an expression of joy, and national independence is something to celebrate happily. When you dance cueca, it doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, rich or poor, from northern, central or southern Chile. All that matters is that you’re Chilean, you love your country and you cueca proudly to show it. Read more!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Sept 11th and some history of Chile
On ‘once de setiembre’ in Santiago, people typically head to their homes earlier in the evening, and hunker down with a bit of anxiety and apprehension, as they don’t know what might begin in way of destruction or vandalism. The teenagers or 20-25yr olds seem to feel that they have the right to commemorate the change in gov’t that happened back in 1973 with their own types of violence. -----------------On September 11th in 1973, the military which was then led by Augusto Pinochet stormed the presidential palace and seized power from president Allende, who was found dead soon after. A ‘junta’ headed by Pinochet was established, which immediately suspended the constitution, dissolved the Congress, imposed strict censorship, and banned all political parties. In addition, he embarked on a campaign of terror against leftists in the country, which as a result, approximately 3,000 Chileans were executed or disappeared and more than 27,000 were imprisoned or tortured and others exiled and fled the country. Now our Church Area Presidency has wisely warned us to have our missionaries return to their apartments early, by 8pm, to not be in the streets just in case some danger might arise. Our missionaries are totally obedient, and all were safely inside with no problems.This is just a simple prelude to the otherwise fabulous and patriotic, flag-waving celebrations that most Chileans feel so inclined to participate in for their Sept 18th Independance Day, that this year will commemorate 200 years; their Bicentenario. We are all looking forward to wonderful activities, events, dance presentations and songa by stakes, wards, branches, and communities. This is a wonderful and blessed country, and we are grateful to be here to share the greatest joy the Chilean people could have in their lives....the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Read more!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Not left in the dark!
Sunday night, while Prdte May was on his cell phone and we were together in his mission office here in the mission home, we were suddenly plunged into COMPLETE darkness. Not a flicker, not some static, or trickle, but ALL of the electricity was cut! We had power from his cell phone, to shine a bit of light, (I mean we were blinded, completely) even though he had no cell signal. We felt our way around the furniture, through the various rooms, calling out to our daughter, Sarah and hoping we could reach her to help.
She had quickly made her way down the stairs, carrying one of the packages we had left on the family room table of the new, mini 'flashlights" /battery op coleman lantern things, we had just bought on Saturday since we knew we needed more. We stood in my office, with cell phones for light, while she unwrapped and assembled the linterna. Then we went back to get more lights we had upstairs and proceeded outside to the PITCH dark. There were a few apt bldgs we could hear had their generators going, but no street lights, no neighbors lit up, etc. It was strange. We decided to get in the mission van we had for the day, and listen to the radio. It was considered a total 'BLACKOUT" as they said in English words. It covered from Antofogasta up north, to south Chiloe. They think it has come from the instablity of the quake that has caused problems in lines, connections, continuity within ALL of Chile. Chilelectra company was working quickly with the new Prdte while he was still working late in the Moneda bldg.on Sunday.
WOW. The people couldn't quite explain it, but again, we felt the power of NOT having power or control.
What is the Lord teaching us here in Chile? We, who like to have things in order, our structure and control, are being shown we are NOT in control of much. The people in Chile are being reminded that we have to look to GOD for our light, in all sense of the word. I believe that because Chile has a culture of earthquakes, they are so used to just picking up where they were, don't lose too much sleep over that last natural disaster, and just get back to work. They are so good at that, and are more resiliant that most people, I believe. However, maybe people are not remembering that this world is not based on our abilities, our hard work, or our desires. We ALL have to be willing to submit to whatever the Lord wants us to experience, and then also be willing to thank Him for what we have, including the trials and challenges that bring us closer to Him.
Elder May in Concepcion Mission tells us he was stranded about 2 hours from his home, doing a baptismal interview, with no buses running, etc. He and his companion, Elder Dalton prayed, and a family car came by, asking where they were heading. "CURICO, and we can pay you," they said to the family. They told them just jump in and of course, they find that the woman was miembro, menos activo! Here in our part of the vineyard, the blackout ended after we had gone to bed, after 11pm, but most of our mission had lights back on much sooner.
We did hear our missionaries report that the stars were even brighter that night, and many felt that they helped them see their way back to their departamentos. Another said that the temple had its generator lights come on immediately, and that they lit up the neighborhood so brightly, and even their own apartment. That had to be symbolic for us, again, the Light that the Lord is, and provides for each of us.
Read more!
She had quickly made her way down the stairs, carrying one of the packages we had left on the family room table of the new, mini 'flashlights" /battery op coleman lantern things, we had just bought on Saturday since we knew we needed more. We stood in my office, with cell phones for light, while she unwrapped and assembled the linterna. Then we went back to get more lights we had upstairs and proceeded outside to the PITCH dark. There were a few apt bldgs we could hear had their generators going, but no street lights, no neighbors lit up, etc. It was strange. We decided to get in the mission van we had for the day, and listen to the radio. It was considered a total 'BLACKOUT" as they said in English words. It covered from Antofogasta up north, to south Chiloe. They think it has come from the instablity of the quake that has caused problems in lines, connections, continuity within ALL of Chile. Chilelectra company was working quickly with the new Prdte while he was still working late in the Moneda bldg.on Sunday.
WOW. The people couldn't quite explain it, but again, we felt the power of NOT having power or control.
What is the Lord teaching us here in Chile? We, who like to have things in order, our structure and control, are being shown we are NOT in control of much. The people in Chile are being reminded that we have to look to GOD for our light, in all sense of the word. I believe that because Chile has a culture of earthquakes, they are so used to just picking up where they were, don't lose too much sleep over that last natural disaster, and just get back to work. They are so good at that, and are more resiliant that most people, I believe. However, maybe people are not remembering that this world is not based on our abilities, our hard work, or our desires. We ALL have to be willing to submit to whatever the Lord wants us to experience, and then also be willing to thank Him for what we have, including the trials and challenges that bring us closer to Him.
Elder May in Concepcion Mission tells us he was stranded about 2 hours from his home, doing a baptismal interview, with no buses running, etc. He and his companion, Elder Dalton prayed, and a family car came by, asking where they were heading. "CURICO, and we can pay you," they said to the family. They told them just jump in and of course, they find that the woman was miembro, menos activo! Here in our part of the vineyard, the blackout ended after we had gone to bed, after 11pm, but most of our mission had lights back on much sooner.
We did hear our missionaries report that the stars were even brighter that night, and many felt that they helped them see their way back to their departamentos. Another said that the temple had its generator lights come on immediately, and that they lit up the neighborhood so brightly, and even their own apartment. That had to be symbolic for us, again, the Light that the Lord is, and provides for each of us.
Read more!
Friday, March 5, 2010
2 Baptisms on the Day of the Earthquake!
We haven't had time to tell all of the missionaries yet, that YES, we had two baptims on Saturday, the day of the Earthquake!!! Felicitaciones! What joy for all, as we share in the Lord's joy bringing souls to Him.
Here is what we heard happened...
We had one baptism in San Pablo, and one in Los Andes. The zone leaders told us the details that a Father (his wife and children are ALL members, menos him) had been taking the lessons, had his baptismal date set for Saturday, Feb 27th, and as soon as the earthquake hit, he must have contacted the missionaries right away, told them he was determined to still be baptised and didn't want to wait, so a member of the ward went right down to the chapel and started filling the baptismal font about 4am, to ensure there would be water for this blessed event. The Lord has many people, faithful, repentant, and eager to be baptized. Now is the time, more than ever!
Read more!
Here is what we heard happened...
We had one baptism in San Pablo, and one in Los Andes. The zone leaders told us the details that a Father (his wife and children are ALL members, menos him) had been taking the lessons, had his baptismal date set for Saturday, Feb 27th, and as soon as the earthquake hit, he must have contacted the missionaries right away, told them he was determined to still be baptised and didn't want to wait, so a member of the ward went right down to the chapel and started filling the baptismal font about 4am, to ensure there would be water for this blessed event. The Lord has many people, faithful, repentant, and eager to be baptized. Now is the time, more than ever!
Read more!
EX-Elderes y Hermanas hold special Fast for Chile
We rec'd a wonderful email on Saturday, Feb 27th, from one of our previous Assistants to the President, Elder Brandon Stewart. He told us that he had rec'd many messages from other returned missionaries on Facebook. They were building a chain, contacting each other, for Sunday, to have a special fast for their great family in Chile. They said many had Chilean flags on their profile! Spanish/English:
"Mi corazón se alegró mucho al ver los mensajes de todos los ex-misioneros en Facebook. También recibí un mensaje de text de una ex-misionera en Utah reexpidiendo una cadena a todos los ex-Elderes y Hermanas para que mañana hagamos un ayuno especial por nuestra gran familia Chilena. Una cosa es cierta: hay muchas banderas Chilenas en nuestras fotos de perfil!" Thinking of all of our wonderful missionaries who have returned home praying and fasting for the work and missionaries here brought us again to tears. How blessed we are that these powerful missionaries are part of lives forever. He shared a great scripture we all recognize and love,
Alma 37:6-7
Tal vez pienses que esto es locura de mi parte; mas he aquí, te digo que por medio de cosas pequeñas y sencillas se realizan grandes cosas; y en muchos casos, los pequeños medios confunden a los sabios. Y el Señor Dios se vale de medios para realizar sus grandes y eternos designios; y por medios muy pequeños el Señor… realiza la salvación de muchas almas.
"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."
Thank you, Elder Stewart and all of you loving Elders and Hermanas who love Chile, for your love, faith and encouragement! Les amamos muchisimo!
Read more!
"Mi corazón se alegró mucho al ver los mensajes de todos los ex-misioneros en Facebook. También recibí un mensaje de text de una ex-misionera en Utah reexpidiendo una cadena a todos los ex-Elderes y Hermanas para que mañana hagamos un ayuno especial por nuestra gran familia Chilena. Una cosa es cierta: hay muchas banderas Chilenas en nuestras fotos de perfil!" Thinking of all of our wonderful missionaries who have returned home praying and fasting for the work and missionaries here brought us again to tears. How blessed we are that these powerful missionaries are part of lives forever. He shared a great scripture we all recognize and love,
Alma 37:6-7
Tal vez pienses que esto es locura de mi parte; mas he aquí, te digo que por medio de cosas pequeñas y sencillas se realizan grandes cosas; y en muchos casos, los pequeños medios confunden a los sabios. Y el Señor Dios se vale de medios para realizar sus grandes y eternos designios; y por medios muy pequeños el Señor… realiza la salvación de muchas almas.
"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."
Thank you, Elder Stewart and all of you loving Elders and Hermanas who love Chile, for your love, faith and encouragement! Les amamos muchisimo!
Read more!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
After the quake, see their faces!
We have posted in large size, the fotos of each zone, so parents, families and loved ones can see for themselves, that their missionaries are happy, smiling and moving forward. These are located as you scroll down. These group shots don't portray the joy exactly that we all felt to finally be together again. Pretty important stuff.
Also, we are dropping into the 'LIFE in CHILE' portion of fotos below, to show the island fotos that Elder Mitchell brought home and shared with us. He wanted them to be on the blog so that all could see and understand what a loss we have felt. We will try to post some of the videos, if possible.
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And here is the rest of it. Again, this entire section should be written inside of these two lines, the lines may be removed but the spaces between cannot be removed... If you have any problems let me know...
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Read more!
Also, we are dropping into the 'LIFE in CHILE' portion of fotos below, to show the island fotos that Elder Mitchell brought home and shared with us. He wanted them to be on the blog so that all could see and understand what a loss we have felt. We will try to post some of the videos, if possible.
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And here is the rest of it. Again, this entire section should be written inside of these two lines, the lines may be removed but the spaces between cannot be removed... If you have any problems let me know...
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Read more!
Mission President institutes new Mission Rule
President May, after learning of the state of the missionaries within the Chile Santiago North Mission, and hearing of the extreme concern and worry from parents regarding their missionaries, implemented a new "Earthquake Clause." Parents had been calling, writing email, sending texts, calling SLC, and were extremely concerned for each of their sons/daughters in the mission. They wanted to send their love, "tell em we love em, please" and that they were praying and fasting for the missionaries all over Chile. Read on to hear of clause and see fotos below:
We went to visit each zone, in all of their sectors/zones and when we arrived to visit, President May told each zone that he has created a new Earthquake Clause/Rule that will be in his mission President manual for future reference. It is the following:
"Hugs are allowed, just today, not only the Chilean handshake and hug from President May, but also from Hermana May, passing on love and un abrazo fuerte, just this one time, to convey and pass along the love from ALL of their parents, mothers, fathers, aunts, Bishops, Stake Presidents, friends, ward members, etc, who are ALL wanting to send their love and concern." We were ALL overjoyed, as we need the therapuetic chance to express love, hug, share tears, smiles, and the missionaries told us that they felt like they really were receiving hugs and love from home. This type of "group therapy" might not have been taught to us as President and wife in the MTC, or even thought might ever be necessary, but in cases of 8.8 earthquakes, it is just what the doctor ordered. After tears, smiles, hugs and expressions of love, we all felt better, and know that the source of love originates with Jesus Christ. Next posting will describe what the missionaries expressed as they described what they were learning/feeling in this experience.
Read more!
We went to visit each zone, in all of their sectors/zones and when we arrived to visit, President May told each zone that he has created a new Earthquake Clause/Rule that will be in his mission President manual for future reference. It is the following:
"Hugs are allowed, just today, not only the Chilean handshake and hug from President May, but also from Hermana May, passing on love and un abrazo fuerte, just this one time, to convey and pass along the love from ALL of their parents, mothers, fathers, aunts, Bishops, Stake Presidents, friends, ward members, etc, who are ALL wanting to send their love and concern." We were ALL overjoyed, as we need the therapuetic chance to express love, hug, share tears, smiles, and the missionaries told us that they felt like they really were receiving hugs and love from home. This type of "group therapy" might not have been taught to us as President and wife in the MTC, or even thought might ever be necessary, but in cases of 8.8 earthquakes, it is just what the doctor ordered. After tears, smiles, hugs and expressions of love, we all felt better, and know that the source of love originates with Jesus Christ. Next posting will describe what the missionaries expressed as they described what they were learning/feeling in this experience.
Read more!
What blessings and miracles we have observed
As we went around to each zone, to hug and love these great missionaries, we saw and heard their hearts full of faith. As you can imagine, the circumstances are so varied. Some zones still don't have lights, some just received water to their apartments (they all have water to drink), some are trying to wash clothes, others hadn't had showers in 2-3 days, since their water was on, then off, then off. Some wanted to shave, others to wash their hair....quite a bit like being at YW camp, or Boy scout camp for the week. But they are smiling. We noticed dirty rings around their collars and cuffs on their wrinkled white shirts, but they still looked so honorable and worthy to be servants of Jesus Christ that it brought me to tears. We KNOW He would be so honored and please to call them, "his friends." I saw dirty, dusty shoes, and it again pleased me to think that they are all earning their reward in the Lord's eyes, as they are literally 'walking in the Lord's footsteps here,' like Mos 15:14-18, 3Ne 20:40 or DyC 128:19 states, "how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring the good news/GOSPEL....." These wonderful feet are carrying the Savior's best missionaries to the chosen and those prepared to follow Him. Here are some of the comments the missionaries shared with us, they are learning:
"How important to have our house built upon the Rock, not sand."
"I felt the Love of God for us"
"I noticed that the material things are NOT the most important, valuable things."
"We need to depend of God"
"I felt the love of my family"
"God loves ALL of His children"
"Urgency of God to bring us all to Salvation"
"Members showed us so much love, we felt it strongly"
"How much more I needed to be prepared."
"Follow the Holy Ghost"
"Listen to the prophet when he tells us to be prepared in all things."
"How Powerful God is and we are nothing without him"
"When it is so dark and hopeless, it always is better when we look to the LIGHT, who is Jesus Christ."
"Prayer is valuable and powerful"
"My prayers helped me feel the Holy Ghost's influence and guidance."
"When we were in line for water with many people, I thought they need Jesus Christ in
their lives, who is the living waters."
"How often he reminds us to repent, but we have to do it now, and not procrastinate."
"He humbles us to help us be saved. We need to be clean to do that."
"Scriptures say he will 'punish us' but spanish, Castigar, comes from Chastity
and that means purify, so he will purify, test us so we can be saved and sanctified."
"dark times made me want to look for the morning."
"All people here suffered this earthquake. The LOrd is no respector of persons, rich, poor, member, no member"
"He wants us to be more urgent and valiant to share our testimonies."
"Follow our leaders, in the mission too, when they told us have emergency funds and food, 3 months ago, we needed to listen AND OBEY!"
Read more!
"How important to have our house built upon the Rock, not sand."
"I felt the Love of God for us"
"I noticed that the material things are NOT the most important, valuable things."
"We need to depend of God"
"I felt the love of my family"
"God loves ALL of His children"
"Urgency of God to bring us all to Salvation"
"Members showed us so much love, we felt it strongly"
"How much more I needed to be prepared."
"Follow the Holy Ghost"
"Listen to the prophet when he tells us to be prepared in all things."
"How Powerful God is and we are nothing without him"
"When it is so dark and hopeless, it always is better when we look to the LIGHT, who is Jesus Christ."
"Prayer is valuable and powerful"
"My prayers helped me feel the Holy Ghost's influence and guidance."
"When we were in line for water with many people, I thought they need Jesus Christ in
their lives, who is the living waters."
"How often he reminds us to repent, but we have to do it now, and not procrastinate."
"He humbles us to help us be saved. We need to be clean to do that."
"Scriptures say he will 'punish us' but spanish, Castigar, comes from Chastity
and that means purify, so he will purify, test us so we can be saved and sanctified."
"dark times made me want to look for the morning."
"All people here suffered this earthquake. The LOrd is no respector of persons, rich, poor, member, no member"
"He wants us to be more urgent and valiant to share our testimonies."
"Follow our leaders, in the mission too, when they told us have emergency funds and food, 3 months ago, we needed to listen AND OBEY!"
Read more!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
News from Easter Island/Tsunami and their Report
We just rec'd an email from our mighty couple, THE RUNDQUISTS, who are
serving so faithfully and valiantly on Easter Island. Elder Rundquist
is the Branch President there, and both were assigned to guide this little
flock and help inspire more to come back to activity. The Rundquists arrived
to our mission from Canada, with very little Spanish-speaking ability, but huge amounts of desire and willingness to be of help, share their testimonies, work hard,
serve others completely....and they are doing just that. We love them dearly,
and appreciate their incredible offering here in the Chile Santiago North Mission.
Here is their report:
Subject: News from Isla de Pascua
Hermana May, Just a little update and something for your blog. The
tsunami hit the east side of the island with only enough force to
throw big rocks up on the coast road. No flooding or other damage with
waves only 5 feet high. We are certainly a blessed little bit of
heaven here. I was talking to one of the local men, my landlord Camilo
Rapu, who told me of a legend of Easter Island that when it was formed
it was blessed that it would be a protected place where nothing would
happen and people who lived here would be blessed and protected.That
legend has certainly held true as there has been nothing happen here
at all. The only concern was for food supplies as planes from Santiago
bring those to us but the local merchants have plenty of food etc. in
stock and only get new supplies once a week. The airport says that
there will be no planes for 3 or 4 days so we are not expecting any
food or water problems at all. I have advised the members of our rama
to be aware of the need for keeping a food and water supply on hand
and they have told me that they always do, not so much for disasters
as for the fact that many times they shut the water off on the island
and you have to provide for yourself although not very long, perhaps a
day. We definitely feel the hand of the Lord in our lives here with
tender mercies everyday as well as a sense of total protection from
the difficulties that are being experienced throughout Chile at this
time. Our prayers are with all those in Chile who now need to trust in
the Lord more than ever that He will see them through this terrible
tragedy in their lives. We love you and so appreciate all the great
and marvelous things that are being done to further the work of the
Lord is this part of His vineyard.
Elder and Hermana Runquist
Read more!
serving so faithfully and valiantly on Easter Island. Elder Rundquist
is the Branch President there, and both were assigned to guide this little
flock and help inspire more to come back to activity. The Rundquists arrived
to our mission from Canada, with very little Spanish-speaking ability, but huge amounts of desire and willingness to be of help, share their testimonies, work hard,
serve others completely....and they are doing just that. We love them dearly,
and appreciate their incredible offering here in the Chile Santiago North Mission.
Here is their report:
Subject: News from Isla de Pascua
Hermana May, Just a little update and something for your blog. The
tsunami hit the east side of the island with only enough force to
throw big rocks up on the coast road. No flooding or other damage with
waves only 5 feet high. We are certainly a blessed little bit of
heaven here. I was talking to one of the local men, my landlord Camilo
Rapu, who told me of a legend of Easter Island that when it was formed
it was blessed that it would be a protected place where nothing would
happen and people who lived here would be blessed and protected.That
legend has certainly held true as there has been nothing happen here
at all. The only concern was for food supplies as planes from Santiago
bring those to us but the local merchants have plenty of food etc. in
stock and only get new supplies once a week. The airport says that
there will be no planes for 3 or 4 days so we are not expecting any
food or water problems at all. I have advised the members of our rama
to be aware of the need for keeping a food and water supply on hand
and they have told me that they always do, not so much for disasters
as for the fact that many times they shut the water off on the island
and you have to provide for yourself although not very long, perhaps a
day. We definitely feel the hand of the Lord in our lives here with
tender mercies everyday as well as a sense of total protection from
the difficulties that are being experienced throughout Chile at this
time. Our prayers are with all those in Chile who now need to trust in
the Lord more than ever that He will see them through this terrible
tragedy in their lives. We love you and so appreciate all the great
and marvelous things that are being done to further the work of the
Lord is this part of His vineyard.
Elder and Hermana Runquist
Read more!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Santiago, Chile Temple Experience, Post Terremoto
Cheryl Lyon, matron of the Santiago Temple in Chile. Her husband Ted Lyon is the temple president. Here is what she wrote:
"Thanks to all of you who have emailed your concern for us. We can state unequivocally that we're fine. We can also state with the same emphasis that riding through that quake in our rocking fourth-floor apartment was for me the scariest experience I've ever been through!
I was sure we were about to die - that either the ceiling would fall on us or that we'd collapse through the floor. It truly was an emotion I'd never experienced before. My whole body shook for the next two hours, and after that I couldn't stop crying.
We didn't even have the presence of mind to get out of bed during the quake. I felt paralyzed, staring at the ceiling and wondering when the earth would stop rolling. It was the longest two minutes of our lives! We could hear things falling out of cupboards, and pictures falling off the walls. But the sound and the movement was the worst.
Our sturdy building held up fine. Just lots of dust and a few broken dishes. But elsewhere, as I'm sure you've seen on the news, people didn't fare as well. Lots of damage. Virtually no stores open. Most parts of Santiago still have no electricity. Collapsed overpasses have closed major highways. The airport is closed because of damage, and planes have been rerouted to northern Chile or to Argentina. Our new missionary doctor was to arrive this morning, so I don't know where he and his wife have ended up.
What a joy to walk into the temple and find it in perfect condition. We just had to close a few drawers and straighten a few crooked pictures. It felt so good to be there in that peaceful refuge and find normality. Moroni did lose his trumpet, however! That was the only noticeable damage.
How grateful we are for how well the Church takes care of us. We've often thought the 24-hour emergency lights in our building were excessive, but we were surely thankful for them at 3:30 this morning as everyone was evacuating the building - including the missionaries downstairs in the MTC. It was so disconcerting to get out of bed in the dark and stumble over fallen items in the bathroom. We got just a taste of what the Haitians have suffered, though their damage and deaths have been so much more devastating, even though their quake a weaker one. So far here they're reporting 123 deaths, but we assume the toll will climb.
We had to decide what to do about the temple. We had every session booked for the day, and wondered if people would arrive. We met with one of Ted's counselors - who had arrived at 5:00 for the early shift, as faithful as ever - and our registrar. We knew it would be difficult for the employees and workers to get to the temple and there was not electricity at the time. One faithful laundry sister came a great distance to help, but there was no gas for the dryers, so she had baptismal clothes from last night lying out all over the laundry.
The temple has an emergency generator which roars into action the second the power goes out. But we learned that it runs on petroleum which lasts only four hours. By 8 a.m. we knew we were about to go dark again, so we made the decision to simply close the temple for the day.
Then, just in the second that the lights began to dim, the power came back on! (We've learned since that we're the only section of Santiago that has power yet.) So then we decided to hold just one session, since we had three out-of-town couples staying in the hospedaje who were expecting to receive their endowments and be sealed today. We mustered all the missionary couples, along with a group of faithful sisters who work the late shift on Fridays and then stay over for the Sat morning shift. We had a most moving morning. The quake had brought such a sense of unity to workers and patrons, and the Spirit was amazing. I've seldom had such a moving experience at the veil - with three consecutive young sisters who were receiving their endowments.
Right now we're sleep-deprived, and Ted has already gone back to bed. The stress has left us exhausted - but we're alive and well! We're still feeling aftershocks - called "replicas" in Spanish. They're reported about 25 of them. One just rolled by as I was writing this.
So, that's the report. After some rest we may venture out and about to see what we can see. Thanks for your love and concern."
Ted and Cheryl
President of the Santiago Temple
Read more!
"Thanks to all of you who have emailed your concern for us. We can state unequivocally that we're fine. We can also state with the same emphasis that riding through that quake in our rocking fourth-floor apartment was for me the scariest experience I've ever been through!
I was sure we were about to die - that either the ceiling would fall on us or that we'd collapse through the floor. It truly was an emotion I'd never experienced before. My whole body shook for the next two hours, and after that I couldn't stop crying.
We didn't even have the presence of mind to get out of bed during the quake. I felt paralyzed, staring at the ceiling and wondering when the earth would stop rolling. It was the longest two minutes of our lives! We could hear things falling out of cupboards, and pictures falling off the walls. But the sound and the movement was the worst.
Our sturdy building held up fine. Just lots of dust and a few broken dishes. But elsewhere, as I'm sure you've seen on the news, people didn't fare as well. Lots of damage. Virtually no stores open. Most parts of Santiago still have no electricity. Collapsed overpasses have closed major highways. The airport is closed because of damage, and planes have been rerouted to northern Chile or to Argentina. Our new missionary doctor was to arrive this morning, so I don't know where he and his wife have ended up.
What a joy to walk into the temple and find it in perfect condition. We just had to close a few drawers and straighten a few crooked pictures. It felt so good to be there in that peaceful refuge and find normality. Moroni did lose his trumpet, however! That was the only noticeable damage.
How grateful we are for how well the Church takes care of us. We've often thought the 24-hour emergency lights in our building were excessive, but we were surely thankful for them at 3:30 this morning as everyone was evacuating the building - including the missionaries downstairs in the MTC. It was so disconcerting to get out of bed in the dark and stumble over fallen items in the bathroom. We got just a taste of what the Haitians have suffered, though their damage and deaths have been so much more devastating, even though their quake a weaker one. So far here they're reporting 123 deaths, but we assume the toll will climb.
We had to decide what to do about the temple. We had every session booked for the day, and wondered if people would arrive. We met with one of Ted's counselors - who had arrived at 5:00 for the early shift, as faithful as ever - and our registrar. We knew it would be difficult for the employees and workers to get to the temple and there was not electricity at the time. One faithful laundry sister came a great distance to help, but there was no gas for the dryers, so she had baptismal clothes from last night lying out all over the laundry.
The temple has an emergency generator which roars into action the second the power goes out. But we learned that it runs on petroleum which lasts only four hours. By 8 a.m. we knew we were about to go dark again, so we made the decision to simply close the temple for the day.
Then, just in the second that the lights began to dim, the power came back on! (We've learned since that we're the only section of Santiago that has power yet.) So then we decided to hold just one session, since we had three out-of-town couples staying in the hospedaje who were expecting to receive their endowments and be sealed today. We mustered all the missionary couples, along with a group of faithful sisters who work the late shift on Fridays and then stay over for the Sat morning shift. We had a most moving morning. The quake had brought such a sense of unity to workers and patrons, and the Spirit was amazing. I've seldom had such a moving experience at the veil - with three consecutive young sisters who were receiving their endowments.
Right now we're sleep-deprived, and Ted has already gone back to bed. The stress has left us exhausted - but we're alive and well! We're still feeling aftershocks - called "replicas" in Spanish. They're reported about 25 of them. One just rolled by as I was writing this.
So, that's the report. After some rest we may venture out and about to see what we can see. Thanks for your love and concern."
Ted and Cheryl
President of the Santiago Temple
Read more!
SLC reports on Church Response to Earthquake
SALT LAKE CITY 1 March 2010 Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile are actively assisting in relief efforts and determining how the Church can be of most assistance in the wake of one of the most powerful earthquakes of the last century. With over half a million Latter-day Saints living in the country, the Church has a substantial presence in Chile.
Local leaders and members began relief efforts shortly after the quake distributing food and water already located in Concepción. Early reports indicate three Church members have died.
Church leaders have identified that food, water, tents, blankets, hygiene kits and sleeping mats are needed to assist people in the affected region. Representatives of the Church in Chile have been in contact with the country’s Interior Ministry to determine how the Church can most appropriately assist in relief efforts. Emergency response personnel at Church headquarters are poised to provide assistance as appropriate.
“While any loss of life and destruction of great magnitude is a tragedy, we don’t anticipate that the situation in Chile will be nearly as devastating as what we’ve seen in Haiti,” said Lynn Samsel, director of emergency response for the Church.
Most Latter-day Saint meetinghouses in Chile fared well in the quake, though many are filled with dust. At least three meetinghouses suffered extensive structural damage, and another was severely flooded. A house that also served as a meetinghouse was swept away in the tsunami triggered by the earthquake.
Contact has been made with all missionaries. All are reported safe and many are assisting in relief efforts. Missionaries who are unable to return to their apartments are staying with members or in meetinghouses. While communication has been somewhat unreliable for local Church leaders, they have had their best success communicating through text messages.
The epicenter of the magnitude 8.8 earthquake was located off the central coast of Chile, causing significant damage in the nearby cities of Santiago and Concepción.
The shaking lasted about three minutes, buckling highways and snapping utility lines. Transportation, communication and electrical power were severed across much of the country. Chilean officials have confirmed more than 720 people died in the earthquake, with more confirmed casualties expected in the coming days.
An estimated two million Chileans have been affected by the earthquake, with at least 500,000 homes sustaining considerable damage. Dozens of aftershocks, some registering as high as 6.9 on the Richter scale, continued to rattle the region over the weekend.
Read more!
Local leaders and members began relief efforts shortly after the quake distributing food and water already located in Concepción. Early reports indicate three Church members have died.
Church leaders have identified that food, water, tents, blankets, hygiene kits and sleeping mats are needed to assist people in the affected region. Representatives of the Church in Chile have been in contact with the country’s Interior Ministry to determine how the Church can most appropriately assist in relief efforts. Emergency response personnel at Church headquarters are poised to provide assistance as appropriate.
“While any loss of life and destruction of great magnitude is a tragedy, we don’t anticipate that the situation in Chile will be nearly as devastating as what we’ve seen in Haiti,” said Lynn Samsel, director of emergency response for the Church.
Most Latter-day Saint meetinghouses in Chile fared well in the quake, though many are filled with dust. At least three meetinghouses suffered extensive structural damage, and another was severely flooded. A house that also served as a meetinghouse was swept away in the tsunami triggered by the earthquake.
Contact has been made with all missionaries. All are reported safe and many are assisting in relief efforts. Missionaries who are unable to return to their apartments are staying with members or in meetinghouses. While communication has been somewhat unreliable for local Church leaders, they have had their best success communicating through text messages.
The epicenter of the magnitude 8.8 earthquake was located off the central coast of Chile, causing significant damage in the nearby cities of Santiago and Concepción.
The shaking lasted about three minutes, buckling highways and snapping utility lines. Transportation, communication and electrical power were severed across much of the country. Chilean officials have confirmed more than 720 people died in the earthquake, with more confirmed casualties expected in the coming days.
An estimated two million Chileans have been affected by the earthquake, with at least 500,000 homes sustaining considerable damage. Dozens of aftershocks, some registering as high as 6.9 on the Richter scale, continued to rattle the region over the weekend.
Read more!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Presidential Elections here in Chile!
Yes, Chile now has had elections and voted in a democratic way to have Sebastian Piñera as the new President of the country.
On Sunday, last week, all of the registered voters in Chile must return to their original place of registration to vote in order to avoid a heafty fine/multa. They travel quickly, with purpose that reminds me of Mary and Joseph returning to Bethlehem to be taxed...back in their city from before. Here in Chile, the people line streets, cars, walking, buses, etc to arrive to their schools, churches, places of voting, which are orderly and respectful. These are well protected, and with local carbineros de Chile/police enforcing the discipline, it went off without a hitch. These are not done electronically, so the votes are opened and counted with many witnesses, and they tallies began to come in by 6pm that afternoon. Pdte Pinera ran against Frei, who had previously been the President in Chile. It was a close race, but there were no battles or discussions by the time the votes began to arrive showing a slight lead but consistent from Pinera. By 7pm, Senor Frei conceeded. It was all done in an orderly, respectful and well-organized manner. We were impressed.
Read more!
On Sunday, last week, all of the registered voters in Chile must return to their original place of registration to vote in order to avoid a heafty fine/multa. They travel quickly, with purpose that reminds me of Mary and Joseph returning to Bethlehem to be taxed...back in their city from before. Here in Chile, the people line streets, cars, walking, buses, etc to arrive to their schools, churches, places of voting, which are orderly and respectful. These are well protected, and with local carbineros de Chile/police enforcing the discipline, it went off without a hitch. These are not done electronically, so the votes are opened and counted with many witnesses, and they tallies began to come in by 6pm that afternoon. Pdte Pinera ran against Frei, who had previously been the President in Chile. It was a close race, but there were no battles or discussions by the time the votes began to arrive showing a slight lead but consistent from Pinera. By 7pm, Senor Frei conceeded. It was all done in an orderly, respectful and well-organized manner. We were impressed.
Read more!
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