We wish you all a Happy New Year as we stand on our balcony Dec. 31, 2018.

We took the picture on the balcony so as to gloat over the weather. According to Mary's phone, it has been below freezing for several days in UT. At 6:15 p.m., it was 68 here in Temuco, Araucaní, Chile.

So, several people have excitedly asked us if we have had a Chilean "completo" yet. Wednesday, we were with three elders who didn't have a dinner appointment so we thought we would take advantage and buy completos all around.  Here is what they look like.

We got the Italian version as the Chilean elder suggested it was the classic. There was a skinny little wiener, if you can call it that, in the bread with avocado and mayonnaise piled on top. When I say "piled" I am not exaggerating.

We both had one and won't be doing that again. BTW - none of the elders ordered one. Was I set up?

Saturday evening, we went to the Christmas dinner held by the branch to which we are assigned. They are delightful people who have been very open to and supportive of us.

The lady two people to Mary's right is mostly crippled and has other challenges but she is in church every week. She works with wood and made the plaque below for us.

It is an image of the new Concepcion temple. We appreciate her thoughtfulness.

This is our first Christmas in 38 years without some or all of our children around us. We appreciated hearing of how many are seeking to keep family traditions alive.

Merry Christmas!

If the mall is dying in the US, that doesn't appear to be the case in Temuco. Here is the Christmas tree in the mall a block and a half from us. It is a beautiful, three-story mall.

 I apologize, again, for being such a bad photographer.

You can see Papa Noel and a Christmas tree which appears to have snow on it. Since Christmas officially falls in summer here, the snow has to reflect the influence of other countries.

Friday we had another "Light the World" activity, this time in Pitrufquén which is about a half hour south of us. It is in the midst of Mapuche country. They are the native tribe in the area which was the last to be conquered by the Spaniards.

The water fountain area in which the children are playing was designed after the Mapuche symbol. The Mapuche people are seeking to regain some of the land they lost to the Spaniards and, at times, will hold animated public protests.

You can see Mary standing next to the banner of the Christus statue.

Tonight we had some excitement at the homeless shelter. The holidays seem to bring on an increase of drinking and the problems which follow. I won't bore you with the details but, at one point, the young man in charge locked us both in the office while he called the director and the police (i.e. los Carabineros).  Here is a picture of two with their bullet-proof vests like the ones worn by the two who visited us this evening.

The Carabineros are a national police force and, as I understand it, handle all of the non-investigative law enforcement in the country. 

They always drive with their lights on so you don't know when you are in trouble. They don't patrol much so traffic is mostly regulated by a balance of the desire to survive and the desire to get where you need to go.  Also, they have huge speed bumps in places you wouldn't expect.

All in all, they must do a good job as we feel pretty safe.

On Monday, we went with the Temuco Cautin zone to the entrance of one of many universities in this city for a "Light the World" Activity. (Monday happened to mark one month that we have been in Chile.)

They approached many people and, among other things, asked them to think of ways they could light the world during this Christmas season. They were then asked to write their ideas on the white board at the back. You can't see it but many ideas were written that showed insight and a desire to give as the Savior gave.

BTW- The last name of the very tall missionary on Mary's left is Little. The three in street clothes are members who happened by and stayed during the activity.

Some time ago, someone pointed out to us that Chile, like Texas, takes pride in doing things bigger than others. We have been blessed to live in both places. Is the following a coincidence?

Chile Flag
Adopted: ‎18 October 1817

Texas Flag
Adopted January 25, 1839 (by the Republic of Texas)

It took me a while to get this photo from our mission-wide Christmas devotional and Light the World activity which was held on July 29.

These are the 150+ missionaries,  from 20 countries, who serve in our mission. (The mission president and his wife are seated to my left.)

We are truly blessed by our association with them. Their energy is contagious. They come from many different backgrounds, cultures, races and ethnicities yet working together in a common cause makes them best friends. We enjoyed watching them greet each other as they arrived and seeing the joy in their faces as they did.

Those who would seek to document the blessings of true diversity would do well to study this group.

This was a night to be remembered.

We serve at the homeless shelter on Thursdays and tonight just happened to be their Christmas party. I guess Mexican music is very popular here and they had a lady come in who sings it professionally. The men really got into it and started dancing. They asked three or four volunteer ladies to dance and Mary was one of them. She tried to say no but the man wouldn't hear it. She handled it quite well. (You will have to believe me because the screen shot from Marco Polo is pathetic. Our posterity got to see the video and enjoyed it.)

Her dance partner ended up doing a Michael Jackson impersonation later.

Here is the Mexican singer in her big sombrero.

Here Mary is with other volunteers preparing treats and gifts for the clients.

We agreed on our way home that the clients there, except for a very few, are gracious and grateful.

Changing topics... You can buy some amazing produce on the streets. Here are huge strawberries we bought on the way back from paying our expensive Internet bill. They even taste better than they look.

Today marks our mensiversary (1 month since starting our mission). Are we veterans now?

It was a busy day which included working with the young missionaries inviting people to help "Light the World."  Here we are with a picture of the Christus statue representing Him whose work we are seeking to do.

(I need to work on my posture.)

Later, Mary went with two young sisters and I went with some young elders. We contacted in another plaza and enjoyed some nice conversations.

Today was our preparation day and Mary wanted to go to the big open air market we have driven through several times. On the way there, we were entertained again by an unusual act.

I don't know if you can tell but he is juggling while sitting on a unicycle. I was impressed.

This isn't a very good picture but here is one block lined with little stands selling all sorts of stuff.

We bought some produce that is amazing. In other countries where I have purchased produce from street stands, it was kind of rough. But this produce (onions, tomatoes, broccoli, etc.) is wonderful.

We understand that the ocean is at least 1.5 hours away by car. How long must it be by ox cart?

That is a full load of Chilean seaweed (cochayuyo). Just looking at it can stimulate nausea. Imagine what eating it must be like.

Every time we go north more than an hour, we go over a long bridge over an amazingly beautiful valley. Yesterday, we needed to visit the apartments of a number of missionaries in the north, one of which was close to the valley. It is disappointing that our cell-phone pictures don't even come close to capturing the beauty of this valley.

Mary likes what the railroad bridge adds to the view.

I tried to capture the view in the other direction but couldn't get a clear shot.

Tonight we completed our first evening of service at the homeless shelter for men. It's name is Hogar de Cristo (Christ's home).

Here are some signs of encouragement posted outside. The bottom one says "hope" which I guess is appropriate as it supports all of the others.

I was asked to process all of the men who came in to be fed and spend the night. That was a real challenge as some of them didn't have the best diction. Some of them became good friends and wanted to chat me up quite a while and others wanted to share their English knowledge. One young man (21) made me sad as he hadn't had contact with his family for some time because he didn't feel he was important to them.

Mary sorted clothes and helped dispense food trays in the kitchen.

The kitchen position seemed OK because her job was to give a tray of food to those who presented a card or slip of paper indicating they had checked in. That worked great but some really wanted to engage her in a conversation. (As we left, one man kissed her hand.) I continue to be impressed with her courage in being willing to do things even with limited Spanish.

Today we had an experience not to be repeated. I went to traffic court for a violation committed  almost a month before we arrived.  Here is the municipal building in Lautaro where I had to appear.

Evidently, the couple before us drove past a stop set up by the national police to make sure everybody has their documents and is insured. (I'm sure they weren't even aware they missed it.) The judge told me that it was a grave infraction which carried a large fine and could result in my having my license suspended. (I am driving on a UT license so I don't know how that would play out.) Fortunately, he believed me that I wasn't even in the country at the time and didn't ask to see my license. He lowered the fine and I paid it immediately. I'm glad to be done with that as I worried that I may not even be able to drive back to our apartment (about 30 miles away).

As we left, I told Mary that her #1 copilot duty is to make sure I never drive past a police stop.

This week, we had a mission-wide conference and Christmas celebration. As part of the conference, we went to the main plaza in Los Angeles where we sang Christmas carols, released 160 helium balloons with a "Light the World" card on them and visited with people passing through the plaza.

Mary and I were able to give someone a copy of the Book of Mormon and hand out "Light the World" cards to 15 others.

As part of the Christmas celebration, one of the young missionaries played instruments from his native land.

He has an instrument made of many tubes under his arm.

Also, our mission president played the guitar and sang "Silent Night."

Today was significant because Mary gave her testimony in Spanish in church for the first time. I followed her and said that she doesn't speak much but she loves much and that is why she is here. A counselor in the mission presidency complimented her for being willing to come and teach them in their native tongue. 

Here is a picture of the Pitrufquén chapel where the district conference was being held.

The chapel and cultural hall are upstairs with everything else being on the first floor.

Often, when we are stopped at a light on a busy street, we are entertained. Juggling is the most common attraction but we saw one magician who was amazing.  Here is a juggler. He is looking up at the ball which he introduced into his juggling.

We were going to give him money but he entertained until the light changed. I wonder if they are looking for a talent scout rather than money.