Bad picture - wonderful activity. We helped the Gorbea district with a finding activity in the plaza in Friere. The activity involved finding and highlighting references to Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon. I was pleased that more than normal people I approached agreed to participate.

One man with whom I was speaking hit on Mary in English. Just when you think you can't be surprised...

Today, we went to the Museo Regional de la Araucanía in Temuco. It is a history mostly of the Mapuche people who are indigenous to this area. I was glad to get to know their history better.

After the Spanish came to Chile bringing silver coins, some of the Mapuche people became quite expert at making jewelry, among other things, from the silver. Here Mary is standing next to a display of Mannequins with the traditional garb and some of the silver jewelry.

Here I am looking at a display of jewelry and other things made from the silver.

Yesterday, we had a nice visit and meal with a Venezuelan family. We have had a relationship with one of them since Mary helped teacher her over six months ago. (She is the one standing between the two of us in the picture below.)

Things are really bad in Venezuela, economically and politically, so many are coming to Chile. The other people in the picture, except the little boy, have been here only two weeks. It is always warm where they live in Venezuela so the Chilean winters are rough. 

They are delightful people and so willing to share although their resources are scarce.

Yesterday, we had our zone conference. As part of these, the missionaries who will be returning home before the next zone conference are invited to share their testimonies.  One of those who testified yesterday was Elder Dominguez of Brazil.

We have interacted with Elder Dominguez on many occasions. On one such occasion, he shared his conversion story. I won't try to summarize all of it but will share that he was an atheist until finding the Book of Mormon and the Church. He is very even tempered and doesn't show much emotion. However, yesterday he wept openly when testifying with absolute assurance that God lives. I was moved by that testimony and wept a bit myself.

Occasions such as these represent some of the most significant blessings of serving a mission.

We welcomed a new president and his companion this week.

President and Sister Cardús are from Buenos Aires, Argentina and he served his youth mission in the same mission where I served - Argentina, Cordoba. As I understand it, however, he served about 5 years after I did.

So, there can be various ways to measure the sacrifices made by going on a mission to another country. One is how excited you get when you find something you haven't had for months.

Yes, those are saltines and, yes, Mary is beyond excited.

Saturday, we boarded a bus with other members of our branch and headed to the temple in Concepcion. It was a very busy day for the temple - being both a Saturday and a holiday. (That matters because many, if not most, people here work at least part of Saturday.)

Several of the youth were baptized for members of our family - making over 100 the number of baptisms for which we have been responsible on our mission. ;-)

I didn't have a picture of the temple at night so decided to take one.

Mary is talking to a young man from Brazil who served in our mission and has returned to Chile to take the next steps in his life.

Friday was our final conference with the Mays and they brought the whole mission together for the occasion.

The Mays have done an amazing job and have blessed many lives - including ours.

We enjoyed the teachings of the conference and the opportunity to be with so many young missionaries with whom we have associated in our 7 months here.

(You will recognize me in the picture as I am the only one slouching.)