I forgot to post about saying farewell to Elder Chacón. We served with him in Tolhuaca and I posted about him earlier.

His father checked out of the family when his parents divorced a number of years ago. I'm not sure his mother ever wrote to him his whole mission. He has been on his own since he was 15. Ward members had arranged a place for him to stay for a month after he got home. His circumstances have been tough for a long time and will be yet he served cheerfully and well. I hope our paths cross again some day.

Elder Villar of the Seventy and his wife toured our mission last week. They are from Chile and he serves as second counselor in our area presidency.

He gave a very interesting talk in the April 2019 General Conference.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/52villar?lang=eng

We had a youth activity yesterday which was enjoyed by all. Several we thought would come didn't but the three who came really enjoyed themselves.

Today, in the second hour meeting, they were excited to plan for the next activity. That's the outcome we were hoping for.

I thought I should report on our second Valentines Day in Chile. To be sure, it seems to be celebrated at least as much here as in the U.S.

On my way to the store to buy, among other things, chocolate for Mary, I saw street vendors selling something interesting.

These are 6 strawberries on a skewer dipped in chocolate with a colorful marshmallow on the top. Having seen these, buying chocolate in the store seemed boring. Mary seemed pleased.

That evening, we went to the wedding celebration for a young woman from the first branch in which we served. We had no idea what to expect.

We arrived about an hour after the scheduled start time only to learn that the bride had not yet arrived. After a few minutes, an SUV pulled into the grassy area and she got out with her father who delivered her to the groom who was waiting to the left. (Sorry I didn't get him in the picture.)  Everyone was outside around the pool and they immediately started taking all kinds of pictures and serving delicious hors d'oeuvres.  We enjoyed visiting with people we knew and, a little after 9:00 started saying our goodbyes. We were informed that we could not leave before dinner and, shortly, everyone went inside.

The first picture is of the entrance of the bride, groom and bride's father. The second is of the two families.

Over a dozen speeches and a toast were offered before dinner and we finished eating after midnight. At some point, we learned that the festivities, including dancing, would go until 4:00 a.m. Since we got up at 3:00 the previous morning and got to bed at almost 1:00 that morning, we said our goodbyes after 12:30 and headed home - being the first to leave. (We wondered how many were jealous of us.)

The 90-year-old Temuco pioneer woman we met at a chapel open house about a year ago happens to be in the same ward as the groom's family. I took a picture of her and her daughter with Mary. The daughter was visiting from Norway. She went to college there, married a native and has lived there ever since.

Yesterday we joined with members from our branch and another on a bus trip to the temple.  Mary and I went primarily to do what we could to ensure these three brethren and a young mother with her newly baptized 11-year-old son had the best experience they could.

It was the first baptism trip for all three The brother on the left was baptized just over a year ago and the two on the right were baptized several weeks ago.

They all three have mobility challenges and two have communication challenges. Combine that with an experience and place that were totally new to them and you'll understand why we had some challenges. Even with that, they all had a good experience. We dropped the two on the right off at their house after midnight to waiting, non-member family members and both commented on the good experience they had.

We try to get all new converts to the temple to be baptized for a family member within three weeks of their confirmation. That is the main thrust of our retention effort.

Well, Saturday we had another baptism, this time a 12-year-old Peruvian boy whose mother recently reactivated.  He is a delightful young man who went with us on the long bike ride.

We are pictured with the brother who was released as 1st counselor in the branch presidency the Sunday before. That left me to preside at the baptism and offer the welcome to the branch. (The branch president is away with his family.) I ordained him a deacon the next day as well. 

As we visit missionary houses we carry away left over clothing. Using that, Mary outfitted him in a suit and tie. He came to church Sunday looking like a priesthood holder.

I haven't taken a picture of a street performer for a while, mostly because it is hard to get a good shot.  However, today I was walking home and came across this guy with his two dance partners.

They must practice a lot as their moves are perfectly synchronized.