Traveling has been the theme for this month - a welcome change from the office routine (although the office work piles up when we are away).
Santiago
Early in October I was invited to a training seminar at church headquarters in Santiago for the finance secretaries (financieros) from the missions in this area. Since there was no car available that day and since you can’t get from Rancagua to Santiago by train by 8 am, Barb and I opted to travel by train at mid-day on the previous day, stay overnight at the church's hospedaje (hostel), and attend the temple that evening. The accommodations were great, as was the temple experience. Barb even attended the temple the next morning while I was in my seminar. We had a great get-away and some R&R for two days. I even bought a snappy new hat to protect my balding head from the strong Chilean sun.
Early in October I was invited to a training seminar at church headquarters in Santiago for the finance secretaries (financieros) from the missions in this area. Since there was no car available that day and since you can’t get from Rancagua to Santiago by train by 8 am, Barb and I opted to travel by train at mid-day on the previous day, stay overnight at the church's hospedaje (hostel), and attend the temple that evening. The accommodations were great, as was the temple experience. Barb even attended the temple the next morning while I was in my seminar. We had a great get-away and some R&R for two days. I even bought a snappy new hat to protect my balding head from the strong Chilean sun.
Later in the month, Barb again went to Santiago, this time with the office Elders and several Hermanas to complete some legal documents. Shown are Harmanas Mason and Arango beside the temple . Sister Arango is from Colombia and she and her companion, Sister Pena, live in our apartment building. We have become quite good friends, and many mornings they tutor us in spanish.
More Improvements to our Apartment
We continue to upgrade our apartment. No. 1 recent improvement is to our study which Barb uses every morning to study Spanish while I sleep . No. 2 improvement is our “Cabo Room” which now has two wicker chairs with cushions that we had made at a local tapiceria (upholstery shop), a small end table to match our very small balcony, and several potted plants. Our most recent purchase was a parrilla (barbeque).
Reserva Nacional Rio de Los Cipreses
Several weeks ago on our p-day, Barb & I and the office elders took a trip to a national park located to the east of Rancagua in the Andean foothills. The park sets in huge glacial valley and several glaciers are the source of the Cachapoal river which flows near Rancagua. We took our new parrilla along for a picnic lunch. Afterward we took a hike to a small waterfall, then did a little sightseeing on the way home.
Pichilemu
Last Friday, we went for another fun trip, this time to the Pacific ocean and the small beach community of Pichilemu. We have 2 elders in Pichilemu and they needed a new house (they have been without electricity for 2 months). So after taking care of the housing problem we explored the beach area and the small town. Nearby is Punto de Lobos, a popular destination for serious surfers (at times the waves here are 40 feet high). The church in Pichilemu looks more like a temple that a chapel for only 40 active members.
Last Friday, we went for another fun trip, this time to the Pacific ocean and the small beach community of Pichilemu. We have 2 elders in Pichilemu and they needed a new house (they have been without electricity for 2 months). So after taking care of the housing problem we explored the beach area and the small town. Nearby is Punto de Lobos, a popular destination for serious surfers (at times the waves here are 40 feet high). The church in Pichilemu looks more like a temple that a chapel for only 40 active members.
El Campo
And finally - I have made several trips in the campo (countryside) to do financial audits of several small branches.
This involves traveling over some of the narrow backroads to very small towns like Puemo and Pichedegua, meeting the local church leaders, asking questions, examining their books, and completing the required paperwork. This region of Chile is very agricultural with numerous wine vineyards. Elder Sappenfield (the previous financiero and my mentor) accompanied me on one of the financial audits, and we stopped along the way for a closer look at one of the many fields of grapes.
This involves traveling over some of the narrow backroads to very small towns like Puemo and Pichedegua, meeting the local church leaders, asking questions, examining their books, and completing the required paperwork. This region of Chile is very agricultural with numerous wine vineyards. Elder Sappenfield (the previous financiero and my mentor) accompanied me on one of the financial audits, and we stopped along the way for a closer look at one of the many fields of grapes.
