October 1st and it is happy birthday to me and little Clara's 1st birthday. I celebrated with a phone call from each missionary house singing happy birthday to me. It started at 7:30 in the morning and ended at 10:00 that night. I was very surprised!
This man is selling roasted nuts up and down the streets. He has a whistle that he blows to let everyone know that he is there and ready to sell his wares.
Even though it was my birthday, we still had to work.
President Arrington with my favorite birthday cake: carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.
Elder L and I checking out some repairs at the ZL's house. To the left is a ward member, then Elder Noe, me and Elder Villegas.
These elders wanted a rug big enough so that they could all kneel on it. They loved it.
Okay, 2 of my very favorites, Elder Harrison and Elder Sellers. Great Missionaries!!
Our 2 Canadian missionaries and 2 of my favorites. Elder Archibald and Elder Moore.
Elder L and I loved this sweet little Hermana. It was hard to day goodbye.
Another rag rug being put to good use.
This brick fence and gate was across the drive to one of the farmhouses between Bulnes and Chillan.
They had a beautiful view of the volcano with lush pastures for the sheep.
The fresh posts they use for the fence line usually sprout branches during the rainy season.
Grain silos around Bulnes.
Our happy little van, we could not do our job without it. It has become our good friend.
These next pictures were taken along the road between Bulnes and Quillon.
A pivot line in the shadow of the volcano.
Nice concrete irrigation ditches.
This farmer had turkeys,
pigs,
and sheep.
This naughty sheep had to wear a wooden X around its neck to keep it from going through the fence.
A typical scene on a country road.
These beautiful flowers were found in Quillon. They looked like grapes and hung like grapes but they were flowers.
Two great hermanas in Quillon.
Elder K helping the missionaries.
I love these lovely tiger lilies that Elder K. surprised me with. They are one of my favorite flowers.
The roses are in bloom.
One of the most beautiful streets in the mission and it is found in Chillan.
Outside of Chillan.
The missionaries home in Talcahuano Norte.
The view from the front window.
Elder Acton, from Montana and Elder Mesa from Columbia at house in Centinela, Talcahuano Norte
In October we had a ward talent night. These are two of the lovely Cueca dancers.
The older members of the ward dressed in their Cueca costumes singing songs of national pride and traditional Chile.
In October we visited the Chiflon Diablo mine a.k.a. the devil's breath.
Ma and Pa Miners
Our group, the Baldens, us and the Kenningtons.
Just try and get me to go in there.
Feeling a little brave still, but the steps seemed to go on and on and down and down.
Finally got her in a cage FREAK OUT!!! and then the lights went out!! We dropped down several hundred feet, this was not for the faint of heart!!!!
Down in the belly of the beast the guide tells us stories about the mine. Since it was in spanish I just sat there and tried not to freak out.
The only light in the mine was from our headlamps.
This is one of the cages where they kept the canaries. If the canary was found dead then everybody had to clear out of the mine quickly until the air was good again.
This is one of the wheel barrows that was used to haul coal.
Finally, heading back up and out.
This is a replica of the store that the miners could use their tokens to shop in.
We all thought this was a washer ringer but it was used to make pan.
When we were in the mine we were actually under the ocean out by that peninsula.
Another view, I am glad I saw this AFTER I went into the mine.
This was the community bread oven. The guide showed us how it was used.
After seeing how the miners lived we went across the bay and saw how the bosses lived. There was quite a big difference.
This was a guest house on the property that was being restored.
I was fascinated by this crazy spider web.
The mansion had a huge well manicured lawn with flower gardens.
The lady in the long dress was in period costume and was our guide.
Looking out across the bay from the gardens.
President Bluth's wife from the South mission had a birthday so President Bluth treated all of the office couples from both missions to a birthday dinner for Sister Bluth. It was really really good!
More flowers from Elder L and my hair is long enough for a ponytail.
For Halloween I organized another fun party with the office couples and office missionaries from our mission and the south mission.
