San Martín Ward
¡Una feliz navidad para los niños pobres!
The most difficult part of being here is seeing the poverty. Even in this second world country it can be overwhelming at times. As is often the case, there is someone fighting the good fight and making a difference. Rafael is this someone here. His short biography. He grew up on the streets fending for himself since he was 8 years old. Not until he joined the military did he have regular meals and his own bed. Through perseverance and determination he became a police officer and then later a personal bodyguard, eventually serving some very affluent people. Later in his career he managed the security department of a large transportation company. But his calling in life has always been to help the poor children, those at the bottom, where he once was. When he had enough money, he was going to retire and then help the children full time. But when his employer learned of his motive they wanted him to stay and offered to pay his wages in the things he would need to help the children. So Rafael continues to work, but not for his own benefit, and in so doing has blessed thousands of children. Our missionaries have been helping him with manual labor for 6 years now and he's so grateful. The big event around Navidad is to hold some big Christmas fiestas and give each child a Christmas present. That amounted to nearly 1200 gifts this year. He also gives basic food stuffs and hygiene supplies to the poor families in his neighborhood. The missionaries helped prepare for and run the fiestas. (Rafael says other people had helped in years past but they took advantage and stole toys and food for themselves. He appreciates our young missionaries because their sole purpose is to serve. They work hard, they're fun and they love the children.) The mission donated food and hygiene supplies. It was great to help Rafael put lots of smiles on those children's faces!
Pictures of the big event in his neighborhood, Rafael himself in the first. Elder Neddo made a great Papa Noél. Face painting was a favorite activity.
A cute picture of a boy playing with the statues of the manger display. Rafael arranged for fire truck rides with the bomberos (fire fighters). The lady holding balloons is Rafael´s mom, very sweet but also very lost with Alzheimer´s.
A group of missionaries sit on Papa Noél's lap. And evidence that Teresa and I were there too...
On a different day we visited the very poor just inside their shanty town. We didn't venture deeper into their community of dwellings cobbled together with whatever materials could be found. Rafael announced our presence over a loudspeaker and the children came to us.
Papa Noél had a permanent side kick. The little girl snuggled close and wouldn't budge.
I'm told Elder Antre gave up a promising career as a professional soccer player to serve his mission, which he completed a few weeks after these events. Given his love, determination and work ethic he will be successful at whatever he sets his mind to.
Beautiful girls, both the Chilean chicitita and the sister missionaries.
The sheer number of poor people is daunting, and we're in only one small corner of this great big world. We do what we can with our limited material means to help, but my greatest comfort comes from the inspiring words of Pres Benson:
"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in.
The world would take people out of the slums. Christ would take the slums out of people,
and then they would take themselves out of the slums.
The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men,
who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior,
but Christ can change human nature.
I am here to teach of Christ who can change human nature. He changed me; he can change them, too. Then they'll have the guidance, power and motivation to take themselves out of the slums, both spiritually and temporally. I love this gospel!
Yolanda y Star
One family we met through Rafael is a grandmother in very poor health, Yolanda, and her dependent granddaughter Star. (Because in Spanish they always prefix an "es" sound before a word that starts with "s", it took a long time before we realized her name was not Ester!) Yolanda is bedridden and only rarely gets out in a wheel chair. Star's father is deceased and mother is a deadbeat. That left Yolanda to raise Star the best she could. Teresa fell in love with them both. There may be a language barrier but Teresa communicates heart to heart. We have visited a number of times. At the start and end of each visit Yolanda holds Teresa's face in her hands and smiles, telling her how "linda" (beautiful) she is. Tears well in each others' eyes. Teresa bends down and gives her a hug in bed. Star is a bundle of energy and can't keep from hugging Teresa or holding her hand. She's braided Teresa's hair and swing danced with her in their very small home. They've held kittens together and Star has tried to teach Teresa to roll her R's, unsuccessfully so far. They've walked to the local tienda and we've shared some meals Teresa prepared. Yolanda declared them all "rico" (delicious).
Capillas Abiertas
As I mentioned in our first post, one of our three primary responsibilities is to organize capillas abiertas (open houses) in the 48 wards in the mission. We've organized three so far, with increasing levels of success. Thanks to Teresa's attention to detail and my tendency to define repeatable processes,we've improved upon the program given us and are running quite efficiently now. We've developed training materials and helpful suggestions that enable missionaries to more successfully fulfill their roles and responsibilities. We've created similar materials to give to ward leaders when we train them in their ward councils. And we've developed new forms to efficiently capture the data needed for our reports. Our improvement has sparked interest in the Area and they've asked for copies of our materials to see if they might be helpful for other missions. I have one more document to create before we send the lot. It will be interesting to hear their feedback.
What clean cut, handsome young men greet the visitors at the reception table!
¿Qué es tu meta?
What a thrill to be in Chile with my best friend doing what I love to do most! Teresa and I are having the time of our lives. Whatever your current age, I encourage you to set the goal and work toward preparing to serve a full time senior mission when the time is right. You will be so glad you did!
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