What a crazy week! A LOT happened! Let´s start with the terremoto (earthquake). We were walking in the street, contacting people when we saw the power lines swinging in the wind...but there wasn´t any wind. I thought, ¨Hey! That´s weird,¨ when we were walking past the house some members. Suddenly they ran out their door yelling ¨Hermanas! Está temblando fuerte!¨ (Sisters! It's shaking really strong!) We talked with them for a bit outside to help them calm down when an alarm started to sound on their cell phone. Everyone has an alarm on their phone in Chile that the government initiates when there is danger of a tsunami after an earthquake (Chile is one of the most earthquake prone countries in the world). Within 5 minutes the streets started filling up with cars and people fleeing for the hills. We had just had a capacitación (training meeting) of what we should do in an emergency when this happened (inspiration from Hermana Bluth - Mission President's wife). So we went to the house to wait for a call from our zone leaders and prepared our emergency kits. We ended up having to go to the stake center (larger church building where more people can gather)to wait. We were there until about 11:00pm playing ping pong and "Mafia". The tsunami never hit here like it did in the north but it was an interesting experience to say the least. A lot of people here are still scared because of the big terremoto (earthquake) and tsunami de 2010.
(Note: In 2010 a massive earthquake measuring 8.8 hit the Concepcion area triggering tsunami warnings in 53 countries around the Pacific. 525 people lost their lives and approx. 9% of the population in the affected areas lost their homes)
This week we also celebrated the Day of Patriots. I have never eaten so much BBQ or meat in the 10 months I´ve been in Chile! I am not complaining! The BBQ here is VERY good! On the 18th, we went to the Laguna Grade to fly kites and buy stuff at the fundo. I found a booth of all vinyl in Spanish but they were really expensive so I didn't buy anything. We bought Churros and left to prepare for Cristian´s baptism! It was so great to see all his family there to support him! Presidente Bluth and Hermana Bluth came to the baptism too! I was a little worried how they would baptize him because he has partial paralysis. He can´t move is left arm or left leg. In the end, todo salió bien (It all went well).
Having a good time at the Laguna flying Chile kites with the Hermanas.
At Cristian's baptism.
I just love to see the change and light that grows in the eyes of the people we teach. I love to see them accept the evangelio de Jesucristo (gospel of Jesus Christ), to help them find the purpose of life and see them come to know and feel that they are children of a Heavenly Father that loves them.
After the baptism, we celebrated the 18th with a big fiesta! The Latinos sure know how to party! I have never seen so many people dancing! Young and old, it doesn´t matter your age! We also had a Karaoke contest... they wanted me to compete but my knowledge of Spanish songs is a total of.... 0! One of the traditional dances here is called" La Cueca". Another is called the Huaracha (it's super ridiculous and made me laugh).
Ah! I´m running out of time! I wish I had more so send all the details but it´ll have to wait until next week.
Les amo mucho! (Love you lots !)
Hermana Jakob
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