Sunday, November 18, 2012

ONLY 2 GOING HOME - NOV 2012

Elder Camarena (Panama), and Elder Wirthlin (UT) were the only two leaving this time.

THE NORTH AMERICANS ARRIVED A DAY LATE- NOV 2012

Elder Nuttall (UT), Elder Spriggs (UT), Elder Williams (UT), Hna. Dalley (UT), Hna. & Pres. Rappleye

THE FIRST ONES TO ARRIVE - NOV 2012

The new Latin missionaries arrived from the Santiago MTC.
Hna. Flores (Ecuador), Elder Hinostroza (Peru), Elder Hurtado (Bolivia), Elder Fonseca (Costa Rica), 2)Hna. & Pres Rappleye, Elder Delgado (Argentina), Elder Muiba (Bolivia), Elder Rodriguez (Peru). 

LOVE THE LETTERS

Hna. Martinez & Hna. Rossi

ZONE LEADER COUNCIL NOV 2012

1) Elder Walker, Elder Balbuena, 2) Elder Juarez, Elder Wood, Elder Trujillo, Elder Pugh,   3) Elder Winsor, Elder Reich, Elder Smith, Elder Olavarria, Elder Archiprette, 4) Elder Bowers, Elder Baker, Elder Arce, 5) Elder Wirthlin, Elder Urrutia, 6) Elder Williams, Elder Davis, Elder Trammell, Elder Johnson

GORGEOUS

 Nov. 12 - Huge rhododendron bushes in full bloom. Summer is here.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Sorry, sorry the blog hasn't been kept updated.   We have had sick missionaries, traveling for interviews, catching up to do, etc etc.  It is now pretty much updated.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MISSION!!!!!!!

Springtime!!!! These flowers are used to make canola oil.
Most of the countryside (the drive between small towns) in our mission looks like this.
Beautiful scenery everywhere!

OSORNO VOLCANO


VOLCANO OSORNO


VOLCANO VILLARRICA


BETWEEN LOS LAGOS & PANGUIPULLI

Paradise!

VALDIVIA

Fish market every morning on the river in Valdivia (row of colored tarps on the river edge).

A COMMON SITE

Fishing is a big industry in Chile.  This is common to see in most coastal cities.
Selling crab on the side of the street where you board the ferry to Chiloe.

YOU DON'T SEE THIS EVERYDAY

This was on the street in Villarrica, notice the rear view mirror.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Beautiful, beautiful countryside between Coyhaique and General Carrera Lake.  The mountain in the background is known as Cerro Castillo - Castle Hill.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION #2

Beautiful drive between Coyhaique and the Marble Caves.

CATEDRAL DE MARMOL - MARBLE CATHEDRAL

The next several photos are of the Marble Cathedral and Chapel.  They are on the Lake General Carrera which is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in South America, also the deepest at almost 2,000 feet deep.  The lake lies part in Chile and part in Argentina.  The caves and formations have been formed by wave action over thousands of years.  It is about a 4 hour drive  from Coyhaique.  They are amazing!








MISSIONARIES

Elder Miño and Elder Cruz - musical number for fireside in Paillaco.

............MORE MISSIONARIES


Elder Damasco and Elder Dominguez in front of the house used as a chapel in Niebla.

...........MORE MISSIONARIES

Elder Renshaw & Elder Rytting in Panguipulli.  This is the view they have from their house.

ZONE LEADER COUNCIL 2012

Elder Olavarria, Elder Wood, Elder Walker, Elder Juarez, Elder Smith, Elder Trujillo, Elder Balbuena, Elder Pugh, Elder Winsor, Elder Baker, Elder Arce, Elder Davis, Elder Bowers, Elder Urrutia, Elder Reich, Elder Archiprette, Elder Wirthlin, Elder Johnson, Elder Williams, Elder Trammell             

OUR TALLEST & SHORTEST



Elder Villantoy from Peru, and Elder Gubler (6'8"+) from Utah.  Elder Villantoy is Elder Gubler's zone leader.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

FINISHING THEIR MISSIONS - OCT 2012

Hna. Chamorro, Hna. Rappleye, Hna. Kitto
Pres. Rappleye, Elder Johnston

Also leaving

Hna. Chacon

ARRIVING MISSIONARIES - OCT 2012

1)Elder Carmen (assistant), Elder Carter (CA), Elder Fox (AZ), Hna. Rappleye, Hna. Espinosa (Argentina)
2)Elder Smith (assistant to be), Elder Werner (UT), Elder Amone (FL), Pres. Rappleye
3)Elder Moore (NV), Elder Peterson (CO), Elder Davis (assistant), Elder Gubler (UT)

CITY OF CHAITEN

The Chaiten volcano erupted in 2008, supposedly the first time in 9,000 years.  All residents of the city were evacuated including church members and 2 missionaries of a small branch there. There were no deaths from the eruption.  There was one casualty from a heart attack while on the boat leaving Chaiten.  The residents went to Puerto Montt and the island of Chiloe, but most were anxious to return.  The government had plans to relocate the city, but was unsuccessful because the residents did not want the city moved.  The residents wanted to return to their homes (whether still standing or not) and live there in Chaiten.  Many returned before services of electricity and running water were available.  A couple of the members we spoke with said that when they returned, they were without power and water for 1-2 YEARS, yet they stayed to help rebuild the city that they loved.  We went there with the assistants and Elder & Sis. Goodman to meet with the members that had returned, and see if things were ok to send missionaries again and re-open the branch.  The members were excited with the possibility of holding meetings again and having missionaries return.  Chaiten is a 12 hour ferry ride from Puerto Montt or you can drive to the end of the island of Chiloe and take about a 6 hour ferry from Quellon to Chaiten.  Members who left after the eruption, are slowly returning.

CHAITEN

You can see part of the city on the left.  All the sand in front of the city forming a big beach was dumped there by the river after the eruption, when the river changed it's course, going thru the middle of town.

AERIAL VIEW OF CHAITEN - 2008

Got this aerial view of part of the city from the internet.  Before the eruption, the river went around the city.  Afterwards it went right thru the city to the ocean.

CHAPEL IN CHAITEN

This is the home that was used as the chapel before the volcano eruption.  It is not safe to be used because of water damage, and will be torn down.

INSIDE CHAPEL

Elder & Sister Goodman inside the chapel.  We were told that most of the damage was from flooding, and not sand.  Floors and some walls have rotted.

VOLCANO IN CHAITEN

Vapor, smoke and some ash still come from the volcano.  Most of it blows across the border into Argentina.  After the volcano erupted, the government tried to move the city a little farther from the volcano, but most of the residents refused to move.
A few blocks away from the river.  Some areas of the city were lucky and didn't fill with sand, other parts just had flooding.  There are still PLENTY of opportunities for missionary service, even after 4 years! 
House backed up to the river.

CHAITEN

Houses along the river.  Retaining walls were built to try and keep the water & sand from filling the city.  Notice the sand between the wall and the house (by the yellow house).

CHAITEN

The beach formed by all the sand/ash in front of Chaiten, when the volcano caused the river to detour thru the city.

OOPS.................

We drove down on the beach as had other cars, but as we were turning around to go back, we got stuck. President Rappleye, Elder Goodman, Elder Carmen, & Elder Davis trying to get us unstuck.  City of Chaiten in the background.

SUNSET IN CHAITEN

The assistants, Elder Carmen and Elder Davis.

DELICIOUS - NOT

Elder Carmen eating nalca, similar to rhubarb, but tougher and more stringy.

PARQUE PUMALIN - CHAITEN

Assistants, Elder Carmen & Elder Davis, about 30-45 minutes from Chaiten
Elder & Sis. Goodman, about 30-45 minutes from Chaiten.