The Andes Mountains are so beautiful and majestic. But unlike the mountain in UT these mountains are mostly barren but very steep.

















More views of the Maipo River.

This is one view of the Maipo River Southeast of Santiago. We traveled to this Canyon de Maipo with Elder and Sister Goodwin. Elder Goodwin is the Area Psychologist from Cedar City, UT. This canyon leads to the Argentine border on a dirt road. We did not drive that far. As you can see the water coming down the Andes is flowing pretty good for early winter. We will need to go back in the spring to see the flow.














This is a small store near the bridge over the river. Behind the store lkis the road that goes further up the canyon to the Argentine border.

















This picture is looking up the mountains from the river. A really beautiful view.




This sign is just a common site traveling he outskirts of Santiago. It is a Cafe that sells a local favorite, the empanada, a half moon shaped cover bread type filled with meat, potatos etc. They are really good. Pan Amasado is a thick hard crusted bread that I do not care for.

Another look at our apartment building. We live on the fifth floor.
















This picture shows a little of the plant life here in Santiago. As you can see there are a lot of palm trees spread throughout the city. Sandy really loves the rose bushes in the foreground. At the present time one other couple reside in our building, Dr and Sister Limburg, from Fillmore, UT. In the building on the right are three other missionary couples.














This is a better look at the small rose garden that Sandy really loves to watch.



















This is still another view of the Andes from our apartment on a little clearer day.

These are additional pictures taken from our balconey

















This picture was taken directly out our balconey facing north.

























This picture and the next was taken from the Area Office of the building we live in.

This is a picture taken from our balconey looking north east toward the Andes.















Even here in Santiago, I am always washing dishes. No dishwasher.
















Another view of our kitchen. Really nice and spacious.
















This is our laundry room. Most apartment do not have a washer and dryer. It they do they are very tiny appliances. We live in concrete box no vents or ducting anywhere. You can see the dryer vent traveling up and over the washer out the window. You can also see the tankless water heater on the back wall. We have not seen any tanked water heaters here in Santiago.

Santiago Pewter Factory May 29, 2010

On the north side of Santiago we made our way to this pewter factory. They literally had shelves and shelves of platters, goblets, pitchers, picture frames and other items. If you arrive at the right times, you will beable to watch them make the pewter. We purchased a small picture frame that I have on my desk with a photo of our eight children. The other item we purchased was a key holder that we will place on the entry of our home.

The lady in the picture is a worker at the factory.
That guy on the right sneaking into the picture is Elder Warren Johnson.

Capacitacion May 8, 2010

When we arrived in Santiago, we found out that the previous auditors (Elder and Sister Whitchurch) had departed 8 months previously. They had began to contact the nine area authority seventies to have them begin the process to select one Melchizedek priesthood holder from each of the nine regions to be their assistant. These individuals should have some training in auditing and/or accounting (more training than we have) and then be approved by their bishops, stake presidents and the area president. After the area president gives their approval, the area authority seventy will then set them apart as an assistant local unit area auditor/trainer. Seven had been selected but not all called. We went through the process to determine who was called and set apart and who was not. We spoke to each area seventy several times and determined that two of the initially selected brethern had been given other assignements due to the time lag. More conversations with the area seventies. Finally during mid to late March all nine had been called. Finally during mid to late April all had finally been called and set apart.
Then on April 9th we traveled to Buenos Aires for some additional training. The training was conducted by three Spanish auditors for SLC.

The three auditors from SLC were Kevin Jergensen, Jerald Taylor and Robert Cantwell. After the training session we had in Buenos Aires, we planned a session here in Santiago. On May 8, 2010, eight of the nine were here in Santiago. The lone individual who was not
not present was being released from a stake presidency that Saturday and Sunday. The other eight came from Antofagasta (north), Osorno, Concepcion, Concepcion Sur, Rancagua, Vina del Mar, Santiago East and North regions. This picture is basically for me to remember their names.
On the front row from left is Manuel Irigoyen (Osorno), Juan Gonzalez (Antofagasta), Area President Carlos H. Amado, me, and Omar Aranda (Vina del Mar), Back from left Fabian Barria (Concepcion Sur), Alejandro Figueroa (Rancagua), Juan Carlos Body (Santiago Norte), Jonathan Acuna (Concepcion), Alvaro Rodgiquez (Santiago Este) Raul Seguel Manager Registro Y Estadisticos. The absent brother is Francisco Quijada (Santiago West). The only difference between the two pictures is the back row right side is Kevin Jergensen who assisted in presenting the material.
We started the morning at 6:00 AM with a session in the temple and then breakfast. The training lasted until about 5:00 PM