Nothing is Obvious

The title of my blog post this week is a quote from Sis. Mary Anne Fry, serving a mission in Ancona, Italy, with her husband Jess, our former bishop. After wandering the streets of this little city on the Adriatic, she came to the conclusion that "Nothing is obvious." I knew right away what she meant--there is little advertising, you don't know where anything is unless you've actually been there, a beat-up entrance may hide a very nice establishment, and your best bet is word of mouth. She says the tobacco kiosks have the best information.

Last Sunday we attended church in Barrio Chiguayante, in the same building we have visited twice before. The ward is large, active, and it was pretty cold in there. I don't know if it is the tile floors and walls, or the condensation inside the windows, but it is often colder in the buildings than it is outside.

Monday afternoon we had to make a second trip to the jolly little dentist we learned about from Hna. Kauer who had to have a root canal. We were visiting him because I had a chipped tooth and Elder K. needed a too-high tooth ground off. He sent us to get "panorama" x-rays down the street for $25 each, and asked if we had this technology in the U.S. He didn't ask me much about my tooth, but started drilling right away (without anesthesia), excavated a large hole, slapped some plaster over it, and told me to come back next week. It took less than 20 minutes. Perhaps I was in shock the entire time, because it didn't hurt much. I'm hoping this isn't repeated again. He fixed Elder K's tooth and looked longingly at the x-rays, but Elder K. told him no more dental work.

One afternoon feeling dismal we stopped at the little hole-in-the-wall on the left, "Larré," a little restaurant frequented by college students on the corner of Chacabuco and Caupolican. We had some of the best roast chicken I've eaten in Chile, papas puree (mashed potatoes,) a consommé and salad, and a postre of bananas with a squiggle of chocolate sauce. Just right.

The new weaving classes are coming along nicely. This sister has reached the point of joining squares with crochet.

Since I had so many plastic bags under the sink, I cut them into strips and crocheted this water-proof bag. I've used it to carry heavy bottles of water to our car.

Friday we joined the Kauers to go to the mission home with President Arrington and all the other senior couple missionaries in the Concepcion Mission. The day was beautiful, looking over Pedro de Valdivia and the Bio Bio River.

Hermana Scholes and Hermana Arrington at the dinner table. It is nice to be reminded of gracious living. We had Mexican food, including corn tacos, which we haven't had since we left the States.

We went home in the mission van. Elder Kauer emphatically insisted that the rather extensive damage to the van was not caused by him. The other drivers of the van include the young office elders.

Saturday we attended a Family History Night with all the wards in our stake. I especially liked this abuelita's dashing feather-and-netting felt hat. We listened to several presentations and watched portions of "Frozen" projected on the wall, without sound, while we waited the usual 20 minutes between activities. Members had wisely brought snacks and mate for these intermissions. 

Finally came the highlight of the evening, a recently-formed music and dance troupe to which Dagnig and her husband belong, as well as one of our English students, the tall lady in the picture above.

These couples are dancing the Cueca, the Chilean national dance, as everyone clapped the rhythm.

Hermano and Hermana Delgado sharing a moment at the end of the dance.

 Following the couples' dance, people in the audience were invited to join in. Everyone knew the steps. Fortunately no one expected Elder K. or me to embarrass ourselves. We just kept clapping.