We have been in Chile over a month now!  

Some things we have gotten used to in that time are:

---shelf milk (but we don't drink too much because it is about $4.00 a gallon) (Ross is experimenting with powdered milk)
---dressing up every day
---walking long distances (the buildings we walk to are all about the same distances as the chapels in Bluffdale.
---getting sweaty and dirty walking instead of working out in the yard

We had a zone conference last week (see the mission blog for a photo of our zone:  misionvinadelmar.blogspot.com).  Five minutes into it, the Mission President started naming people to come to the front and bear their testimonies.  My name was the second one he called.  The missionaries who know me looked at me as if to say, "really?"  The Mission President said I could do it in English if I wanted, but in the three minutes I had to think about it I found a page in my notebook where I had written my testimony in Spanish while I was doing language immersion at BYU in November.  With that, and the spirit, I managed to say something that put a smile on the Presdent's face!

The other memorable thing about Zone Conference was that the President brought a copy of "Meet the Mormons" and let us all watch it--complete with soft drinks and caramel corn.  The missionaries loved it!  We had not seen it yet either, so it was fun for us, even in Spanish.

Here is a picture of the aloa vera plant that I said was almost as big as a VW beetle.  I loved seeing blossoms on it.

The fruit and vegetables here are wonderful.  Nectarines and tomatoes have become our favorites.  The tomatoes are almost as good as what we grow at home.

Andy, you will like this little bit of information:  There is a store here called Lider.  It is a Walmart store, Chilean style.  The quality is represented by the saying on their bags:  "Siempre mas barato!"

Pictures from a baptism last night:  This young man is now in our branch and is very ready to be a member.  He will do much good for those in his age group.  

We have District Conference this Sunday.  I went to choir practice last week and ended up being the accompanist (instead of the second of two altos).  The choir director speaks no English and the speed at which she speaks Spanish matches that of the disclaimer messages you hear on the end of radio ads back in Utah.  Choir practice is a whole new experience when the accompanist has no idea what the director is saying.  Sunday should be really fun!

Last Sunday the District President asked Ross (he attends the District Presidency meeting as the Exec. Sec.) if he wanted to speak in District Conference!  He said no, that he didn't think he was ready.  Later that afternoon he got thinking about what a good opportunity it would be to talk about our Young Single Adults and how wonderful they are (and hopefully an opportunity to generate more interest from those who have not been involved).  So he called the District President and said he would speak for 2-3 minutes.  Now he is busy writing a talk in English, then we will work on how to say it in Spanish.  I can't wait!

IT RAINED!  Yesterday and today!  This place is slowly dying of thirst in a 12 year drought.  When rain started yesterday, all the children at the Catholic school nearby started to squeal (with excitement?), and people (including us) watched out the windows enjoying every drop!  It feels so good!

Love and gratitude to you all!

Elder and Hna. Jones

Our first try at a blog!

This is an experiment in learning how to set up a blog.  Thanks to April for help.  She says it will be easier with photos and more fun to read than emails.  So here goes...................

  Matrimonio Jones 

is the name of our blog because that is what we are called here!  This picture appears on the front of our mission looseleaf that contains all the rules and expectations of missionaries in this mission.  

So we decided to name our blog:

 matrimoniojones.blogspot.com

when we write a blog we will send an email message saying that there is a new blog.  You can click the link and the blog should appear.  Hope it all works.  

Ovalle reminds us somewhat of southern California and northern Mexico.  There are palm trees and other vegetation that indicate that it does not freeze here.  The flowers are beautiful.  This Bird of Paradise makes me think of my Grandma Evans for some reason.  It was in a yard along the walk to the chapel.  By the way, while I was out running a saw an aloa vera plant that was almost as big as a VW beetle.  And it had beautiful red blossoms on it!

The highlight of this week was a YSA activity Friday night.  We met at one of the branch buildings at

 8:15 pm.  People were arriving of all ages.  We grasped for words as we introduced ourselves.  A few came who knew a little English, so that helped.  Apparently school here gets out about 6 pm each day so Mutual is held at 8:15 on Friday nights!  Also YSA when they have it.  I wonder how many would come to  Mutual in the states on Friday night?  Institute is on Saturday night at 8 pm!  

When all were there, we walked about a mile to the Branch President`s home and had dinner.  It was great fun.  Wonderful leaders and young people.  I took some cookies I made and when I was asked for the recipe I had to write it in Spanish.  The only hard part was the mixing instructions.  I think I got it right.  We both had a great time talking to them and listening to what was happening in their lives.  Ross got right into the conversation and drew all of them to him like he is so naturally good at.  It was wonderful!

This is a photo of the YSA group at the dinner. 

We are making progress in all kinds of things.  Spanish, indexing, YSA, and even some contacts.  We finally came in contact with that man from the hardware store that we met the first week.  When we were there buying some things he noticed our name tags and asked if we were there for religion.  We said yes and he gave us his name and work schedule.  We tried several times to find him at the store but after about 10 days we finally found him.  Actually, he found us.  Ross was buying something and I was standing there in the store looking at the employees trying to remember what he looked like.  He noticed me and came right up to me.  I had a bag with his name on it with a Book of Mormon inside and a Restoration pamphlet and a few other things.  I explained what was inside the bag and gave it to him.  He hugged it, smiled, and said it made him very happy.  We got his phone and address and gave it to the missionaries the next day.  

The second contact was a man that Elder and Sister Cluff and I met on our way walking home from the church about a week ago.  A few days later I saw him while I was out running and talked to him a while.  He gave me his name and phone so he could find out more.  Said he knew where the church was.  He has a beautiful countenance.  Hope the Elders can reach him.  

Discovery:   it is impossible to roll an R with a mouthful of food.  

District conference is coming in about two weeks.  I just went down to listen to the choir practice and they were singing Let Us All Press On. So now I have to learn it in Spanish.  I have a hymn book and a keyboard at the apartment, so I will get on it!  

A sweet young man is getting baptized this Saturday.  We are all excited.   Tell you about it next week.

Love to all of you.    Feliz cumpleanos, Eliza!

Elder and Hermana Jones