Fiestas Patrias, 18 de Septiembre, 2015

Earthquake, again!  

Our last blog mentioned an earthquake in August.  It was nothing!  The one we experienced Wednesday sent people into the streets terrified and in tears. 

 At about 8 pm Wednesday night we were in our living room when everything started to shake--and rumble.  It seemed like it was going to be a big one, so we dove under the table and hung on to each other.  In two very scary minutes we heard things falling, breaking, and moving from one spot to another. By the time it was over we had lost power, water, and gas.  Lots of things were either on the floor or in a different place.  We collected flashlights and went to join the others from the apartment building who were gathering in the parking lot.   Water from broken pipes made streams and waterfalls down the stairways.

Our friend at the hardware store who is in his 40s told us yesterday that he has only experienced one other earthquake of that magnitude in his whole life.  I guess that explains why people were so frightened.  I was very brave.  I didn't cry.  

The earthquake was measured at 8.3.  It's epicenter was in the ocean a ways south of here, so the two closest towns got hit hard with a tsunami.  Aftershocks have been going on since then--many throughout the night and all day yesterday and today--creepy and unsettling.  We got the apartment all cleaned up and back to normal. Fortunately, no major damage.  We only had a dish break, a bookcase collapse, and some grout come out of the bathroom tiles.  

These new buildings in Chile are built to handle earthquakes.   But in town, several old adobe buildings suffered some damage or collapsed completely.   All members and missionaries have reported in and are fine.  

Today is Fiestas Patrias, de 18 de Septiembre.  It is their freedom day, like the 4th of July.  The celebrations are huge and last for about two weeks.  Many things have been cancelled because of the earthquake, and a place that is usually very noisy with music and entertainment has been very quiet since Wednesday night.  I think things will perk up a bit today and tomorrow.   If you happen to notice the Google logo for today, it is in honor of Fiestas Patrias.    

Our friends in Punitaqui

A few months ago we visited a family in Punitaqui, a small town about 30 miles away.  We went to see the Branch President, who is the oldest son in the family, age 23, and who returned from a mission to Bolivia about 4 months ago, and is also a Young Single Adult.  During that visit the parents (Jenny and Esteban) said that they had been going to church for about 8 years but have never been baptized and had finally made the decision to do so.  When the spirit that a returning missionary brings home with him fills the house with holiness, it has a big impact on those ready to respond to it.

They began receiving the missionary lessons soon after that, and we have attended and helped the young missionaries teach them.  It has been a very spiritual experience.  They had their baptism interview on Tuesday and will be baptized tomorrow.  

 As you probably know, it is quite common in many countries in the world that a couple have children and are a "family" but have never married. That is the case with this family.  So as they prepared for baptism they also prepared for marriage.  Much went into getting ready for this wedding.  It was Wednesday afternoon (before the earthquake) and was wonderful.  They are supremely happy!

When we watch people make changes in their lives to align with the gospel, we see how hard it is after a lifetime of not knowing.  When the spirit finally touches them and they recognize truth and want to embrace it, they begin their new journey of happiness.  We love being part of that journey, even when things get tough.

We spent several days helping them get the house and area ready for the wedding and the celebration.  Here Elder Jones and I and the Zone Leaders are painting the fence.  Notice that the house in the background is brown.

A week later it is blue!  We helped paint all the blue and white on the house.  We worked on it inside also, and did much clean up outside.  We also helped set up the canopies for the celebration.  It was quite a project.

                  Jenny being escorted by her two older sons.  The one on her right is the Branch President.

Some of the children dressed up for the wedding.

The couple and their two youngest children, Fabian and Naccia.  Jenny's mom made her dress and Jenny made her bouquet and the flower decorations on each side behind them.

We love this family.  Many wonderful blessings await them as they continue to strengthen themselves spiritually.  Being their friends has been a real gift to us.  

We love you all.  We deeply appreciate the support and love we feel from all of you.  God bless you.

Elder y Hna. Jones