Cancer Stinks

So I need to take a break from my Chile posts. Yes, I am almost done! Recently we found out that my good friend was diagnosed with a very aggressive stage IV breast cancer. It is also in her lungs. We have been saddened by this news. We try to help the family any way that we can. I am constantly amazed by my friend's strength and her testimony, so it hasn't been all bad. Then, today we received a very sad email from Kevin's good friend, Fred. Fred and his family live in Austin, and we have been able to see them only once since moving here. Fred's dear wife, Caroline, passed away last night. She had been battling colon cancer for 5 years. She definately had her ups and downs, and even was considered cancer-free for a time. We are praying for Fred, and his 3 beautiful children at this time. We hope to go to the services next week.

The Geysers

We travelled to a very small village called San Pedro de Atacama. The town is extremely rustic, which was so fun! We got up at 4:00 in the morning to begin our tour of the geysers in the High Andes on the border with Bolivia. We were cautioned to walk slowly, and to breathe deeply. They weren't kidding. The geysers sit at just under 14,000 feet! I think that is the highest place I have ever been. It was freezing cold, but so amazing! It was a fun day....

We also drove across the Tropic of Capricorn!

Chuquicamata

This was a mining town that Kevin served in for a time. The town was completely owned by the mine company. A few years ago, they decided it was unsafe for the people to live there, so they all moved to a nearby city. It is now a ghost town. That was pretty weird for Kevin to see this once vibrant city completely silent and still. We were able to tour the mines, and see some of his old areas!

On to Anto

Antofogasta that is! This was Kevin's mission city. It sits on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It is a port city with much to offer the local economy. There are all kinds of neighborhoods there from very well off to extremely poor. Kevin served in the poorest sections of the city for 5 months of his mission. I must say, that I am not sure I could've done it. The missionaries all around the world have such a marvelous and life-changing message to spread. I am sure at times Kevin felt that he just couldn't do enough to help the people that he had grown to love. I know that the best gift that a poor 19 year old, or any aged person, could give was the message of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Copiapo

Kevin spent much of his mission in the town of Copiapo. So, we definately had to go see his old stomping grounds. We flew up to the outskirts of town. Before heading up to Copiapo, we stopped to see a little fishing village named Caldera. We also got to see a popular tourist destination called Bahia Ingles. While in Copiapo, we had a very special experience finding and visiting a sweet couple that Kevin got to teach 20 years ago. It was definately an afternoon filled with the tender mercies of the Lord. I think our visit with Victor and Graciela was the highlight of our whole trip for Kevin. We spent quite a few hours with them! We also had a barbecue with Kevin's old mission friends and family. Thank you Yanina and Pato for a yummy dinner! We also got to drive out to see an old Inca mine and visit some of the infamous Chilean grape vineyards.

Puerto Montt, Chile

We travelled to the South of Chile, but only got to spend 22 hours there. We rented a car and drove around Lake Llanquile. What a beautiful and isolated part of the world. It was so cold, rainy, and foggy that when we drove to the top of the volcano, Osorno we couldn't even see it! Even with the less than tropical weather, it was so beautiful, green, and lush there. It is probably the closest we will ever get to the south polen and it really felt like the bottom of the world!

CHILE

Kevin and I had the trip of a lifetime. We went to Chile for 10 days at the beginning of October. We had so many amazing experiences! I can't write about all of them, but I will post a few of them over the next little while. For starters, I will post pictures of our first few days in the country which we spent in Santiago.


We enjoyed a city tour, an afternoon in the Pre-Colombian Museum, as well as a bicycle tour through the city. I think we both enjoyed the bicycle tour the most.


Kevin in front of the Moneda - which is kind of like the White House. Research what happened there on Sept. 11, 1973 to learn more about it's history!





SAN CRISTOBAL



Overlooking Santiago