The past 15 days of Christmas-time ;-) have just flown.  We hope you and your loved-ones have rejoiced-in and savored this celebration of our Savior's birth ~ as have we.  

On the morning of the day of our last Mission Christmas Devotional (Dec. 15th), we had the opportunity to visit a national park in Chile, Los Cipresas (which means: Cypress Trees...tho' there were also palms, evergreens+diciduous trees, because this is an area where biomes overlap).  We (and the office elders :-) were able to walk along the foothills of the Andes amongst wildflowers and small waterfalls at the edge of a gorgeous, peaceful valley...and to see and HEAR hundreds of loros/parrots!!! (as well as a few geckos, goats, cows + horses)  

It was SO GOOD to get out of the office and be reminded of the beauties of the earth and of the care and detail our Heavenly Father puts into ALL of His creations...even those that may go largely unnoticed.  I was reminded of a song Sam's sister Shirley taught me while I was traveling with thier family to Utah to see Sam off at the MTC and visit my family (who had moved to Orem, allowing me to finish my senior yr. living w/the Kofoed's) Christmastime1967, called "Suddenly There's A Valley".

When you've climbed the highest mountain
When a cloud holds the sunshine in
Suddenly there's a valley
Where the earth knows peace with man

When a storm hides the distant rainbow
And you think you can't find a friend
Suddenly there's a valley
Where friendships never end

Touched only by the seasons
Swept clean by the waving grain
Surveyed by a happy bluebird
And kissed by the falling rain

When you think there's no bright tomorrow
And you feel you can't try again
Suddenly there's a valley
Where hope and love begin

Suddenly there's a valley
Where hope and love begin!

Since HOPE and LOVE are what Christmas is all about, it was sweet to be reminded of these lovely lyrics again.  ~And because our Elder Brother chose to facilitate Our Heavenly Father's plan to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, hope truly does spring eternal!

Elders Jara and Martinez from the southernmost part of the mission stayed overnight w/us after the final Christmas Devotional held north of us, near Santiago.  We got to know them at the first devotional in San Fernando, when Elder Martinez helped Sam bring a keyboard to the chapel, so it was nice to see them again.  Elder Jara directed the missionary choir there and accompanied Elder Archuleta on "O, Holy Night" w/strains of "Come, Follow Me" at the end~which was extremely touching and beautiful.

Sunday, Dec 16th, we spoke at a fireside for young adults... reminding them that as member-missionaries there are MANY different ways we can serve one another and help facilitate the Savior's second-coming.  In halting Spanish, I touched on the importance of being united ("if ye are not one" in-purpose "ye are not mine") and obedient (D+C 130:20-21)...and testified that whenever we give the best we can (ie. the boy w/loaves+fishes at the Sermon on the Mount...ie. our best efforts w/limited Spanish+physical strength in the Panama City Temple...), the Lord will make-up the difference.

In his charming, affable way Elder B. taught five steps that will help us be better member missionaries: ...1. Be WORTHY to receive the promptings of the Holy Spirit. (this is the Lord's work~He wants to help us w/it!)  ...2. PRAY with real intent. (a sincere desire to ACT upon promptings received!) ...3. BE A true FRIEND. (people don't care how much you know...until they know how much you care!) ...4. SERVE others. (Matt. 25:31-40) ...5. Invite. (full-time missionaries are available to teach ~it's up to us to keep them busy!)

As Pres. Benson said: "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest...in that moment, God will endow us with power." 

Choosing to give priority to God's will...rather than our own...is a humbling process, indeed.  The refiner's fire is inevitably an uncomfortable process...by design, right?...so we can be motivated to make changes for the better.  What precious gifts we have been given!!! Our turn on earth and the Atoning Sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, enable each of us...who so chooses...to find our way back to our  Heavenly Parents~and be reunited-forever with those who are dear to us here.  How thankful we are for His life's teachings, examples and Holy Spirit . . . to guide, sustain, and comfort us along the way!

The week before Christmas we welcomed five new missionaries and sent one home; and a new AP joined the office staff training to carry-on when Elder Cevering heads home Jan. 3.  We were all very busy preparing for a Mission Christmas Activity held Friday, Dec. 21st.  We met at 8 a.m. for a photo with ALL 205 missionaries.  Everyone then changed for field games held at a nearby soccer stadium, grabbed a breakfast-to-go (muffin, fruit, choc.milk) and spent the next several hrs. reveling in each other's company.  Some of us stayed at the chapel to help prepare lunch; after which we enjoyed a 30-min. mission video, then changed back to missionary attire for a devotional in the chapel.  Several departing missionaries shared testimonies while others shared musical numbers celebrating the Birth and Life of Christ. Missionaries picked-up precious "mail" and each was given mission-photo-Christmas-leaflets and copper-bookmarks from the MacArthurs w/cards from the First Pres'y.  It took several days to clean and fold all the tablecloths we used (because our small machine can handle only one at a time ;-) but well worth the effort.

Senior missionaries in Rancagua gathered for a luncheon at a Chinese Restaurant on Christmas Eve to celebrate two birthdays among that group.  Christmas morning, we hosted a brunch for the 5 office elders, 2 previous office elders and the 2 sisters living in our apt. bldg.  After enjoying oven omelet, baked hasbrowns, apple-spice-muffins, punky and zucchini bread, orange and banana slices and ribbon jello =), we watched "It's A Wonderful Life"! (w/Pres.'s permission, of course ;-)  

Having these young people in our home was a tender mercy that helped ward off loneliness; but we are MOST GRATEFUL to have been able to facetime with each of our children and grandchildren these past few days...except Daniel, who is half way around the world. But we WERE able to have a lengthy  'real-time' fb visit w/him, too, about a week ago...which was WONDERFUL!!!  "Spending time with family" was the ONLY wish on our Christmas list; so we feel greatly blessed!  ...Kim walked his computer around our home to let us see the Christmas decorations ~ and the blizzard going-on outside.  I couldn't have imagined how therapeutic it would be for me to be "Home for Christmas"! (if only via facetime :-)  

Dec.26th we entered the information for 8 new converts into the Church Data Entry system ~ with 3 more the next day ~ which helped us celebrate and appreciate anew the reason for the season. 

Yesterday, our P-day, we had the privilege of attending a session at the Santiago Temple.  It's been a few months since we've been to the temple and it was very nice to be there with the office elders (one of whom will be heading home this Thurs. in time to start a new semester at Utah State University)  It's ALWAYS a joy to be in the temple.  It was even sweeter this time, however, because ...it was our first time to visit this temple ...and people we know and love have walked its halls before ie. my sister, Darla + Darrell Bushman (who served in the Santiago East Mission 2 yr. ago), the Jamison's and the Black's (who served w/us in Panama) ...and I was able to understand more of the ordinance in Spanish than I ever had before.  How grateful we are for temple covenants and promises!!! 

Please know that we love you with all our hearts ~ and are sending . . . BEST WISHES for a JOYOUS NEW YEAR!!!!!!!