Traveling to Santiago | Trip to Viña

I still can’t believe that I’m really here in Chile. I can't begin to describe how incredible of an experience it has been, and I feel so fortunate for the opportunity it is to be here. Things are going really well. At Surmount (organizational development) and its sister company Piedra Blanca (consulting), we are receiving new clients. Right now I have gone to training workshops with a retail bank called Banco Ripley, and an investment management bank called Sura, who just bought ING here in South America. I am working alongside a good friend named Ramón Páez, who has already taught me great skills in public speaking. As I continue to improve my language abilities and prepare to participate in facilitating the workshops, I have helped in translating a lot of material I have brought from home related to strategy and marketing. 

My favorite part of being here has really been visiting so many great people from the different areas. If I haven't been able to visit yet, I have called. I have attended two wards in which I served, and look forward to seeing more people I know during my stay. I feel so happy to see so many I love still active in the church, and living successful lives. 

Yesterday I went to Viña del Mar to have lunch with President Gillespie and his wife who were my mission presidents for about the last six months of my mission. They are getting ready to leave on June 30. It was great to talk about old and new things. 

While in Viña I tried calling two investigators, Maria Angelica and Felipe Silva, I was working with when I was here at the end of 2008. I tried calling the numbers I had but both the numbers were bad. I took a bus to their house and knocked on their door, not knowing exactly which house it was and even if they would be there. Felipe answered the door, and there I stood with a big grin on my face. He just stared at me like he couldn't believe his eyes. After a few seconds he smiled and just started to chuckle. They were so surprised and happy to see me and I was so glad to have found them. Call it coincidence or a miracle, but they had just barely moved back to this house from an apartment in Santiago and just happened to be home. They never were baptized but I love them so much. You'll see more in the video. 

This past week I also had the opportunity to take a good friend of mine, Diego Diane, to the airport in Santiago with his family. He left on Wednesday morning for a mission in Brazil. I have since changed houses and am living in his unoccupied room for a time.

Familia Diane

Parque China with Rodrigo and Rocio

My best smile wearing a bib before heading to Santiago

Alejandro, yo, Hector Jaime, y Precila. Before their missions, these two RM's helped me out quite a bit in my second area called Paso Hondo, Quilpué