Mission Actividad

Monday, 15 Sept our whole mission met in Las Manantiales, like a gorgeous campground. This was our way, as missionaries to enjoy/disfrutar the holiday
for the Independance Day/Fiestas Patrias. Our office missionaries organized, reserved the spot, planned the activities, etc. It turned out great.
This is what we did....


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We had each zone be picked up by private, charter buses, which they each chipped
in to pay our of their transportation funds, since this was easier for them to all
take these buses, instead of public buses and take forever. They met at their stake
centers all around Santiago, by 6am, and reached the campgroud, still in our farthest
north part of the mission. The missionaries congregated for opening prayer and went to whatever activity they chose, like soccer, futbol americano, volibol, frisbie, and even kite flying. We prayed especially that morning that we would not have any injuries to keep them from working. I was relieved that we were all blessed, including Mike. You should have seen him with those missionaries.... They love him.

We arrived about 9:45am and Mike jumped right in to the soccer game many of our Latin missionaries were in the heat of the game. They were so excited that he would be right out there with them, even scoring a header goal! They loved that. Sarah and I jumped in to the touch football game, since we really know what we are doing, running, passing, throwing, etc....not. They just got a kick out of us being there and running with them. We kind of helped bridge the gap that then the sisters could jump in and not feel so foreign playing with these missionaries, who are like brothers to them. Sarah hung out with all of the hermanas, taking turns being in their fotos, and snuggling up with them, like sisters. She is attached to a few in particular, that she would love to have has sister-in-laws....who could that be?!

We had a woman come and bring food; empanadas de pino/meat, and then fried some fresh ones of Cheese. Then after they ate plenty, we had the zones each put on a skit or talent from their own zone. Some were really good, pretty fun to see. After that, we had the BarB-Q chorizos/sausages, choripan, and played some Chilean relay races together. I brought some goodies for prizes, and they loved that treat too. Then before we dismissed at the end, the hermana handed out 2 chilenitos, like homemade alfajores with manjar/dulce de leche. Everyone was hugging, smiling, taking fotos, and so many came right up to us to tell us thank you, so much, for allowing them to get together, and have such a fun, different, Preparation Day. Mike says he hopes it helps them, not distract them, from their focus, and that they feel closer to each other, and to us. Overall, it was a fun and memorable activity for us all.
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