Christmas Package

Our Christmas package arrived from our children and grand children today (29 Dec 2006). It was a big package, but appeared undamaged and untouched. It was delivered by the local post office just like at home. We are impressed and greatful.

The goods are on display in the picture. It is amazing how the little things like socks, ties, and belts become very important when they are difficult to get. Gives you a good reality check on what is really necessary in life. The chunky peanut butter and M&M Peanuts are luxuries for sure here in Uruguay.

These gifts remind us how greatful we are for the greatest gift of all - the birth of our saviour, Jesus Christ.

This is truly a Chirstmas for the "Memories" book.

Permanent Quarters Finally

This new blog shows our permanent apartment. Well, at least for the time we are in Colonia Del Sacramento, which we anticipate will be for our entire mission. Our 1996 FIAT is in front of the apartment in one of the pictures. Runs fine, but the air conditioning just went on the fritz for the second time. Just in time for the heat of the summer.

Note the bare bulb hanging from the ceiling. A typical lighting setup here. We have since added a ceiling fan to the light bulb, so it looks better. We will show that in a later blog. We should add that the furniture is ok, but is not as comfortable as it looks. The overstuffed look is just that, a look. The furniture is actually quite hard. There is wood structure just under the covering. It is fine though, and better than we had in the other apartment.

The blind-like shutters on the windows are typical here, as they are in Europe. They keep the sun out, and let the air in. Normally up during the day, if people are home, and the sun is not shining directly on the window. Not a bad idea.

It also shows a view down our street, Rio Negro, toward the chapel. One nice thing about Colonia is that there are lots of trees. It is a beautiful city.

Merry Christmas from Uruguay.

Early Summer Pictures

The pictures shown are some we took when we first got here, and got settled in our temporary apartment. Note the river in some of the pictures. It is the Rio De La Plata. It is 30 miles wide where we are, which is rigtht across from Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the widest river in the world. It is over 100 miles wide at Montevideo. It is fresh water, which is why it is a river and not a bay.

Some of the pictures are on the Rambla, which is a road along the beach. Everyone in Colonia comes out to the Rambla in the evening. It is fun to walk along, and see all the people and the various modes of transportation. The picture of the house is one along the Rambla. As you can see it very nice.

The other pictures show our chapel and the area around the chapel. The trees and flowers are beautiful.

We are fortunate to have a beautiful place in which to serve. The town is not so big that you can't walk to most places, yet big enough to have just about anything you need.

We hope you enjoy the pictures. More later.