Christmas has come to Santiago quietly for us who are serving missions. We have not worried about meal preparations, shopping, gift wrapping or holiday parties. Our focus has been more on staying focused on our individual missions. That is difficult as we think about all that lovely snow in Idaho and all those loved ones having festivities without us. But it is also comforting as we hear their plans that include taking care of each other in our absence.

Christmas in Chile is a religious celebration. There is no controversy here about the political correctness of manger scenes on government property. In fact these pictures are of our municipal plaza and they certainly celebrate the birth of our Savior. On Christmas Eve at about 11 pm we walked down to this plaza to see how the locals celebrate Christmas. It was a lovely warm evening with cool breezes blowing. Families were milling around the plaza talking and laughing. Little girls were in white dresses. Vendors were selling popcorn from little carts. The children were up on the steps of the municipal building playing and sliding down the steps. The building was lit with changing colored lights at night so it would change from pink to purple and other shades of the rainbow. Beautiful light classical Christmas music was playing offerings such as the Nutcracker Ballet. The trees were all a twinkle with white lights among the lush green leaves. We sat for about an hour and loved Santiago and its happy people.

This past week Bryce has been working in the Santiago Temple welcoming young families who have been coming to be sealed together in eternal family units. I have shared that with our young missionaries who sometimes feel discouraged when people are too busy to hear about the Savior's plan for us. The church is growing in Chile again after a time of reorganization. We are happy about being a part of this growth. We are so thankful for the birth of the Savior but are even more thankful for his atoning sacrifice that makes it possible for us all to reach our divine potential.