Chile

Tensions in the country where my oldest child is continue to be high.

I am grateful for the nightly updates from the Mission Office.

I had thought that things were much better, much more quiet.

When I spoke to my Bubba on Monday, he said that they are back to working and walking and riding busses.

However, it appears that things really aren't the peaceful, dream-like state that I had hoped.

Although, it's important to remember that for the most part, Jackson is not in a dangerous area.

Most of the protests that are going on inland of where he is currently living take place in the nighttime hours, and are blocks removed from him.

He has told me in the last few weeks that at no point has he felt that he was in harm's way.

Our family's prayers go out to those missionaries who are in harm's way.

May God provide comfort and safety for them, and for their families.

The update from last night:

Dear parents of Chile Viña del Mar missionaries:

 

I wish I could write to you this time to tell you that the protests and demonstrations have definitely ended in Chile, but the reality is that it is not so, however this does not represent any direct risk for the missionaries. During this time we have been setting an information network between the members and the missionaries at the local level and between the Area Seventy, the stake presidents and me at the level of the entire mission. In this way we are notified in advance of the protests that are announced in each city and we can notify the missionaries to avoid those areas. The instruction we are giving to the missionaries is that their security is the first priority, that despite we have goals for proselyting hours and contacting people, those goals go to second place when it comes to their safety, and that in case of any indication of problems they should return to their apartments. Taking these precautions we have avoided any problem and we have not had any incident involving missionaries. We have already been notified that there will be some large demonstrations tomorrow and we have informed the missionaries to avoid the areas that will be affected.

 

The missionaries are fantastic and work with great love and devotion, we know that the Lord protects them, but we are also telling them that we are the first responsible to guarantee our safety and then the Lord will protect us better. We love missionaries and their safety is our top priority at this time. The Area Presidency is aware of the situation and is daily interested in the conditions of the missionaries.

 

Today we have made the changes of companionships and all the missionaries traveled very well to their new assigned sectors and were received by their new companions.

 

I will be reporting again to you tomorrow.