Meeting Brother and Sister Hamilton and the Allens
Yesterday we did the coolest thing for Hermana Stewart’s last preparation day in the States.
Damon found out that there was a couple in our stake - the Hamiltons who had served in Osorno Chile! So we arranged to go meet with them. Their daughter Tirsa Allen who shares their home with them also joined us as she too had served in Chile. 
Howard and Karleen prepared a wonderful overview on Osorno and Chile for us. We learned SO much- and got all our lingering questions answered.
Brother Hamilton was also one of the first missionaries to open that mission- so he knew well the beautiful history of this area.
Speaking of history- I loved this insight they shared. I hope I don’t butcher the story- as it was just so beautiful and proves to me that God is in the details of our lives -even when life is difficult and seems so hopeless.
Due to a large earthquake, a tsunami left Osorno devastated. Among the first to come help were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In gratitude for their great service the church was accepted to be recognized as a church in their area- with one condition: They needed to have proof of having been there before… This proved to be nearly impossible.
But.. Many years prior Brigham Young sent Parley Pratt and his wife (who was pregnant at the time) to go on a mission to Chile. They struggled to learn the language and to teach anyone. Their young baby died and was even buried there. They left feeling it was a hard and unsuccessful mission.
But because of that grave site, the church finally was recognized as a church and missionary work in that area was able to begin. The Pratts never knew in their lifetime the many blessings that came from their mission and the loss of their sweet baby. But it was indeed a very successful mission.
Hermana Stewart is now really excited to go and meet the sweet people there. She has an adventurous spirit- and is willing to try new foods, experience earthquakes, see penguins, kiss the sisters on both cheeks, hike volcanoes, walk and walk in the rain, ride barges to the beautiful islands, etc.
Oh, we also learned that this portion of Chile has a strong German influence as well. I was excited to learn that. A delicious dessert they have there is called Kuchen- which is a cake with fruit on top. Kuchen is German for cake. Though the Chileans don’t pronounce it the same. Lots of Germanic foods there! Even a gorgeous book there is written in Spanish, English, and German. This also maybe explains the hot dogs they eat often- however slathered in mayonnaise? Not sure if mayo is German. But it is like whipped cream there. Haha
A fun second connection with the Hamiltons and Allens: Upon arrival, Damon mentioned he had served in Neuquen Argentina- just over the mountains from Chile. We then found out Tirsa’s husband-Blaine served in Damon’s mission AND at nearly the exact time he did!! Blaine arrived in the mission a bit earlier. But sadly they had never met till yesterday. So, it was super fun to make this connection. Tirsa sent me a picture from Blaine’s mission books of a Christmas card which has them both in it. I recognized it as well from when Damon wrote to me. It was fun for me to come home and find it in my book as well. Of course they talked and talked about Argentina. And it was hard to leave- We have definite plans to do an Argentina get together next. And of course reconnect with all things Chile.
Just before leaving Hermana Stewart also discovered one more connection- the Hamiltons are the grandparents of one of her friends in the YSA ward who will also be serving a mission soon. We just love how intertwined our lives are in the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Damon found out that there was a couple in our stake - the Hamiltons who had served in Osorno Chile! So we arranged to go meet with them. Their daughter Tirsa Allen who shares their home with them also joined us as she too had served in Chile.
Howard and Karleen prepared a wonderful overview on Osorno and Chile for us. We learned SO much- and got all our lingering questions answered.
Brother Hamilton was also one of the first missionaries to open that mission- so he knew well the beautiful history of this area.
Speaking of history- I loved this insight they shared. I hope I don’t butcher the story- as it was just so beautiful and proves to me that God is in the details of our lives -even when life is difficult and seems so hopeless.
Due to a large earthquake, a tsunami left Osorno devastated. Among the first to come help were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In gratitude for their great service the church was accepted to be recognized as a church in their area- with one condition: They needed to have proof of having been there before… This proved to be nearly impossible.
But.. Many years prior Brigham Young sent Parley Pratt and his wife (who was pregnant at the time) to go on a mission to Chile. They struggled to learn the language and to teach anyone. Their young baby died and was even buried there. They left feeling it was a hard and unsuccessful mission.
But because of that grave site, the church finally was recognized as a church and missionary work in that area was able to begin. The Pratts never knew in their lifetime the many blessings that came from their mission and the loss of their sweet baby. But it was indeed a very successful mission.
Hermana Stewart is now really excited to go and meet the sweet people there. She has an adventurous spirit- and is willing to try new foods, experience earthquakes, see penguins, kiss the sisters on both cheeks, hike volcanoes, walk and walk in the rain, ride barges to the beautiful islands, etc.
Oh, we also learned that this portion of Chile has a strong German influence as well. I was excited to learn that. A delicious dessert they have there is called Kuchen- which is a cake with fruit on top. Kuchen is German for cake. Though the Chileans don’t pronounce it the same. Lots of Germanic foods there! Even a gorgeous book there is written in Spanish, English, and German. This also maybe explains the hot dogs they eat often- however slathered in mayonnaise? Not sure if mayo is German. But it is like whipped cream there. Haha
A fun second connection with the Hamiltons and Allens: Upon arrival, Damon mentioned he had served in Neuquen Argentina- just over the mountains from Chile. We then found out Tirsa’s husband-Blaine served in Damon’s mission AND at nearly the exact time he did!! Blaine arrived in the mission a bit earlier. But sadly they had never met till yesterday. So, it was super fun to make this connection. Tirsa sent me a picture from Blaine’s mission books of a Christmas card which has them both in it. I recognized it as well from when Damon wrote to me. It was fun for me to come home and find it in my book as well. Of course they talked and talked about Argentina. And it was hard to leave- We have definite plans to do an Argentina get together next. And of course reconnect with all things Chile.
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