Saturday July 14th 2007

Saturday, July 14, 2007

We woke up early, breakfasted, then walked to the bus station. For breakfast, Olga heated up the milk for the cereal. I just went with it, but its really good and now I have it like that every morning! Last night I told her that we don’t normally heat up the milk for cereal in the morning. She told me that she just assumed she did and apologized but I told her it is delicious and she seemed quite pleased. Anyway, Olga, Rosa and I took a bus to the home and church of Santa Teresa de los Andes. It was about one hour north of the city and it was a beautiful drive. Olga and I prayed a rosary together on the way there. I had prayed the rosary in Spanish when we went to Honduras, but I had to relearn it. I’m still working on the Lord’s prayer, but I’ll get it soon. I know Olga is thrilled that I am Catholic and I love being able to be open and excited about my faith with her. She is a very faithful woman and constantly reminds me of God’s love and care for me and the world!

Santa Teresa was the first Chilean saint and is the only Santa (female saint). She is the patron saint of Chile. Friday was her Feast Day. Rosa, Olga’s sister, has a devotion to her because her school is named after her. We went to the tomb and walked around a little museum they have portraying her life then went to mass. The priest wasn’t Chilean, we think somewhere from Central America, so I could understand him really well. After mass, we walked around the grounds and chatted. The entire place was incredibly beautiful and the view of the Andes was incredible.

We rode back to Santiago around 1:30 and had almuerzo. That evening we walked around all over Santiago Central. Everything is really close and Olga knows the city like the back of her hand. We walked down Bulnes St. then down Alameda to U. Chile and U. Chicago. They should me Ahumada, a street full of bustling people, vendors, street concerts, shops open almost all the time. It was great. We went to a shop called Ripleys where Olga and Rosa helped me by a “parka”, a bigger, warmer coat. Its almost the end of their winter, so all their winter clothes are super cheap. (The coat was only $20.) We stopped by Santa Lucia, the grocery store again, then headed home. Saturday night I taught Rosa English words (a thrilling Saturday night right?)