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Gary Davis obtained a hand-written history of the Valparaiso Branch 1959 to 1961 while he was in Chile last month. He made arrangements to turn it over to the Church History department. Gary is not sure if the names listed are of members, investigators, or both. You can find a copy of the record (in two parts) near the bottom of the "links" section of the mission website at www.chileanmission.com. Take a look and see if you recognize any names. If the content of this journal triggers any memories, feel free to post your story on the website.
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Forwarded from Allen Forsyth at bigadf@gmail.com:
The Andes Mission will be celebrating its 50th Year Anniversary on Monday, October 5, 2009 at the Ensign Stake Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Ensign Stake center is located at 135 A Street in downtown Salt Lake City, just a couple of blocks east of the Conference Center. The reunion will be held from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm (MDT).
All missionaries who served in Peru and Chile when it was part of the Andes Mission, their friends and family are welcome to attend. We would like to have an idea of how many people will be attending. If you plan to attend, please e-mail Allen Forsyth at bigadf@gmail.com.
If you have pictures or stories of interest that you would like to have shown or told at the reunion, please send them to Allen at the same e-mail address. If you have any questions, please contact Allen by email or at (435) 656-2635. Current information on the reunion is also available at: http://www.mission.net/chilean/index.php and will be available shortly at the Deseret News web site: http://www.deseretnews.com/reunions/. Type “Andes” in the search box, press “Go” and then page down to the reunion announcement.
We look forward to seeing you on October 5, 2009.
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Change in Andes Mission 50th Anniversary Reunion
The Inca gods are working against us. As noted in a previous e-mail, the Huntsman Senior Games start October 5th in St. George, the day after General Conference. Finding a motel room in or around St. George during the Games will be impossible. So we moved the Reunion from October 5th to October 2nd, the day before General Conference.
It turns out that the annual St. George Marathon is being held on Saturday, October 3rd. Again, there will be thousands of outsiders in St. George and motel rooms will be impossible to find on October 1st and 2nd.
Given the problems with finding an acceptable date in St. George to coincide with October General Conference, Garth Olson, who is currently serving a Family History Mission in Salt Lake City, graciously offered to find a location in SLC for Monday, October 5th, the day after General Conference.
The location Garth obtained is the Ensign Stake Center in SLC located at 135 A Street in downtown SLC. The location is just a couple of blocks east of the Conference Center. We will hold the reunion from 1:00pm-4:30pm (MDT).
Hopefully, this will be the last change we have to make.
All other plans remain in place.
We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may create. St. George would have been a great place to meet in October. Unfortunately, it appears that thousands of other people feel the same way.
If you have any ideas or suggestions you would like considered for inclusion in the reunion, please contact me right away. Time is getting short.
See you on October 5th!
Allen Forsyth <bigadf@gmail.com>
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Fw: Harold L. Payne update 21 July 2009
An update at the request of family:
Most of you don't know, but Harold was burned on his arms, hands, fingers and face in a propane explosion last Saturday (11% of his body) 7/18/09.
He and Barbara (and grandkids) were returning from a ward campout where he had been in charge of cooking.
They had stopped in Mesa to drop off some grandkids at John Payne's (Harold's oldest son) home. Barbara opened the door to the toy hauler to get luggage, smelled gas and heard a co2 alarm going off. She told Harold, who told Barbara to immediately evacuate the kids and got Barbara going toward the house. He let the tailgate of the enclosed trailer down to allow air flow, and discovered a propane tank valve slightly open. He shut it off, and was quickly running away from the tank when a sudden explosion caught him off guard, and pushed him away from the trailer.
His son John was out on the sidewalk, and caught him and guided him inside to tend to him. The kids and John's wife first went next door, when other explosions (other propane tanks?) began igniting. They all got to safety by continuing to get further away. The trailer was hooked up to Steve's truck (They're in the same ward), so the fire spread to the truck, and two large trees on Johns front yard. It did quite a bit of damage to John’s house- front, a car in the driveway, and less extensive to nearby neighbor's houses & cars, etc.
The fire dept. ambulance transported Harold to the Maricopa County burn unit, the best in the state. They treated him and he received a blessing from a son and brother Saturday night. Harold has shown tremendous courage and strength during this ordeal. He has been on morphine, and they have had to scrape skin off daily, as well as nurses have shaved his face (hairs are bacteria hider’s I’ve found out). Maybe we Payne boys are more blessed than we knew - with shiny heads after allJ
As of tonight they had talked about releasing him to go home under Barbara’s care. He will get ongoing treatment, dressing changes, Etc. for the near future. He will have to undergo occupational and physical therapy, etc.
He was promised a full recovery in his blessing, so we are all relieved that he will recover, and are grateful that this accident was not any more severe. They had removed the gauze bandages from all of his fingers as of Monday afternoon, which allowed him to enjoy some ice cream right away.
The fire dept. said that had the tailgate not been down in this enclosed trailer, the gas would have continued to build up until it found an ignition source, and then it would have been an enclosed ball of gas exploding, 26 ft long, 8 ft wide, and 28 ft. high. Nearby houses would have had much structural damage, anyone on the street would have been in harm’s way, and no telling what other damage may have been done.
Your prayers and interest are appreciated by us all.
With love and gratitude, Von L. Payne
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RETURNED CHILEAN MISSIONARIES:
03-17-2009
This tidbit of news might be interesting. My wife and I were in Chile for 8 days last September (2008), a part of a trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. (We started our sojourn in Argentina, where we were lodged mainly in Buenos Aires and Rosario, visiting with friends and clients. From Rosario we flew to Santiago, rented a car, and drove around Chile for 8 days – Santiago, Viña, Temuco and all points in between - again visiting with friends, members, and family. We then re-crossed the Andes and spent 6 days or so in Uruguay for the 100th anniversary of my school in Montevideo. While there we visited school chums and friends from all over the world, met with members, attended Church, spent a night at La Barra in Punta del Este, at a resort hotel owned by other friends, then ferried back to B.A. and flew on home to Los Angeles. All meaningful to my family, of course, but just a setting for the following more detailed account of our visit to Chile.)
My wife, Bernarda, is from Santiago, and she has two sisters living in Santiago, and one in Osorno. Those relationships always determine a part of our itinerary when we are down there, and we have left a lot of rubber on the Panamericana and on the highways and byways around Santiago - Valparaiso and in the environs of Osorno - Puerto Montt. Departing from the norm, on this trip we had planned in advance to visit the Coaniquem children’s burn center, whose director and founder, Dr. Jorge Rojas, is a friend. The main facility is located in Santiago, and there are satellite centers in Puerto Montt and Antofagasta.
The Church has donated money and equipment to Coaniquem over the years, and in 2007 my wife and I organized a small fund-raising dinner for them, attended by many Church members from our area. Keith Atkinson, who is the Church’s Public Affairs director for parts of South America and the West Coast, lived in Chile a few years back, and he became acquainted with Dr. Rojas and an advocate for the center. He it was who enlisted our help in raising funds, sight unseen as it were. Although we had read the brochures, seen the video, and visited with Dr. Rojas here in California, we wanted to see the center for ourselves. And we did.
The center is dedicated to treatment and education. We toured the Santiago facility – a large campus in Pudahuel consisting of several impressive buildings – and visited with Doctors as we observed the interplay between the staff and the young patients and their families. I’m sure the whole operation is presented in interesting and colorful detail on the internet, and I would simply invite you to look it over rather than indulge myself in an attempt to describe it that would certainly fail to do justice. Look for “Coaniquem” (an acronym for the corporate name). It is a most wonderful and worthy non-profit enterprise, and donations can be made to a qualified U.S. charity of the same name (tax deductible) if any ex-missionaries are interested in making a difference. Or you can contact me. It would be nice to enlist the support of the thousands of Chilean missionaries who followed us. (After our tour we had lunch across from La Moneda at the monthly Santiago Rotary Club luncheon. A story for another day.) Viva Chile! Viva La Mision Chilena!
David L. Jensen (Beecroft -Burton: 1965 – 1967)
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If you know where is Elder Maness and Riggs please let me know. Elder Maness was my companion in Talcahuano and Elder Riggs in Villa Alemana. The years? At the end of 1962 and 1963. Muchas gracias amigos y amigas. Roberto
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I am putting together an autobiographical novel of my mission experience. I would love to hear from any of you regarding your experiences. I am particularly interested in finding out what happened to former companions after their missions and some of the members during that period. For example, Diego Cabazas O. of San Miguel branch, Miguel Barrientos of Orsorno, the Cortez family in La Calera.
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On the Chilean Mission website, we have posted a document listing former missionaries who served in Chile for whom we have no contact information. You'll find this document listed under "Links" on the right-hand side of the webpage. If you know how to contact any of these alumni, please have them log on to the website (chileanmission.org) or contact the Chilean Mission Reunion Committee at chileanmission@yahoo.com.
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Attention all LDS missionaries, church members and friends who served and/or lived in Chile under the leadership of Elder Parley P Pratt (1851) through Elder Royden Glade (June 1975): A reunion is planned for Friday, 3 April, 2009 from 6 to 9 PM in Bountiful, Utah. Details may be found at http://www.three-peaks.net/chile/0903Newsletter.pdf.
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Nilda,
I was saddened by learning of your husband's passing. I have fond memories of both of you from the time that I lived with my family in Chile.
May the Lord bless you and continue to uplift you with his comforting spirit.
Bruce Johnson
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Nilda,
Please accept our condolences on the passing of your good husband. I fondly remember working together in the mission office with you and the good person that you are. We pray that you will have the comforting peace brought by the Holy Ghost to be with you.
Leon Nelson
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I was sorry to hear about Lloyd's passing, and grateful that he was such a good person that he will be a treasured son before the Father. I also know that this is a very difficult time for you and wish for you the love, peacefulness, and comfort of knowing that there are many people who care for your well-being even though we haven't been in constant contact over the years. We pray for the best for you and your family.
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Nilda,
I was saddened to hear of Lloyd's passing. My sympathy to you and your family. I will always remember our association in Chile.
Ron Gill
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Forwarded message:
Sorry that I am so late with this communication. My husband of 43 and 1/2
years, Lloyd Castleton, passed away last Sunday, November 23rd at 2:53 AM.
The funeral services will be Saturday, November 29th at 10:00 AM, with a
viewing at 9:00 AM the same day at the Sandy Utah Granite View Stake center
(9880 South 3100 East, Sandy, Utah. On the 28th of November from 6 to 8 PM,
a viewing will be at Larkins Sunset Garden at 10600 South and Dimple Dell
Road. More details in the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News obituaries.
Thank you,
Nilda Pinto Castleton
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Trying to find Richard Johnson. Email me at tevye7@msn.com.
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This is for K. Bradley Monson
Just saw your name uID 337356 in Webmaster list. I was one of your companions in San Bernardo -- we both had chileitus-- remember?
It has been a long time. You can email me at jdroundy@gmail.com.
Dale Roundy
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I have recently received a story of a few incidents in San Fernando in 1968. It talks about an Elder Nelson who worked with a Rojas family. Also, the story recounts about a branch outing where the youngest Rojas boy drowned in the lake. If anyone knows this Elder Nelson I'm sure he would really appreciate a copy of this story by Hector del Gaiso, the former branch president there. I didn't serve there until 1970, but I've been in contact with Hector for several years now.
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This is a message for those of you who served in Ovalle. The Eguiluz family were baptized by Elder Bundy and Wilson. Alba was about 13 in 1968. She now lives near Houston. She has had cancer for anumber of years and just last week went through an 11 hour surgery. There were no surprises. The Doctors found and did exactly what they needed to do. She is now in ICU. She would appreciate our prayers in her behalf. If you go a temple, please put her name on the roll. You can e-mail messages to me and I will forward them to Rick,her husband. The reason being I did not copy down the e-mail address before I started this message. I will also forward you their e-mail address. Thanks for your help in this matter. Abrazos, O'Dell
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Reflections on the best two years
A few years ago, a movie came out that was titled “The Best Two Years.” No active member of the Church—especially returned missionaries—had to ask what that movie was about. We all knew. Why? Because missionaries returning from their missions and saying that their mission was the best two years of their lives have become proverbial in the Church. Virtually every returned missionary that I ever knew said the same thing. I’m sure that there must be exceptions to the general rule, but I just don’t know any personally, and I feel sure that those few would form a very small minority.
In fact, even to this day, thirty-seven years after returning from my mission, thirty-one years after marrying my sweet wife in the temple, and thirty years after the birth of our first child, I still have to say that the two years that I spent in Chile were the best two years of my life. Why? Because there is just nothing else in the world that can even begin to compare to being in the full-time service of the Lord and His children. It’s not something that you can explain or even describe to someone who hasn’t personally experienced it for themselves. It’s like trying to explain the taste of salt to someone who has never tasted salt before. But I suspect that most returned missionaries know what I am talking about.
What else can even come close to being in the full-time, selfless service of God? Going to school and competing for grades? Graduating from college? Getting a good job and working for a paycheck? All those things we do for ourselves.
Getting married in the temple to a sweet daughter of our Heavenly Father and having children are sweet experiences to be sure, but those things do not take two years, and after getting married and having children, they do not require all of our time for two years thereafter, but we spend significant portions of each day involved in other things. Thus, speaking strictly for myself, no other two-year period of my life can compare to the two years that I spent in the full-time, selfless service of the Lord, without having to worry about getting good grades, or making money, or paying bills, or supporting a family, or what my kids were doing.
In the mission field, I didn’t have to worry about myself at all. All my time, talent, and effort—my whole being was wrapped up in the service of the Lord and His children in Chile. That was a sweet experience indeed! I think I can understand why John the Beloved and the three Nephites would ask the Lord if they could remain in the flesh until His return and bring souls unto Him. What could possibly be sweeter? I think that’s why I once told a non-member friend of mine that my mission to Chile was the highlight of my life—I have never since then had the opportunity of serving the Lord full-time, as I did almost forty years ago.
I used to ask myself, even while I was still serving as a missionary, “why am I so amazingly peaceful, happy, and even downright joyful all the time?” I analyzed it every which way I could, and in the end, all I could come up with was that “being in the service of the Lord is its own reward.” There’s just nothing else like it anywhere.
Nothing I ever did before, and nothing that I have ever done since can even begin to compare in any way, shape, or form to the pure, undiluted (except for the fleas) joy that I experienced in the full-time service of the Lord. That’s when I learned what love really is. I loved the Chilean people and my companions like I had never loved anyone else.
I learned to love the Chilean people with a pure, unsullied, deep, profound, intense, and eternal love—agape. And I loved my companions the same way. They were righteous men of God. They obeyed His commandments and sought to do His will by sacrificing of their own time, talents, money, and efforts in His service. They were the best people in the world. You can’t find better men on earth, unless you want to count the general authorities of the Church, and I am not really sure that even they are really all that much better than the men that I served with in Chile.
I grew closer to my companions that just about anyone else I have ever known in my life. When have I ever spent twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, week in and week out, with the same person? I don’t even spend that much time with my own wife. We were close, and I loved my companions and still love them, even to this day—in some cases, even more that I love some members of my own family. In a way, they are my family—a brotherhood with everlasting bonds, forged in the service of the Lord. Where else can you find the like? You can’t. Search the world over, and you can’t find anything else like it anywhere.
That’s why I love attending the missionary reunions and seeing my brethren from the mission field once again—I miss them, and I miss the camaraderie we once shared. How can I ever get that back again and regain that sweet feeling that I used to have in the mission field, without retiring and going on another mission, this time with a companion of my own choosing?
The best two years? You’d better believe it! And speaking strictly for myself, they still are.
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I'm trying to find Santos Altamirano from San Bernardo. I heard she may be living in Utah. If you know where she lives please let me know 801-372-1221
Thank you,
Tina Vilches
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As some of you discovered, the Chilean Mission Alumni website has been down for a few days. The server on which we host our website was hacked and the mission.net administrators took it off line until the resulting problems were resolved. Some very evil people were able to insert code into mission.net files which diverted visitors to some obscene websites. The problem has now been repaired and our website is
back up.
Security of personal information was one of our primary goals when we selected mission.net to host the Chilean Mission Alumni website. We are pleased to report that no one's personal information was compromised.
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I am looking for Elder Rubén Munguía who served in Chile around 1969. The reunion committee has acquired some reel-to-reel tapes on which he translated some talks for then Elder Gordon B. Hinckley. We would like to present the tapes to Elder Munguía. The only information I have is that he may have lived in the San Antonio, TX area following his mission. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Trying to find who may have been in the Alcantara Mission home in late 1970 when Elder Hinckley came to visit and gave a special prayer blessing the work.
It was just after Allende's election and there were some tense times in Stgo. I'd like to hear from you to compare dates and impressions. Thanks, Elder Cowan
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1. Does anyone know the address of El Bacarat?
2. What ever happened to the old Peruvian embassy that served as the República Branch building?
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I was visiting Chile in January of this year and I tried to find the Cintolesi family - parents Yolanda and Gustavo and their daughter Paola who was 1 year old in 1972. Anybody know how I can contact them?
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When I visited the Santiago Temple in August of 2000 I met Hno. Villalobos at the recommend desk. He said that all of his children had moved out of the country.
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