Mandarins & Camelias

MS and I spent three visits juicing the mandarins from her large mandarin orange tree. They are sweet and juicy (lots of seeds), but I love them fresh and they make wonderful frozen juice. Two glasses of water and a drop of 'splenda' (sweetener) to 1\2 cup of frozen juice makes a delicious drink.

M is a collector. She especially loves rocks. She gave the three stones above to Elder D when we first arrived in Nunoa to our apartment. I believe one is onyx, one is ebony, and the purple could be amethyst, maybe.

Almost every week I go visit our delightful duena (landlady) for about an hour. MS is a very special friend. Today we worked to clean out dead leaves around her many pots of geraniums, ferns and calla lilies along a stretch of ivy climbing the wall. We enjoy visiting all the while, we mostly speak our own language and help each other with the translation. We are great friends.

Springtime at the Santiago Temple

The front doors of the Temple are flanked by two large pots of camelias. The blossoms are beautiful and measure about 3-4 inches across.

These stained glass windows at the front of the Temple are very colorful and modern looking.

Stained glass window at the back of the Temple.

The back of the Temple is a favorite photo shoot for visitors.

This walkway links the Temple grounds to the Church offices.

This fountain is centered between the Hospidaje and the back of the Temple. The background looks to the Church offices and a chapel.

The Hospidaje (spanish for lodging) is situated across from the back of the Temple. It houses the temple missionaries, the spanish MTC, and has overnight rooms for temple patrons.