Beautiful Geysers beyond San Pedro de Atacama

The same time we went to the largest outdoor mine, we also went way up in the mountains to see these geysers. 

They geysers were all over the place and they were marked with yellow rocks.

We went with George and Margaret Talbot, who are the other senior missionary couple serving in this mission. They work in the office down in Antofagasta.

Views along the way.

                It was a fascinating trip and we're so grateful we were able to see this part of the mission!!

World's Largest Open Pit Copper Mine

We took a tour of the world's largest open pit copper mine outside of Calama, Chile. The mine is 5 km long, 3 km wide, and 1 km deep. We agree...it's HUGE!!

This little town, Chuquicamata, was once filled with the mining families. Then they learned that exposure to the elements from the open pit mine were creating lots of health issues with the children born and living there. So they moved everyone out and it's now an abandoned town.

                                         Copper!!

This beautiful cathedral is still maintained at the town plaza at Chuquicamata.

This begins the outskirts of the mine. All red trucks are related to the mining industry - the mines and the contractors. And they're all over the place throughout our mission.

These large trucks are humongous!!! The driver is on the top right corner. All drivers drive on the left hand side of the road because these trucks have a 24 meter blind spot.

Can you see the trucks moving along the roads leading up and down into the mine?

This rock has copper all through it.

We had to wear our hard hats even while on the bus! Great trip!!

Alto Hospicio Zone

Our great zone of Alto Hospicio

We love serving with these great elders and rubbing shoulders with them, sharing their love of the gospel, their enthusiasm for missionary work, and their determination to follow the mission rules. We have quite an international Latin group, too!

Front row: Elders Jaramillo/Chile, Camino/Argentina, Lawsons/CO, Palpa/Peru, Masariegos/Guatemala
Middle row:  Elders Jara/Chile, Erickson/UT, Phillips/NV, Barrington/UT, Parpal/Argentina, Duke/CA, Reyes/Nicaragua, and Shill/FL
Back row: Elders Court/UT, Scoffield/UT, Reid/UT, Ercanbrack/UT, Prada/Columbia, Adams/UT

Flamingos at Salar de Huasco

We spent a P-day driving out to Salar de Huasco, which is up in the mountains toward Bolivia, as we'd been told there are flamingos at the lake. We loved the drive, loved seeing the flamingos, and were treated to seeing llamas and vacuñas and even a little memorial church along the way. To get there we drove to Pozo Almonte and we just love that little town. We included their "downtown" area at the end.

September 18th - Chile's Independence Day

The Chileans really know how to celebrate and do so for many days. We even decorated our condominium a little bit to join in the festivities.

                         Costumes were the style during the celebrations - and for all ages.

                                We loved the pinwheels on this house!

See all the flags all the way down their street? We loved it!!

This roundabout is at the bottom of the hill we take to get down to Iquique. We loved see all their flags and figure they'll stay up until they start decorating for Christmas.