Cabrero

For the past three months Elder Woodfield has been serving as a missionary in Cabrero, Chile and its neighboring town of Monte Aquila. This sign says it best. He and his companion have truly been "working machines."

As winter ended in the southern hemisphere Travis and Elder O. (from Brazil) have walked the streets and footpaths of these towns through biting cold, pouring rain, and the blazing afternoon sun of a Chilean spring.

He's served and loved and learned from the beautiful people here.

Of course, being Travis, he sends home numerous photos of food.

He may be a working machine, but every once in a while, on P-days, he and the other missionaries can play a little--be it on a fútbol field, a snowy volcano, or by a waterfall.

Travis turned 20 last month, and like a true adult he spent the day working. He did, however, buy a Chilean apple pie to celebrate with his companion. (Yes, that candle is a Q-tip.)

My mother-heart is comforted to know that he is happy and finding joy in his service and sacrifice.  I am grateful for his personal growth and spiritual journey to truly know God and that he finds simple pleasures along the way.

After twelve weeks together Elder O. has been transferred to a different city and Elder Woodfield will be TRAINING his next companion--a brand new missionary fresh from the Missionary Training Center. On to the next adventure!

Eclectic Curiosities

This collection of photos I took in Japan I have named eclectic curiosities--things that caught my eye and, perhaps, made me take a second look.

Japan is replete with vending machines. There were no street venders or food trucks, but there were plenty of vending machines that sold all kinds of interesting items.

It wasn't unusual for us to find English words associated with Japanese products that made me wonder. For example, this thirst quencher was labeled "sweat".

"Cute" is the only way I can describe these construction barricades.

Can you pick out the yellow duck variety on the ferry dock to Miyojima Island?

I rode in the cleanest and most well-kept taxicab I've ever seen--complete with curtains and lace-covered headrests and seats.

On rainy days everyone in Tokyo carried an umbrella and it seemed like the umbrella of choice was a clear plastic one with a simple white handle. I'm not sure why these appealed to me so much, but luckily there came a day when this inexpensive purchase was warranted. I never had the opportunity, however, to lock it in an umbrella stand like this one at Osaka University.

School groups of all ages were sight-seeing right along with us everywhere we went. These adorable little ones in Hiroshima reminded me of Madeline.

Curtains like these (called Noren, I believe) hang outside many restaurants and shops.

Origami is alive and well in Japan. Our tour guide made the green crane for me.

In Japan, willow brooms aren't merely Halloween decor. They actually serve their purpose as the implement of choice at the Parks and National Treasure sights we visited.

Whizzing by the countryside I found a cemetery,

and rice paddies,

shopping,

and more cuteness.

A trip to Japan wouldn't be complete without wasabi or pumpkin-flavored KitKats and other unique confections.

We had one more day to spend in this amazing country and it would be in Hiroshima.