Conference Time!!!!

We got to Santiago in time to watch General Conference, specifically for that purpose.  We found the branch building, but despite walking past it as often as possible in three days, we never saw anyone there!  We drew a picture of missionaries and showed it to the bakery workers next door, asking if they had a phone number. No dice.  We even scribbled a note on an empty pastry bag and safety pinned it to the door handle (we had no tape), begging any Mormons to send us information on how to watch conference with the saints in Santiago.  We got no response.

In the end, we've bought enough internet time to watch the broadcast live in the common room of our albergue.  We tested the facilities by watching the "highlights" clip of last conference, and it was so good to see them and hear them!!  that we cried!  

Just think, we haven't been to a mormon church in a whole month (which is a HUGE long time, for us).  It was so...grand!  Like...eating a delicious cupcake by Kenzie after months of bland foreign fare!!  

yeah.  It was that good.

And now we are watching conference and it is sooooo good!  I can't even say!  And the news!  Missionaries from ages 18 and 19!!!???  Wow!  My favorite quotes (as close as I can get them):

"when our commitment is diminished for any reason, part of the solution is always repentance"

"parents need to be ready to defend truth and bear powerful testimony"

"they that wait upon the Lord will rise up on wings as eagles..."

"we have trials to learn that without Him, we have nothing"

"stop the boys on the bikes!"

"there is nothing mysterious about the principles of the gospel"

Ah.  The feast metaphors are bubbling up inside me, but I will refrain, seeing as Sofia is sitting beside me and will make fun of my flowery sentences ;)

SECOND SESSION UPDATE:
Some kid from California that we met this morning came and sat next to us for part of this session.  He was drunk.  First of all, he expressed incredulity that I am a mormon and also studied European history.  I honestly don't know why.  Can a mormon not be educated?  Anyway..he said he wanted to listen with an open mind, but he ended up making exasperated noises and leaving because he was "frustrated".  Sigh.  You can't win 'em all.