Mission Advice for Santiago East

• Yay!!!!!!- I'm so excited for you and totally jealous that you get to go to Chile!
  

  
  **WEATHER:
  --Alright- first things first... Chile (at least in Santiago) seems to have the two extremes of the weather spectrum! It gets REALLY hot in the summer and REALLY cold in the winter and it rains like crazy sometimes.... as in you'll will get drenched to the core if you don't have a good water resistant coat that goes to the knee and some waterproof boots that are comfortable enough to tract in all day, through inches and inches of water. Chile doesn't have a water collection or street sewer system. In the states, when it rains, the water runs along the side of the road and then into the underground sewers, right? Well, in Chile, that doesn't exist. The water just sits and the streets become massive lakes until the rain stops and eventually evaporates off the streets haha.
  
   **SUMMER CLOTHING:
  --As for summer clothing, just bring lots of comfy, missionary appropriate tshirts. I was surprised that sister missionary attire could be so casual. In the pamphlets they give us to get ready for the mission, everyone looks SO super cute and nice. In Chile, you still want to be cute but, you also need to be VERY practical. We are outside ALL day EVERY day. I went into the mission with nylons, heavy skirts, and button down blouses... By my first or second preparation day, my trainer just knew that we needed to go buy me a new wardrobe that worked for the summer weather. It was just nuts trying to maintain such a style. We opted for light tshirts with cute designs and patterns on them. that was a life saver!
  
  **SHOES:
  --As for shoes, I brought two pairs of the same Clark shoes and switched wearing each pair every other day. That way one didn't just get ground down til there were holes in the soles. They each lasted perfectly the entire mission unlike everyone else's shoes.
  
  **MISC. INFO:
  --Bring a good sturdy umbrella for windy rain.
  --Bring plenty of cardigans and undershirts like camis or shady shirts by down east. [for winter]
  --Bring sunscreen. it's kind of expensive in chile and antibacterial gel for on the go
  
  **HER THOUGHTS:
  --I love Chile. The people are so kind. They are quick to love others and share their culture. Take advantage of the work out time in the morning by running or jump roping. Monitor what you eat outside of meals with members. You might gain a lot of weight. or maybe you won't. it kind of varies among sister missionaries haha:) But, just enjoy your short 18 months serving the Lord. And let Him change and guide you to an even higher level. You. Are. Amazing. and I just have this feeling right now writing this. Hermana Butler, don't be scared to openly love your companions and the people you meet there. Laugh and play. Work hard. Be obedient. and you'll get to the end of the mission, the happiest you've ever been:)
  
  --Check out this blog post too... I totally think she's got some great ideas:
  http://bellainberlin.blogspot.com/2013/01/i-wish-i-wouldve-known.html