WORLD'S END, (and a few other things)

You know that old saying, "It's not the end of the world,
but you can see it from there!",  well. . . I am pointing
at it.

When the pilgrims (hikers of the "way" to Santiago) finally get to Santiago, they have to make a tough decision--do they call that the end of the journey, or do they go the "extra mile" (so-to-speak) and walk on out to the real end.  The real end takes them on out to a place called Fisterra, or Finesterre.  If you have any background in any of the Latin-based languages, you can tell that the word means WORLD'S END!!  The word is that people have been going to that place for a real long time, historically speaking.  They actually considered it to be the place on the western coast of Spain, that you could walk to the edge and look out on the seas, and be looking at the ocean from the true end of the world.)

We have a visitor who came to church a while back, who had been out on "the way" and had finished the trek, having come more than 1,400 kilometros!!  She honestly looked worn out, but. . . she was going to go the extra mile, and finish all the way out to Fisterra--another 75 kilometros, and another 3-4 days, depending on how hard she wanted to push herself.

A P-day ago we loaded up the two Hnas. and the one Elder (his companion was headed on home) and drove out to Fisterra.  It was spitting rain and blowing like a bancheeeeeeee, but we went anyway.  By the time we arrived, the rain had let up, but not the howling wind.  (remind you of a song, Mark?)

We thought that there would not be too many people to contend with, but we were wrong.  I guess this place attracts a ton of folks, not just from here in Spain, but from all over the world.  There was even a huge tour bus there, full of Oriental folks!

The first thing you see as you arrive is this huge light house!

There is more than one way to say and spell the name.
This says, "Lighthouse of Finisterre"

The wind--what can I say more??

Kilometer zero--you have arrived!!

I really wanted to go down to the edge of the water,
and stick my feet,/ hands in the ocean, but the rocks were
slippery and  steeper than a cow's face, and the wind was nasty,
and Hna. Bake was ready to kill me if a tried, so. . . this is as close
as I was going to get.  They don't call this the "Costa da Morte"
(the coast of death) for nothing!!!

Same spot--same result!!

This is a big, bronze hiking boot, permanently attached to this
huge rock--a symbol of the worn-out boots from the long trek
along the way.  Many hikers, upon finishing the trek, actually
burn, not only their boots, but also their clothes  (as you can see
from the black on the rocks) as a symbol of beginning a new life
after the conclusion of their journey.

. 

Monument to the hikers, close to the end of the world.

The seas, the winds, the waves--all made for a great day!!

Elders Hale and Bake, comforting a 'peregrino'.

Hna. Bake often helps in the Relief Society by showing how to do some neat 'crafty' things.  One of the latest crafts was to use sea shells to create a Christmas-type decoration.  Having been raised close to the ocean, and having a desire to get close again, she volunteered us to go and collect the shells!!

She can be quite clever that way!!!!!     So. . . . off we went.

We went to Noia, where we had been one time before, but failing to find any good shells, we headed on down the coastline until we found another  beach to try our luck at "beachcombing".  Here follow some of the pictures and some of the results of our "serving the women of the Santiago R.S."

We purposefully went at low tide, so as to be able to go out
farther into the sea, to search for the shells.  This photo shows
a 10-12 foot tide swing.

Among the rocks are tons of these little muscles.  They do eat them.

They are everywhere they can get a toe-hold.

She really gets involved in her service activities!!!

REALLY INVOLVED!!!

Other things to do at the beach!!!

"Critters" inside some of the shells!!!

Our 'haul' for the day!!!

For this ole Idaho farm boy, some of these things are quite
fascinating!!

The missionary work moves forward.  We stay busy, helping the missionaries get to places too far away to walk (in our car).  We home/visit teach some of the branch families.  We participate in the branch activities--to show up with energy and zeal--to help them feel like things matter, which, or course, they do.  We show love and attention to all, and they feel our sincere efforts to help.

We are beginning to see--and feel--something that the mission President and his wife told us about, not too long ago: that when they see some of 'their' missionaries go home at the end of their missions, it hurts a bit.  We just had one of 'our' missionaries go home this past week.  We had worked side by side with him and his companion, for the better part of three months, and had loved and served with him.  It leaves a little hole in the soul, for a while, when you see them leave.  

We love where we are serving!  This part of Spain is so gorgeous, and green (even in December!)  Just the other day, we were driving around one of the larger roundabouts in Santiago, and noticed that some of the city workers were planting flowers!!!!!  Crazy--especially for the middle of December!!  But, the lowest nighttime temperature we have had so far is 36 degrees!!  Average daytime temps are normally somewhere between 45 and 55, and even up to 60!!  This coming Wednesday, it is supposed to get up to 65!!   I think a winter here in Santiago will spoil us for sure.

Well, time to hit the hay!!  Try translating that into Spanish!!

Elder and Hna. Bake