The Argyle Family

This is President Argyle and his family.  From left to right:  Austin 17, Seth 9, Sister Argyle, her name is Heidi, Anika 14, Quinn 11, and the president, his name is Shane.  Pres. Argyle is now 40 years old.  He was 38 when he was called to be the president.  He owned his own business.  In fact, he mentioned to us that he had two businesses.  We do know that in the year he was called it was October and he had sold both his businesses by the end of December.  So he had 6 months to just concentrate on getting ready to be the mission president.  

 

When we got our mission call and saw his picture and write up, our thought was that he must be an on-the-ball person to be able to be self sufficient enough to take time out to be a mission president at that young age.  He is an amazing person.  According to what we have heard, he has improved the success of this mission and turned it around.  When Elder Zivic was here for the tour of the mission that we came early for, he said that this mission is advancing much better than any in Argentina.  He really has developed obedient, focused, and dedicated missionaries. He expects much from these young people and he gets it, and he does it in such a way that they want to comply.  He is very goal oriented and is big on finding ways to streamline procedures. He is totally dedicated to his calling and has the missionaries well being at the top of his list. He takes very good care of them.  The CEO in him is evident and his experience in the business world no doubt has had an influence in how he runs this mission.  He is very structured and organized, and runs a "well oiled machine", but at the same time very compassionate, tactful, and kind in how he treats people.  

He and Sister Argyle have been wonderful to us.  They want us to be as happy and content as the younger Elders and Sisters.  They found us this apartment, stocked it with food, bought us a nice wood table, a TV, bookcase, two small chest of drawers, cooking utensils, dishes, pots and pans, etc. etc.  The only thing we had to pay for was our bed.  And it is a good bed, so we are grateful for that.  They have an apartment account that we are sure funded all that they bought. They will just keep this apartment in the hopes that another senior couple will move in when we move out.   Sister Argyle took us shopping a few times when we first got here to get us acquainted with the stores around here, and to help us find food and other bathroom and household things we might need.   She is fun to be around and makes us feel at ease.

The mission home is in a very nice upscale neighborhood.  This is the living room.  The mission home has been here for 20-25 years and she said the furnishing are the same.  They have a housekeeper that comes four days out of the week to clean and help her cook when she has to prepare food for the incoming and outgoing missionaries on transfer days.

The living room again -- just another shot.  In a room off to the side is a grand piano.  All of their children can play.  Three of them take lessons.  The older son doesn't take lessons anymore.  All of the children can speak Spanish.  They picked up a little from their dad always speaking it a little at home before the mission, as he served a mission in Costa Rica when he was younger.  But in the 18 months they have been here, they have learned it quite well.  They are allowed to speak English during the week, but on the weekends, they try to have them speak only in Spanish.  Sister Argyle has the gift of tongues.  She has learned Spanish and speaks very well.  She will give talks in Spanish at all the Zone Conferences.  And President Argyles Spanish is flawless.  He talks as fast and fluently as the natives.

The mission home dining room.

They also have a swimming pool in the back yard.  This is Sister Kroff with the two younger children. One Saturday, they asked us to come and be with the boys while they took a seminary class to the temple to do baptisms.  It was a lot of fun.  Their children are very well behaved and polite. We played a game at the dining room table and then went for a walk to a shopping area where I went to buy some towels and bedding items.  The older boy Quinn was so cute... he took right over leading the way with the map and would translate for me in the store.   I hope they ask us again to stay with the kids.   It is the least we could do for all they have done for us.

Another view of the back yard and back of the house.  The boys said that on Christmas day it was so hot, that after opening gifts they went swimming in the pool.   It will seem crazy to have weather in the 90's in December.  Now don't jump in, Elder Kroff - - it's against the rules!!!