Transfer Day

Transfer day begins with Pres. and Sis. Argyle going to the airport at 8:00 a.m. to meet the plane carrying missionaries from the U.S.  A combi (bus) meets them there to transport the group with their luggage.  The president rides with them back to the mission home.  On the way, they stop at the MTC here to pick up the Latin missionaries.  The MTC is right by the Buenos Aires Temple.  The Spanish speaking missionaries from areas in South America like Chile, Peru, Bolivia etc come to this MTC and are only here for three weeks before going to their fields of labor.  After collecting those missionaries, off they go to the mission home for interviews with the president and training. Sister Argyle talks about health, and safety in the streets.  They are also given information and instruction on housing issues by one of our office Elders over that area.  Elder Kroff was there to discuss finances and hand out the debit cards which contain the money that each is given to use during the month.  At designated times, money is added to each card.  They are also given advice and security instructions in handling the card and their money.   (He actually watched and listened to his trainer so he will be able to handle it at the next transfer)

Since Rich was there, Sister Argyle needed someone to translate her message to the English speaking missionaries. Even though they have studied Spanish at the MTC, they are not fluent in the language and are still learning.  Twelve new Elders and Sisters came today and about half were Spanish speaking.  So Sister Argyle chose to address the group in Spanish and asked Elder Kroff to translate her remarks into English.  So Rich stayed to help out.  He didn't mind because he was able to stay for lunch. 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (the office), missionaries who were moving to new areas and receiving new companions converged upon us.  Remises (taxis) brought missionaries here and when their new companion showed up, they took off again.  Elder Clegg and I were to move things along, and not let them stay very long.  They were all glad to see each other and share stories, but the president didn't want it to get out of hand because of the bottle neck it causes on these narrow streets with cars and taxis and people blocking sidewalks etc.  

The missionaries leaving the mission are required to take monster size pills to clean out their system from any parasites or evil bugs that they might take home with them.  I was in charge of giving them a banana to eat and the drink of water for the pills.  I really enjoyed talking with the young people.  They would see me standing there and most would come up and greet me. Those going home were so excited, but sad at the same time.  It was fun to put a face with the names I have been seeing.  

Now tomorrow, the missionaries who are leaving have their turn at the mission home.  Elder Kroff goes there too. Hope he can do his job without Elder Whitmer at his side, since Elder Whitmer is now with a new companion.

After a long plane ride, new and excited young missionaries chat outside the mission home.  We were actually in the MTC at the same time as these missionaries, but, of course, didn't know any of them.  

Elder Wood (red tie) an assistant to the President is giving instructions.  Sister Argyle is in the background.

A lunch of empanadas and fruit salad is served.  The President's house keeper makes the empanadas and Rich said they were the best.  

At the request of President Argyle, the missionaries are asked to write a letter to their parents. Already they are obedient.

Rich saying goodbye to Elder Whitmer.  We miss him already.

Now the best thing about this transfer is that Elder Clegg is not leaving the office.  He is just being moved to a different desk.  Elder Whitmer and Elder Owens were moved out, so that leaves four of us to man the office.  Many of the things handled at my desk deal with people who only know Spanish, and the President decided that since I didn't know the language, it would be better to have Elder Clegg around to continue handling some of those things.  So we are going to trade things around a bit.  Some of the things on his desk that don't require total Spanish are being moved to me and he will retain some things that he is used to doing.   I'm okay with that, and then he will be here to answer my questions and prompt me when I forget how to do something.  It is a blessing for me.  I was really worried about being left on my own. However, slowly but surely, I am starting to remember some of the processes.  All of these graphs and spreadsheets that have been developed for keeping tract of data are mind boggleing to this old brain.   Once I get it, I'll do okay.  But it is confusing and hard.  I'm just not that computer savy.

Well, in yesterday's blog, we told how Rich walked 14 blocks to pay the rent and it was closed. Well, today he went again, but this time in the office car, (good thing) because he still couldn't pay it.  They wouldn't take a debit card, they wanted it in cash.  SO, we had to draw out the money from the ATM in pesos and we will try again tomorrow.  It is so hard to do things here. They do not make it convenient for the patron at all.   Sigh!!!