A Fun Sabbath-28 de junio

We were anxious for Sunday to arrive because of our new assignment to attend the branch in Tigre. We didn't know where it was, but felt confident that the GPS would take us right there. In the summer, their church starts at 9:00, but in the winter it starts at 9:30 to allow the temperature to warm up a little more because most of the members have to walk to church. Some are very poor and live out in the campos.

It takes about 10 or 15 minutes to drive from San Fernando to Tigre, and just in case we did make a wrong turn, we decided to leave a little early. Rich had to walk to the office to get the car, and off we went.

We talked to some members in the chapel when we arrived, and then the branch president found us. He seems pleased to have us there. We were welcomed into the branch as new members by a show of hands. So I guess we are official now.

Whenever new missionaries move into a ward or branch, they are always called up to bear their testimonies. Anticipating that would happen to us, I prepared a few things to say in Spanish. . . with Rich's help. Along with my testimony, I told where we were from and about our family. It was very simple and brief, and I wrote it down and had to read it. I explained that I didn't speak Castellano (they don't refer to the language as Spanish), but that I understood some things and am trying to learn more. I guess I did okay.

There are about 80 active members that come. We learned that there are a lot of inactive members that need fellowshipping. Very few people were there when Sacrament meeting started, but there was a fair amount by the time it ended. It was high council Sunday, and a Sunday when the Relief Society presidency, Young Women's presidency, and a counselor in Primary were all released. Knowing how small the branch was, I wondered if there would be enough sisters to sustain in the new positions.

The chapel was quite chilly, and the hallways were really chilly. In each classroom there was one little wall heater that made the room fairly comfortable. I chose a seat right next to the heater. Our Sunday School class, Gospel Principles, had about 9 or 10 people in it. And there were 13 sisters in Relief Society. It is a definite difference from our experience in the San Fernando ward.

Two of our sister missionaries serve in Tigre and attend this ward. Sister Shaffer is from Salt Lake and has been here about two months. Sister Rodriguez is from Puerto Rico and is going home in August. Sister Rodriguez is so darling and has been a really good missionary. I'm going to miss her. Sister Shaffer sat by me in Relief Society and interpreted the lesson for me. That was nice of her, I thought. It is amazing how fast these new missionaries learn the language. I am so impressed.

The Bishop caught Elder Kroff after Priesthood and asked him if we were strictly there to help the sisters with missionary work, or if we could help out in the branch. He told him we were there to do both, that if they needed us we were available. He knew I had a language barrier, but asked if I could lead music. Then he asked Rich if his Spanish was good enough to teach. Rich assured him that we could do both. He didn't tell him he was a high school Spanish teacher. The bishop was thrilled and said he would get back to us.

We also told the sister missionaries that if they needed us to go visiting with them on Sunday afternoons, or anytime during the week, that we would be glad to come over and help them. They seemed pleased to have the support. So we enjoyed our first day of church at Tigre.

We came home to a quiet afternoon. I had a small roast in the crockpot, and after dinner I planned on relaxing and working on two days of our journal/blog entries, since I was a day behind. I had changed my clothes fully intending to relax all the rest of the day. Then we suddenly remembered that tonight was the fireside for the missionaries going home this transfer. Good grief, what time did it start? We couldn't remember if it was 6:00 or 7:00. Rich called up Elder Valente and it was at 5:00. It was 4:40 when he called. We changed in a flash and rushed to the church. There were a lot of people there because missionaries with investigators were welcome to attend.

After the meeting, everyone gathers in the cultural hall to take pictures, or talk with their investigators, or visit with the other missionaries. This is Elder Vega and Elder Briggs. Elder Briggs is from Idaho and is going home on Wednesday. He is a Zone Leader and has come to the office quite a bit to deal with financial matters with Elder Kroff. So we have gotten to know him pretty good. He is a cute guy.

The president visits with people after the meeting, and encourages the investigators. After he leaves, then it is our job to get everyone on their way home. Some missionaries had a 1 1/2 hour trip by train and bus to get back to their areas. Rich starts turning off the banks of lights in the cultural hall. It works! However, tonight, it was the president that we were waiting for. He was the last one out. We got home at 8:00.