Members at Tigre

Since church starts about the same time as office work does, we are on the same schedule on Sundays as we are on weekdays. We get up at the same time and our routine doesn't change much. We wish we had time for Rich to fix skinny pancakes, but we would have to get up earlier if that were to happen. We just can't seem to roll out of bed any earlier than 6:00.

Using the counter as a tripod, we decided we would take a picture of us together for a change. Usually there is only one of us in pictures these days, as the other is the camera man.

We took a remise (reh-meese) again to church today, but didn't leave as early as we did last week. We still got there in plenty of time for me to practice my hymns and put the hymns numbers up.

The Branch President and his wife were here today, having been out of town last week. She leads the music, and I was a little concerned that I would pick a hymn that she did not know. She walked in about two minutes before the opening song was announced. Luckily she didn't have a problem with any of the ones I picked. Can't go wrong with Sweet Hour of Prayer and Sing We Now at Parting, I guess. After Sacrament Meeting was over, she was most complimentary and grateful that we had music for the meeting, and thought my piano playing was wonderful. It was really just adequate, not wonderful. I messed up on the Sacrament hymn a few times.

There were more people in Elder Kroff's class this week. He always gets a good discussion going and everyone seems to enjoy the lesson. I try to listen and understand what is being said. When some members were reading parts of the lesson from the manual, it was incredible how fast they were talking. I wonder if we, English speaking people, seem to talk fast to a person learning our language. Sometimes Rich has to slow people down a bit in order for him to catch everything they are saying. To me, everything just runs together. I don't know if I'll ever learn Castellano (they don't refer to it as Spanish down here) as well as I would like.

Here are our cute sister missionaries. Sister Rodriguez, on my right, is going home to Puerto Rico at transfer time in two weeks. I really enjoy her and will miss her. She can speak English pretty good. Sister Cano is darling and will probably remain in Tigre when she gets a new companion. She doesn't know very much English, and I can't remember where she calls home.

These are some Relief Society sisters. The lady in blue by me is Hermana Carbajal. She has just been sustained as the new R.S. President. The other sister in blue is the one she replaced. We will be so glad when we are more acquainted with these members, and can put a name to their face.

Hermano Genda has been a member of the church for 20 years. His wife and children are all Jehovah Witnesses. He comes early to open the church every Sunday, and turns on the heat in the classrooms and chapel. On Saturdays, he comes and prepares the Sacrament table. I guess this branch does not have any teacher age priesthood boys. Then he sits up on the stand behind the bishopric. He must be such a faithful member, and one who really takes his callings and membership in the church seriously.

We had chicken and potatoes cooked in the crock pot with a packaged cream of chicken soup mix for dinner. It turned out quite well and there is enough for another meal. I am also taking lunch tomorrow for the elders and us, so I started making the Sloppy Joes this afternoon. They are excited.

Today was the day for Rich's MRI. While at church, he received a message on his phone stating that the machine at the place we were scheduled to go was not working. They were transferring us to another location which is farther away than San Isidro. We arranged for a remise to take us to the 6:30 p.m. appointment. It was a nice place, much more modern than the doctor's office. We didn't have to wait long before they called his name. He said it was noisy and took 15 minutes. His whole body up to his head was put in the scanner. He was grateful his head was not enclosed. We have to go back to pick up the films on Wednesday or Thursday. Then his appointment with the doctor is on August 3. The MRI in American dollars was around $160.

It cost $14.50 for the trip to get the MRI, and about $7.50 to go to church. These are round trip fares. Not having a car available to use is going to increase the price of our mission.

Rich got a history lesson on our ride home tonight. The remise driver was an older gentleman and very talkative. He was actually raised in San Fernando. He said that from the early 1900's to 1950, men in prison were brought to Buenos Aires to work on the roads and lay the cobblestones. They wanted to keep them busy and give them something to do. Interesting!