Five Months of Service

We didn't prepare breakfast today because it was Fast Sunday, so we should have slept in an extra half hour. We were ready for church and just sitting around waiting for the remise to come and get us for our 15 minute ride to Tigre. We read in 3rd Nephi from the Book of Mormon, and listened to a talk given by President Faust on the Mormon Channel.

Today marks our 5th month anniversary in the mission field. It hardly seems possible. That is almost half of a year. Wow! Our good friends, the Crawfords, will be entering the MTC in four weeks and we are so excited for them. Then all of our BYU football group will be in the mission field at the same time. I wonder if anyone will miss the six older people in section WW this year? We have been there for over 30 years.

The day is bleak and foggy, but the forecast didn't mention any rain. In fact, it said it was going to be in the high 50's and sunny. Really!!!

We arrived at church in time for me to practice my hymns and get used to the piano once again. I say that because this piano is quite different from ones I am used to playing. It is a little hard to push the keys down and it has a "twangy" type sound. Pushing the pedals doesn't prolong the sound very good either. It is a little strange, but I do my best.

Our Branch President and family were on a vacation and out of town today. School starts again here this coming Wednesday, so they were probably getting in some family time before the routine starts back up. Since his wife leads the music, I assumed she didn't plan for a substitute, so I engaged the help of Elder Kroff to lead the music. I am surely glad he knows how. He is an easy substitute to snag. There were only about 49 people at church today. We are so glad we are assigned to this branch and can help out. They really need support.

Rich looked around the audience and whispered to me that each person willing and able to bear his or her testimony would have to do it at least twice in order to take up the time allotted, since there were so few in attendance. That didn't happen, of course. It all turned out well and the time was well taken.

Eleven sisters were in Relief Society and the President gave the lesson. She seems to like her calling and is trying to do a good job. She is a nice person, and was well prepared with visual aids in hand.

As soon as we got back to San Fernando, the elders came knocking as we all had a dinner invite to the home of the Bishop of the San Fernando ward. Even though we are not in that ward anymore, we have been remembered and invited to join the elders when they get dinner invitations.

Seated at the table is the Gimenez family and the elders. Son Alejandro and wife Veronica are expecting their first child and son in October. She cooks for our elders every Tuesday. They go to their house that is right across from the church to collect their lunch. Next is Sister Guillermina and Bishop Osvaldo Gimenez. The son at the end of the table is Martin. Our elders look cute sporting their new hair cuts, don't you think? The Bishop and wife have four other daughters. Three are married and live in the United States. New Jersey and Indiana were two of the states mentioned. A fourth daughter is single and lives here, but wasn't home today.

Our three previous dinner engagements have been with families and in homes under totally different circumstances than this one. This was a very nice house. From the outside, it had the flat stucco/cement front that was attached to the house next to it like is so common. It had a fancy door, however, because Bishop Gimenez works in a business that sells doors for all the chapels around the world . . . that's what Rich remembered hearing.

The outside didn't depict what it would be like on the inside. It was a nice size and had a modern kitchen as you can see in the picture. They have lived here 20 years.

Dinner was roast beef that was wonderful and seasoned so well. This was a great example of tasty Argentine beef. Then we had mashed potatoes, spaghetti with sausages in it, a pasta with mushrooms and a creamy alfredo type sauce on it, tossed salad, and roasted chicken. Neopolitan ice cream for dessert. It was a delicious meal. We all went back for seconds, some thirds.

The camera perched on the piano acted as a tripod for our group photo. The family added another story onto their house for bedrooms with this wooden staircase to access them. Notice the Boy Scout insignia carved into the wood beam, above Elder Nelson's head. They said it is a common flower here in Argentina and is used frequently in designs.

It was a fun day with wonderful food and great company. We are treated so well.