An Action Packed Saturday

It was pre-planned that Elders Nelson and Paz would come for breakfast and haircuts, so no sleep in day this Saturday. Breakfast was at 9:00 and we served French Toast, scrambled eggs, thin pieces of ham that were so salty that it was hard to eat without something else to chew along with it, fruit cocktail, bananas, orange juice, and milk. Every thing was consumed and it seemed to be enjoyed.

It doesn't matter who is assigned to the office, we enjoy the elders. They are so nice and helpful, and seem to enjoy working with us. I guess we don't cramp their style too much.

They appreciated the haircuts and even Elder Paz, who was a first timer, liked the results of his cut. Whew! That's a relief. Then, after the elders left, we decided to tackle Elder Kroff's hair while the equipment was out. I didn't think he would need a major cut -- just a trim above the ears -- but it was longer than I thought. So he got the works too.

We cleaned up the dishes and apartment with the intent of trying to get to WalMart on the colectivo (bus system). We didn't really think we needed to buy much, but wanted to try finding a less expensive way to get there without spending money on a remise. Rich studied his handy dandy map and we set out for a bus stop on Libertador which is just a block from our apartment. At this particular bus stop, we have met very helpful people. When we were trying to find the bus to Tigre, we had lots of help pointing us in the right direction as to which bus would be the best. So today Rich asked about the bus to WalMart and we were successful again.

When we boarded the bus, Rich told the driver we wanted to go to WalMart. All he did was nod and say something about Bancalardi which is the road where WalMart is located. When we got to Bancalardi, the driver nodded to us that this was the stop we needed. He didn't turn up towards WalMart, he went straight on through. We got off the bus and decided that this was as close as we were going to get. We walked across a grassy area and by the worn path we could tell other people have done the same.

The worn path across the grass turned into a paved path lining the street. At the end of the pavement is WalMart. Sister Argyle said they just barely paved it. It really wasn't a bad stroll. We rather enjoyed it, and the weather was pleasant. Rich said if we didn't buy too much, we could walk back and get the bus in the opposite direction to get home. Well, that didn't happen, because we bought way too much to carry. So we had to take a remise back to San Fernando.

Just as we were bringing our groceries in from the elevator, the phone rang and it was a fellow by the name of Richard Glen. He is the one who was walking his dog on the day I got my hair done and found Rich across the street eating ice cream while waiting for me. He started talking to Rich when he noticed his missionary placa. It was revealed they were both BYU fans and he said he would invite us to watch the Oklahoma/BYU game the next Saturday. We didn't hear anything all week long and dismissed the idea that he would actually call.

So, at 4:00 he called and said the invitation was still on and wanted us to come. He said there would be a group of people and told us how to get there. The game didn't start until 8:00 and we knew it would be way late before we would get home. But, since they were nice enough to include us and since Rich was anxious to see the game, we decided to go.

The couples we were with all work for the U.S. Embassy. The things we learned about this type of life was unbelievable. These little families (children under 10, but one had a teenager) are all in their 30's for sure. They are moved around about every 2 or 3 years. Some have been on four tours of duty. The government finds their housing and pays for it, and for the children's educations in private schools. These homes are fabulous. This one was three stories and the TV/family room was on the top. The homes all have the major furniture, but the families bring the dishes, and all other items. The couple who hosted the party had their king size pillow top bed shipped over. Plus, they all have their cars shipped to wherever they are living. The embassy security drives around their homes about twice or three times a day They all live in neighborhoods which are designated as the "safe zone" where there are security people stationed on corners throughout the area. Three of the couples all live in homes with an identical floor plan. They are huge and beautiful. Our whole apartment could fit in the room at the top where we were watching the game -- on a big screen TV.

We were definitely old enough to be the parents to all in attendance. They were friendly, and welcomed us without reservation. In fact, they said if another game is televised, they will let us know. We were even given a ride home (about 15-20 minutes away) We didn't have to call a remise. They made wonderful snacks to eat and and all the drinks we wanted. I wondered how they made some of the treats they had and found out that the Embassy has a commissary that they are allowed to use.

These couples all belong to the ward the Argyles attend. The husbands know Spanish from their missions, and the wives have learned or are learning enough to get by. So they all have jobs in the ward and can communicate well with the members. One couple has been to London, Ecuador, and South Africa. In six months one couple is going to Peru after leaving Argentina. They said there is a test issued, and if passed they are put on a list for selection. In some ways the life is hard on them, but they say the benefits are worth it. The government pays for their way home once a year. Most have had family members come to visit. Good excuse for a trip.

Brother Glen, on end of couch wearing shorts, is the one who met Elder Kroff on the street. Besides our excitement and interest in this house and the Embassy jobs, we were excited about winning the game. Go BYU!! We walked through our door at midnight.