Missionary Sunday

It was raining when we woke up and the forecast said it would continue throughout most of the day. Will the church be cold? What to wear? We always call a remise to take us to Tigre on Sunday mornings so we are protected from the weather getting there, and surely it will let up by the time church is over for our bus ride home.

Today was missionary Sunday -- as the Branch President called it. The talks and musical number were to be from the four of us. We had practiced a hymn to sing during the week with a young teenager, who was learning how to play the piano, as our accompanist. She knew "I am a Child of God" the best so that is what we sang. We all met at 9:00 before church to practice again. Belén is her name and she did a great job playing from the Simplified Hymn Book. Just giving her the chance to play for us and giving words of encouragement along the way has been worth it to see her excited and eager to do it again. It would be great if she could learn more of the hymns so when we are not here, she could provide the music for Sacrament Meeting.

These sisters are in the chapel every Sunday when we arrive at 9:00 a.m. They like to come early, and tell me they enjoy listening to me play/practice the piano. They follow along in the hymn book as I play. On the left is Nilda Ramon de Fernandez, and on the right is Ana Diaz. Hermana Diaz teaches one of the Relief Society lessons, and I think Hermana Ramon de Fernandez is in the Nursery. They are cute ladies.

Some member's activity in the branch is directly affected by the weather. When the meeting started today there were only 21 people in attendance. After the sacrament was passed, another seven or eight came through the door. On days like this, everyone should congregate up front on the benches close to the pulpit. It would be a little easier to deliver a message to a combined group rather than people spread out all over the chapel.

The sister missionaries and Elder Kroff delivered messages all relating to missionary work. It was a good meeting. Our song sounded good, as we were told by those in the congregation.

There were no investigators in Rich's class today, except for Brother Rodriguez. He always comes, but is still not convinced that he should be baptized.

It was still raining when church was over at 12:30. Should be call a remise to go home or try our luck waiting for a bus? We decided to just walk to the bus stop right outside our chapel instead of going about four blocks to a busier intersection where buses come from many directions. If one didn't come in a timely manner, we could always call a remise. We waited a good twenty minutes and finally a bus came, and it was one that would go right down Peron and drop us off at our door. But we were chilled to the bone which wasn't good for my raspy throat and cough I was developing. There is, of course, no heat in the bus. We could actually see our breath.

We were grateful to be home and warm, and Rich immediately fixed himself a hot chocolate. Dinner was Milenesa (flat breaded pieces of chicken) which are either baked in the oven, or fried in a little oil. Then we had potatoes, fresh asparagus, and tossed salad. It tasted good. After a Sunday afternoon nap, I made cookies to take to the office tomorrow. The elders have been hinting lately, so I guess it is time.