A Lazy Sunday

At the baptism last night, the Relief Society President of the San Fernando ward told us that the Relief Society President's husband in our Tigre branch had passed away during the week. We couldn't believe it because we hadn't heard a thing about it. Sister Carbajal taught the R.S. lesson last Sunday and bore her testimony in Sacrament Meeting and nothing was mentioned about her husband taking a turn for the worse. He does have health problems and isn't able to come to church. He has been on dialysis for kidney problems for a long time. It seems like he told Rich (when we were invited for Sunday dinner there a few weeks ago) that it had been 3 years. So we knew he was in ill health. He passed away at home last Tuesday.

They don't embalm people here in Argentina. Elder Paz, who is from Peru, said they do it there, however. He died at 1:00 a.m. and they had a viewing that day from 11:00 to 5:00 where people could come and visit with the family. They have to bury the body within 24 hours, so he was buried that evening. They usually do not have funerals because of the time issue in getting the body buried. There wouldn't be time to plan one or have family come if they lived out of town. Sister Carbajal doesn't have any family close by, so it was just herself and her children. Some members of the church have had a funeral in the church, but it only consists of a song and prayer and short remarks from someone. This only happens if someone dies in the afternoon or evening as then a funeral can be held the next morning with burial still occurring within 24 hours.

We wish we would have known about his passing because we would have for sure attended the viewing. Since I lead the music in Relief Society, Rich calls her every Saturday night to get the songs we are going to sing, so I can practice them in Spanish. We called her right when we got home from the baptism and told her how sorry we were about her husband, and that we hadn't heard about it or we would have been to the viewing. She is a strong woman and knows where he is and that he is finally free of his diseased body. She said it was a blessing for him to go.

Her children are not active or maybe not even members, (all are grown) and have not been interested in the church. But they have started asking questions now trying to understand life after death. Unlike at home, there is no luncheon for the family and people do not gather around the family at their house on the day of the funeral. They die, they are buried, and life goes on. Sister Carbajal was at church on Sunday conducting Relief Society as usual. Right on, huh, Melissa!

We are becoming more familiar with the members at church and they seem glad to have us there. Those who attend Elder Kroff's Gospel Principles class love him. Who wouldn't? He endears himself to everyone he meets. We enjoy attending the Tigre branch.

After church, we decided to walk a few blocks to an intersection where many buses pass by regularly. We didn't want to wait an hour for one down by the church again, like last Sunday. On our way we spotted these huge bridal wreath bushes. We have some by my childhood home that we now have as a rental unit, but I have never seen some this large and full. They were beautiful!!

The afternoon was quiet and calm. We talked with family on Skype, worked on the blog, and went to bed.