Sept 14 - FHE at Tigre

We are expecting wonderful weather this week -- all week long. We need to enjoy the high 60's and low 70's while they last and before the humidity kicks in. It seems like "spring has sprung."

This is the last week to get ready for transfers which take place next Tuesday. We only have 4 new missionaries coming (fewest since we've been here) and two going home. I am prepared for them, however. Their carpetas (binders) are done, and the packets for the two going home are done as well. It is a good feeling not to feel pressured in that area. Now, come December, I will probably feel the pressure with 23 new arrivals. I can't even imagine what that transfer will be like.

A big deal in our mission right now is the focus on meeting the goal set last September of doubling the baptisms by the end of September this year. We are almost there, but are down about 80 baptisms. In this mission it is a doable thing. We need to have 40 baptisms each of the two remaining weeks of September. With 164 missionaries and 10 zones in the mission, that would only require each zone to have 4 baptisms a week.

A special mission conference is being held this Saturday morning. It has been planned for some time now as the President anticipated that the goal would have been met by now, and it was to be a gathering to humbly celebrate the accomplishment. He has great faith. But the theme and spirit of the conference now is to refocus and recommit to attaining the year long goal - to not give up, but to exercise deep faith and belief that it can take place and will take place. Miracles do happen! There have been many already as we hear stories from the missionaries relating to finding people who are ready to listen to the truth.

We were excited for our Monday night activity in Tigre. Our branch president's wife, Sandra Torre, invited the sister missionaries, the Rodriguez family, and us to dinner and Family Home Evening. She wanted to have a Mexican taco dinner. Her husband was out of town and not home for the occasion. But her son, Joaquin, was there. This is the second meal we have been invited to partake of at their place. The first was that delicious Asado (BBQ) a few weeks ago.

Rich was expecting a "real" Mexican taco with frijoles and all, but the Argentine version is a bit different. She had two types of meat in a sauce - one was chicken and the other beef. Then the toppings were guacamole, a ranch dressing type sauce, and a tomato/onion salsa. It was very good and flavorful, but a little hard to eat as the juice from the meats made the tortilla messy and hard to handle. We reverted to using a fork, so ours were more like a tostado. We went back for seconds. (Sister Cano is by me, and Sister Howard is at the end of table)

Another dish on the table was fish that is marinated in lots of lemon juice. It is called Ceviche. The acidity in the juice actually "cooks" the fish, no heat needed. The fish is laid on lettuce and topped with slices of onions. Sister Cano absolutely LOVES this fish. Sister Howard said she is always talking about it. She is from Peru and says her mother makes it all the time. She said it is the thing she has missed the most while being on her mission.

Sister Cano was not hesitant in scooping lots of it onto her plate. She asked for some milk as in her house they pour a little milk on top. Her meal was mostly the fish, but she did manage to eat one taco. She is so tiny and cute, but boy does she like to eat. She loves food. It doesn't show, however. We just love her and Sister Howard.

The Rodriguez family live in a very modest home, and this must have been the first time they had been in the Torre home as they were all wide eyed as they looked around at the furnishings and layout of the home. Brother Torre does well as he is partners in an export/import business. Great people!

Sister Torre asked Elder Kroff to provide the FHE lesson, so after dinner, we gathered around in the living room to listen to the lesson. Then delicious brownies garnished with some kind of a chocolate sauce was served. It hit the spot for the sweet treat.

The sisters had to leave abruptly before 9:00 as that is their "curfew" time. We visited for about a half hour longer and then called for a remise to take us home. It was too dark to walk to a bus stop and wait for a ride to 2007 Peron.