Three New Missionaries

Today was a really strange transfer day. When we got to the office, we learned that the overnight flight from the U.S. that three of our missionaries were on was cancelled and they would fly today and arrive this evening. The Latin elder was in the MTC here in Buenos Aires so he was picked up as scheduled and delivered to the mission home. So he really had one on one attention from the Argyles. Elder Kroff and Elder Paz went over to the mission home as usual and delivered their messages regarding finances and living conditions in the apartments, then returned to the office. Rich usually gets to stay all day and interpret what the President and Sister Argyle have to say, but since it was only one, they could speak to him in Spanish and all was well. But Rich missed having lunch which is always the good Empanadas that her housekeeper, Nancy, makes.

Elder Clegg was assigned to be Elder Roman's trainer, so he came to pick him up and was able to have lunch there with the new elder and the Argyles. He was in seventh heaven having all the empanadas he could eat. Lucky guy!

On transfer day, the AP's come to the church and conduct training for all those who are going to be trainers, then the trainers leave and go to the mission home to pick up their new companions. That didn't happen today because of the upset schedule. Since Elders Kroff and Paz left for the morning, Elder Nelson could not be alone with just me, so Elder Bloxham (an assistant) and his companion, upon finding out that they would not be conducting the training, had to stay around until Elder Nelson's companion came back. They are both cute elders and we really enjoy them.

It was a little after 12:00 when the two returned from the mission home, and all four of the elders were starved. A lady in the ward provides lunch on Tuesdays for our office elders, so they were gracious in sharing their food with Elder Bloxham and Elder Urra. I was glad they did, because they had cancelled their own lunch today because they normally eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, and fruit that are provided for the trainers meeting. So they were left without food today. But our office elders came through.

I want to put Elder Urra in my suitcase when I come home next year. He is soooooo darling and he would be a cute addition to our family. I'll ask him someday if his mother would mind.

A highlight of our day was when the Argyles asked us to accompany Sister Argyle to the airport this evening to help pick up the incoming missionaries. President Argyle had a meeting in an area close to the airport and would meet us there. We were delighted to help. We have only been to the airport on the day we flew in, so we were anxious to go back and see the area again.

It takes an hour to an hour and a half to get to the airport, and mind you, we are still in the northern part of Buenos Aires all that time.

Traveling with our missionaries were two elders going to other missions in Argentina. So from left to right is Elder McNeil (Utah), Sister Argyle, Sister Oesterle (Penns.) Sister Frietas (Utah) Sister Kroff, Elder Jacobsen who would be getting on a bus tonight and going on an overnight ride to his mission arriving there at 11:00 am. tomorrow, and another elder going to the Salta mission. (I can't remember his name) He would be overnighting at the MTC here and leaving tomorrow. They were all excited to be here and it was fun for us to greet them fresh from the MTC and welcome them to Argentina.

We then got in two cars and went to the MTC which is by the Temple (1/2 hour away) to have a short training meeting with our group. We arranged earlier in the day to have a room available. We arrived at 8:00 p.m. and President Argyle started with an explanation of where the mission was and where it is going now with our goal just ending of doubling the baptisms in a year. He always does well. Sister Argyle explained safety, health, and other related topics. Rich was there for the financial matters and explained how to use their debit cards and for what things the money could be used.

About 9:30, we divided up to deliver the missionaries to their new homes and companions. Sister Argyle took the two hermanas with her to where Hermana Frietas will reside. She will be in a threesome for now. Hermana Oesterle was staying the night there also and would be going back to the airport in the early morning for another plane ride to the South. She is going to Rio Grande. Both girls wanted to be assigned to the southern part of the mission, especially Sister Frietas, so she was a little disappointed. Maybe she will get there someday.

Rich and I went with the President and Elder McNeil. The GPS was used to find where his new companion was, and once there, we would be picking up another elder at that address and delivering him to another location. It was a wild ride. I think President Argyle runs close competition with the remise drivers around here. He is about as aggressive as they are, but we made all destinations without a scratch on the car. It was fun to see some areas that are unfamiliar to us, and to see where some of our missionaries live. We didn't see inside the apartments, just the buildings and the streets.

It took about a half hour to get back to San Fernando and we walked in our apartment at 11:00. No time for the blog tonight. We'll upload the pictures and do the writing tomorrow. We were beat and went straight to bed.

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