And the rain came down - Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009

The beautiful day we had yesterday just couldn't last. The forecast today was for cloudy skies with rain not starting until later in the afternoon. But, we know this place and it is better to be safe than sorry, so I stuck one umbrella in my purse.

We arrived at church at 8:30 for my usual one half hour of "prelude" music. Things were going well, but I could see through the opened window across the chapel that it was getting pretty dark outside. Then about 8:45 or 8:50, the heavens opened and a torrential rain storm took place. It was just a loud, thundering dumping of water like we've never seen before. The wind was blowing and it was raining buckets full of water. My heart just ached for all the people making their way to church. This would have been about the time they were either waiting for a bus, or getting off a bus and walking, riding a bike, or just plain walking the distance.

The Branch President told Rich that he is the only one in the branch who has a car. But, he lives only a block and a half from the church, so his family doesn't drive over. His wife and son were caught in the downpour. Sister Torre had an umbrella, but she said it didn't do any good because the wind was blowing water under it and she couldn't control it. She was drenched.

I was heartsick for our sister missionaries. I know one does not use an umbrella because she says it's too much of a bother. Well, they were bringing an investigator and they were just soaked clear to the bone. Sister Cano had some sort of a rain jacket on so she survived better than Sister Collinwood. After the three hour block, her clothes were still very wet. She never did dry out. Their investigator stayed for sacrament meeting, but he had levis on and they would never dry, so he went home after the meeting.

I felt so bad looking down over the congregation at these wet souls, but so grateful for their courage, and faithfulness to keep on trekking to church under such terrible conditions. What a test!

Since it was the 5th Sunday, the Priesthood and Relief Society met together for a lesson by Sister Karina Soler on basic principles of welfare and self-reliance. I had to slip out fifteen minutes before the end of class to go to the Primary room and play the keyboard while the children practice the songs for the Primary program later this month. Next week they want me twenty minutes before the end of Primary. The keyboard is a little difficult to play, so hopefully it will sound better on the piano.

By the time church ended, the rain was on pause as we waiting about a half hour for our bus to come. But, the mosquitos were out in full force. They were eating my feet and ankles alive. I had to keep my eyes on my feet at all times, killing four or five as they landed and swatting others away with my purse. When will that bus be here???

Needless to say, we have spent the rest of the Sabbath at home and grateful to be here safe and dry as we look out over our balcony at the continuing rain storms.

Rich just received a call from some elders in Sarmiento, a zone quite a ways from us. They had locked their keys in their apartment and wondered what to do. At least they were safe and dry at their Bishop's home. We have extra apartment keys, so Rich went to the office, found the keys, and called a remise to take the keys to them. It will be a little costly, but what are the choices? They have to get in their apartment. We haven't had elders locked out for quite some time.

This is an arial view of the Obelisk of Buenos Aires. It is a modern monument placed at the heart of Buenos Aires and was built in 1936 to commemorate the 400 anniversary of the founding of the city. It is in the spot where the Argentine flag was flown for the first time in Buenos Aires. It was constructed in four weeks and is one of the main icons of the city. We didn't take this photo, of course. Notice the six lanes of traffic circling it.

This picture was taken from the Barton's balcony yesterday. They live in a high rise apartment building overlooking several other high rise buildings full of apartments. That's the way of life here in Buenos Aires.