On My Own - Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009

We decided yesterday that we would wake up today at our normal time so that we could get a good start on our Saturday "P" day. We wanted to do some Christmas shopping today, but Rich first had to take some CD's to Elder Valente up in the Capital. He and his companion have an investigator that is going to be baptized in a couple weeks, but he can't read. So, Elder Valente called Elder Kroff and wanted to know if he could download the Book of Mormon onto a CD from the internet. The investigator needs to read/listen to the Book of Mormon before he is baptized. But how would we get them to him? Waiting for zone conference time would be too late. Okay, we will take them to him and then go to Recoleta to shop at the flea market there. We are in need of picking up a few more things to send home for Christmas. Time is running out.

We started gathering the sheets and towels to take to to the Lavadero across the street and began putting things back where they belong since the repairman who said he would come Thursday at 4:00 has not shown his face. His ladder and paint brush in water are still on our balcony. Who knows when he will return. We thought he was going to come and caulk our bedroom window, so we moved things out of there so he would have room.

Rich's phone rang about 8:00 and it was the Presidente asking for Elder Kroff's help today at the office. There were some matters he had to take care of and he needed Rich to help him. So our plans for the day came to an abrupt halt. The only thing of urgent need was to get the CD's to Elder Valente. He said he would just have to call and tell him that he couldn't come and he would figure out how to get them to him next week sometime. Why do that? I can go on the train and meet him. Are you sure? Absolutely. Now, a few months ago, there would have been no way that I would have ventured out -- and on the train, no less, without my compañero. I can't believe how brave I have become. It really isn't a big deal, anymore. I've got the train thing down pat.

So Rich left for the office, and I got ready and walked to the train station, purchased my ticket in Spanish, found a seat on the train, and enjoyed the ride to the Capital. The elders were going to meet me at the train station where the Tigre line comes in. When I got there, they were no where in site. I didn't panic. I just waited about seven minutes and here they came. Elder Valente has a brand new companion from this last transfer. His name is Elder Merrill. I asked him how he was doing with Elder Valente and he said, "It would be okay if I could understand him." I laughed because a native Spanish speaker speaks fast and slurs his words. I told him I can understand the language better than I can speak it. He said, "Well, I can speak it, I just can't understand it." Oh, so true. Of course, the Latins have to speak very slowly around Rich and I.

Elder Valente was disappointed that Elder Kroff couldn't come, but was grateful for the CD's. We had a good time with Elder Valente in the office and I just want to hug him every time I see him, but can't. He has the cutest personality and he makes me laugh. As I turned to hurry and get back on that same train before it took off, Elder Valente yells out in English, "I love you." The feeling is mutual.

About one station before the Virreyes stop, I received a telephone call from Sister Argyle. She wanted to know where I was and if I would be home at a certain time because she had something she needed to drop off to me. I told her I was just one stop away from home, and we made plans for the time we would meet. Well, I went into the ozone layer after speaking to her and missed the Virreyes stop. I just sat there deep in thought about what she had said to me and pretty soon I looked up and we were coming in to the next station. Good Grief!! So I quickly got off and had to cross the tracks to get on the other side to catch another train going the opposite direction. Gee Whiz, now I might be late getting home. It took longer than expected waiting for the next train, but I made it home before she came.

My afternoon was spent ironing clothes and getting things ready for next week because tomorrow we are going to the mission home to stay with the Argyle children while President and Sister Argyle go to a Mission President's Seminar for three days. It is held in the Capital and they are staying in a hotel and having meetings, dinners, whatever with mission presidents from our area which include Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. They look forward to it every year and they are relieved that we are willing to help them out. They asked us about two months ago. We are happy to do it, and we enjoy their children.

This evening we accompanied Elder Coria and Elder Paz to a teaching appointment that they had set up. They asked us if we would come with them because they were teaching a young married mother with two children and they need another woman present. Her husband wasn't going to be home. In this family dwelling are this couple with kids, her mother and father, and two teenage brothers. The mother of the family is a member but hasn't been very active. The two brothers have a baptism date in about two weeks. Now they are teaching this sister who is living there with her husband and children. We had a delightful time. The elders each gave a short explanation from the scriptures about faith and repentance and then turned the time over to Elder Kroff to talk about baptism. He did a great job and had this young mother and her mother (who did show up) responding and asking questions. They were just glued to him.

The elders told Rich today that this gal and her mother "fell in love" with us and want us to come back again when they have another lesson. So the elders are taking us back with them. This young mother told the elders that she wanted to know how she and her husband could be a missionary couple like us someday. Next visit we are taking a picture and getting all the names in writing.

Spring is such a pretty time of year here in Argentina. All the flowering bushes are in bloom and they are so gorgeous. This one has white and lavendar blooms on it. The picture doesn't do it justice.