Upcoming Event - Thursday, Nov 5, 2009

It is really hard to stay asleep until the alarm goes off at 6:00 because our room is so light. One benefit of going on Daylight Savings Time that I like is that the sun does not come up so early. But since Argentina opted out of doing it, I guess I'm doomed to waking up earlier than I would like. I never get up, but I lay there trying to doze a little for the last half hour.

We were grateful to be able to spend a whole day in the office with hopefully not too many interruptions now that transfers are over. Even before this transfer week came, I was starting on the December one. That's going to be the killer with 23 new missionaries coming. It was 24, but today we received a Notice of Change on one elder that will not be coming.

Elders Paz and Coria left early to go to the Capital in order for Elder Paz to complete his residency at Immigrations. I asked why he was the only one going when usually Elder Coria takes a group with him when he goes. They said that was the "turno" that was given to him. So off they went.

Elder Kroff and I had the whole office to ourselves and it was a quiet, productive morning. I had some medical calls to take care of, then entered the rest of my baptisms, and prepared the materials I need to take to the Zone Leaders Council tomorrow at the mission home. Elder Kroff worked on getting some zone money organized and into the right hands.

I was hoping to get all the miscellaneous things done that were bugging me so I could start boxing up the mail that will go South in a couple of days. Just as I was about to start on that project, the President called to speak to me. In a couple of weeks, we are having a combined mission meeting/conference with the three Buenos Aires missions. The North, South, and West missions will meet together to hear from Elder Bednar. Elder Snow from the Quorum of Seventy will accompany him to Argentina. We are so excited!! President Argyle received an email today from Elder Bednar's secretary who was sending two talks that he wanted each missionary to study before the conference. The President asked me to make copies of these talks for each of the zone leaders and their companions who will be at the meeting tomorrow morning. Elder Bednar's office was sending each talk in Spanish and in English. For tomorrow, the President wanted each elder present to have a copy of the talks in their native language.

A note on the email that the secretary sent said we were in for an "incredible treat." She said that his message is really a powerful one because the missionaries come prepared by having studied the talks, they are reverent, and eager to listen and learn. She said that of all the meetings she has attended with Elder Bednar, the mission meetings are the best. She said she basks in the spirit of what takes place in those conferences for weeks afterwards. She can't imagine the impact it must have on the missionaries.

I asked the President if Elder Bednar speaks Spanish. Will this be in English or Spanish? He said he will deliver it in English, probably with an interpreter. Now I am REALLY excited to go.

I have been thinking all day of the missionaries that left yesterday. Of all the past groups that have gone, this one had more missionaries in it that we became better acquainted with than in any of the others. This is Elder Bloxham, an Assistant to the President, from Roy, Utah. He is a great missionary and had a lot of success here in Bs. As. President Argyle tells the missionaries that in order to have success they need to "open their mouths." Elder Bloxham took this to heart and he would speak to every one on trains, buses, or on the street. While going on a teaching appointment with him once, we observed him walking/running side by side with a man while introducing the church to him. The last thing we heard as the man hurried around a corner was Elder Bloxham shouting out to him the time church started on Sunday. He is amazing. Yesterday, he had two copies of the Book of Mormon that he was going to have with him while traveling home, hoping for the opportunity to give them to someone on the plane or in the airport. I wonder how he did.

Elder Pugmire on the left was serving in the South and was transferred up here to be the Assistant to the President taking Elder Bloxham's place. Elder Curtis on the right of the picture is the other Assistant. We were so excited to meet Elder Pugmire. He has been down in the South for almost a year, and was there when we came. We have spoken many times to him on the phone and felt we knew him well, but had never seen him. He, too, was excited when we all met for the first time.

Have I said before how we love these missionaries? We are not missing one reunion when this is all over. We may have to go with walkers or canes, but we'll get there.