A Day of Thanks - Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009

We had a full Saturday ahead of us today, but decided to sleep in a half hour until 6:30. We don't know why we thought that would work, because it is light at 5:30, and much lighter at 6:00. We just can't sleep very deeply after the sun comes up. So we "slept in" an extra half hour just to say we did, I guess.

Every month, a fumigation guy comes around and sprays various areas inside the apartments in our building. Today was the day he was coming at 10:30 a.m. This is the second time they have come and it really works. For days and weeks afterwards, anything flying or crawling dies. Today Rich commented to the worker that the spray was really good, and he said, "It's from the United States." No wonder, huh!!

We cleaned up our apartment and got dressed in our missionary clothes. We were heading down to the Capital to attend the Thanksgiving dinner that the senior couples from the Area Offices were putting together. We have a baptism tonight, so depending on when we left the party we may not have time to come home and change clothes. We may have to go directly from the train to the church, so we needed to look the part of missionaries.

Our assignment for dinner was frozen corn, so we gathered up the bags and headed to the train. The ride was okay and pretty crowded. Then two stops before we were to get off, people started exiting the train in mass. Some remained in place, but the train did not start up again. Rich asked the man sitting across from us what was happening and he told him that there was a problem with the train and people were taking advantage of going to the restroom, or getting a snack etc. This has never happened to us before, so we were a little unsure about what to do or how long we would be there.

After a few minutes, we decided to get off the train and take a taxi to our dinner party. It is a good thing we did because we arrived right at the time when we had planned. Who knows how long the train would have been disabled.

Our post Thanksgiving dinner at the home of Elder and Sister Barton was a success. There were seven couples, six from the Area Offices and us. I took frozen corn to be cooked after we arrived, so we planned on being there a little early. They live on the 10th floor of a high rise apartment building in a busy area of the Capital.

The front room of the Barton's apartment was just large enough to accommodate the tables and chairs. A Thanksgiving thought by Abraham Lincoln and Bob Bennett were sitting at our places, plus a card with our name on it. Sister Peterson is big on decorations, and formality. She is a sweetie.

They do have turkey's in Argentina, but not as large as we find in the U.S. No twenty five pounders in these stores. Our spread consisted of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, Stove Top Stuffing (yum), green beans, corn, cooked red cabbage (really good), fruit salad, jello salad, tossed salad, relishes and dip, yams, homemade hot rolls, homemade strawberry jam, pumpkin pie, lemon pie, apple pie, and a chocolate dessert with crust, puddings, and cream in it. Someone knows how to cook traditional food in this country, but it's not me. I was glad I had the corn. I did pick the brains of those cooks who made some of the dishes. A lot of substitutions for American products took place, and it all tasted wonderfully good.

We are all smiles as we enjoy good food and good company. We were as full as we get each year at our Thanksgiving meals at home. The only thing missing was family, but we were grateful for our missionary family who made the holiday memorable for us.

Our friends include, Sister Peterson, Elder Leckie with Sister Leckie sitting across from him, the Burks, Kroffs, Bartons, Walls, and Fuquas. Elder Peterson (the doctor) is taking the picture. Nice people! We took our tripod to get a better group shot, but it didn't work out due to space. Maybe another time.

Elder Kroff was in heaven with his first piece of pumpkin pie of the season.

(*Insert from Rich*: In answer to the question my kids are wondering about, Yes. Julie asked me if I wanted cream on my pumpkin pie. I don't like cream on my pie because it hides the flavor of the pumpkin. Julie has not been able to remember this for 40 years! Every year they wait to see if Julie will ask me that question. Every year she does and they all smile and wink when I tell her, "No cream please." Also notice that I did take cream on my pie. I wasn't sure if the taste would need masking or not, so I took the safe way out) (Julie's insert: Smart Aleck!!)

It was made with half pumpkin from home and cooked Zapallos squash, and regular milk in place of evaporated milk. They don't have evaporated milk in Argentina. It was made in a 9 x 13 baking dish as she didn't have a pie plate. They don't have pie plates here like we are used to using at home. But it tasted good, and enough like pumpkin pie to be a hit.

At 5:00 we excused ourselves to return to San Fernando and the baptism. It took us exactly one hour from the time we got into the taxi for the trip to train station until we walked into our apartment. We decided to go home for 20 or 30 minutes before going to the church to help the elders with the baptism. We were so sleepy after eating a big meal, that a 15 minutes nap seemed inviting.

Pictured are Elder Paz, Franco, Matias, Elder Coria, and Carla. They are the family we helped teach these last couple of weeks. Carla is married and has two young children. Her husband is not a member, but not against her joining the church. Her two brothers, Franco and Matias, had this date set for their baptism and Carla joined them once she gained a testimony of what the missionaries were saying was true.

Their mother, Mirta, who is a member, and the grandmother pose with Franco, their father, Matias, Carla, and her sister and husband who are active members in the San Fernando ward. The elders pose with the children.

Carla is as humble and sweet as they come. It is our hope that she will remain active in the church and someday bring her husband to a knowledge of the gospel. I am finding a place for her little girl in my suitcase. She is absolutely the cutest little angel. I could eat her up.

We walked in the house at 9:30 and as I tried to do this entry, my eyes would not stay open. I was on the same paragraph for a half hour, so I gave up and went to bed.

Go BYU!!