After Nine Months - Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009

We woke up realizing that day two of transfers would be a little less hectic than yesterday. Our only responsibility today was going to the mission home at 2:00 for Elder Kroff to settle up financially with the missionaries and I had some mail and last minute things to give to a few of them.

While walking to the office this morning, we were crossing a street and notice the elders about a block away. There were three in white shirts instead of two. Who is the third one? Then it dawned on us that Elder Kirkham who came up from the south last night had stayed with our office elders. He would be going to the mission home today at 11:00 for the interviews, activities, and dinner with President and Sister Argyle prior to the overnight flight back to the states. We knew he was tall with broad shoulders, and this picture proves it.

We were soooo happy to finally meet Elder Kirkham. He expressed the same feelings about us. He was a zone leader in Rio Gallegos and has been serving in the south for 13 months. That's a long time. But once a missionary goes south, he/she doesn't come back in a couple transfers because it is expensive travel wise. They usually stay at least nine or ten months, more in Elder Kirkham's case. So, in the nine months we have been here, we have spoken to him weekly on the phone regarding various matters, and have become acquainted with him that way. Today was the first time we layed eyes on him. He is going home to Southern California where his family has recently moved.

Most Latinos are small, but standing next to Elder Kirkham, they really look small. We had to chuckle at him because today was a rather pleasant day heat wise, yet he was wiping his brow and commenting on the heat and humidity. It is cool to cold year round down south, so he became climatized to that weather. He was struggling with the change.

I only had a couple days reprieve from my work load, and now things are picking up a bit because zone conferences are starting up next week. I haven't entered one baptism yet this week and I have about 20+ to do. Sometimes I get overwhelmed when there are so many things I have to do "first."

At 2:00, Rich and I left to go to the mission home to settle up financially with those leaving today. They were a jovial group and it was fun to hear them bantering back and forth with each other. The President would call each one in his office for their final interview which usually lasts about 15 minutes. Those waiting were writing a spiritual experience they had to leave with the President.

Our only sister in the group is Hermana Guerra from Chile, and she had been down in the south for several months. She remembered while we were there that before she left for the transfer to the south that she left a box of things in storage and forgot about it until just now. We told her we would go back to the office and get it for her. We had to return to the mission home anyway to pick up Elder Curtis who was leaving tomorrow on the same flight as his brother who is serving in Paraguay. We were taking him back to San Fernando to stay with our office elders overnight. There apartment is a motel during transfer time it seems.

So we came back to the office, found the box, and waited about 45 minutes before leaving again for the mission home. When we got there, Sister Argyle asked if we would like to meet her parents who came in this morning from the states. They will be here for Christmas. They were very nice and sociable and we enjoyed visiting with them.

It was fun to be at the mission home this late in the day, because we got to see the group leave in the combi to go to the airport. Abrazos and handshakes were exchanged, and teary eyes evident for the Argyles. It was exciting to think they would see their families tomorrow.

We took Elder Curtis with us back to the office where he met up with Elders Coria and Paz. He was going out teaching with them tonight and would accompany Elder Coria on some errands in the car tomorrow to occupy his time while waiting for his trip to the airport.

We thought today would a bit more relaxing, but we came home exhausted from our two day ordeal and hoped for a cool night to get some needed rest.