Back at Argyles - Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010

We should have set the alarm a half hour earlier than usual because we had more to do this morning than other days. We needed to leave by 8:30 for sure to prepare the office for the meeting we were having with the President and Elder Aidukaitis. They would be there promptly at 9:00 to meet with the office staff and the assistants. Then, since we would be staying over at the Argyles tonight and tomorrow night, we needed to pack a small suitcase and get our clothes lined up that we were going to take. However, we didn't have to take them with us to the office. We would return for them later in the day.

The President's office was too small for the group of nine meeting together, so as per the President's instructions, we pulled chairs from his office to add to ours and formed a cozy circle for the meeting.

Elder Aidukaitis is very straight forward and blunt, but very loving in his approach. Even though he had already asked us yesterday what we did in the office, he had us tell him again. He asked the office elders the same. And, he asked the assistants about their duties as well. Then, after asking the elders pointed questions about their baptisms, or lack thereof, he held their feet to the fire and showed them how they could be more successful. Just asking the right questions and probing for details helped the elders see how they could improve. It showed them what was working and what wasn't working in their present approach to missionary work.

Then the two leaders met with all the Zone Leaders and their companions. What went on there we don't know, but probably much of the same. It has been fun to be in the presence of a General Authority for two days!

President Argyle asked us through an email last night if we could take him and Sister Argyle and Elder Aidukaitis to the airport for their flight to the South today. He told us today that we needed to be to the mission home at 2:00 to pick them up. Sister Aidukaitis wasn't going to be able to go with them. So after all the missionaries left, including our office elders who had some errands to run, we only had time to eat our lunch and do a couple things at our desk before it was time to get a remise and leave for the mission home. We didn't want to be late.

We jumped in the van with me in the third row seat, Elder Aidukaitis and Elder Kroff in the middle row, and Sister Argyle and the President in the front with the President driving. It normally takes about a half hour to get to the airport. It isn't the International one, it is the Intercontinental one. But, we ran into a major problem!!! The General Paz autopista had an unbelievable backup that extended many miles. We didn't know the extent of it at first, but as we rounded a bend and entered the freeway we could see this was not good. We were basically stopped -- only moving inches at a time. To the left of us was another on ramp to the autopista and cars were turning off and exiting down this on ramp. We decided to do the same. It proved to be the first divinely inspired thing to do.

Making our way to the airport on a street like State street in Salt Lake proved slow and tedious with all the traffic. President Argyle was calling to find out if there were any other flights today, and if not what was available for the morning. It looked like plan B would have to go into effect. But, with the traveling experience of the other three in the car, they made correct choices of streets to turn on to avoid heavy traffic and backups. We made it to the airport about 25 minutes before the plane was to leave. They each had carry on bags so they leaped out of the car, grabbed their bags, and off they ran. We waited for a few minutes until the President called to confirm that they would be on the flight.

Going home in the opposite direction of the backed up autopista, we discovered that there was a burned out bus that caused the freeway to be closed. It was a double decker type which could have been a tour bus. It was just a shell. There were fire trucks and police vehicles all over the place. And, the five lane freeway was a huge parking lot for miles and miles. If we couldn't have made that U turn down that on ramp, we would have been in the middle of that mess and probably not made it home until tomorrow.

We went back to our apartment, gathered our belongings for our stay at the mission home, and got here around 5:00. Both Quinn and Seth were home and busily doing their homework.

Her housekeeper, Nancy, had made dinner for us -- and will for the next two days too. I am so grateful! The four of us ate dinner without the two oldest, Austin and Anika. They were coming later due to basketball practice.

After dinner, Seth and Quinn talked Rich into playing Monopoly with them. They had it all set out and organized, just waiting for a third player. Austin and Anika came home and occupied the computers to do their homework. The children are not allowed to watch TV, play computer games or the Wii on weeknights. They can read or play games with each other or do things that are creative or stimulating. They are all very good students in school.

Another good thing about coming to the mission home along with having dinner prepared for us, is that there is an air conditioner in each bedroom. Yippee!!