Dinner with Friends - Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010

We awoke not knowing what kind of a day weather wise we were going to have. Our nights rest was cool and comfortable so we slept well. The sky appeared fairly clear, and the clouds that were there didn't look too threatening. But when Rich read the forecast, it said we would have rain by 9:00. We hardly thought so, but took our umbrellas with us anyway.

There were 49 people in attendance at church today, and even with so few, there were not long pauses between testimonies. Our Relief Society President, Sister Carbajal, and her counselor, Sister Rodriguez, were both back today from vacations. It was good to see them. Sister Carbajal had been gone two Sundays, and Sister Rogriguez was away for three Sundays. Short three or four, or even five and six vacation days are unheard of down here. When they vacation, they vacation!!! Maybe that's good to really unwind and rest.

Our windows in the chapel were open and true to form as predicted, it started raining shortly after 9:00, sometimes coming down so hard that it was audible in the chapel. A couple people who were late came in drenched. Our rain storms are unforgiving!

The Primary President, Gladys Kaputo, was released today after serving two years in that position, and Alejandrina Sosa was sustained. She has been serving in the Primary, but I'm not sure in what position. The Elder's Quorum President who was a transplant from another ward in the stake, has just been called as a counselor in the Stake Presidency to fill the position of the counselor that moved. He was sent to the Tigre branch a year ago to help out because we lack priesthood brethren. I wonder what we will do now for an Elder's Quorum President?

About 20 minutes before the end of the block, there were periods of heavy downpour and then it would lighten up, then come with gusto again. So when church was over, Elder Kroff and I stood looking out the door wondering what would happen if we were waiting at the bus stop very long. He had his handy dandy new umbrella and I had mine, but that only protects the top half of us. I was wearing a skirt that I didn't want to get water marked, and I didn't want Rich's suit pants to get soaked like happened to him earlier this week when he was caught in a storm. So we opted to call a remise to take us home.

We were here for about an hour and a half before we left for a dinner appointment at the home of a family we have become acquainted with in the San Fernando ward. We took a remise to their house which is about 30 blocks away.

The Mansilla family consist of Domingo and Rita and five children. Rita is from Peru and converted her husband after they were married. They are very active and a strong family. They live in a humble home with a cement floor - no rugs, and a tin roof. Domingo is a painter and gets jobs from referrals. They don't own a car so he rides a bike to work, or goes on the train, or colectivos.

The children, Abel (5), Matias (12), Dario (13) Genesis (8), and baby Victoria (11 mo) are happy, well behaved children. This is the second time we have been invited to their home for dinner. The last time we went was last July with Elders Valente and Nelson. It was fun to be with them again. We have good friends from the San Fernando ward, and whenever we see them or go to one of their baptisms, they are so glad to see us. Wonderful people!!

Today one candle was put in the torta that was served to celebrate the one year anniversary of Brother and Sister Mansilla being sealed in the temple and to their children. It was a happy occasion.

For dinner we had rice, potato salad (delicious), chicken, beef, tomatoes, pan, and a white cake with a filling of peaches and Dulce de Leche, topped with whipped cream. Everything tasted so good and we ate till we were stuffed.

We went to their home by remise and got there about 2:20 p.m. We didn't eat until about 3:30 or later. At 4:45 we finished and they said they had to go to the church for a baptism of an 8 year old. Their son, Dario, was giving a talk at the baptism. So, we called two remises and half the children went with us in one car, and the rest of the family went in another.

We decided to attend the baptism instead of just leave and walk on home and we're glad we did, because we were able to see a lot of friends from that ward. The family had made the baptism really special for their son. The Primary children sang a couple of songs, grandparents bore their testimonies, talks were from two primary children, the congregation wrote messages to Joaquin, and they were placed in a treasure chest for him to read later. A printed program was handed out, remarks from a member of bishopric, and of course treats to partake of afterwards. There were a lot of people there, mainly relatives and friends. We slipped out after the closing prayer because we were so full, we didn't want any treats. We did, however, get another invitation to dinner next Sunday. Bishop Gimenez invited us to his home. This will be the second time eating with them too. What fun!

We had a wonderful day, but were glad to be home. We had been on the go since 8:15 this morning. We chatted with Marianne on Skype, and at 10:00 this entry is done.