Busy Preparation Day, Saturday, March 6, 2010

No sleep-in day this Saturday either as first on our agenda was breakfast at the mission home at 8:30. The office staff and the assistants were invited, so we were five elders, two Kroffs, and five Argyles. Anika was at basketball practice. Usually when someone from the office is transferred, or there is a change in an assistant, we are invited to breakfast. Sister Argyle said they used to have a breakfast once a month for the office staff, but they haven't been able to keep up with that schedule for a long time, so it comes around with transfers.

The breakfast is the same every time, but today it seemed especially good -- maybe because I was extra hungry. We had pancakes, a hashbrown and egg quiche, and fresh fruit. It hit the spot. The fruit was exactly ripe enough with the plums, peaches, and pears at their best. Yum! The elders kept peering out the dining room windows watching the Argyle boys playing around with the basketball.

They contained themselves as long as they could and then politely excused themselves at the prompting of the President to join the fun outside. Our senior minds didn't kick into gear fast enough to call for a group shot before the elders were involved in a hot, and extremely sweaty game of basketball. Several times they came to the kitchen to get paper towels to wipe the sweat dripping from their faces. I think some even left their ties cinched up. Ug! It didn't look like fun to me.

We had a full day of activities scheduled, so after helping to clean up, we expressed our thanks and excused ourselves to return home. We took a remise over to the mission home, but decided to take the train back so we could stop at the fruit and vegetable market by the station in San Fernando to replenish our weekly supply. However, Saturday morning isn't the best time to shop at the market because the lines were extremely long. We'll go back Monday night sometime.

When we returned home, Rich went over to the lavendaria to drop off our sheets and towels, and I should have remade the bed and started doing the Saturday chores, but since I was behind in posting Fridays journal entry, I chose to work on that instead. Then, about 12:30 we began putting ourselves together to head out to Tigre for our next appointment of the day. Our Branch President had invited us and the sisters to an asado at 1:00. Knowing that, I reminded Rich that we needed to eat moderately at breakfast to leave room for the asado at the Torres.

It was kind of a farewell dinner for Sister Collinwood who will be leaving next week. This is the second time we have been invited to an asado at the Torre's home. They are the ones with the indoor barbeque which is located in a separate party room in a building in their back yard--next to their pool.

The asado included a variety of meats, and to go along with that was buttered cubed boiled potatoes, lettuce salad, marinated chunks of tomatoes and onions, bread (pan) and soda pop. A variety of ice cream for dessert. The food and conversation was at it's best. We really enjoy this family and they are so good to us. I don't feel threatened trying my limited Spanish on them. Two of their sons were there and they speak pretty good English, so that helps.

Sandra Torre is energetic and fun to be around. They feed the hermanas Sunday dinner every week after church. They are great to the missionaries. She thinks we, matrimonials, are alright too.

Our Saturday afternoon gathering included Hermanas Sandoval, Collinwood, Kroff, Rivera, and Torre in the front, and Presidente Torre, Elder Kroff, Joaquin, and Matias in the back. It was a delicious meal and a good time with special friends.

The day was quite warm, but with the humidity at 100%, it felt much hotter than it really was. So why is Elder Kroff wearing long sleeves? Because Sister Kroff lost track of how many short sleeve shirts were left in the closet and he had run out. He didn't seem to mind because it helped protect his arms from the pesky mosquitos that were out in full force. Both at the Argyles and at the Torres, we were eaten alive today. We had a horrible time with them a while back and on my right foot and ankle I once counted 19 bites. They are vicious down here. Then, for reasons unknown, they died down. Now this past couple of days they have come back with vengeance again. We have had lots of rain, and with grassy areas and standing pools of water, they probably have multiplied by the thousands. They are very aggressive and attack the feet and ankles, clinging on and are hard to swat away.

We made our way back to San Fernando on the colectivo and had about two hours to spare before our next event of the day. This time was used to clean up the apartment and get ready for the baptism we were going to attend back in Tigre. It was scheduled for 7:00 and we were asked to be there by 6:30. Elder Kroff was anxious and a tich nervous because he was doing the baptizing. We again go got on the bus and headed back to where we had just been a few hours earlier.

William Eduardo Sotomayor Martinez was being baptized and Rich accompanied the sisters once to teach him. He is a parking attendant and works the area close to the bank, so Rich has become acquainted with him.

Brother Soler, the Branch Mission leader, and Brother Baldovino, a strong member who has been transplanted to help out our Tigre branch support the baptism.

When the sisters arrived at the church this afternoon, the baptismal font had overflowed and water was running down the hall. So the water was turned off, and Brother Soler pulled the plug to drain some of the water out. He got busy, and forgot to plug it up again. A little too much water drained out and the level only came to a little above the knees. After entering the font, Elder Kroff being surprised, stood there quite concerned as to how he was going to submerge William with only that much water. The first attempt failed, so it was quietly discussed and decided that after the prayer, William would sit down and then Rich would lean him back under the water. It worked perfectly. William was a good sport about the whole thing and probably will not ever forget his baptism.

Refreshments were served after the baptism in the primary room. We didn't partake because we were fasting, but they did look tempting.

Since we were returning home by colectivo, our branch president asked us if we would walk Laura, one of the young women in the branch, to her home. It's not good for a young single girl to be walking alone at night. We readily said we would as we could catch the bus anywhere along the route that was close to her home. We arrived at 9:30 -- tired, but pleased with the day's events and the fun time we had on our "P" day. Life is good in the mission field!