Fun Preparation Day - Saturday, March 27, 2010

The day of basketball games at Lincoln started early. The first game we were going to see started at 10:00. We found out late last night from Sister Argyle what the schedule would be for the day. Austin's team would play Chile at 10:00 and if they won they would play Uruguay for the championship which would be at 4:00. When we called the elders to let them know, they disappointedly said they couldn't go to the 10:00 game because they had an appointment with an investigator at 11:00. They couldn't miss the appointment because the fellow they are teaching can only meet at certain times. The plan was that if the team won in the morning, then the elders would go to the one at 4:00. Okay, that sounds like a plan!

So, we decided to take the train to the La Lucila stop (about half way between San Fernando and the Capital), and then walk a few blocks to the school. There was a light misty rain falling off and on, so we took our umbrellas along. We really enjoyed our walk to the school as we passed some very nice homes and an area we had never been in. This area is really upscale from what we are used to seeing around where we live.

This international school has teachers from the U.S. and Canada, so the teachers all speak English. Inside the gated compound is the Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. There are guards to pass to get inside, and someone known to the guards and school have to excort their visitors inside. So we called President Argyle when we were close and he came out to get us in. When we told him why the elders were not with us, he said, "I'm glad they have their priorities in order."

A girls game was going on when we got there, and then Austin's game began. Our group consists of Sisters Kroff and Argyle, Quinn, President Argyle, Seth, and Anika, with Elder Kroff taking the picture. The teams in this tournament were from Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Uruguay. Chile was playing Argentina and they were evenly matched. It was a good game and Austin's team won by about 6 or 7 points. He is a good player -- very agressive and fast.

After the game we wanted to take his picture and his cute little girl friend just happened to be close by so we had her get in the picture too. Her name is Lindsay and she is on the girls team from Chile. Her dad is a doctor with the government and he is on assignment there. Austin met her at one of the tournaments in Chile. They email and talk over skype sometimes, but have never dated. She won't be 16 until May. They have this long distance friendship, and have plans for a date in July when the Argyles return home, and she will be in Salt Lake on a vacation.

After the game, we took President Argyle to the airport to catch a plane for Ushuaia. The zone conferences for the South start on Monday, and he will return home on Thursday. He hated to miss the championship game, and told us to yell loud for him.

On the way back from the airport, we called the elders to let them know about the 4:00 game (their 11:00 appointment didn't show up even with several reminders) and told them we would take them to McDonalds for lunch before the game. We would meet them there at 2:30. But, it was unbelievably crowded with no places inside or out to sit. Guess we haven't been there on a Saturday before. So, we got in the car and drove towards the school and found a Burger King. It was way less crowded and the food was good.

Elders Hales and Coria downed a Stacker which is four hamburger patties between the buns. They could hardly get their mouths around it, but they surely enjoyed it. We, and Elder Peterson opted for a smaller size burger. We surely have fun with these elders.

The Elders thoroughly enjoyed watching the basketball game. Elders Hales and Peterson are basketball players, having been on their high school teams, and Elder Coria is a futbol (soccer) player. The President was a little concerned about some of the scantily clad girls that might be roaming around, and hoped it would not de-focus the elders.

The team from Uruguay creamed the Argentines. We lost by about 20 points. They had two 6'5" guys on their team. Austin is #4 in the bottom right corner.

Upon leaving, we paused to look at the view just outside of the gymnasium. This compound has a big outdoor swimming pool below us, a huge soccer field, tennis courts, play ground, and more. A lot of American families come here on a Saturday to play all day and get away from the traffic and busy life on the streets. We came to a soccer game a while back with the Argyles and it didn't even seem like we were in Buenos Aires. It was secluded and felt like home.

The school is located right along the bay between Argentina and Uruguay. The photo doesn't do it justice, but there were hundreds of sailboats in the bay and far in the distance is the Capital area of Buenos Aires with all the tall buildings and cement jungle.

We returned to San Fernando in time for the elders to get to their 6:30 appointment, and we came home satisfied with the great "P" day we had experienced.