Fulfilling Day - Saturday, May 15, 2010

Last week, President Argyle brought a used waffle iron over to the office to give to the elders. They, in turn, said they would share it with us. So since we were hungry for waffles, we invited the elders to come for breakfast on Saturday's P-day. They were excited with that idea, and plans were made to actually have a brunch/lunch of waffles at about 11:30 when they were through with their morning studies. I liked that time because we would be able to sleep in a little and still have time to clean the apartment, and fix the food.

At 7:00 we got up and showered and dressed for the day in casual clothes, knowing the elders would come in white shirts and ties. That's just what they do, even on P-day, if they aren't playing sports. They dress like missionaries to shop or go anywhere to meet the public. We, however, dress down a little on P-day but wear our placas to go out in public if we aren't involved with actual missionary work. That, of course, requires our missionary attire.

Breakfast consisted of waffles, bacon (real bacon which is hard to find), eggs, fruit cocktail, orange juice and milk. I had all the ingredients to make the waffles from scratch with my recipe from home. They were a hit and tasted so good. Elder Hales and Elder Peterson ate until they were full and then some. We had a great time eating and visiting. There wasn't a silent moment.

When the elders left to go shopping and do their internet (writing home), we cleaned up the dishes and then I began making cookies.

Tomorrow for dinner, we have been invited to eat with the Mansilla family from the San Fernando ward. This is the third time they have had us to dinner. We met them when we were going to that ward and they have become attached to us. Now that we go to church with the Virreyes branch, we cross paths with the San Fernando ward as one is exiting the chapel and classrooms and the other entering. When Sister Mansilla saw us one Sunday she invited us to dinner on the 16th.

She won't let me bring anything, so I decided to make some cookies to take to their family of five children. I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. It is actually Zapallo squash rather than pumpkin which is hard for me to find. Argentines are very generous and want to share what they have with others, even if they can't afford very much, as is the case with the Mansillas.

I finished the cookies just in time to change into missionary clothes for our visit to the Giupponi family. Mirta is in our Temple Preparation class, but has never attended. In fact, she has missed the last three Sundays. Her daughter, Carla, was baptized last November and has missed three Sundays also. We have missed them and are a bit concern about their sudden withdrawal. The elders are concerned and have stopped by to see them and feel there is something more going on with them. The branch president is also happy we have taken it upon ourselves to visit them. He wonders about their absence too.

Elders Paz and Coria were the missionaries that taught Carla the gospel and baptized her. We were invited to go with them one time and became immediately bonded mother and daughter. Two of Mirta's teenage sons were also baptized with Carla. Carla is married, but her husband has no interest in listening to the missionaries right now.

We had a good visit with Carla and her mother Mirta. Little Guillermina is Carla's daughter and she has to be one of the cutest little girls I have ever seen. Her smile which wrinkles her nose is adorable and endearing. She is a sweetheart!!

Reasons of illness were given as to why they had missed church for three weeks. Really?? Did we believe that?? Then they said that after missing once or twice, it is easier to miss again, and they felt more disconnected to the branch and they didn't have that warm feeling anymore. Agreed! Rich told them that if they wanted that warm feeling again, they needed to get closer to the flame. They needed to come back to church. We also stressed the fact that Carla and Mirta's absence from church could have an adverse affect on their children. Carla's two children and Mirta's two teenage sons would look to them for an example. They needed to be strong and faithful to show their children the right path to follow in this hectic world.

After listening to them and gently prodding, Carla spoke up and said she wanted to be truely honest, that the reason they had stayed away was that they had their feelings hurt. They could see now that it was just a misunderstanding and that they need to work through it. They agreed that they were only hurting themselves by staying away, and said they would be there tomorrow. They expressed love for Elders Coria and Paz who taught Carla the gospel and brought Mirta back from inactivity, and for us in being interested in them and caring about them. It was a wonderful hour together and so needed. We are grateful for the inspiration we had to pay them a visit. Bringing all of God's children back to the fold is what it is all about!

The Giupponi house is really close to a huge Carrefour that we see as we enter the freeway in that area, but have never visited. So we decided to stop in and see what we have been missing. Wow!! It is like a huge super WalMart. It had everything! We walked up and down the isles picking up a few things and getting to know the store. Why has it taken us a year to discover this place? Probably because we can't walk there and we don't know what bus to take to get there. It is closer than WalMart and just as good. An added bonus is that it has a place to take clothes to be repaired, a shoe repair shop, plus a place that makes keys. We stopped immediately to see if this place could make us keys that work. It also has a McDonald's inside. We are definitely going to investigate how to get their by colectivo.

We came home feeling good about our uplifting P-Day which bore testimony to us that serving a mission is what Heavenly Father wanted us to do. Being acquainted and close to missionaries, sharing the gospel through example and word, and loving these people in a foreign land has brought us such happiness and joy and a firmer testimony that the church is true.

Exito!! The keys worked!