Fun Package - Thursday, May 20, 2010

We can't believe it has taken us 60+ years to really understand what the pioneers crossing the plains had to go through. We have always heard of their trials and had compassion for them, but since we have focused on their day by day experiences in the most dreadful of all conditions imaginable, we would feel unworthy to be in the same room as them. The Willie handcart company is being aided by the rescue wagons and are close to Salt Lake, but the Martin handcart people have yet to ascend Rocky Ridge. We just shake our heads and stand in awe of their faith.

All four of us were confined to the office today having no where to go. It is great for the elders because they always welcome time at their computers to enter data, work on reports, and do whatever their jobs require of them. Elder Kroff worked on the plata de zona (money for the zones) today and also sent emails to the missionaries that have a debt to pay for the supplies they have ordered. Most pay down their debt at transfer time when they come to the church or office to receive a new companion. But some have neglected to keep current, and will have a large amount to pay before they go home. Elder Kroff sends reminders every six weeks.

I sent off my order for supplies, and cleaned up a few odds and ends on my desk in preparation for spending the afternoon entering baptisms. I have 31 to enter from last week's commitments.

Today was a big day for receiving mail. When Rich went out to the gate to get the mail when the correo came, the guy delivering a huge bundle that had elastics wrapped around it asked who sends all this mail. Rich explained that we have 160+ missionaries that receive mail from parents, grandparents, aunts, cousins, girlfriends, etc. Two different times today a stack of envelopes came, plus packages from the local correo. Then our runner, Brother Valentini, went to up to customs to retrieve our packages there. So I had a goodly amount of mail to sort and put in general alphabet categories.

Happy was Elder Hales because one package from customs was for him containing some clothes, candy, and some darling letters from his nine year old sister Lauren. She wrote a sweet letter to Elder and Sister Kroff expressing appreciation for being able to follow along in our blog to learn what her brother does in the office and other things about the mission and life in Argentina. Cute!

So adorable were her Missionary Quizzes for Elder Peterson and also one for her brother. They were questions about the scriptures with multiple choice answers. The references were listed and instructions given that they could refer to the scriptures for the answers. Elder Peterson was stumped with his thoughtful questions. He had to resort to looking up the answers. Elder Hales was too busy eating his candy . . . he'll do his later.

Elder Coria received a quiz too, but his dealt with English words. She gave him a Spanish word and four English choices. We'll have to send it on to him at conference time, but will check up on how he did. Good job, Lauren!! We had fun today because of you!

As the Elders were leaving at 4:00, President and Sister Argyle came through the door. She had just driven to the airport to pick him up from his trip down South, and they were stopping by to pick up his car. No rest for him, he was on his way to do a baptism interview that required the mission president's signature.

We left after they pulled out because we were meeting Hermanas Shaffer and Sandoval at the Tigre train station at 5:30. They asked us to accompany them to the home of the Riveras. They had received a referral from the San Fernando elders that the parents in this part member family were golden contacts and were ready for baptism. Well, not quite!! They had some erroneous information.

The mother, Lily, is a member as are her two sons, Carlos Armando and Pedro Edmundo. They are less active members, but the father, Carlos, is not a member and was not as receptive as they had been informed. He was very warm and hospitable, but very Catholic. However, he did take the Book of Mormon and agreed to have the sisters return another time. So this possible baptism they thought might come together for Saturday is on hold. Sister Rivera was overcome with emotion when we all came in, as she was so excited to have missionaries in her home again. Maybe she will come back to church. Hope so!

Plus, another family that was a referral and supposedly had four ready for baptism was not home when the sisters went to visit them today. Discouraging! So no baptisms this weekend. We cancelled our Saturday plans to join the other seniors, but an email to them will put us back in the mix, I'm sure.

After we left the Rivera family, we didn't have far to walk to the main road in Tigre to catch a bus back to San Fernando. The sisters went one way and we waited only a few minutes for bus #60 to stop and pick us up. We arrived home at 8:00.