Dia del Padre - Sunday, June 20, 2010

After a busy day yesterday, we both slept well. I was too tired last night to write the journal entry, so had double duty today.

The church was so cold today, and I am sure it will not get any warmer for the next couple of months while winter is here. I just need to remember to leave by coat on or maybe it is time to pull out the thermal underwear. We have them, and last year it felt so good to wear them to the cold Tigre church, so perhaps we need them here too. By the time the third meeting comes around which is Sacrament meeting, the chapel feels pretty good. It is Relief Society and Sunday School that cause my discomfort.

Relief Society had fewer in attendance today, but cute Iris Florentin, a young married gal, whose husband is Elder's Quorum President, gave the lesson. She is darling and I am sure did a great job.

Elder Kroff's temple prep class talked about symbols and how they relate to the temple. He always has participation, and as he gets farther into the lessons, he hopes to impress upon the class members the importance of the covenants they make -- that they are not to be taken lightly.

Since today is Father's Day, the primary gave each father a treat which was a bookmark and some bon bon candies. Then, the Young Women also made something for the fathers which contained a liquid gel ink pen. So, the brethren were treated well today!

Sister Baldovino spoke in Sacrament meeting about the sacrifice of Christ. She is a faithful member and she divides her time at church between here and Tigre. She and her husband have been assigned to go to Tigre and help out in the branch. They were there before we went to Tigre. Brother Baldovino spends every Sunday with them, but his wife has some responsibility with the Virreyes branch which requires her to come here part time.

The second speaker today evidently didn't show up, as President Palermo substituted at the last minute. He sailed on through not missing a beat, mainly re-emphasizing and giving support to the previous message.

Our Sunday afternoon was pleasant and calm. After dinner, we both had a nap and mine turned into a two hour one. I awoke hearing someone call in on skype. It was Melissa and Nate wishing Rich a Happy Father's Day. We were able to hear about Urban's birthday party on Friday night and wished them well on their return flight home to Denver tomorrow night. Then Marianne joined them to add her wish as well. We love talking to our kids!

At the Casa Rosada yesterday, we took pictures of the paintings displayed of Juan and Eva Peron. Juan Peron was an Argentine general and politician, and he was elected three times as President of Argentina. In 1955, he was overthrown in a military coup, but returned to power in 1973. The address of our apartment is on a street called Peron.

Eva Peron was the second wife of Juan Peron. She was the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death at age 33 from cervical cancer in 1952. Referred to as Evita meaning little Eva or Evie, she was popular among the poor working class. She was the Head of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Argentina, and was given the title of Spiritual Leader of the Nation.

There are several beautiful stained glass windows in the Casa Rosada. We tried to imagine how gorgeous they must look when the sun is shining through them.

Tomorrow is a holiday in Argentina which is flag day. It'll be quiet in the office tomorrow with no mail delivery and few phone calls. Catch up day, maybe??