It's Cold - Monday, June 21, 2010

One of the first things Rich does when he gets up is check out the weather conditions for the day. The computer said the temperature was 41 degrees and would get up to the low 50's. That is cold for Argentina and if it is that cold outside, it will be colder inside. Love those cement walls! So he opted to wear his thermals today and I wore layers with a jacket and a long sleeved shirt underneath. A scarf around the neck and gloves made walking to the office tolerable. The humidity was at 94 so that adds to the cold dampness of the air. We're learning how to get along in this country.

Our book on tape, Children of the Promise, that we are listening to in the mornings is holding our interest, but is solely fictional except for the conditions of World War II that the families are living through. Those events are historical and accurate. War is ugly!

All four of us arrived at the office happy and in a good mood, ready to begin a new week and prepare for the transition that will take place in ten days. The Gulbrandsens should be entering the MTC either today or tomorrow. I'll bet this last week in preparing to leave their home and family has been wild. We hope to provide them with an organized and smooth entry into the new life they will have for the next three years. We are excited to meet them.

The Argyles are still in the South holding zone conferences and speaking at a couple firesides that have been organized. We have communicated through emails as they are still tieing up loose ends and will work tirelessly until they drive off on June 30. In fact, he will sign his last check for Elder Kroff on the day he brings the Gulbrandsens to the mission office to meet us. That will be President Argyle's last official duty as president of this mission.

At each zone conference a picture of the zone was taken with the Argyle family. Sister Argyle then emailed each missionary a picture. The Litoral zone at the time of their departure consisted of Elders Lazo, Sampson, Chanca, Hales, Cabrera, Pearson, Rodriguez, Labra, Sister Shaffer, Elder Smith, Sister Romo, Elder Lowry, Sister Kroff, Elders Denton, Kroff, Alvarez, Peterson, Turnbull, Parra, and Ludlow.

Today I was able to get a good start on my carpetas, the ten new missionary binders needed for July 13. I ran off the welcome letters and changed the name of the president. These may be the first things President Gulbrandsen signs as mission president.

The three elders stayed pretty busy doing what they do, but they took time out to take both the mission cars to the gas station. Next, the cars need to be cleaned and detailed before the Argyles come back. However, since the servicing of the cars last week, the President's car has squeeky brakes. Elder Peterson will call tomorrow to see if we can take it back in to have them readjusted.

When 4:00 came, Elder Peterson and Hales had an appointment with Lidia, their recent convert, and asked Elder Kroff to accompany them. They met with her in the church to give her an after baptism discussion. I came on home to start dinner. Later in the evening, we talked with Susanne and Thale on skype. We look forward to our chats with them.