Farewell Breakfast - Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Getting up an hour earlier wasn't as hard as we thought it would be. I think both of us were awake a few minutes before the alarm went off in anticipation. We followed our morning ritual of showers, scriptures, and prayer, but no story or breakfast. We called for a remise at 7:45 to take us and the office elders to the mission home for the breakfast we had all been invited to last week. The Assistants went by train and arrived exactly when we did. If the car would have fit six, we would have taken them with us.

When we got there, Sister Argyle was gone waiting for Pepos to open. This is her favorite fruit and vegetable market where she buys all the produce for missionary meals. We have been there several times and it does have the best around. In the summer they open around 7:00, but during the winter it's 8:00. She was first in line to buy fruit for our breakfast.

President Argyle was the chef and waiter. I told him that we should have been fixing their "transfer" breakfast, and here they had to do their own. Traditionally, whenever an office elder or assistant is being changed, they have everyone to breakfast as sort of a farewell send off.

The menu was waffles with homemade maple syrup and homemade buttermilk syrup (the buttermilk one is to die for), then an egg, potato, and ham quiche, and fruit. It was wonderful as usual, and the elders devoured a ton of food.

The children always join us and seem to enjoy being around the elders who are very entertaining to say the least. When Elder Lazo sat down being the only Latino, he said in English, "I feel like an American." We all hooted! It was so funny. Since the house is torn up a bit with the remodeling going on, the new bed for President and Sister Gulbrandsen is being stored in the dining room.

Elders Peterson, Lowry, Hales, and Lazo enjoy this perk of having breakfast at the Mission Home that goes along with the assignments they have been given as office elders and assistants. We enjoy it too!!

Sister Argyle took Rich and me to show us the progress on the bedroom and bathroom. Wow, it is beautiful, modern, and high tech. The light tan carpet has been laid in the bedroom and work is still progressing on the huge walk-in closet and two sink vanity. The bathroom is gorgeous with a jetted tub, wonderful shower, and beautiful tile. Very up town!!

The new side by side fridge and freezer is in use, and the new microwave has it's home on a shelf that has been made for it. New drapes and couches are coming and a new chandelier for the living room. They are updating the lighting which will be an added plus to the dim hallway that the Argyles lived with. So, things are moving right along, and will for sure be done now when the new president arrives.

The traditional group photo was taken by the fireplace as is done after every breakfast.

The President has two good assistants in Elders Lowry (Midway, UT) and Lazo (Perú). They are both excellent missionaries, and are a crack-up to be around. They keep things lively.

This might be our last picture with the Argyles. We actually don't have very many with just the four of us.

Our office elders get their turn with the President. That's a handsome threesome!

In the three years they have been here, this family has had their picture taken hundreds of times, and the children are always accommodating when asked to pose for a shot. Quinn, Austin, Seth, and Anika are great kids and this experience they have had will serve them well the rest of their lives. They are all achievers in school and when they return, Austin (12th grade) and Anika (11th grade) will go to Copperhills High School which is by the Bingham Copper Pit. Quinn (7th grade) and Seth (5th grade) will continue going to a private school, which all the children have attended. The name escapes me right now.

Today we learned that if the Gulbrandsens are not here by July 14, which is our next transfer, that arrangements have been made to send the children home with the missionaries going at that time. They can travel with familiar friends that will watch out for them until family members meet them at the Salt Lake airport. They have nothing to do here and a prolonged waiting time will only add to their boredom.

The President gave us his van to bring back to the office, so the six of us fit. We arrived back at 10:30 and hurriedly took the phone off night mode. We wondered how many missionaries or others had been trying to call while we were gone. I quickly made some calls to missionaries that I needed to talk to, and faxed an authorization for medical services to a doctor that one of elders was seeing today. Then I put together the seven packets for the missionaries leaving on July 14. Even though we were gone a good part of the morning, I was productive in getting things accomplished. It was a good feeling!

I didn't pay attention to what Elder Kroff was doing today, although I did know he went to the bank to cash a check. He made easy bus connections and showed up back at the office in record time.

Elder Hales would like to choke a few landlords, but will refrain from doing so in light of the temple recommend he wishes to keep. They can become most difficult at times.

Elder Peterson worked on referrals and communicated with Silvio in travel for me on changing a flight for one of our Latin missionaries. He takes good care of me and is so pleasant about it.

The hours moved along quickly -- always do when we are busy, and pretty soon it was time to leave. We were both at good stopping places at 4:30, so we closed up for the day and went home. I remained, but Rich left to take two pairs of his slacks to the cleaners. Hot chocolate was spilled down one leg this morning. Then he stopped for two kilos of oranges to juice up, and one kilo of carne picada (hamburger). When he returned home, I told him we could not have pizza for dinner because I had no mozarella cheese. He left again to walk around the corner to a small Mom and Pop grocery store. I also needed some spray starch for his shirts. Exito!! He found both.

After dinner, I knew I had to get writing this entry early or I would struggle for sure to stay awake since I awoke so early this morning. So far, so good!

As the day ends, we reflect on what the day would have been like if the Gulbrandsens would have come and the Argyles would have left for home. Time will tell -- we are in a holding pattern now.