What a Day - Thursday, June 17, 2010

After a full day yesterday, we anticipated another one today. We tried to get to the office a little earlier just to get a head start on some of our work, but it didn't happen. We weren't late, just right on time at 9:00.

The elders came after we did and confirmed that President Argyle wanted us to arrive at the mission home by 12:15 in order to follow their family to the airport for their flight South. Then we were to take their car and the one we were driving to Bonpland (Area Offices) to get serviced.

The three hours from 9:00 to 12:00 went super fast. Elder Kroff took off for the bank and knew he would be the only one there because at 9:00 this morning Argentina was playing Korea in a World Cup Soccer game. He was right, and although he was the ONLY customer in the bank, the teller made him wait a minute because Argentina was about to score and all eyes were on the T.V. The employees shouted for joy when the score was made. All up and down the street, groups were gathered at cafes to watch the game, or through windows he could see people circled around televisions in their homes for the early morning game. Argentina won the game 4 to 1.

On his way back to the office he stopped at a Kinkos/Alpha Graphics type place to have a page copied for the beginning of our new missionary binders that has the Gulbrandsen's picture and name on it instead of the Argyles. We are only doing 50 until we see if they approve or perhaps want another picture other than the one that we obtained from the church. We will use these for our first few transfers anyway and can order more in bulk later.

I had to call some missionaries regarding baptism registers that I haven't received and then went to work to get my Book of Mormon order on it's way. To my surprise when I went to my emails to find the order form that the church sends each month, it wasn't there. Did I delete it by mistake? Did they even send it for this month? I was stunned that it was no where to be found. I thought I had remembered seeing it, as I always pull it from the emails that come in and safeguard it in my little area.

I started emailing to find out who sends it to me and engaged the help of Elder Peterson. He knows how to find things. Well, later an email came from Jorge at the Distribution center that said the orders are now done on IMOS. Well, for heaven sakes, no one told me. Or if we were informed that there was a change, it didn't filter down to me. Last month I ordered them the old way. No time today to get into it, so I put that project on hold.

Elder Lowry is all smiles as his International Driving Permit came in the mail yesterday. Since he is one of the AP's and will be driving the Gulbrandsens around at first, he was anxious for it to come. Today he went South with the President to learn what to do as he accompanies the Gulbrandsens there on their 4th day in the mission. They need to go South to meet all the missionaries down there after they meet all the ones up here first. Elder Lowry served in the South for several months so he knows the areas well and is way excited to return.

The appointed hour came to leave for the mission home. Shortly after arriving, we were off. The office staff and Elder Lowry in one car and the family in the other.

This is the final photo of the Argyles on their last trip to Tierra del Fuego. I asked Anika how many times she had been down there and she lost count. The children don't go all the time, but they have had their share of trips -- some for conferences, and some for vacations. We will send this picture to them as it is their final journey.

Leaving the airport, Elder Hales and Elder Peterson drove one car and we drove the other. This was Elder Peterson's first experience driving. His driving permit came a few weeks ago, but the opportunity never came for him to drive until today. They followed us to the Area Offices where we thought we were leaving the cars.

These macho hombres sport their own driving permits, and although it is fun to drive the mission cars sometimes, it is also stressful in this crazy Argentine traffic. Before driving in the mission, everyone has to watch a safety video which will hopefully help to avoid potential accidents. These two seem to be careful drivers!

The flotas (fleet) manager at Bonpland directed us to a car service shop that the church uses which was about three blocks away. So we returned to the cars and followed the directions.

It was a tiny , but clean service center. It only could accommodate three cars inside at once. And when finished with a car, backing out onto the street was the only option. If there were cars stacked up behind one, then all had to be backed out and shuffled around to pull the next one into place. We have never seen such a tiny garage. And the traffic jam that is caused on the street while all this is taking place is "just Argentina."

We had to wait for at least one of the cars to be finished and were told it would be two to three hours. The elders were starved as they missed getting their lunch from Sister Bolentini before we had to leave. We will pick it up from her place on the way home. So we took them to a Panaderia which makes sandwiches, and other entrées besides pastries. We returned to the dining area at Bonpland and sat around a table to eat our purchases.

One of our senior friends, Sister Fuqua, spotted us and came to visit for a few minutes as we ate. She invited us to movie night at their place on Saturday. Then, we went to visit Dr. Anderson who has an office there. I needed to talk to him about a medical problem with one of our missionaries. He was fun, and happy to meet our two elders.

Next on the agenda, Elder Kroff and Elder Hales wanted to search out Antonio, who approves the electronic rent transfers, and talk to him face to face. They had some questions and needed direction on a few issues.

So finally when all our errands and work was done at Bonpland, we walked back to the service shop and one of the cars was ready. It was 4:00 and the elders had to be back for an appointment at 5:45, but we had to stop off on the way home and pick up their food from the Bolentinis first.

Elder Peterson drove and "got his baptism by fire" in dealing with downtown Buenos Aires traffic at rush hour. He did well and we arrived back at the office at 5:45. Opps, they are late! We were all exhausted and admitted that even just riding in the car through all the hectic traffic is tiring. Elder Peterson, however, said he enjoyed the chance to drive.

The elders went their way and we came home to a quiet evening.