So Long - Thursday, August 19, 2010

It was a beautiful morning with the prospects of the day ending the same. Could spring really be coming this early? We are holding our breath!

I decided not to let my reoccurring chest congestion get worse, so I started on Azithromicina which always takes care of it. If I attack it in it's infancy it shouldn't get any worse. We can just buy perscription drugs over the counter down here, so before we come home, I am going to buy some to put in my suitcase. When it creeps up again, I will have the meds on hand and won't have to pay an office call to the doctor. Working with the medical issues and speaking with the doctor regularly on many different matters, I know what medicines treat different illnesses. But, of course, at home we can't get them without a perscription. It is safer that way, for sure.

Our office was a hive of activity again this morning. When we arrived, Elder Peterson was waiting for the sisters from Zarate to arrive. He was taking them and another elder, who was already there, to Immigrations. It was the second trip for him this week.

President and Sister Gulbrandsen came around 10:00 to meet with Elder Paz, Elder Hales, and Silvio regarding apartment matters. Elder Hales came back to the office for the meeting. It would be the last time with Elder Paz to tie up any loose ends and to officially terminate his responsibility as the vivienda secretary.

President Gulbrandsen gave Elder Kroff an assignment to copy the DVD from the church of the Leadership Training that was held last month. He obtained permission from the church to have them copied, and he needs 30 to give to all the District Leaders. He said he didn't need to do them all in one day, but Rich went right home to get his computer and worked on them during the day and finished them up at home tonight.

Sister Gulbrandsen expressed relief and appreciation again about our conversation the other day regarding the food she was to purchase for the trainers lunch next Tuesday. She didn't understand totally about that lunch and that she was to buy the sandwich food and fruit. She welcomes input from us as to how things have been done in the past so she can either follow along as planned or change things up a bit to suit their needs. Things really liven up when the Gulbrandsens come to the office. It's a good time.

Elder Hales (No. Carolina) is now the companion to Elder Watson (California) -- East coast to West coast!! He switched places with Elder Paz and will be the District Leader in the Norte zone. We just learned from Facebook tonight that Elder Watson's parents have found our blog and have been following along with the happenings in the Buenos Aires North Mission. We know of several families of our missionaries that have learned about our blog which is a journal for us, and we are glad to share news of the mission.

A parting shot of Elder Hales leaving makes us sad that we won't get to see him too much anymore, but we are grateful for the time we spent with him in the office. He and Elder Watson will be a great twosome and we expect much success from them as they serve together.

The Assistants asked Elder Kroff if he would go with them this afternoon to meet one of their investigators who is going to be baptized soon. She has had some disturbing family problems and they wanted Rich with them to offer encouragement and counsel if needed. She was not home, so they will try again tomorrow to contact her.

Elder Peterson and the group didn't return until 4:30 this afternoon after leaving at 10:00 this morning. He said the efficiency of the workers at Immigration today was at an all time low. They are so slow moving people through the system that it causes much frustration and alarm to those of us who expect better customer service. It is of no concern to them how long people have to wait to be helped. When we were there, we observed lots of visiting with co-workers, snacking, drinking matte, and more in between customers. It was unbelievable!!

The elders had an abundance of food in the fridge that was brought to them this week by Hermana Bolentini, so they had ample to share with the starving bodies that had been without all day. Then the sisters and the elders went their separate ways back to their areas.

Rich and I left at 5:00, and before dinner Melissa skyped us to have Urban share his first day at kindergarten. His comment to them when he got home was "It was awesome." He was so cute and we are so glad he had a good experience at school. He is such a thinker and he describes himself as a "creator and drawer" -- as we glance around his room which is wallpapered with one picture after another. I can't wait to see it in person when we get home.