Day Two of Transfers - Wednesday, October 6, 2010

We anticipated a fun, but sad day as we were going to have to say goodbye to some great missionaries that we have come to love.

After arriving at the office around 9:00, we worked at our desks cleaning up things that needed our immediate attention. We had a few phone calls and took care of them in short order. By 10:00 we were ready to call a remise to take us to the mission home to spend the day with the missionaries going home. It is always a treat to be with them and be among the last ones to wave goodbye as they depart the mission home.

The group started to arrive around 10:30 - 10:45 either by a remise or by a member from their ward who volunteers to drive them to the mission home. President Gulbrandsen immediately starts the final interviews, expecting them to take at least fifteen minutes, but doesn't rush them if some take longer. Most come from his office wiping their eyes.

While each is waiting to be interviewed, he/she writes a spiritual experience to be left with the mission. Elder Kroff goes around and settles up financially with each missionary, collecting their church debit card and their emergency fund pesos.

Elder Urra and Elder Lowry pose for a parting picture with Elder Lazo who will be sleeping in his own bed tonight in Perú. Elder Urra replaces Elder Lazo as an Assistant. We love these guys!!

Elders Urra and Lowry brought Elder Lazo to the mission home but were not needed for the days activities, so they bid him farewell and left to go to work. Elder Kroff left with them to return to San Fernando to go to the bank to cash yet another check to replenish his drawer. There have been a lot of expenses during transfers that have drained his supply of cash. After his errand, he returned to the mission home.

The traditional dinner at the mission home this time consisted of chicken and vegetables in a sauce over rice, tossed salad, and bread. For dessert it was brownies and ice cream. Oh my, it was delicious! Rich had not returned by the time dinner was served, but there was plenty, so he didn't miss out.

Sisters Cano, Ruiz, and Shaffer were the only hermanas in the group of ten going home this transfer. We were able to help teach investigators with Sister Cano and Sister Shaffer because they each served in Tigre while we were assigned there. They are sweet girls!

The seven elders leaving are Lopez (Mex), Rocha (Colombia), Lazo (Perú), Fernandez, (Uruguary) in the front, and Elders Folster (UT), Peinado (Colombia), and Vega (Perú), in the back. Every one have been either Zone Leaders or District Leaders during their time as missionaries.

sSister Gulbrandsen joins this picture of crazy elders and calm sisters. These sisters came on their missions around the same time we arrived in Buenos Aires.

We left the mission home and knew our day wasn't over yet, as the Sarachos in our branch had invited us to their home at 8:00 to visit. They never mentioned feeding us so we assumed we were just visiting over matte. They drink it, but we do not. It isn't against the Word of Wisdom, but it is against the mission rules for missionaries to consume it while on their missions. It is the national drink that is shared freely by everyone sitting around talking. The cup is passed around and each take a sip or two then pass it to the next person.

As we were resting and making plans as to how we would get to their home, we got a call from Elder Peterson telling us that Sister Ruiz missed her flight because she was sent to the wrong airport. She had called the President and he asked Elder Peterson if we could go get her and take her to some other sister missionary's apartment to spend the night. Elder Peterson was arranging for another flight to Chile for her in the morning.

We were happy to go get her, but we had to cancel our appointment with the Sarachos. We left them a message at 7:00, but when we were actually on our way at 7:45, we called again and Gabriel answered. He had not heard our message, so we were glad we thought to try him again as "standing them up" would not have been good.

We dropped Sister Ruiz off with Sisters Hernandez and Moreno up in the Capital area which is closer to the airport. The church remise service that take the missionaries to the airport and stay with them until they get checked in and on their way was coming to get her at 5:00 a.m. He had dropped her off at the Buenos Aires MTC which is close to the airport to wait for us to go get her. We hope she would be able to get some sleep tonight after a disappointing night of not being able to return to her home.