P-Day Argentina Style!

I think these grapes are sideways. But yes, it is getting ready for the harvest time here. This was at the home of the family we had our celebration dinner with.

We went golfing with two of the office Elders as a treat to them and us. The Bishop's daughter went with us. It was fun. Real close to the sand trap he is.

Here we are, stopping for a break in the shade.

What Elders do! Nope that is not my butt. They got a really neat shot as the ball went in the hole. It was their first time golfing, and I actually think they beat us. We bet M&M's. So we owe them.

We celebrated real Argentine style with an "Asado". It is a special B-B-Que. Here is Elder Brown getting into the middle of it. It was delicious--chicken, beef, and sausage.

Here is our celebration dinner. All the office Elders came to celebrate with us. Sorry the picture is blurry.

New Years 2010!

We had a great New Year's Eve. We decided to out to eat, but lo and behold, they do holidays the right way! Nothing, nada, nunca-nothing was open. We did find our favorite chicken restaurant would sell take out things. So we took home a stuffed chicken breast that was so delicious. It was stuffed with ham and cheese. We also got the biggest order of papa fritas (french fries) that we could order, and then a wonderful tossed green salad. We went to the Jarvis's. Oh yes, earlier that day we had picked up a kilo of our three favorite ice cream flavors. So we were ready.
It had been their anniversary just a couple days earlier so we treated them to this wonderful dinner and gave them a small gift for their annivesay.
At midnight we went up on the roof and took in a sight to behold--fireworks at 360 degrees. The whole town was one big fireworks. We were surrounded. I haven't figured out how to get my video on--its not great, but you can hear the noise of the fireworks.



Here is Steve holding on to our "globol" just before we let it go up into the sky. I love these. They are so gently and beautiful. We are trying to figure out a way to bring some home.

There it goes!

Up into the sky. Well, the New Year is here. No Rose Bowl parade or bowl games. But I love the fact that I have a whole New Year to create as I wish--with a few side tracks I am certain.

Happy New Year to all of you.

Our Christmas Celebration!

In Argentina the Christmas Trees are decorated on December 8th. This is the Day of the Virgin Mary. So we are in Argentina, and that is what we did. We loved our tree. We put a string of lights on it and then decorated it with all the ornaments made so lovingly by our Grandchildren. There never was a prettier tree in all of Mendoza.

On Christmas morning, all the office Elders cooked breakfast for us Oldies. You never saw such a feast-grapefruit, waffles with fresh strawberries and whip cream, french toast, scrambled eggs, and somewhere they even found bacon (a little salty-but bacon). It was wonderful.

We had all drawn names and we had a great gift exchange. These are our awesome office Elders.

So our Christmas was wonderful. We did not exchange gifts between Steve and I. We decided instead to give gifts to others. We bought new baptismal clothes for the Mission Office, and we gave money, clothes, and toys to an orphanage.

We missed family, but we had a most wonderful Christmas. One of the best things was spending the day from noon our time until 9pm at night calling family. There is no better gift parents can have than talking to their children. We love you all so much.

Santa Comes to Argentina!

This was the Mission Christmas Party. It was held two days in a row, with half (100) of the missionaries coming on one day, and the other half on the other day. The tables were set, the program was a day to remember from start to finish. it started with the traditional White Elephant gift exchange. You never saw such energy and excitement! That was followed with some fun games, Apostacy (a way to play musical chairs using prophets names) We only broke about 5 chairs as they scrambled to be the last ones in.
Hot Potato, and then some relays. Steve and I were in charge of games. But we had lots of help.
Following the chaos of that, there was a beautiful program of the Nativity. The Elders and Hermanas loved being a part of it. We also sang Chrstmas Carols.


And then after dinner was over, there was a talent show, followed by the guest of honor, Santa himself. Do you think he looks a little familiar?

Each of the missionaries had to get their picture taken with this special guest.

And I even snuck a little kiss onto Santa's cheek. I think he is such a special fellow.

Merry Christmas!

Panchita is gone!

For those of you who might have noticed, Panchita is no longer with us or on the blog. She came to a very sad fate. The glass coffee table broke, when "you know who", sat on it. I am not accusing anyone, but it seemed a little spiteful of him. Panchita went flying to the floor. I scooped her up. Ran her to the kitchen and to a bowl of water. She seemed a little sad for several days, but then seemed to recover, and then, she just died. Belly up she was. A funeral was held with special words and tributes, and then . . .Down she went.
I hope this sad news does not cause great distress and mental anguish among our friends and family.

What do the Viejitos do on Last Night in Mendoza!

They eat lasagne, brownies, and fly paper airplanes! Let me explain. This was a very different transfer. Usually the viejitos (the missionaries going home) have their special dinner with the President on their last night, with a very special testimony meeting. But for various reasons, this was held on Sunday night, and so on Monday, after their exit interviews with the President they had not another thing scheduled for the rest of the day and the evening.

I had expected the two Hermanas to eat with us as they were spending the night there. But they were busy shopping and visiting. . so I decided to just bake a big pan of lasagne that could be eaten any time. During the afternoon, we discovered that two of the Elders had no plans for dinner and really had no place to go. So, hey we can feed two more! So we added two more plates to the table.

We had just started to eat and the door bell rang. There stood two more hungry, going home missionaries with no place to go or eat. So we added two more plates to the table. Now we had the whole group. The lasagne was soon gobbled up and then the fun started.

Everyone made their very best paper airplanes. Every size and description. Mine of course was so original. Then we all went up to the roof and sailed our planes into the night sky. One of mine actually went far enough to land in the tree outside our window. It was so fun! Steve actually is one of the very best paper airplane designers in the whole mission although he was outdone by Hermana Hussey from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Then it was downstairs to have brownies. Hermana Jarvis had made a pan of the most delicious brownies. Then it was visiting! Sharing mission experiences, and finally after much coaxing we got the Elders to leave and we all went to bed, thinking of how to design our next, best paper airplane and the viejitos dreaming of their plane flight home.

The Hermana Conference

The conference was held at the Mission Home. The night before all 17 stayed at a hotel and giggled and laughed the whole night. Only twice a year do all the Hermanas get to be together as a total group.

The day started with a craft where they made little jewelry boxes, which were later filled with a pearl necklace, bracelet, and earrings. A gift from the Mission and a remembrance of the talk given by Sister Lindahl, Mission President's wife.










Next it was a tango demonstration. Very awesome, and we all got to learn to dance "elegantly" as the tango is an elegant dance. Our instructors were so much fun, and so graceful.

Hermanas can have fun! Just get them together and it starts.

It is a day of fun, and great inspirational talks, and lots and lots of wonderful food.

Anyone for a back massage? Two started and soon there was a whole chain.
I gave a talk on self Esteem and Health. I focused on "Bloom where you are planted".

Here we are! All the Hermanas of the Mision Mendoza, Argentina. Until next spring when we get to do this again.