Called to Serve

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

A whirlwind visit from two Fun and Fabulous Red Heads!!

We recently received a visit from two great red heads, Adam and Stephanie.

Adam and Stephanie were so nice to bring us lots of our favorite treats from the U.S., including some surprise treats from Stephanie´s family´s companies, "Crazy Richard´s Natural Peanut Butter", and "The Sister´s Sweet Shoppe", both located in Dublin, Ohio. We greatly appreciated and enjoyed these delicious gifts!

Adam and Stephanie also attended two sets of Sunday Church meetings, a Mission Transfer meeting, and a baptism with us while they were here.

After we had all attended the "Trujui" Ward meetings in our Mission, the 30 year old bishop of the ward invited us all to have lunch at his house with his wife and four children and his brother´s family.The bishop had been bishop of his ward for 7 years already, and his ward was doing great!

The bishop´s 6 year old daughter, Aldana, was especially personable and talkative to me and Stephanie, all in spanish, of course. It always amazes me how fast the little kids around here learn spanish, while I´m still constantly working at remembering the spanish words I study!

It´s obvious by looking at the photo that was taken after the lunch at the bishop´s house, that we had all enjoyed each other immensely.The opportunity to observe that family´s excellent example of righteous strength was inspiring to us all.

Stephanie had a goal to visit very creative, "one of a kind" tango shoe store here in BA, so we took her to the store during some relaxation time in our schedule.

Of course, Stephanie and I each bought a pair of tango shoes at the store, just knowing that each unique pair was made with only us in mind!

I will not be wearing my pair until after our Mission ends, and they are conservative enough that I will be wearing them them to Sunday Church meetings. Stephanie said that she planned to wear hers to Church on Sundays too.

After we had attended a baptism at Castelar Ward in our Mission, we all had a relaxing stroll across the bridge at Puerto Madero, where Adam and Stephanie posed for us on the bridge in the balmy night breeze.

Thanks so much for your visit Adam and Stephanie. We made some great memories together!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

A Photo of a Cherished Moment in Our Lives

The above photo, is of us with Sister and Elder Gonzalez (on our left), and Sister and Elder Andersen, on our right, at the South America South Mission President´s Conference, in October, 2010. This was a moment in our lives that we will always cherish.

Elder Walter F. Gonzalez is a member of the Presidency of the Quorom of the Seventy. He and his wife Zulma visited our recent "South America South Mission President´s Seminar", accompanying Elder Neil L. Andersen and his wife Kathy.

Elder Neil L. Andersen is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. (See previous entry.)

We enjoyed the teachings of Elder and Sister Gonzalez, in addition to the teachings of Elder and Sister Andersen.

We want to share additional inspiring (and sobering) words that Elder Andersen delivered to the South America South Mission Presidents and their wives at the Seminar:

"To you is given an enormous responsibility. Many of your missionaries will come into the mission equipped with the words to explain the Atonement. For many, your challenge will be to help them take it from their heads and secure it more firmly in their hearts.

As a missionary internalizes the Atonement, he or she experiences the "mighty change of heart" (Alma 5:13). This "mighty change of heart" brings with it a desire and ability to powerfully teach the blessings of the Atonement to others.

As this spiritual knowledge is deeply implanted in the soul of a missionary, and nurtured throughout his or her life, it will flow to his or her children and grandchildren and generations to come. This is one of your most important commissions.

A missionary grows in understanding the Atonement through selfless service and the spirit of revelation. You are to be the teacher and leader, discerning and influencing each missionary´s spiritual progress, as he or she is taught from on High."

We´ll always treasure the time we were able to spend with these special visitors, Elder and Sister Andersen, and Elder and Sister Gonzalez, as they imparted to us, the things that the Lord would have us know.

We continue to be strengthened, taught and guided by the Lord and His representatives in our responsibilities with our missionaries in the Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission.

For this, President Benton and I have a huge amount of gratitude, every moment of every day.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Special Visitors

In October 2010, we had a special visit in our Area (South America South), at a "Mission President´s Seminar", from Elder Neil L. Andersen, and his wife Kathy, pictured here with our Area Presidency and their wives.

While he was visiting us, Elder Andersen taught us many beautiful things. He also said to us:

"You (are) guardians for some of the best young men and women born into mortality. For a period of time, their parents and the Lord give them to your care. They come as tender plants, carefully placed in the rich soil of the mission field. A mission is a near perfect environment for a missionary´s understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to grow and mature, and for this spiritual knowledge to blosson into spiritual power."

We are humbled that the Lord has entrusted us with our current responsibility to care for and teach missionaries.

We can attest that our spiritual growth is progressing also, as we continue to work alongside our wonderful missionaries.

We appreciate your visit and your teachings Elder and Sister Andersen. We feel strengthened, enthused and inspired after being with you both.

(In the above photo, left to right: Sister and Elder Aidukaitus, President and Sister Arnold, Sister and Elder Andersen, Elder and Sister Foster.)

Need some help?

One of the Mission vehicles has a flat tire. Elders Parker, King, Oliva and Angulo come to the rescue!

However, the most "exellent" work they do every day, is to help others to progress "en las cosas espirituales" (in the spiritual things).

As the scripture says, Ether 12:11, in the Book of Mormon,

"in the gift of His Son, hath God prepared a more excellent way".

Our missionaries spend alot of time teaching others about this "more excellent way".

"Ciao" & "Bienvenidos"

Our "Ciao" & "Bienvenidos" cycle continues, every six weeks.

The top photo (in front of the "Casa Rosada"), is of us saying "Ciao" to missionaries (including our Assistant, Elder Evans, who is with his parents, on the right).

The bottom photo is of us saying "Bienvenidos" a newly arrived group of missionaries, who have been united with their new companions in the Mission.

Ciao (pronounced "chow") = Goodbye
Bienvenidos: = Welcome

We love the whole process!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Sisters

I worked with Sister Claros ( on my left, from Argentina), and Sister Hulen (on my right, from Illinois) recently. The photo at the at the bottom of the three photos was taken in their apartment in our Mission´s Hurlingham Area, before we went out to work together, and it shows three Sisters going out to "conquer the world", in a Gospel sort of way.

In the middle is a photo of me with two other Mission President´s wives, Sister Da Silva, on the left, and Sister Villalba, in the middle, at the three-day "South America South Mission President´s Seminar", held in October, 2010. The three of us just happened to be wearing the common "Mission President´s Wives Color Combination" of pink, black and white that day, so, of course, we had to have a photo of us taken together!

The top photo is me with Hermana Urdapilleta (from Argentina, on my left, and Hermana Salazar, (from Chile, on my right). I am holding a "balloon flower" that Elder Friedbaum had made me for the Argentine "Mothers Day", which is in October.

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