ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - "MOTHER OF CITIES"

THE VIEW FROM OUR HOTEL WINDOW IN ASUNCION PARAGUAY

This past weekend we were in Asuncion, Paraguay for meetings to set up mission audit committees.  We had a meeting with our three  assistant auditors there, Hermano Grau, Hermano Vidal and Hermano Beraud.  After our meeting with them we had a training with audit committees..... auditors, audit committee chair and secretaries from the various districts..  throughout the Asuncion area.  There are a number of remote areas that are difficult to get to and also districts that don't have enough leaders to call auditors, so the Asunion Mission and the Asuncion North Mission called a few extra people to help audit these far away areas.  Some of the names  of the areas are:  Caacupe, Paraguari, Boqueron, and Pedro Juan Caballero.  In Boqueron, there are some indigenous people who speak Guarani.... so it is a particularly challenging area for auditors.  The training was held Sunday late afternoon.  Michael gave some of the training and answered questions, but our assistant auditors gave the majority of the training.  Especially Hermano Vidal...  he is very assertive and bold and it was fun to watch him teach in his very lively manner!

One of the greatest blessings of our assignment, is the dedication of the Assistant Auditors and their willingness to discuss issues with us and take direction.  It was a great team effort that brought these mission auditors into the program.  These three auditors in Asuncion who travel to the outer portions of Paraguay to get the training and audits accomplished  are extremely devoted to their tasks...... and very dedicated to the gospel in every way.  They are an inspiration to us.

There are many challenges in Paraguay...... The country was under a dictatorship for nearly 30 years and is still suffering from its affects.   There are policeman everywhere all armed, some with very long rifles.  The one rather small bank we went into to get our pesos changed, had four armed guards.  We  were told by the hotel to be very careful walking around Asuncion and to be careful taking pictures.   There is much poverty and lack of education and the church still has a lot of growing to do there.  We spoke with a church employee last week from Chile who traveled with Elder Bednar and Elder Oakes during the Area Review... and he said the meetings in Paraguay were by far the most exciting.... and stirring... there is much ahead for the church in Paraguay.

The dirt is very, very red in Paraguay and many buildings are made of red bricks, but nearly all of the roofs are red!  They are gorgeous!

THE NATIONAL PANTHEON OF HEROES

INSIDE THE PANTHEON OF HEROES

INSIDE THE PANTHEON OF HEROES

This is one of the finest examples of colonial architecture in all of South America.  Asuncion is called the "Mother of Cities" throughout this portion of the world.  Colonial expeditions departed from Asuncion.

All of the heroes of Paraguay are housed in this wonderful building.  There are actual caskets as shown in the above picture, plaques on the wall, statues both of bronze and red clay.  Our favorites were the clay statues of the Catholic priests, they were beautiful.

We attended church on Sunday morning at the same branch we attended before and we were very warmly greeted by the members.  The youth in the branch had just returned from a large youth conference (EFY) I believe in Argentina.  They were excited about the experiences they had had.  The church puts alot of effort into the youth programs in South America and EFY is a really major activity for all youth.

TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN:  CAN YOU FIND THE CHURCH STEEPLE??

The church was only a five minute walk from our hotel.  

We have fallen in love with Paraguay and the people.  We hope to return once or twice again during our mission .  There is alot of work to do there as far as our audit program is concerned.  The remote branches are difficult to get to and the buildings are often down long dirt roads.  Our Assistant Auditors have a great challenge ahead but  the extra helping hands of the mission auditors will be a big boost to the program.

VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE HOTEL.

SANTA FE AND PARANA!

This past weekend we drove north of Buenos Aires about five to six hours to attend three trainings with our Assistant Area Auditor, Ruben Acosta.  He is over the Rosario area which includes the Rosario Mission and about nine stakes.  It is a big area and he does a wonderful job of training.

In the past, auditors have trained several stakes at a time.  Since studying the program and working at understanding it and implementing the principles that we have learned from our trainings in Salt Lake City, we decided to now stress training in small groups.  Specifically, the Audit committe which includes the Audit Committee Chair, (usually the 1st counselor in the stake presidency) and two or more auditors.  Also, included in the training we like to include the stake secretary as he trains all of the ward secretaries in the stake and keeps them on track.

This weekend our first training was Friday evening in Parana.  A smaller town about the size of Salem, Oregon.  Ruben came to our hotel and picked us up and we all drove about 20 miles to Parana.  The Parana River runs close to both Santa Fe and Parana...  To drive into the city we had to drive in a long tunnel under the river!  It was amazing.

Our training went well and meeting the leaders of these stakes is such an enriching experience.  The president of this stake was a plumber, electrician and installed gas.  He works very hard all day and takes care of this large stake in his off hours...  The stake presidency was a wonderful mix of brethern... He asked me to give the opening prayer in the meeting.... they are very patient with the fact that I do not speak fluent Spanish... I am always the only woman in these meetings so it is interesting!  Everyone is a perfect gentleman, making sure that I have the most comfortable chair in the room.  They will even move it for me when we change rooms!

There was a wonderful spirit in the room and much was accomplished through Ruben's teaching.  Mike answered a lot of questions, which was helpful...

We drove home in an enormous thunder and lightening storm!

On Sunday night we had two trainings in Santa Fe.  One at the Santa Fe stake center and one at the Santa Fe North stake center.  These trainings were also very wonderful.  One of the most amazing experiences is being greeted by everyone so warmly... In these meetings among the South American people, every single person is greeted at the beginning of the meeting and at the end all the men give each other a warm abrazo !  It is truly wonderful and somewhat moving to watch and witness.  The love between these people is honest and sincere... they love to laugh and visit and share their devotion to the gospel.  The last stake presidency we met with was especially wonderful, the stake president in particular.  He gave a strong testimony that was profound.... He and his secretary were baptized on the same day in l975.  We could feel the bond between them...

We had walked to church in the morning , about a mile , and Santa Fe is very hot!  Anyway, we met the young missionaries at church and they are always so fun to talk to.  One of the missionaries said he was from Portland and I asked him where and he said,"oh just a small town outside of Portland"  I asked him what it was and he said , "West Linn"  He said his grandfather used to be the bishop in the West Linn Ward..... Ted Hodges!  (Ellen and Laurie if you read this post you will smile over that)  He is a very nice young man .  I told him we knew his grandparents and to be sure to tell them hello in his next email!  The church is a small world!

One of the real treats about going to church as a senior missionary is being greeted by everyone... especially the little children.... they say "hola, hermana"and give you a kiss on the cheek!

Here are a few pictures of Santa Fe.  I didn't get any  of the members... but they were wonderful in
every way.

We will be making a return trip to Paraguay on the 19th of January.  We will be meeting with our three Assistant Auditors and two mission presidencias to set up mission audit committees to perform audits in remote areas that the regular auditors can't get to.  This has been a long time goal and need and it is finally becoming a reality!

Abrazos!

BELGRANO!

We decided to take a New Years walk.... it was an unusually cool day here..... with a slight breeze.. It was the perfect day for a walk.  We explored our extended neighborhood where there are embassies and beautiful flowering trees.... Here are a few photos of our walk...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

FELIZ ANO NUEVO!

HOLA!

We didn't realize it had been so long since we last posted!  We have been around Buenos Aires for the past month.  We decided to stay here during the holidays and relax and rest a bit.  Michael has had a cough and congestion since we arrived here but hasn't really had a chance to just stay home and get well.  I am happy to report that the rest was very helpful for him.... although he still has some lingering coughing and congestion. We did have a really lovely Christmas and New Years Day... and we will share a few photos with you.

However, before Christmas and right after our AAA Conference, we spent one evening just north of Buenos Aires in a little town called, Mercedes.  We traveled with our MSR friend Osmar Avila.  He was giving a training to the Mercedes District and we wanted to talk to the District president.  We had a wonderful meeting.  These small districts are made up of several small branches with lots of small and large problems.... but also lots of good things!  Most of the leaders of these branches are very young men in their twenties with young wives and families....they sacrifice alot to serve.  We have found that many of these young leaders have  leadership callings, work full time, and attend night school to further their education.  All of these leaders that we have met are very wonderful people.  The district president we met with was  maybe thirty.  We explained the audit program to him in greater detail and he was very anxious to take care of all of the details.  He told us that he traveled alot to visit the branches in his district several of which are a good distance away, so much of his time is spent traveling to check on members in these small locations and lend his love and support to them.

This is our friend, Osmar.

Our trip to Mercedes was a great experience... we really like Osmar and while traveling we had a superb visit with him and learned of his conversion story, which was an amazing story.  

Christmas Eve we were invited to spend the evening with a very special family in our ward.  Alejandra and Sergio Gomez and five of their six children.  It was indeed wonderful.  Sergio came to pick us up at our apartment around 8:00 in the evening.  (People in Argentina eat very late dinners).

We had seen their children at church but had not been formally introduced to them so this was a real treat:  Mauro (18 and leaving on a mission to Guatamala next month), Andreas, 14, Sebastian 13,

Leandro 9, and adorable Maria Amelia, 7.  They all greeted us so warmly and little Maria Amelia shook our hands and kissed us on the cheek! (this is the everyday custom in Argentina and I love it!)

One has not really "lived" until being kissed on the cheek by a little Argentine girl! Their oldest daughter, Julia , I believe, is at BYU and speaks three languages and is headed to Boston this month to serve a mission speaking Portuguese.

We were served a most delicious dinner, of very moist roasted pork, sweet potatoes, an unusual and fabulous slaw salad, chicken breast stuffed with eggs and vegetables... For dessert we had an enormous fruit salad that was out of this world.  Each piece of fruit was perfectly cut into very tiny pieces.  Everyone in the family had helped to prepare it.  There were probably eight different kinds of fruit... and the syrup was fabulous...   We had wonderful conversation and left their home around 11:45 pm .... as the children were anxious to open their gifts at midnight as is the custom!

I made some lemon curd for them and a lemon cake.  They especially loved the lemon curd as Andreas loves to cook.... and I gave him the recipe.  So now my grandmother's recipe is in Argentina and I am thrilled!

This was a very memorable evening and we enjoyed every minute!

 

Christmas Day I had invited several missionary couples to dinner, and when I was about to invite the third couple, the area DTA(Director of Temporal Affairs) and his wife, they said they had a bigger apartment and would we all like to go there... we thought that was a great idea ... so we all gathered at Spallino's for dinner, everyone taking something.... Their apartment was indeed much bigger!  It was beautiful and we had a delicious dinner and fascinating conversation!  It was a great day!( We of course missed our families but it felt good to stay busy so we wouldn't be too homesick)  We enjoyed wonderful visits with all of our children during the holidays.... as most of them gathered together at our little farm....

This was our first Christmas away.... we missed our family but were very lovingly embraced by new friends and much love.....

My lemon curd!