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!
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