PARAGUAY

Hola!

We have just returned from our first visit to Paraguay!  We spent five days there meeting with our three AAA's (assistant area auditors) and also Elder Di Giovanni the area seventy.  We had a wonderful and very meaningful trip as well as some adventure thrown in!

We flew into Ascuncion on Thursday afternoon, November 15.  The flight is about one and a half hours from Buenos Aires.  So it is an easy flight and not too long which we like!  We were told that Asuncion has a population of around 2 million people.... it is a very old city and there are many, many beautiful old Spanish homes as one enters the city on the main street.  One fact about Paraguay that we learned early on is that nothing is marked with a number..... not homes, or businesses or anything!  Therefore, our use of the GPS was very limited.  

After our arrival we headed straight to the Avis car rental booth and rented a car as our first destination was in eastern Paraguy.... a city called Ciudad del Este.  It is on the immediate border of Brazil..  It was a six hour drive on a two lane highway!  This was part of the adventure!  We encountered every form of transportaion on the road:  double decker buses coming from the famous Iguacu Falls in Brazil, carts pulled by oxen, enormous trucks carrying agricultural goods, trucks piled high with .... many things... motor bikes carrying 1-3 people plus groceries..... cars, and cars and cars..... It was chaotic!

However, the countryside was very, very beautiful... flat with many, many mango trees, and flowering red and pink trees.  It was amazing.  The mango trees were loaded with wonderful almost ripe fruit!

There were also many artistically set up fruit stands.  It is watermelon season in Paraguay!

After a "hair raising" 6 hour drive...  (Michael enjoyed the drive!... he was driving!)  we entered Ciudad del Este.  (City of the East).  I can hardly describe the experience!  It was like entering one of those very chaotic cities in an "Indiana Jones" movie!  No traffic lights anywhere, people, cars and motor bikes crossing major highways at every point in the road!  The roundabouts, of which there are many, were bumper to bumper...... experiences.... people entering from any point they could.... We drove almost over the bridge to Brazil.... but quickly turned deep into the city instead.... we found our way out and after making several stops to ask directions, at various points in the city, and two hours later just before the fall of night we found our hotel.... We learned from the stake president there that this city is close to the largest "black market" in the world.... everything is traded there, weapons, drugs, anything you can imagine..  There are armed guards everywhere.... many with large rifles...... 

Anyway, not to get carried away with the description of the city.... but it was indeed fascinating!

Our pupose for going there was to meet up with one of our AAA's and help him give a training to the stake president and bishops and counselors and secretaries.  This was the first time we met Hermano Grau and he brought his wife which was great.  There were about 24 people in attendance so it was wonderful!  Below is Michael giving his part of the instruction on the auditing program.... he gave it in Spanish and did superb job!  The next picture is of Hermano Grau.... (I have to get better at getting close up pictures of these wonderful people!)

After the meeting we visited with the stake president some more and really enjoyed getting to know him.  He is from India, but ended up in Paraguay as a young man working for a large company.  He married a Paraguay woman and has two children.  He told us a little about the city but mostly told us how very dangerous it was and told us we should not wander around there unassisted by someone who knows the area.  Anyway, he wouldn't let us drive back to our hotel alone, (which we had finally figured out the location) so he had somone "lead " us back.  He was very concerned for us which was really thoughtful.  Our hotel was behind a protected gate with armed guards.  We had to show our passports each time we entered.  

The members that we met were so generous and kind... and it is always a very uplifting experience  to meet them.... We left early the next morning for Ascuncion to meet with Hermano Vidal, and Hermano Beraud, and Hermano Di Giovanni.... Our meetings were set up for Sunday.

It is really late and my eyes are blurry... but I wanted to get this up.... I will add some more pictures tomorrow of the Asuncion temple and countryside of this very beautiful South American Land!

Everyone loves a coke!

Provincia de Tucuman

Hola!

In our previous post we talked about the two days of trainings we had in San Miguel de Tucuman.
We had one training on Tuesday night, the day we arrived.  Our next training was to take place on Wednesday evening at 8:00 at the Tucuman West Stake building.  Because we had all day Wednesday free, Axel suggested that we take some time and head into the mountains to see the Inca ruins from the 1500's and also see some mountain villages and enjoy the fresh mountain air. We left early in the moring and headed out! On Thursday morning, before taking off for the airport at 2:00 pm, we saw some other sites around San Miguel de Tucuman, including the "el Monumental Cristo Bendicente" which was situated very high above the city.  We also learned that San Miguel de Tucuman is the place where Argentina received it's independence on "el 9 Julio de 1816"!  We had a wonderful day and embraced every moment.  Osmar and Axel were amazing guides  and while driving around in the car, we were able to talk and get further insight into our training sessions.

En San Javier - Monumental Cristo Bendicente.

Behind the statue.

Ciudad Sagrada de los Quilmes.

Osmar, Michael and Axel.

Michael and I at the ruins:  Ciudad Sagrada de los Quilmes.

(Sacred city of the Quilmes)

At San Javier ; the Cristo Bendicente

Abrazios!

San Miguel de Tucuman

Hola!

On Tuesday of this past week we traveled to Tucuman Province, which is northwest of Buenos Aires.  We traveled with two people from the MSR (membership statistics and records) department.  We took a plane from the national airport in Buenos Aires.  The two people that we traveled with are thirty something and the nicest people ever!  Osmar and Axel.    We were scheduled for two trainings; one on  Tuesday evening and one on Wednesday evening.  Our plane left Tuesday morning around 11:00 and the flight was about one hour and forty-five minutes long . Osmar and Axel brought several pieces of luggage as their training sessions involve people sitting down at computers and learning the church software program (MLS) for tithing, membership records, fast offerings, and many other purposes.    They packed up about 12-13 laptops and all of the equipment that goes with them.  When the session begins, bishops, counselors, and clerks, are seated at long tables with an up and running computer set before them.  

Our first training was in the smaller town of Concepcion about an hour out of Tucuman.  We were scheduled to meet with the leaders of  the Argentina Concepcion District.  We met with the district president, branch presidents, counselors and secretaries.
We also had scheduled a few audits to do.  Above is Michael and Osmar joyfully working on a couple of audits and below is our very devoted AAA (assistant area auditor), Miguel Gonzalez who traveled a distance of several hours to meet us there. Concepcion and Tucuman province are part of the territory he is responsible for.   The training went until about 10:00pm.  At that point the district president had someone bring in a wonderful meal from a local Panaderia.  Fresh sandwiches, empanadas, and three luscious desserts! We visited with people and introduced ourselves around, and ate the food and had a wonderful time.

We met a couple of young missionaires; one from Uruguay, (just newly out) and a boy from Utah who had been out a while.  The elder from Utah is temporarily filling in as a branch president until a new one can be found.  We talked with them for quite a while and gave them lots of cheerful encouragement in their temporary assignment.  

We visited with the District President and his counselor and secretary in the office for a while to review the status of their audits and the needed follow-up on a few audit exceptions that needed to be resolved. We listened to them and encouraged them.  We have some follow-up work to do to help them get better internet access and a few other things.  

This particular district is filled with wonderful giving people .  They were very gracious to feed us and visit with us in such a warm and friendly manner.  

We left that evening with our hearts filled with gratitude and joy from such an enriching experience.

Abrazos!

San Nicolas

Hola!

A few days ago we traveled northwest of Buenos Aires to do some training with MSR (Membership Statistics and Records) in San Nicolas, Argentina.  We are partnering with MSR to do training of clerks, bishops and stake presidents.  The drive was about two and a half hours.  This was our first time to "check out " a car from the area office and along with the car we checked out a GPS.  This amazing tool guided us out of Buenos Aires to San Nicolas and back again right in front of our apartment in BA!

We arrived in San Nicolas around 5:00 and checked into our hotel then headed right to the stake center to meet up with Diego and and another staff member arriving at 5:30 just as they had started the first training with the new stake clerk.  The MSR staff brings in computers and goes through all of the computer programs where the donations and fast offerings are recorded and reports given.  It is very helpful to those who are new in particular.

At seven we set up tables and chairs in the gym and setup about 12 computers as well.  About fifteen bishops, counselors, and the stake presidency arrived around 8:00.  We were greeted very warmly by each and every person that came in.  It is a wonderful experience to be greeted by an Argentine in such a warm and friendly manner!

Diego gave a great presentation that lasted until 12:30 am!!  Questions were being asked right up until 12:30!  It was a wonderfully engaging session and it was great to be a part of it.  We had a meeting with the stake audit committee chair and he was very interested in talking with us and working out a few of the problems they had had in the past.  

We went back to the hotel and arrived there around 1:00 am.  The place was alive with people eating and visiting.  Argentine people eat late!  We had not eaten dinner so we split a sandwich and sat in a great relaxing spot in the hotel lobby and had a taste of a fabulous dessert!

I know some of you family members want to see pictures of the people we work with and I will be sure to include that in the next blog.  I didn't take my camera to the meeting.  Sorry!

Our drive to San Nicolas was great!  It was wonderful to see the Argentine countryside and get a feel for a different part of the country.  Oranges are in season now.  There are a few  orange trees a couple of blocks from us in BA and they are laden with fruit.  On the road we saw many, many fruit stands filled with hanging bags of oranges and lemons.  We stopped at two of these fruit stands  and bought oranges, and a few herb plants for very few pesos.

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We will be traveling to Salta this week for a few days.  I will take pictures of the wonderful people we work with and share them on the blog!

Abrazos!

THE AREA AUDITORS CONFERENCE

October 28, 2012





On October 16 we flew to Salt Lake City to our scheduled Area Audit Conference.  This is a conference we will attend every October while we are serving this mission.  We  took the 9:15 pm flight out and everyone dreads this flight as it is sooo long!  However, we were geared up for it and were really looking forward to the experience before us in Salt Lake.  Our flight was uneventful aside from the fact that in the early hours of the morning when the flight attendants served us a "breakfast,"
Mike and I managed to spill orange juice all over his suit pants!  The lady in front of us had her seat way back which was part of the problem.This was not a good moment.  Michael did not bring an extra suit so it was a little stressful!  However, the suit eventually dried and nothing showed so we got over it......

When we arrived in Salt Lake City, we were stunned as to how peaceful and empty it seemed!  Mike said,"where are all the people!!"  The contrast to Buenos Aires was stunning!

We arrived Wednesday afternoon and our conference was to begin early Thursday morning and go through Friday.

We changed and took some time to walk around downtown Salt Lake around the hotel.  The City Creek area across from Temple Square is amazing!  Beautifully designed and put together and it is a great enhancemet to the city.  We did a few close by errands and enjoyed the beautiful day and breathing some fresh air!

Our conference included Area Auditors from around the world.  There are about 20 of us.  There were couples from Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Africa, The Carribean, Europe, Russia, Asia, Mexico, central America, northwestern South America, Brazil, and the Phillipine Islands. Most of these people were missionary couples, but about four or five were couples who were native to the country where they were serving.  The largest representaion was from Africa.  There were four couples who serve as Area Auditors there.  Two are native and the other two were regualr senior couples.    It was a wonderful mix of very interesting people and we so enjoyed meeting everyone!  We had met Brother and Sister Casos in September as they came out the same time we did.  They are serving in the northwestern part of South America.  We were so happy to see them and enjoyed our visits with them during those two days.

The church auditing department organized and delivered this conference in an amazing and wonderful way!  The members of the audit team at church headquarters are wonderful, down to earth people.  The presentations and discussions were very engaging and involved everyone!  We didn't even fall asleep nor were we tempted to do so!  The conference was held in the very beautiful Joseph Smith Memorial Building which is so stunningly restored.  Our food and snacks were provided in an elegant manner and we just thoroughly enjoyed our association with everyone there.  We all shared experiences..... the joys and frustrations of our assignments.  And I have to say everyone was excited to be there and learn and share.  All of the audit people are very genuine and down to earth , very approachable and easy to talk to...... and this made for a full and rich experience.  One of the highlights of the conference was two talks by Scott Grow who developed the this new (2 years old) audit program for the church. He is a 70 and chairman of the church audit committee. A very engaging man and he honestly had a sincere interest in every person there.  He knew everyone's name and the area where they served.  He was very aware of us and the challenges we face here in the South America South Area.  He spoke with each couple individually during the two days there.  He approached us the first day as he  is particularly informed about our area.  He gave Mike a big abrazo and joyfully welcomed us to our new assignement!  He gave each couple an abrazo and words of encouragement as we each left the conference.  Once again we were struck by this genuine love from those in charge ........ who care about each one of us and clearly manifest it in their actions towards us.  We have experienced this several times since leaving our home for this mission.  It has warmed our hearts and souls, and we want to be able to share our love with others in a more meaningful way as we meet new people and have new experiences.

We left the conference with new ideas and a fresh determination to fulfill our assignment in a meaningful and effective way.

We stayed through Saturday and left on Sunday.  We enjoyed a brief visit with our dear friends the Kemps from Olympia.  The kids had sent boxes to us and Cherie had kindly kept them for us and we were very grateful for her kindness.  We did some errands, one of which was to buy a pair of shoes for one of our Argentine friends in the office.  He wanted a pair of dress shoes for his son from WalMart.  We were able to do that !!  We had breakfast with my cousin, Margaret and her husband Dave on Sunday morning at their home and enjoyed wonderful fresh tomatoes from their amazing garden!  Our flight left at 2:15 for Dallas and we once again prepared ourselves mentally for the all night flight!  We arrived in Buenos Aires around 9:00 the next morning.  We went home, freshened up and walked a mile to the office to take care of a few things.  We were excited to get back and begin our work.(okay, I was a little homesick!  being so close to home and not going there was a little hard!)  But I am fine !

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building is beautiully restored and a wonderful and peaceful place to be  day after day.  We spoke with one of the docents in the building during a break one day.  The Joseph Smith Memorial Building used to be the old Hotel Utah.  She was telling us that the original Hotel Utah was contructed under the direction of several different religious faiths.  These organizations in Salt Lake City at the time felt that there should be a wonderful hotel where visitors could stay and be very comfortable.  So many people of different faiths enjoyed this building for decades, and that is also the case now.

Our lunches were served on the tenth floor everyday in a wonderful large room that overlooks the entire downtown area.  The picture above is through one of the windows on the tenth floor.  Eating lunch there was actually breathtaking as we were surrounded by these enormous windows overlooking the city.

We love our mission and are enjoying each day and the exciting challenges we face.  We are grateful for the enormous support we receive from our family......without their support we would not be here..... We are always happy to hear from friends and family and we are interested in how each of you is doing.

We extend our love to each of you!

Abrazos,

Michael and Dorothyannd (mom and dad!)

EIGHT WEEKS IN BUENOS AIRES!

Hola!

We are now well into spring in Buenos Aires!   Our dear friends, Mike and Judy Bigelow left about a month ago.  We are now living in the apartment they occupied for 18 months!  Judy made sure everything was in perfect condition and we are grateful to them for all of their kindness and generosity.  

The pictures here show the side street that we look at from the balcony of our  apartment.  It is quite charming!  However, the rest of the apartment faces one of the busiest streets in Buenos Aires and the noise level is quite high. We are adjusting though and manage to sleep quite well everynight inspite of the noise!

We are really enjoying the apartment and are glad to finally be settled.  We buy fruits and vegetables from a fruitstand close by and keep our meals fairly simple.  We have found several little shops near and far, where we buy food. Each shop has it's own specialty items:  golden raisens, lentils, brown sugar, fresh beets, organic eggs, fresh cream and more.  We bought a lovely cotton bag and we carry our food home !  However, the mile walk can be pretty long when we are hauling bananas, beets, and and a jar of honey plus a few other heavy items!  

We are really enjoying our work and have now laid our plan out and will start traveling and training.

We have 245 stakes and 2000 units to oversee.  We are beginning to meet up with our Assistant Area Auditors and it is really exciting to meet them one by one.

We flew to Salt Lake City last week and had a two day conference at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building .  The conference was put on by the church auditing department.  It was a wonderful experience and I will share that in the next post in the next couple of days!

Our love to all of you!

Week Three in Argentina!!!!!!!

September 23, 2012

Hola!

This week we formulated more of a specific plan for our assignment here!  As Area Auditors we are responsible for 27 Assistant Area Auditors in four countries;  Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.   Each Assistant Area Auditor is responsible for a region and is responsible for the training of stake and local people who perform audits and take care of the tithing and fast offering funds of the church.  It is now our responsibility to train the Assistant Area  Auditors and visit them and lend them all of the instruction and support that they need to carry out their tasks.  Michael has begun communicating with many of these AAA's through phone calls and emails.  We will hold a AAA area wide two day training during the first part of December.  This will be held at our area office here in Buenos Aires and we are in the process of putting this together!  We are very much enjoying the process and are learning a great deal.  The purpose of the audit program of the church is to protect and assure the wise use of church funds and to protect church leaders who handle the funds.

We are also preparing to go to Salt Lake City in October where we will receive training from the Church Audit Department.  It will be a two day conference October 18-19 after which we will return to Buenos Aires.  So it will be a very quick trip!  All of the Area Auditors from around the world will be there to receive training as well.  There are about 15-16 couples who perform this duty on a volunteer basis as Senior Missionaries.  We met one couple in the MTC who are Area Auditors in the South America Northwest Area, Elder and Sister Casos.  They are natives of South America.  She is from Chile and he is from Peru.  A very sharp couple and we are looking forward to seeing them in Salt Lake City.

This week our friends, Mike and Judy Bigelow will be returning home to Olympia , Washington.  We will be taking their apartment on Thursday as they walk out the door to the airport to leave!  They have made a big impact here especially helping other Senior Couples who are new.  They will be greatly missed and we have tried to get together a few last times this past week before we have to say our goodbyes!

Yesterday they wanted to show us a few more sites in Buenos Aires and the pictures are below.  We took the bus and the Subte to arrive at our destinations!  It was great fun!  After a day of traveling from one part of the city to another , we purchased homemade pasta  and two sauces from an amazing pasta shop (there are many of these scattered around the city)  and shared a wonderful meal in Bigelow's apartment.  The pasta we bought was ravioli, and  the sauces were a pesto with chunks of pecans in it, and a tomato cream sauce.  Both were amazingly delicious.  Mike Bigelow bought a wonderful apple dessert for us to finish off the meal!  It was a great day!

This morning we met the Bigelows in front of their apartment at about 9:10  and walked to their church where we will also be attending.  It was a wonderful 10-15 minute walk through a beautiful neighborhood with lovely homes and a few embassies , one of them being the Italian Embassy.  We were very warmly greeted in the ward with an abrazo and a kiss on the cheek!  The Bishop and many people who greeted us were so friendly and happy that we will be in the ward.  We will soon approach the Bishop to see where we can help and we will hopefully be assigned some families to visit.   Mike and Judy were greatly loved here and it was wonderful to see these people embrace them and feel so thankful for their friendship. The Bigelows gave short talks all in Spanish .  Judy has done really well!  Her efforts have certainly inspired me!

 This is the front of Eva Peron's "home".  It was painted this pinkish color to represent all of the blood that has been spilled for Argentina.

                                                          This is the back of the palace.

  This is a very imposing statue of Christopher Columbus at the back of the palace.  It was amazing!

 There are two soldiers who guard the tomb of General San Martin, the most famous Argentine general of all time!  He freed four South American countries, Argentina, Peru, Chile and Ecuador.

We ate in this beautiful food court; these flowers were fresh and were gorgeous!  Our food was great!

Mike/Dad is not really blind; he just looks like it!! It was a warm sunny, sunny day!!

 We went to "La Boca".  This is an area of the city where the "Tango" originated.  There are many restaurants and tango dancers everywhere plus many, many artists selling their wares.  Judy and I loved it!  The two Mikes didn't share our enthusiasm!  This was a colorful building with models of Eva Peron and two other famous people waving on a balcony!  La Boca is very safe during the day but very dangerous at night!

Les mandamos un abrazo!