Thursday, November 22, 2012

Here is a Page From the Argentina Buenos Aires Oeste Mission Blog

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2012

fleni






We took some of our musically-talented missionaries with us to visit Sister Heyman. She is my friend that is the wife of the president of the Resistencia Mission. Sister Heyman is currently living and having therapy at a rehabilitation facility near Buenos Aires.

The hospital was very pleased to welcome us and even helped us to keep it a surprise for Sister Heyman.

After visiting with her for a while, we decided to go for a walk. Then she said that those people over there look like missionaries! She was right!



They sang beautifully and Sister Heyman mostly cried, but they were tears of joy!














They invited all the patients and workers to attend since we were there during the lunch time and quite of few of them did. One of my favorite moments, and there were many, was when one of the patients thanked Sister Heyman for being the catalyst of this wonderful experience.

Afterwards, there were hugs for the hermanas and handshakes for the elders.






A million thank yous later, we took them all back to the mission home for lunch.



...Here is a million and one thank yous...Thank you Doug and Debbie Carter and your missionaries!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Ten Years Later...

I know of only one person who has returned to his mission ten years after he finished, was chauffeured around by the current Mission President, given a room to stay in at the Mission Home...and is allowed to call the Mission President, "Dad". And that would be my son, Chris!



Who left his little family for two weeks to visit Diane in Buenos Aires and then me in Resistencia. While in Resistencia we attended the Resistencia South Stake Conference. Chris served as a Zone Leader there and is friends with the man who is now the Stake President...so Chris spoke 3 times in Stake Conference! I quickly transformed from President Heyman to Elder Heyman's father. It was awesome! Here are some photos that I was able to quietly take:




These current local Church Leaders were teenagers when Chris was here and would take them on visits with him. Now they are returned missionaries, husbands and fathers, Bishops, counselors, etc.



There were some great stories re-lived with families who Chris knew and who remembered him fondly.



Here is Chris on Monday fielding questions from Zone Leaders and District Leaders...I said any question was fair game, so there were the questions, "How did you meet and propose to your wife", "What would you have done different on your mission", and of course "What was your Father's most embarrassing moment"!

One of the first things Chris and I did was go to San Jose and buy a medio kilo of chipa...which was quickly devoured.



We start traveling tomorrow and Sunday will attend a District Conference in Eldorado...where he served in the town of Montecarlo. He better start preparing his talks now!

Saturday, November 10, 2012

The Sting

Diane tells Jennifer (in Buenos Aires) she is craving a Chipolte Chicken Burro. (no Chipoltes on this continent) Jen calls Tim (in Chandler, Arizona) and tells him to pick up a Chipolte Chicken Burro. Tim picks up two Chicken and two Steak Burros and gives them to Alli (who is at our home in Chandler watching Jen and Tim's boys) who wraps them, has them put in a suitcase with cold gel ice packs and gives the suitcase to Barbara who drops the suitcase off to Lori (in Mesa Arizona). At 11:17 am Friday morning Lori leaves Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix and arrives in Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires at 7:55 am Saturday. Jorge picks Lori up at the airport and takes her to La Clinica Fleni in Escobar (a barrio in Buenos Aires) where she catches up with Diane, Jennifer and Ray. At 11:30 am Saturday in La Clinica Fleni this momentous event takes place...



Diane and Ray are eating Chicken Burros from the Chipolte off of Alma School Road in Chandler, Arizona. Welcome to the 21st Century!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Two For The Price Of One!

A few days ago Jennifer was away from Diane's room while the cleaning lady came in to tidy things up. The cleaning lady told Diane that there was ANOTHER patient in the clinic who only spoke english. That certainly would be a rarity as there are only 40 adult in-patient rooms in the clinic and people come from all over South America to rehabilitate there.

When Diane relayed to Jennifer what the cleaning lady said, Jennifer thought for a little bit, started laughing and told Diane she thought she knew who the other "patient" was....



Yep, that would be Jennifer resting in Diane's wheel chair! I hope they release her when it is time for Jen to go home!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Ok, ok, ok!

People want pictures...


Diane at the hospital with the doctor that was in charge of her care. I loved a comment by one of our friends, Kris DeWulf, that Diane looks like the healthiest one in the photo.



Diane working in one of the gadgets in the Clinica Fleni. The staff calls her the Queen of the Clinic..."La Reina de la Clinica"!



Diane, Jen and me a few days ago in one of the gardens surrounding the Clinica Fleni.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Four Weeks Ago Today...

Diane suffered a stroke while we were in a hotel in the jungle near Iguazu Falls, Argentina. It sounds unbelievable, I know. But it happened.

Diane is amazing...and blessed. Her memory, speech, emotions and appearance were not affected. She is working through coordination, sensation and strength issues on her right side and some dizziness and periodic double vision. The doctors and therapists say with rehabilitation and time she should make a full recovery. The body is an incredible and intricate thing. I am observing that the mind and spirit are even more impressive.

Diane has not uttered a single negative word or complaint throughout this whole experience. Her attitude is, "This is what it is, what do I need to do to get better"? All of her caretakers (and visitors) have mentioned how positive and inspirational she is. I always new she was both, I could never have guessed the depth of those qualities, especially in the face of adversity.

Diane is God's unique blend of beauty and toughness, spirituality and strength, determination and humility, and pragmatism with faith. You can not think of Diane without recognizing her gift for obedience, a trait that almost seems to be on the brink of extinction these days.

Among the many lessons being learned is that while God may not prevent challenges and trials, He never requires us to endure them alone. Diane can speak of the angels unseen, but we both have been humbled by the earthly angels who have come to our aide with loving and selfless service. I could spend hours listing their names...those who pray, fast, write, visit, encourage, watch over our loved ones at home and take care of Diane. A sampling, alphabetically, just to give an idea: Ale, Alli, Alberto, Angie, Arnolds, Barbara(s), Becky, Bednars, Brunts, Candace, Carters, Chris, Curtis, etc., etc.

I have been humbled to see the maturity, selflessness, spiritual insight and unity of our children. Curtis and Candace's prompting to visit us not only lifted us up emotionally right before and as this happened but put them in place to take care of things in Iguazu while Diane and I rushed to Buenos Aires. Chris' global view of resources had the Carters in Diane's hospital room hours after we arrived. Alli's acceptance of surrogate "mother assistance" after her daughter's birth eased Diane's longing to be there. And Taylor's trust and dedication to his mission has been a source of comfort and pride, "Ok, if you tell me not to worry and just keep working hard, then that is what I'll do, but if you tell me I should be worried, then I will worry".

And, then there is Jennifer. She has been the perfect help and support for Diane during her rehabilitation. She has been Diane's smiling, listening, lifting (physically, emotionally and spiritually) and intimate companion. She has slept each night on a bed in Diane's room and been with her all throughout the days. I can sum Jen up by this experience that I witnessed. One of Diane's visitors was asking Jen if she wanted to take some time for herself and see the sights or do some shopping in Buenos Aires. There was an impressive list of places to go and things to do. Jen just shrugged her shoulders and said, "No, thanks, I just kind of want to spend my time with my Mom". We know that Jen could only be here because of the sacrifice and support of her little family as well as the help of family and friends who are taking care of Tim, Kyle and Nolan.

I understand the Mormon Church is undergoing a lot of scrutiny these days. Down here I am oblivious to the details, which is just fine. This I do know, the Church has been completely devoted to helping Diane get the best care and treatment possible. Medically, emotionally and spiritually. And, to making sure that my needs are met, too. If true Christianity is taking care of the sick, the poor and the needy, then the Church is more than fulfilling its own mandate. I have never been more grateful or proud to be a "Mormon" than the past month. I am also in awe of the missionaries in La Gran Mision Argentina Resistencia who have fasted and continue to pray for Diane's recovery, work hard and selflessly serve the people and support me as the Mission President.

Our plan is for Diane to rehab in Buenos Aires to the point where she can return to Resistencia and continue to fulfill our assignment. If you think for a moment of all that entails, you can begin to catch a glimpse of the greatness that is Diane Heyman.

I have always known that my greatest accomplishment in life would be marrying Diane Curtis in the Mesa Arizona Temple. This past month I have come to a deeper understanding of why.

¡Vamos a hacer la cosa!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

How To Make Your Parents Cry

We went to the airport to pick up our son Curtis, and this is what happened when he said he wanted to take a picture of us to send home...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OppHrkCeeU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Casteyankee

Argentine spanish is called castellano (castillian). So if you mix words from English and Castellano it is not "spanglish" it is casteyankee (so says Diane). Here are just a few words that you may recognize regardless of which language you speak:

Word in castellano- Word in English

Feedbac- Feedback
Auto- Auto
Pin- Pin
Walmart- Wal-Mart
Enfasis- Emphasis
Record- Record
Super- Super
Skype- Skype
Bigmac- Big Mac
Rol- Role
Internet- Internet

So, a few examples:

I went en mi auto a Wal-Mart.
Vamos a Skype por el internet.
Quiero un Bigmac...no, make that un super Bigmac.
Charles Barkley no es un rol model.
Here's some feedbac positivo.
Tanto heat es un nuevo record.
The children played pin la cola en el burro.

See how easy it is? So, if you want to come down to La Gran Mision Argentina Resistencia but are hesitant because you don't speak the language...no importa, we all hablamos casteyankee!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Has This Ever Happened To You?




You wake up in a hotel room and while staring at the ceiling and light fixture above you, you ask, "What day is this and where am I?"



So you lift your head up to look at the furniture in the room for a clue...but every room has virtually the same furniture!



Even breakfast is the same...so you just figure that it really does not matter if you know what day it is or where you are...somehow life will find you soon enough and you will get down to business! This is what happens when I travel alone...



Sent to you from the city of Presidencia Roque Saenz Peña...I think!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

True Confessions...

When I am in Resistencia I have been known to go to the office on Saturdays to deal with the tougher matters in the solitude and silence of my office...



This Saturday I brought my iPad with me to tackle some of the more weightier matters...


Well, to be honest, I really wasn't the one doing the tackling...



Thank you BYUtv for streaming the game live...

Monday, September 3, 2012

7.3 Kilometers = 4.5 miles

For 21 years Diane walked the 4.5 mile loop around Ocotillo...



When we arrived in Argentina there was no where to walk nor anyone to walk with (I can not keep up with her). Then, last week as we were coming back from Posadas, Diane decided she was going to start walking the "path" through the median down la Avenida Sarmiento and back. It looks like this...




It is the horizontal yellow line. She starts at the far left and turns around at the round about. After Diane came back from her walk today, I decided to drive her route and see how far it is...3.65 kilometers each way or 7.3 kilometers which just happens to be 4.5 miles...this woman is uncanny!

Friday, August 31, 2012

Do Not Leave Home Without It...

Diane and I recently made an absolutely necessary purchase...



Our very own power strip to take with us when we travel! Why, you ask?



Because when we get to a hotel, this is usually what we find...a solitary wall outlet...



And each hotel can require any one or all of these adapters...



And, at the end of the day when you MUST charge two iPhones, two iPads and an electric razor...let's just say this picture is a symbol of marital harmony...!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Fashionistas

These...




Were stowed in the women's restroom in Church (Diane took the pictures) along with these...




So that there would be no mud on these...




And smiles on the faces of these fashionistas, Posadas style!




Saturday, August 25, 2012

¡Feliz Cumpleaños!....otra vez en la Argentina

Today is Diane's birthday! Happy Birthday Diane! It is her second birthday celebration in Argentina. The second celebration in the province of Misiones, too!

Last year we were here...



Iguazu Falls...

This year we are in Posadas for a Stake Conference and then two Zone Conferences. Not much of a break for Diane, but last night the Tau family invited us over for a nice celebration...



Missing from the picture is their son Facu (who went to bed early) and Pte. Tau (the photographer). We had sandwhiches, empenadas and my favorite soda, "Mirinda Manzana". The 23rd of August was Hermana Tau's birthday, so Diane made a dessert treat...individual banana cakes with a dulce de leche topping and banana and dulce de leche ice cream. Incredibly good!

It is raining today so with a cloudy day and meetings to attend, it is a quiet birthday...we need to change that fast!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

40 Degrees and 90 Percent Humidity in the Dead of Winter!

You are probably thinking of this...



Or this...



But these 40 Degrees are Celsius...



Which translates into 104 Degrees Fahrenheit...



Which really looks like this...



And this...


Can't wait for the summer to come this year!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

There Is No Typical Week

Is how I respond when people ask what a typical week is like...but here is a pictoral sampling of all that can happen in a week:




Training...




Traveling...


Changing where missionaries live...


Working with member districts...


Working with missionaries...


Speaking assignments...


Eating Diane's cooking...


Visiting people in their homes...



Meeting with missionaries...



More training...Diane style!...



Unchartered travel...


Graciela y Adriana...



A lot of listening...


Visiting churches...


Taking a moment to plant a special tree...


Visiting a missionaries' apartment and telling them we will buy a new table...


Attending church with the Moraga family..



Diane's helpful hints for missionaries to stay healthy in hot weather...created and distributed...


Diane's cure for just about anything...chocolate cake...baked, delivered and eaten...




Attending baptismal services...



It seems each day we are always trying to get from point A to point B on time (Yes, we actually walked through this)...

And then the week starts all over again!