Double the Food, Double the Fun

There are 12 Elders working in the office now because I am training new Assistants and new Secretaries for the Argentina Posadas Mission which will begin on July 1st. I have not told the Elders which ones will be going where yet because I want them to work together as one team during their training. I also decided that another good activity to bring them together would be a little hamburger barbecue at the Mission Home together with some basketball shooting, baseball throwing, football tossing and the infamous ping pong tournament. A few years ago, Diane and I copied Chef Bobby Flay's secret hamburger recipe and improved it, so I promised the missionaries "Las Mejores Hamburguesas del Mundo!"



I got the coals just right, let them cook and at the exact moment of readiness served them up...



With the best Argentine beef available ("carne molida especial" de la carniceria Santina), fresh hamburger buns, mustard, ketchup, lettuce and tomato, it was a rich mouthful...(Elder Child was the only purist who had just hamburger, all the others wanted the cheddar cheese burger)...



And they were pretty satisfied customers...they each had two of those big burgers!



I did not do all of the cooking...Diane had carrot sticks and ranch dressing (home made), potato chips and of course her M&M brownies ready for dessert...



I love this picture because even though Diane is in the background and is not eating, she has the biggest smile. Because making her missionaries happy is what makes her happy! After the food, the serious work of the ping pong tournament began. Contestants came from Paraguay, Spain, Argentina and the United States. The finals came down to Elder Garcia from Spain against Elder Acuña from Paraguay...



And the winner was...



Elder Acuña from Paraguay...but we all were winners today!

Hermanas Lideres Capacitadoras

Recently the Church announced a change in mission leadership and structure. In each mission some Sister missionaries are called to be Sister Trainer Leaders. They train other Sister missionaries, watch out for them and participate in monthly Mission Leadership Councils. This is a much welcomed and historic change. Today was our first Mission Leadership Council with the "Hermanas Lideres Capacitadoras."

After welcoming the HLCs, I trained all of the leaders on the new role and responsibilities of these Sister missionaries.



Then I introduced them and their assignments.



During the meeting they were full participants...



They listened...



They spoke...






They practiced...






And they even helped us out by directing our singing...



All in all it was a good day for them and for us..






We are looking forward to many more Mission Leadership Councils with the HLCs!

"And the Eternal Optimist Award goes to......"

DIANE HEYMAN, for this conversation that just took place...

Diane: "Do you think I should keep waiting for the workers to come to refill the propane gas tanks?"

Me: "Are you kidding me? It is 1:00 pm, during the siesta, on a Saturday that just happens to also be a national Argentine holiday. They were never coming."

Diane: "But they told Graciela that they would come today".

Editor's note: No propane means no oven or stove, which puts someone close to the panic mode. It is going to be a long weekend.

All I Wanted Was My Missionaries

We went to the airport today to pick up our new arriving missionaries. I was surprised at how many people were at the airport. Normally, it is just Diane, my Assistants, a few people waiting for family and me. This time there was a mob!

The professional soccer team Independiente came to town and apparently they have a huge fan base in Resistencia.



As soon as a player would come out of the baggage area people would run up and have their picture taken with him or hug him or just touch him! Obviously the teams's colors are red and white!




And if that was not enough, I noticed a lot of "altos y rubios" coming off the plane that were not Mormon missionaries. Then this little sign caught my eye...



Yes, the Beach Volleyball World team from the United States was on the flight, too. And while they were not Mormon missionaries, it turns out that two of them were Mormon. Including Jacob Gibb from California, who told me he started singing "Called to Serve" on the bus that took the group from the airport to the plane in Buenos Aires to see if the missionaries would approach him. The funny part is that all of the missionaries that arrived were from Latin America and do not speak English. They told me they thought one of them was trying to sing it, so they just let it go! Here is Jacob Gibb towering over my Assistants at the Airport.



Finally, my missionaries came. I had to greet them and help with the baggage so I did not get a picture of them. But, they are all rock stars in Diane's and my book!

The Weather is Changing.

The weather changes quickly here. One day it is hot and humid. The next day it is raining (the essence of humidity) and the day after that it can be pleasant or cold. And then the cycle begins again. I got into the Hi Lux, turned on the engine and this is what greeted me...



Now, before you start to wonder how it could get so cold, notice the little "c" by the number 11. That means "Celsius" which translates into about 52 degrees Fahrenheit. So, it was not too bad at all. In the 50s, 60s and 70s. It was nice enough for me to walk to and from my office today (with my overcoat). Of course, yesterday it rained the whole way while I drove from Pasos de los Libres to Resistencia. So, who knows what tomorrow has in store. This will actually be our third winter in Argentina (July 2011, 2012 and now 2013). I actually have made it through a number of winters in the country...1975, 1976 and during visits from 1997-2005. But I have to say the variety and unpredictability of the weather now in Resistencia and this northeastern part of Argentina is a fun challenge and actually keeps things lively.

My Missionaries are more Awesome than yours....

That was the caption that I put on this picture that I posted on Instagram today...



Which caused me to do some thinking and the truth is I do have the most awesome missionaries. Just a few examples...



They charm snakes...



They make ugly things look pretty...



They can even make pretty things look ugly!



They are talented and attract crowds wherever they go.



They fight crime! (Let's hope not)...



They spread good cheer...apparently Russian style!



They are resourceful.



And not afraid to paint pink walls while wearing aprons.



They know how to take care of a man (big man) sized hunger....



And MY missionaries are the ONLY ones that have their own Action Hero Toys! Yes, my missionaries are more awesome than yours!