When I updated my iPad to the new operatimg system, BlogPress crashed. They say they have submitted a fix to the App Store, but it is not available. So, I am using the old fashion way to compose this entry without pictures.
Diane and I went to Reconquista in the province of Santa Fe for district conference this weekend. On the way there and back we drove through miles and miles of yellow sunflower fields. It was an incredible sight of green, brown and golden yellow. Here is where the picture I took of Diane standing in one of the fields would have been...
The sunflowers were as tall as she is!
Today we had Zone Leaders Council and it rained. Some of the missionaries came without raincoats and were soaked. Here is where the photo of Elderes Fernandez and Lucana looking like drowned rats would have been...
And of course no Zone Leaders Council would be complete without an extraordinary meal by Diane (only 40 people to feed). Here is where the picture of the shredded beef sandwhiches, fruit salad, chips and banana splits would have appeared!
Really, it was all much better than it looks. The photos just don't do justice to what we have experienced this past week!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Business Casual
This is what a Mission President and his wife look like when they dress in business formal...
Here is what two Mission Presidents and their wives look like when they dress in business formal...
Here is what five Mission Presidents and their wives (who started their missions at the same time) look like when they dress in business formal to take a picture to show that they are surviving just fine...
Yep, our photographer was struggling a little bit...here's what happened next when our own version of Ansel Adams told us to smile at the count of three and took the photo at the count of five...
Finally, we managed this little family portrait...
And here is what a Mission President and his wife look like when they dress business casual to hit a few of the Tango Clubs in downtown Buenos Aires...
Ok, that is not really Diane and me...
But this is...on El Puente de las Mujeres in Puerto Madero...(notice the lack of a tie...now that is business casual)...but this...?
I was a little concerned that someone in a blue shirt was dressed a little too casual, but I didn't want to make a scene, so I went ahead anyway and just pretended his shirt was white! Thank you Carters for taking good care of us while we were in Buenos Aires. The fact that the radar wasn't working in the Resistencia Airport and so we landed at the Corrientes Airport was an appropriate reminder that we had returned home!
Here is what two Mission Presidents and their wives look like when they dress in business formal...
Here is what five Mission Presidents and their wives (who started their missions at the same time) look like when they dress in business formal to take a picture to show that they are surviving just fine...
Yep, our photographer was struggling a little bit...here's what happened next when our own version of Ansel Adams told us to smile at the count of three and took the photo at the count of five...
Finally, we managed this little family portrait...
And here is what a Mission President and his wife look like when they dress business casual to hit a few of the Tango Clubs in downtown Buenos Aires...
Ok, that is not really Diane and me...
But this is...on El Puente de las Mujeres in Puerto Madero...(notice the lack of a tie...now that is business casual)...but this...?
I was a little concerned that someone in a blue shirt was dressed a little too casual, but I didn't want to make a scene, so I went ahead anyway and just pretended his shirt was white! Thank you Carters for taking good care of us while we were in Buenos Aires. The fact that the radar wasn't working in the Resistencia Airport and so we landed at the Corrientes Airport was an appropriate reminder that we had returned home!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Mission Presidents' Seminar
We are in Buenos Aires until Wednesday afternoon to visit President and Hermana Carter from the Buenos Aires West Mission. In our free time we have been attending the Mission Presidents' Seminar.
Twice a year all the Mission Presidents in the Area (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) get together for training and to share ideas and experiences. We have the privilege for this training to have Elders Christofferson and Jensen here with us. As is always the case, the training is invaluable and the question and answer portion very timely. And, it is always good to know that you are not the only one dealing with certain issues, and to hear how others are handling those matters.
It has been fun being back in Buenos Aires. I certainly see it through different eyes this time. The Carters showed us the area they live in, their home and a great ice cream place. Just looking at the different buildings, homes and parks as we drove around reminded me why Buenos Aires is called the "Paris of South America". I wonder if the French call Paris the "Buenos Aires of Europe". I think I know the answer to that.
At one point during one of our meetings I looked around and thought, there are not only a lot of wonderful missionaries volunteering their time, there are a lot of incredible mission presidents and their wives doing the same thing. Diane and I feel pretty fortunate to get to know some pretty special people from all over the world.
Twice a year all the Mission Presidents in the Area (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) get together for training and to share ideas and experiences. We have the privilege for this training to have Elders Christofferson and Jensen here with us. As is always the case, the training is invaluable and the question and answer portion very timely. And, it is always good to know that you are not the only one dealing with certain issues, and to hear how others are handling those matters.
It has been fun being back in Buenos Aires. I certainly see it through different eyes this time. The Carters showed us the area they live in, their home and a great ice cream place. Just looking at the different buildings, homes and parks as we drove around reminded me why Buenos Aires is called the "Paris of South America". I wonder if the French call Paris the "Buenos Aires of Europe". I think I know the answer to that.
At one point during one of our meetings I looked around and thought, there are not only a lot of wonderful missionaries volunteering their time, there are a lot of incredible mission presidents and their wives doing the same thing. Diane and I feel pretty fortunate to get to know some pretty special people from all over the world.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Where Did the Women Go?
Today we were with Elder D. Todd Christofferson of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife Kathy, Elder Jay Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife Lona, Elder Brad Foster of the Seventy and the Area Presidency and his wife Sharol Lyn and Elder Juan Avila of the Seventy.
We started the day with a special missionary meeting. We had all 192 missionaries from the five provinces of the mission in Resistencia. It was an incredible experience. The schedule was tight and the Church had a film crew there, so we did not get any pictures. However, the film crew is following E. Christofferson during his trip and will be posting excerpts on LDS.org. When it does, we will post the link.
Then we had a lunch with our visitors and the stake and district presidents with their wives. Diane picked the menu and prepared everything but the salad (Ritz Chicken, salad, twice baked potatoes, rolls and Lace Toffee Cups filled with ice cream and strawberries) for 40 people. I thought that inasmuch as we were sitting at the head table it would be bad manners to take a picture, so I "James Bonded" these with my iPhone.
After lunch the men went into a 4 hour training meeting and the visitors' wives went to our home for this...
A cooking class on making empanadas put on by Graciela, our helper and her three cute, cute daughters.
Diane had aprons custom made for each of the wives and also printed the empanada recipes for each of them.
They had a blast and loved tasting the empanadas. Here are the women modeling their aprons...
From left to right: Hermana Patricia Boyden (new matron of the Asuncion, Paraguay Temple), Hermana Sonia Larson (our only senior couple wife), Diane (the awesomest Mission President's wife in the world), Hermana Kathy Christofferson, Hermana Sharol Lyn Foster and Hermana Lona Jensen (showing that each of the aprons is reversible).
Then, five more young ladies came to the home and the women had a round table discussion with each generation asking the other questions. Here is a picture of the whole group.
I saw Hermana Larson afterwards and asked her how it was. She said, "Great! We talked, we got to relax, we shared stories, we laughed, we cried...you know how it is..."
That says it all!
We started the day with a special missionary meeting. We had all 192 missionaries from the five provinces of the mission in Resistencia. It was an incredible experience. The schedule was tight and the Church had a film crew there, so we did not get any pictures. However, the film crew is following E. Christofferson during his trip and will be posting excerpts on LDS.org. When it does, we will post the link.
Then we had a lunch with our visitors and the stake and district presidents with their wives. Diane picked the menu and prepared everything but the salad (Ritz Chicken, salad, twice baked potatoes, rolls and Lace Toffee Cups filled with ice cream and strawberries) for 40 people. I thought that inasmuch as we were sitting at the head table it would be bad manners to take a picture, so I "James Bonded" these with my iPhone.
After lunch the men went into a 4 hour training meeting and the visitors' wives went to our home for this...
A cooking class on making empanadas put on by Graciela, our helper and her three cute, cute daughters.
Diane had aprons custom made for each of the wives and also printed the empanada recipes for each of them.
They had a blast and loved tasting the empanadas. Here are the women modeling their aprons...
From left to right: Hermana Patricia Boyden (new matron of the Asuncion, Paraguay Temple), Hermana Sonia Larson (our only senior couple wife), Diane (the awesomest Mission President's wife in the world), Hermana Kathy Christofferson, Hermana Sharol Lyn Foster and Hermana Lona Jensen (showing that each of the aprons is reversible).
Then, five more young ladies came to the home and the women had a round table discussion with each generation asking the other questions. Here is a picture of the whole group.
I saw Hermana Larson afterwards and asked her how it was. She said, "Great! We talked, we got to relax, we shared stories, we laughed, we cried...you know how it is..."
That says it all!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Argentinaization of Diane Heyman
First it was this...
Then it was this...
This...
This...
This frightful day...
This...
This...
And now this...
Diane is making homemade chipas! And we have only been here 4 months...who knows, after 3 years maybe she'll run for Intendenta!
Then it was this...
This...
This...
This frightful day...
This...
This...
And now this...
Diane is making homemade chipas! And we have only been here 4 months...who knows, after 3 years maybe she'll run for Intendenta!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Where Was That In The Job Description?
12:15 am, I went to bed. 3:45 am the phone rings, it is the security company. The alarm in the mission offices went off. I am invited to meet the security man at the office to let him in so he can see what has occurred.
My thoughts:
I really just want to sleep.
If I get up, do I have to put on a white shirt, tie and suit with my missionary badge to meet the guy or can I just throw on some sweats? Answer, I didn't bring sweats with me.
Why do I have to meet this guy anyway? Why doesn't he have a key (he is our security guy) or get in the building the same way the intruder did? It is starting to feel like we are paying the security company just to let us know when the alarm goes off, not to keep the place secure.
And, what am I supposed to do after I let the security guy in...play Robin to his Batman?
My actions:
I get up, get dressed in a white shirt, tie and suit with the missionary badge (I need to make sure the security guy knows that the only person in the city at 4 am in a suit, white shirt and tie is really me) and meet the security guy at the offices. I am surprised at the number of sidewalk cafes that are busy at 4 am in Resistencia.
I open the door for him and play Robin following right behind Batman as we walk in a circle (think Marx Brothers) and look at each other trying to figure out why the alarm went off because everything is in place and every window and door is locked.
Exchange the "chau", "hasta luego" y "disculpe la molestia---no es una molestia, gracias a Ud, no, por favor, gracias a Ud" pleasantries with Batman and get back into the HiLux to go home.
Avoid every temptation to stop off at one of the cafes and sit down at a table to order a hot chocolate and media luna with dulce de leche and say, "Que pasa, amigos?" and go straight back home.
Undress and realize that it is now 4:45 am and I am wide awake! Guess I'll just have to get ready and dressed and head off to the office...I wonder...did I set the alarm when I left the office? Maybe I'll call the security guy and ask him!
My thoughts:
I really just want to sleep.
If I get up, do I have to put on a white shirt, tie and suit with my missionary badge to meet the guy or can I just throw on some sweats? Answer, I didn't bring sweats with me.
Why do I have to meet this guy anyway? Why doesn't he have a key (he is our security guy) or get in the building the same way the intruder did? It is starting to feel like we are paying the security company just to let us know when the alarm goes off, not to keep the place secure.
And, what am I supposed to do after I let the security guy in...play Robin to his Batman?
My actions:
I get up, get dressed in a white shirt, tie and suit with the missionary badge (I need to make sure the security guy knows that the only person in the city at 4 am in a suit, white shirt and tie is really me) and meet the security guy at the offices. I am surprised at the number of sidewalk cafes that are busy at 4 am in Resistencia.
I open the door for him and play Robin following right behind Batman as we walk in a circle (think Marx Brothers) and look at each other trying to figure out why the alarm went off because everything is in place and every window and door is locked.
Exchange the "chau", "hasta luego" y "disculpe la molestia---no es una molestia, gracias a Ud, no, por favor, gracias a Ud" pleasantries with Batman and get back into the HiLux to go home.
Avoid every temptation to stop off at one of the cafes and sit down at a table to order a hot chocolate and media luna with dulce de leche and say, "Que pasa, amigos?" and go straight back home.
Undress and realize that it is now 4:45 am and I am wide awake! Guess I'll just have to get ready and dressed and head off to the office...I wonder...did I set the alarm when I left the office? Maybe I'll call the security guy and ask him!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
