Hola!

Hola!  Spring is on its way. 

  We were able to attend the Area Mission leadership conference in Uruguay the end of August.  Elder Rasband and Elder Godoy along with our Area Presidency spoke to us.  It was wonderful to listen to them and have them answer questions,  give counsel and blessings.

Elder Rasband told us that Pres. Nelson said :

1.  Tell them that I love them.

2.   Tell them all thank you.  Thanks for the service, diligence, for being a consecrated congregation.  All have raised hands in sacred places saying, covenanting that you would sacrifice and would consecrate. 

You and the missionaries are living the law of consecration now, and they are grateful.

  I have really thought a lot about that since he spoke.  Thinking what have we learned here on our mission and what could we share.   First I would like you to know that I know that the Holy Ghost can whisper to you and help in all that you do.  Each of us can receive personal revelation and our prayers are answered in many different ways.  I also know that you should never compare.  You need to just try and do a little better than you did before.  Let others do their own thing and you focus on what you can do to be better, serve a little harder, love a little more and share and care a little more.

“Comparison is the thief of contentment”

 I know that we were called to focus on members and missionaries working together. We have been blessed to help facilitate these interactions.   It has strengthened our testimonies.  It has made us more aware of the dedication and love of a missionary.   How grateful we are for the sacrifice of these young missionaries.  Again I marvel at what they accomplish and overcome.   Thank you!  Always remember you love those you serve.

 Yesterday we spent the day at the Boca Stake Center working with CILSA and our humanitarian missionaries.  We had Mike and Ron in from the States.  Mike is a physical therapist and worked with this program for the past 7 years.   The church sent 970 wheelchairs to the Argentine Area this year. Each year they provide 1/3 of those chairs for the center.  The church has designed and had manufactured 3 different models. Adjusted to size, height and making it easier for each individual to navigate on cobblestone and dirt roads as well as be active so they can be more flexible.   We helped as they measured, fit and helped 67 individuals receive a new wheelchair.  Each team lovingly greeted, fit and adjusted a wheel chair for their individual needs.  We saw them come in on walkers, being carried, in old chairs and leave with the biggest smile and excitement with a chair just for them.  Ron got to greet and check them in and out and I got to visit and help them get breakfast and lunch.   (A visit to me is a hug and a smile and hola, como esta!)  This was one of the highlights of our mission - emotions were very tender.  We are so grateful for the blessings and belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We love how they are so service orientated. We know that we are each children of God and He loves us.

I could go on and on but it really isn’t necessary.  Just know it is a wonderful experience and that our mission has been a blessing to us and for our family.

It is hard to believe that we will be home the end of October.  Where did that year go? 

Our Love and Prayers. 

Mission Leaders Conference

Montevideo, Uruguay

Happy September!

   I was supposed to do the one in August, but here we are beginning September, hard to believe.
   We think that we are probably most of the way through the winter here.  It hasn’t been too bad – has got down in to the 30’s at night but is generally in the 40’s and low 50’s, but it is a wet cold so you feel it more.  It’s pretty protected by the tall buildings, but when you get a long side street, it makes a wind tunnel which is pretty interesting.
   Helen got up in fast and testimony meeting and bore her testimony in Spanish, no notes, just got up there and spoke from the heart.  You could see the entire congregations sit up on the edge of their seats, just smiling and cheering her on silently, so happy that she was talking in their language.  It was wonderful to see, the spirit speaks to the people no matter what language you are talking in.
   They even had me speak in sacrament meeting.  They were very polite – oddly enough, here you don’t see a lot of people sleeping in church, so hope that it went well.
   We are involved in setting up a pilot program where the missionaries or members can take members on a tour of the chapel without the need to have banners.  They will use the art in the building to teach the major points of the first lesson in Preach My Gospel.  Most of the art work in the buildings is conducive to teaching about the Savior with a picture of Christ, baptism with a picture of John the Baptist, modern prophets with a picture of the first presidency, the original Church with the apostles, the restoration with Joseph Smith, etc.  That way, a church that is centrally located in a busy area with a lot of foot traffic can be staffed to be open more time in a week.  English classes, family history classes, etc. can be held to have people going in and out and give more opportunity.  We have  a mission president in Santiago who has the chapel on the Santiago temple block who is very excited about starting it there, since there are always many people touring the temple block and would be prime candidates for a tour.
    We had a chance to go to Casa Rosada (pink house in Spanish) which houses the executive offices of the government and where the president of the country works.  It is, not surprisingly, pink stone and is known for the balcony where Evita Peron rallied the workers of the country.  Her character is shown in the movie “Evita” singing from that balcony.  We got to go out on the balcony and look out over Plaza de Mayo.  I broke out in a few bars of “Don’t Cry for me Argentina” and the tour guide quickly hustled us on to the next part of the tour.
     We also had a chance to go to the National Cathedral there on the plaza.  An amazing building with a monument to San Martin, the George Washington of South America. 
     We went to a couple of open chapels in August in different parts of the city.  We went to a very small chapel in Canuelos which houses a small branch.  There are only a few active priesthood holders, the chapel just has a couple of long benches in a room that serves both as a chapel and a gathering place, maybe the size of a relief society room in the states.  The branch president said that branch presidents generally serve about 10 years here, due, in part to the difficulty in finding good, involved priesthood brethren.  The event really went well, with good attendance and several tours.
    We continue to have great experiences with things that seem to come together, members who come up with answers to problems other members are having, etc.  One of the mission president’s wives asked me “Tell me one thing that you have learned on your mission”.  Didn’t take but a second to respond that I’ve learned that the spirit really will talk to you and give you impressions if you are trying to do better, fulfill a calling or trying to help your family.  I’ve learned that it is important to write them down when you feel them if it doesn’t call for immediate action, because going back and reading over them reminds you of things that you need to do and reinforces the things that you should be doing.

    We have a powerful testimony of the truth of the gospel, that Christ lives and knows and loves each of us.
     Thank you, all of you, for your love and support.  We couldn’t do it without it.
Love you all,
Abrazos,
Mom and Dad
Grandma and Grandpa
Elder y Hermana Dalby

 National Cathedral and Pink House

 Matt Deacon friend & Mirrors Casa Rosada

 Botanica jardin and more Pink House

Open Chapel

Happy July!

Happy July!

It’s my turn to write.  The time is going by so quickly.  Hard to believe that it is the middle of July.  We celebrated July 4^th by treats and singing our National Anthem and singing the Argentine National Anthem (their Independence day is the 9 which was a holiday) in our lunchroom.  You know me, here I am singing our National Anthem with tears rolling down my cheeks.   It always touches me but this year more than ever being away from home.  We love it here but it’s still not home but is our home away from home.  We have taken so many things for granted living in a free country.  We are truly blessed.

  The economy here is really taking a hit.  When we arrived the US dollar was worth 17 Argentine Pesos.  Last week it was 28 pesos to one American dollar.  That’s like 40% inflation.   Anyway it is hard to see their economy when most of the people are poor and those that work are on a fixed income and their wages aren’t going up.  The young adults, families and leaders in the wards are really working to better themselves.  Many of the employees in the area office are working to learn English.  When they can speak English they are able to get into the Pathway program.  Once they complete it gives them an opportunity to get into online college at BYU Idaho and some even come to the states to school.  This gives them so many more options.

    The church is strong and growing.  We are keeping busy, with focus on temple and families for the Concepcion Temple will be dedicated in Oct.   It will be an opportunity for the people to see a temple.  We also are focusing on welcoming people and letting them know just what our church is about.  

    This month we have had the opportunity to attend a concert in the Teatro Colon and also one in a Jewish Synagogue. The Symphony Orchestra at the synagogue was really touching, a group of approximately 40 youth from Brazil.  They were youth who were from the slums and had been given the opportunity to join the orchestra.   Most of them had either lost or had a family member affected by violence or drugs.  It was amazing to listen to them and see the hope in their eyes and the determination to make a better life.  We were also able to go to El Ateneo Grand Splendid, which is a theater converted into a bookstore.  It was amazing.  4 floors with a central mezzanine you can look down and up to a painted ceiling.  The stage is a small restaurant.   Impressive.

  We are enjoying the city and getting to see more and to meet more people all the time.  We love the people, also the members in our ward and the people that we work with.  We are able to go to the temple monthly and that is a blessing as well as enjoy having the missionaries come to our house for dinner.  It brings back memories of how much young men can really eat.  It is fun to share their experiences and love for the gospel and to practice Spanish for me, and English for them.

  We hear the weather is hot in Utah. It is winter here but will start warming up in the later part of August. 

  We send our love and prayers to you all.  We love you and are doing well, healthy and happy.  We are so grateful that we chose to come on a mission and so appreciative of all your love and prayers.  Our testimonies are strengthened daily by the experiences and knowing that we have a Heavenly Father that loves and knows each one of us individually.  What a blessing! Families are forever and the gospel is true.

Enjoy one another and take good care of each other. 

Abrazos!

Elder and Hermana Dalby, Grandpa & Grandma, Dad & Mom, & Ron & Helen

Bookstore

Buenos Aires Park, night, and Spanish

Jewish Synagogue

Teatro Colon

4th of July

Missionaries

Happy Fathers Day #13

   If we keep writing posts on major holidays, we will have to step it up for the 4^th of July which is only in a couple of weeks.  Then it’s Labor day…..

    We want to wish a happy Father’s Day to everybody and specially the men in our family.  I am grateful for 4 kids and the opportunity I have of being a dad and grandpa.  I’m especially grateful for how wonderful my 4 kids that are fathers are.  I am so proud of how you take care of your family.

     Our temple recommends expired and so we got to go through the local bishopric counselor and the stake president to get them renewed.  So now we have a recommend that says “La Iglesia de Jesucristo” on them for the next couple of years.   

     We saw the Colon Theatre, apparently one of the great opera houses of the world.  Quite the place.  Also went to the Museum of Fine Art.  The museums are mostly free here and I suppose art lovers would like to go through a museum and see paintings by Monet and Degas.  For me, it is something that I can say that I went through an art museum and saw paintings by some famous guys.  It is a beautiful city and we really love being here.  We went to a gaucho ranch with the senior couples and got to get out of the city and see some shows and horsemanship exhibitions.

    We had a chance to go to the temple with the senior couples and the Area Presidency as they went for the final time as a presidency.  We also took the departing executive secretary couple to the airport.  They had become good friends and it was hard to see them go, but it is kind of like the old song about life being a merry go round, some get on and some get off.

    We enjoyed Pres. Nelson and his wife’s devotional with the youth.  We are far removed from being youth, but believe that if the prophet says it, it should apply to all of us.  I even stopped being on Facebook for a week, but I also heard him say that it was a good thing for us to post good saying which is something that I have been trying to do for a while, which really helps me to think of good things to think about and to say to others and hopefully will touch some hearts out there.  We have great and responsive family and friends and it is good to see others doing the same thing.

    We try to watch a conference talk every night before we go to bed, and it is a great way to go to sleep with some good counsel in your mind.  Sister Eubanks said that she tries to incorporate in her prayers to know what is the most important and best thing that she can do that day when she wakes up and others have said to pray for somebody to serve that day, so we have been trying to make that part too.  It makes a difference and lets you focus on what is important.

    We aren’t the best journal writers but would highly recommend the counsel that after a prayer or when you wake up in the middle of the night and have a thought that you write it down.  Some have suggested having a pad of paper and a pen by the bedside.  I thought it would be just as easy to have the phone right there and just open it to a note and write down what you are thinking, but you either have to turn on the night lite to see what you are writing or you hit the button on your phone and are blinded by the screen and then try to thumb out a note, you get some pretty interesting notes to read in the morning.

   Anyway, we are here to testify that if you write it down, get it straight in the morning and then act on it as soon as you can, great things happen.  We have seen miracles.  Heavenly Father knows us, knows who we are and is anxious to help us.

    Thank you so much for all your love and prayers.  It makes it possible for us to be here and to accomplish the things that we do.

Love,

Ron and Helen

President & Sister Teixeira

We will always remember and cherish their love, Christlike example

and service to the South America South Area and us.

Happy Mother's Day!

Wow it is hard to believe that it is the middle of May.  What a great day.

First and most important want to wish all a Happy Mother’s Day especially those who have had such an impact on our lives.

I’m thankful for 4 great kids and families who have given me an opportunity to be a Mom and Grandma.   We have unconditional love for each and the happiness of seeing our children grow into adults and the way they treat each other and their families brings us amazing joy.   We are indeed blessed, and our children have turned into such amazing adults, parents and friends.   I am grateful for Ron’s Mom, her example, love and dedication and for raising such an amazing son.  I’m grateful for my Mom who always believed in us and had such great love and never said a bad word about anyone, never complained and was always happy and grateful for what she had, teaching the importance of family and hard work.  What a legacy we have been given.  We hope you are all enjoying your day! 

 We have been keeping busy.  It is hard to believe that we are over the 6-month mark.  The time has really passed.  The weeks just fly by. 

Russ and Lainie came to Argentina the end of April and we were able to go to Iguazu Falls with them.  It was wonderful, the area is beautiful and it was so good to visit with them and be with family.  They were celebrating their 20^th anniversary and visiting the area in Salta that Lainie served on her mission.  Iguazu was absolutely breath taking.   We were there when there was a full moon so also took the night tour of Devil’s Throat.   It was as amazing  - a whole new perspective.   We had 20K steps that day, but was worth every one of them.

We have many things going on in our area right now.  We will be getting a new Area Presidency the first of August.  We will miss Pres. Teixeira and Elder Packer but will welcome Pres. DeHoyos and Elder Valler and we get to keep Elder Bragg. 

Pres. Teixeira will be one of the 70’s presidents starting the 1^st of August.   He is a kind man with such a Christ like spirit, love of the gospel, leadership and abilities to help and serve the worldwide church.  What a wonderful opportunity it is for us to serve here with them. 

We are making many fun memories.  Discovering many places in Buenos Aires, fairs, food, friends, missionaries and sites.    It is a big city 15+ Million people and the transit system is amazing.  The park with the statue of the dedication of South America by Melvin Ballard is only .5 mile from where we live. We are loving our time in Argentina, learning more and more each day loving these wonderful people.  This is probably one of the hardest things we have done but also one of the most rewarding.  It is amazing to realize that you don’t need many things to be happy and serve, although we did miss our hot water for 4+ days.  Was like camping in our apartment.  Glad we had water and a stove to heat it on.   Life is pretty simple.  Just having faith that all will be well and knowing that we are children of a Heavenly Father who loves us makes it worth it.   The gospel is true and He cares for each and every one of us.  He does have a plan. 

 If you are thinking of a mission or a senior mission, please don’t hesitate, just do it.  It is a way to share the gospel, enjoy each other, and show thanks to our Heavenly Father for the many blessing that we have received.  We promise you that you will be blessed and you will love the time and experience.  We are grateful we are here.  If you are not able to go minister where you are. Our neighbors and communities need all of our love and service.  You love those you serve and it can be done in so many simple ways.  A hug and a smile go a long way.

Enjoy your summer.  It is cooling down here and the leaves are starting to fall, a beautiful time of the year.

Thank you for your love and support!   We love you! 

Abrazos,

Dad & Mom

Grandpa & Grandma

Elder & Hermana DalbyJ

Ron & Helen

END OF APRIL LETTER #11

   Another month slips by and we need to get things updated.
   I think that everybody would agree that last Conference was one of those that you only get to see once in a lifetime.  We have had conferences with multiple apostles being put in, and most of us remember when President Monson became the new prophet (and many of us remember other prophets being put in) but certainly there have not been many with such sweeping changes and feeling that the work is really hastening and this is a great opportunity for all.
    We know that the combining of the priesthood quorums has been a long time coming.  Even the wards in Utah where there are a disproportionate number of high priests will certainly be blessed by combining the talents of so many.  Here there are just a couple of high priests and it seems inefficient to have two people go off by themselves.
    It’s great to see the young women being brought into the action part.  It had never even occurred to me (Ron) that the young men were actively involved not only in their priesthood callings with the sacrament and fast offerings, but as home teaching partners and the same opportunity had not before been given to them.  It will be great.
    But one of the best things is the ministry part and we were especially touched by the emphasis on seeking the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  We are reminded of the time when Christ visited the Nephites and how long and hard the people here prayed for the Spirit to be with them.  Pres. Nelson laid things out very specifically the steps to take to get things working and that is something that everybody is going to need.
    They are very excited here for the new temple in Concepcion that will be dedicated the end of October.  It gives us a boost here with out program, especially in the Concepcion missions to have some open chapels with an emphasis on temple work and especially for the opportunity of going to the temple open house for the people in that area.  They said that it is a very unique building, one that not only has pneumatic pillars in the foundation, but one that actually “floats” on some kind of new foundation so that it is very resistant to earthquakes which have been a problem in that area.  They had had a very strong earthquake just a few months after the temple had been announced and they took that into consideration when they did the construction.
    We were invited to participate in the interim mission president’s seminar here in Buenos Aires and even give a presentation on the Chapel Open House program.  We had the opportunity to meet every one of the 28 mission presidents in the area, to visit with most of them and even have lunch and dinner with several of them.  We are so in awe of these mission presidents.  They have such an enormous job of trying to get people to come to Christ, overseeing 150 young people, keeping them busy and healthy and safe and growing and maturing in addition to all the supervision work that they have to do with the districts and the stakes, knowing that they are the direct leaders of the districts and branches in the missions, and dealing with the governments and the paper requirements.  Like one of the mission presidents said, “they call mission presidents only for three years, because they have proven that three years is the maximum amount of time that you can go without sleep”.
    But the best part of the seminar was the chance to listen to the Area Presidency talk about important things, the basics of the gospel, the Book of Mormon, observing the Sabbath day and other topics to help the mission presidents inspire their missionaries to do their best.  We have been blessed beyond measure to work with Pres. Teixeira, to see his spirit and vision of the work.  He was called to be one of the Presidents of the Seventy and will be leaving the end of July.  Benjamin de Hoyos was called to be the new President of the Area August 1 and know that he will be a great addition to this area.
   The presentation to the Mission Presidents on the Open Chapel program went well, we think.  Helen gave a wonderful testimony and we have had feedback from the mission presidents which has been very positive.
    Russ and Lainie are coming out next weekend for their 20th wedding anniversary and it will be great to get to see them and spend a little time with them.  Lainie served in Salta Argentina and they will be going there as well as getting together with some of her companions.
    We love it here – the people are so wonderful and kind to us.  We are looking to minister better and help the members make this Open Chapel program work so that more and more of their friends and neighbors get a chance to see what a blessing that the gospel can be.
    We love all our family and friends and hope that this year is great, that you enjoy and summer and spend time with your family to deepen those bonds.  It’s true, we know it is and are so grateful to be serving here.
   Love you! 
Mom and Dad
Grandma and Grandpa
Elder y Hermana Dalby

     

 Mission President's Conference - Buenos Aires, Argentina

March Letter

Here it is almost the end of March.  Time is going by so quickly and we keep going to write and something comes up.  Our resolution is to be better.

We have had a great month.  It has been busy and we are enjoying ourselves.  We keep busy with our Mission and activities with the senior couples. We enjoyed having 4 missionaries over for Sunday dinner.  Brought back many memories of seeing how much teenage boys could eat.  It is so fun to visit with them and have them give us a message.  2 English speakers and 2 Spanish.  So I am getting to practice my Spanish.

The weather is starting to feel like fall.  And when we get rain it really comes hard.  Friday night had hail that made dents in about 75% of the mission cars.  We were lucky ours was parked in a garage. 

 We even got to see our first horse race. It was a food truck fair at the Hippodrone.  Which is a racetrack. It was fun to watch and memories of going to a horse race in Panguitch.  We love to watch and be with the people.

The open chapels are keeping us busy.  We now have 425 scheduled for the year and had 78 just in March.  We had the opportunity of traveling to Chile and also Mendoza to meet with our Mission Coordinators and to attend Capillas Abiertas and training.  It is so great to see the gospel in action.  It was fun flying over the Andes and seeing even a little snow after a hot summer. Also seeing how big Buenos Aires really is   It goes for miles and miles, about 16+ million people. 

Also small world.  Our driver in Santiago Chile was on the same mission as Lainie and remembers Sister Chapo and also Spencer Clark. He is a driver for the transfers and missionaries.

Mark Lowrance’s son Caden is in Santa Fe on a mission and one of our senior Missionaries ran into him. 

We had a Pascua (Easter) campaign with a picture of Christ and the family search logo.  They put these on the back windows of 50 buses throughout the city for 2 weeks.  So many people are seeing them.  It is amazing the strong family ties and how everyone wants to know about their ancestors.  It seems that each missionary has their story of how things worked so that they could serve.  It shows our Heavenly Father knows each one of us and has a plan for us.

As we approach Easter and Conference we would like to express our love and appreciation for our Savior.  That he died for us and through His atonement we all will be saved.  It is true and so important for us to share and live our lifes as He would want us to.  We are looking forward to listening to Conference and participating in sustaining our new prophet Pres. Nelson

Thank you for all your love and prayers.   We love and miss you but know we are where we are suppose to be in this chapter of our lives. 

Abrazos,

The story of Allen

   Allen stood confidently at the front of the room.  The walls were covered with pictures of gospel prophets, scenes from the Book of Mormon, the Plan of Salvation, the three degrees of glory and other gospel themes.  The pictures and posters he had cut out and created himself. 

   His hair was combed, he wore a white shirt and tie and dark slacks, his shoes were shined, and he smiled at the group before him.  He began speaking and the Spirit filled the room, touching the hearts of everyone there.  He talked about the scriptures, holding each book up reverently, and flipped open pamphlets, briefly explaining what each contained and how it contributed to the gospel.  He pointed out prophets on the walls, speaking like they were lifelong acquaintances, briefly touched on the plan of salvation and what it meant to all.

    He paused for a moment, then quietly and powerfully bore his testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel.  Not a person doubted his belief in the words he spoke.  Some wondered how long it would be until he would be outside his home town, preaching the gospel.   

    Answer:  6 years.  Allen just turned 12.   His father, inactive, his mother a nonmember.  Allen lives in a tiny town called Tunuyan, about an hour outside Mendoza, Argentina.  The Tunuyan branch has about 50 members.  Allen showed up at the door of the chapel a couple of years ago and told the bishop “I felt like I was supposed to be here.”

He has been a force for good ever since.  A sister in the ward took him to the temple in Chile last month where he did 24 baptisms for the dead.  “It was the greatest thing ever,” he smiled, his eyes shining. 

     With youth like that, the Church is in very good hands.

END OF FEBRUARY POST

  The last day of February, another batch of birthdays – our family has more in February than any other month.  So happy birthday all.

    It’s also the last day of the vacation time in Argentina.  They take off a bunch during the summer – January and February – the kids are out of school and sometimes it is hard to get a lot done with people being out 1, 2, or 3 weeks.

    We have a Easter campaign in the Open Chapel program.  They created a new banner involving Family Search and are inviting people to come learn about their ancestors and how Christ can help them to be a forever family, honor and revere their ancestors, find out about them, and learn some stories.

     They are doing some advertising with pictures of people holding pictures of their ancestors which is something that everybody is interested in, world wide.  It’s certainly something that catches people’s attention as there is a lot of respect for parents in that Latin community.  We have some coordinators in the Buenos Aires West mission that have started putting on workshops on Sunday night to fill out their 4 generation worksheet and then help them sit down to a computer and find out what Family Search has for them.  For anybody that has sat down to a Family Search computer, it is mind boggling what has been input into the system.

         We are both healthy and doing well.  We are loving having the electric pressure cooker.  We have done the Asian wrap, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, chicken, etc.  It is so much faster and better having that around.

         Even our Spanish is doing better.  I still have times when I think that I am doing well and then somebody will talk to me and I look at them like they had lobsters crawling out of their ears and wonder what language they are talking.  Helen is steadily getting better, and despite it not coming as fast as she would like, learning more words and understanding far more than she did just a few months ago.

          The chapel open houses keep coming along.  We have over 250 scheduled for the year so far and that is only a few missions and only a couple of months into the year.

There are always a few missions that don’t seem to want to try it out, or have tried it out and didn’t think it worked very well so they have given up on it.  We try to think of different ways to help out and sometimes run into a brick wall.  

           I read that when Alma first tried to preach to the people of Ammonihah, it worked miserably.  He gave up initially and left.  Angel told him to try again, and he apparently turned around "speedily" and went back "another way".  The same thing happened to Nephi and his brothers when they went to get the plates of Laban.  It failed horribly and the brothers wanted to leave.  Nephi kept in mind that they had been commanded to do it, and tried every way that they could think of, i.e., studying it out in their mind, and trying the a different.  That worked about as well as Laman’s first try.  Then Nephi tried again, trusting completely in the Lord to lead him on the way.  Perhaps this is something that we need to consider when we are trying to do something.  It may not work out, it may be a dismal failure and we want to toss in the towel.  We have to keep in mind that we have been commanded to do it, and, if we have given up, need to return "speedily" and try "a different way."  In Almas instance it worked out the second time, but have to remember that like in Nephi's instance sometimes we may try and fail a few times, but keep on hitting it, and sometimes when all our studying it out in our mind doesn't work,  and so many times have failed spectacularly, we have to try once again and perhaps give it all up to the Lord and trust in Him to carry it through.  We’re here in Argentina, or Salt Lake, or Provo, or Logan, or California, or Pennsylvania or South Jordan or St. George or Georgia or on earth or whatever.  We all got sent here, wherever here is,  for a reason.  We all hurt when anybody hurts and smile when they smile.  We can do it!

         We are moving into fall and all of you are moving into spring time.  We are glad that Utah has had some snowfall and water as we want everybody to have water to drink this summer.

         We love the work here, we love the Lord and are grateful that we have a chance to serve.  Hope all is well with everybody.

Abrazos,

a great video of our area plan

The 2018 Area Plan Broadcast will be available online tonight at the following websites:
https://www.mormonesdelsur.org
 (Official Church Website for South America South Area)
https://www.youtube.com/user/NoticiasSUD
(Noticias Sud Youtube page, Official Youtube channel for South America South Area)

Hola! Happy Valentine's Day!

Hola!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
We wanted you to know how much we love and appreciate you!.
  Trying to think of all that has happened the past couple of weeks.  We are working on getting Capilla Abiertas (Open Chapels) scheduled for 2018.   What a wonderful opportunity this is for the people to invite their friends to the gospel.
  We had a sweet young women in our ward Sister Rodriguez leaving on a mission.  We went to her FHE (farewell party) Was fun to see how they do it here.  They go into the chapel and have family members speak and then have a party afterwards.  Then the next day was Fast Sunday so she bore her testimony.  She will be a great missionary.
    We have been doing training (Well Ron has) I try to understand and smile.  It is getting easier.  Had to smile at this one the Pres. stopped and got up picking up a can of bug spray and chased that little critter right out of his office.  We got a good laugh and to say the least I won’t put my bag on the floor again.
     Ron made the Asian Chicken Wraps with the pressure cooker and we are learning our favorite Argentine Foods.  They are great cooks here and the Dulce Leche is wonderful.   There are lots of Gluten free items.  Even the milk has a gluten free label on it  they label everything.
     We have FHE (family home evening) 3 times a month with the senior couples.  That is fun getting to know them so much talent and experience here.
    This weekend was carnival weekend.  We have had a fun one.   Yesterday we went to the Botanical Gardens and then to Dragon land exhibit at the Rural, which is a convention center close to us. Wish we would have had our grandkids here. They would have loved it.
  We also had a young man Nicholas who was baptized on Saturday night.  He is a waiter at one of our favorite neighborhood cafes.  The Peru Deli.  He is going to medical school and so excited about the gospel.  What a great day!
    Today we had the wonderful opportunity a senior missionary luncheon with Elder & Sister Christofferson (https://www.lds.org/church/leader/d-todd-christofferson?lang=eng) at our area office.  What a wonderful spirit was there.  There were 13 mission couples and our area Presidency and wives.  Was so great to hear him speak.  He is here on an area tour.   He told us about the experience of calling our new Prophet President Nelson and his counselors, and how we should each pray to know that it is of God.   He had spoken earlier to the Buenos Aries North Mission.  Such a great man and seemed so down to earth and kind. One of our senior missionaries had been in his mission here in Argentina when they were younger. One of those once in a lifetime experiences which we continue to be blessed with.
  I think we have both learned while we are here the importance of our testimonies and that the gospel touches so many lives.  It is true and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve.  Gracias for all your love and support.
Abrazos and amor!
Mom & Dad,  Grandpa and Grandma, Ron & Helen , Elder and Hermana Dalby

End of January Letter #7

   We were talking and Helen said it was probably time to get another letter out.  Thought we had just done one, but it looks like it was the Happy New Year letter and that was a month go.  Tuesday we cross the three month line, 25% done.  Unbelievable.
    Yesterday was the ward temple trip.  Everybody meets at the chapel and they rent a school bus to take the trip to the temple.  It usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get there.  They have the people who go to the temple and then some of the youth that go to do baptisms and then just a family or two with kids that go and hang out in the park that is right by the temple while the people go in.  The MTC is right there by the temple.  They have approximately 90 missionaries going there.  English stay 6 weeks,  Spanish 3  Anyway, it is usually about a 6 hour round trip thing to go.   We went out  on the bus with them, took some treats which the kids really enjoyed, did a session with the ward and then came back with the missionary couple Powelson.  A great day.
    We keep busy at work which is a good thing.  We spent the majority of the month getting the coordinators lined up for the missions that had coordinators, getting ones that didn’t have coordinators called, working on getting referrals properly input into the Church electronic system so that we can track them.  They are really pushing to get everybody set up with the program so it can sustain itself and the members can take charge of doing it.  It is a great source of referrals here and gets the members involved in bringing their friends to Church.
      We got to go to a tango dinner and show last weekend.  They had 17 of us go there, had a bus to pick us up and bring us back, some really good food and a great tango show which is really Argentinian.  Those dancers are amazing.  They can kick so amazingly high.  Like everything here in Argentine, the dinner gets going about 9 and the show at 10 or so, so it is pushing midnight by the time we get back.  Now, we know that for some of you, the thought of going to a tango show late at night with 17 senior citizens, is something like having your teeth drilled on with no novocaine, but you take your entertainment in the country you are in, and we enjoyed it.
    We have kept an eye out for an electric pressure cooker. We had about given up when one of the couples found one in a department store and we ran over but all they had was a floor model which didn’t have a cord so we couldn’t get it.  We wondered if we were ever going to get one.  We went to Jumbo the big grocery store yesterday, and I wandered over to the appliance section and lo and behold, there was one.  We are so excited to be able to cook some of the things that we enjoyed so much at home.  We are going to try and see if we can do some Asian wraps this week and we will have something to cook for the missionaries and for when we have the senior couples dinners.
    We had the missionaries over for dinner today, Elder Bravo and Elder Dominguez.  Elder Bravo is from Peru and Elder Dominguez is from Argentina.  Helen is really getting good about doing conversations in Spanish, asking them where they are from, how long they have been on their mission, how big their family is, and everything.  They loved talking about it.  It is just great having the missionaries over for dinner.  Of course, when they go to eat at somebodys house, part of the deal is that they leave a message.  We love to hear the missionaries talk about how they feel and how important the work is and the joy they are finding in doing their work here.  We agree.  It’s the best.
     We had chicken fried steaks for dinner with white gravy, the butterhorn rolls and cake and ice cream for dessert.  I guess they must have gone over well, because they ate 3 each, (and they were good sized too)  and blasted through a dozen butterhorn rolls and cake and ice cream.
     The missionaries seem to really like the potatoes and gravy thing, so we will probably do that as a staple.
      One of the sisters asked me to play for the Primary in church today.  Those kids are a riot.  The children are absolutely beautiful down here – dark hair, beautiful dark eyes and smiles that could light up a room.  They are kind of reverence challenged- I had a couple over by the keyboard creating some original side accompaniment in the upper register, and another little girl over at the wall who was fascinated by the plug.  Pull it out, push it in, pull it out.  It made for a little choppy accompaniament, but whatever.  Everybody had a good time.  They did “Head, shoulders, knees and toes” with increasing speed, thinking they could get so fast that the Gringo at the keyboard couldn’t keep up with them.  Ha!
They don’t call me “Dedos de Relampago” (Lightning fingers) for nothing.
      We love being here – miss the family and friends, but know without a doubt that we are doing the right thing, being where we are supposed to be and hopefully making a difference.  How I wish that I was as good a writer as some of you, but we each have our talents in different ways.  Guess that is what makes up the orchestra.  For those of us with only the ability to play the triangle, we grateful that they let little dingalings be in the orchestra.
     We know that God has a plan for each of us, regardless of our status, beliefs, impressions or anything.  We know that Hs is “in the small details of our life as well as the major milestones.”
      We are grateful for all of you, your support, your prayers, your work in doing the best you can in whatever the circumstances with whatever resources are available to you.  Thanks so much for all that you do, in so many ways for yourselves, your family and for letting us be here and supporting us on this great adventure.

Mucho amor and abrazos,
Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Ron and Helen, Elder and Hermana Dalby
       

Elder & Sister Christofferson - Luncheon and Devotional