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 4th 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
