Mission Health Visit to Neuquen...continued

We have been with all 14 mission presidents and their wives

in the South America South Area of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

We are currently in the Argentina Neuquen Mission for the

second mission health visit here, with the new president and wife -

President Darwin y Hna. Nola Peterson from Bountiful.

Hna. Peterson, took a photo of

us by the lavender flowers in the back yard.

(The next photo shows the flowers.)

Walt wanted a photo of me by the lavender flowers in front of the mission office, which is right in the back yard of the mission home.

Just when we were loading at noon, it slipped out that one of the office Elders had an ingrown toenail. So the doctor's suitcase was unloaded (you might know it was the one on the bottom) and he unpacked his medical tools and went to work.

When other missionaries watch -- they either think they'd like to go into medicine

or never go into medicine.

Now this Elder will be able to walk without pain.

Then we loaded up for the 8-hour drive.

Yes, Presidente y Hna. Peterson,

Elder Camacho y Elder Jensen - Assistants to the President

and Area Medical Advisor and wife -- us,

were all in one van.

Worldwide they have cut the missions from 3 vehicles to 2.

This is what we saw on the 8-hour drive yesterday...

actually it just took from 12:40 noon to 7:40 p.m.

Nuequen to Trelew (near Punto Tumbo where we saw the penguins

here in Dec. 2008, just before I turned 70).No, that isn't sagebrush. Hna. Peterson said it's a "wannabe..."

Happy Birthday to Emma, "10" today - February 5, 2010

Happy Birthday, Emma. "10" today

February 5, 2010

We hope you have a very fun day in Wyoming.

Love, Grampa 'n Grama Mission - Argentina

Here's Abbey's photo for her 10th Birthday blog.

She liked the "Happy Birthday" in ten different scripts and colors

in her birthday letter from "Grampa 'n Grama Mission"

Mission Health Visit to the Argentina Neuquen Mission...

Elder Kolby Kirk Carpenter from Burley, Idaho, is in this

Argentina Neuquen Mission. He is a great Elder and

we have loved being with him.

Sister Missionaries are great! Dr. Petersen gives medical advice in person and

on his cell phone for the 14 missions in the

South America South Area in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

He's on his cell phone. That's the stethoscope around his neck.

And there go these wonderful missionaries...

out to find their fellowmen to teach and testify

of the truths of the Gospel...so many can

come unto Christ and have eternal joy

with families forever.

Happy Birthday to Abbey, Mikayla, Katie...

Here are two birthdays from January I didn't get in, plus Katie's 16th birthday today.

We are thankful for our 32 grandchildren, and are wishing each one a

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

on our blog this year of 2 0 1 0.

Happy Birthday, Katie, "16" today, February 3, 2010.

This is a photo of her on Dec. 3, 2009, when she got her braces off.

"Sweet Sixteen" for sure.

Mikayla, Happy Birthday on January 31. She turned "14."

I don't have a separate photo of her here in Argentina.

She is on the top left in this family photo of John & Julie.

Mikayla, we hope you had a Happy Birthday on Sunday.

Happy Birthday, Abbey, January 10, 2010 - "10"

We have four granddaughters born in 2000, and Janie nicknamed them

"The Millennial Girls"

Abbey is the first of these granddaughters to turn 10.

...Abbey...when I tried to type in that we got some fun e-mails from you on your 10th birthday because you got your own e-mail address....the photo I had of you accidently "deleted."

I'll add it back in on Friday, Feb. 5, when I put in Emma's 10th birthday--the second of

"The Millennial Girls"

It's Grampa's turn to use the computer now. Chau.

Good-bye Leckies...2 year mission ends, home to Bowling Green, Kentucky. And we're next in line!

We stopped in Friday, January 29, to tell Elder y Hna. Leckie goodbye, as we were on our way to meet President Richard y Hna. Jeannine George, the new MTC president and wife.

Elder y Hna. Wall drove the Leckie's out to the airport in the airport for their evening flight.

We think as we enter this blog they have landed in Dallas, waiting for the last leg of their trip home to Nashville, where their daughter will drive them home to Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Richard & Deana have 9 children--all living in a different state and their 20th grandchildren is due in June.

The Sr. Couple Missionary saying is:

"Don't cry when it's over.

Smile because it happened."

Leckie's thought they were just going up two floors in their Ship Building for a quiet dinner with the Bartons, until the door opened and we all chimed in with "SURPRISE!"

Everyone was asked to say something about Richard & Deana Leckie:

"We always laughed at the 'Leckie-isms," said Elder Barton.

"They were so generous, kind and helpful to us from the first day we arrived," said Hna. Barton.

"They took us under their wing, showing us where all the little markets were in our neighborhood," said Elder Fuqua.

"They made us laugh every hour in our office," said Hna. Wall.

"I'll miss 'Andy and Aunt B,' wrote Elder Wall in their farewell booklet, adding "how can you leave 'Mayberry' without me?" signing "Barny F."

Burks added about their humility in accepting the three different areas of focus during their time here.

"We loved Deana for her quiet steadiness and even though Elder Leckie joked with us a lot, when we had our family home evening discussions, he was right there with the scriptures and insights to very spiritual matters," said Elder Petersen.

Bartons gave the Leckie's a fun farewell surprise dinner the night before they left. Sister Leckie was given a beautiful Argentine leather purse from the department.

This photo is taken in their corner nook of the area office.

They were given three different areas of focus during their 2 years in the South America South Area: Area Auditor, then Perpetual Education Fund, and Welfare added after the Allreds left in November and had no replacements.

"All I need now are my boots," Elder Leckie said after his department at the area office gave him a leather gaucho hat as a going away gift. He had just come down to our office to show us.

Still in Mendoza Mission...

We love being with missionaries like Elder A. here.

Dr. Petersen talked with 15 or 16 missionaries today who had health questions.

Nothing serious...most of the time they just need to be reassured.

So far in the 3 zone conferences and two extra days of seeing them when zones came in for interviews, we have seen about 50 missionaries with health concerns of the 200 total missionaries in the Argentina Mendoza Mission.

We have one more zone conference tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 22) then we fly back to Buenos Aires. Our next mission health visit is Feb. 1-15 in the Argentina Neuquen Mission.

Missionaries love to have their photo taken with their "Mission Mom."

President Lindahl was interviewing this zone today.

We saw missionaries today at the Maipu Stake Center in Mendo WWe did take time out to have an evening dinner at this Italian Restaurant, sitting at one of the tables under the outdoor tent. It was peaceful and relaxing.

We described the experience as "delicious and delightful."

We love being with President y Hna. Lindahl.

Health Visit to Argentina Mendoza Mission...

We are on a Mission Health Visit to the Argentina Mendoza Mission.

Sunday morning, Jan. 17, President y Hna. Lindahl picked us up at the airport, had breakfast ready for us in the mission home, then we rode with them 2 hours to San Juan.

While the mission president interviewed a zone, we had private medical consults with those who had health concerns.

Zone Conference #1 was Monday, Jan. 18, where Dr. Petersen gave a 45-minute missionary health and safety presentation then saw more missionaries who had health concerns.

We drove back that late afternoon, then ....more later we're leaving again for some interviews and health consults.

Happy Birthday, Sam "11" today

Happy Birthday, Sam (front right), on your 11th birthday today.

For 2010 on of my goals is to put each of our family birthdays on the blog. Sam, we hope you are having a fun day in Rexburg, Idaho.

My Mom, aka "Grama A" - Verna Beth Albertson, had her 90th birthday last week, on January 14...so as soon as I have some photos of it e-mailed to me, I'll post a blog for her birthday.

Happy New Year - 2010

This is where we were on the evening of Friday, January 1, 2010.

Sr. Missioanries quickly bond into eternal friends. When we are so far away from our families, the missionary couples quickly become "our family away from home."

This is who we spent our New Year's Day with at "Friday Night at the (DVD) Movies." We watched "The Return to Snowy River." About every other Friday we gather at the Fuquas apartment - each bring treats - and enjoy each other's company after the 8-hour, 5-day missionary work week we're put in. Below I will explain the calling each couple has.

Elder y Hna. Burk, who came in December 2008 to the Uruguay Montevideo Mission as Employment Service Specialists, then were transferred to the area office in Buenos Aires as the executive secretaries were not there. Elder Burk was recovering from a severe cold. We missed them.

Above are Elder y Hna. Leckie - the most senior area Sr. Couple - they came as area auditor, but have been also asked to helped with the Perpetual Education Fund and Welfare over wheelchaires for church members. They will be leaving us January 29, 2010, fulfilling a 2-year mission.

Here we are...since I'm putting the photos in order of seniority in the mission.

Elder y Hna. Petersen - the area medical advisor and assistant. Our mission began Sept. 8, 2008. We are scheduled to go home March 11, 2010, but with no replacement in line, we may have to extend. Hope we get to go home in March. We're anxious to see 3 new grandchildren who have been born since we left.

Above are Elder y Hna. Wall - Area Humanitarian Missionaries.

They are from Salem, Utah, and came in December 2008.

Still more photos to add...but I have to get our granddaughter's letter finished, printed, and in the pouch by 2pm today to be on its wayt to: Hna. Fisher, Oklahoma Tulsa Mission.

Above are Elder y Hna. Barton - Area Employment Specialist Service Missionaries.

They came in January 2009.

Above are Elder y Hna. Fuqua - Area Perpetual Education Fund missonaries.

They raised their family of five sons in Oklahoma. Now live in Wellsville near Logan, Utah.

They came in August 2009.

Elder y Hna. Kroff - Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission

She is a great help to Dr. Petersen in being the MissionHealth Specialist for her mission.

He takes care of the Financial work in the office office.

They are from Tooele, Utah. We are always happy when they can join us.
Happy New Year - In 2010 we will be home again!

Dale and Connie are on their way home. What a wonderful 11 days we have had with them.

How can 11 days fly by so quickly?!

In a nutshell...

Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 - Day 1

Dale & Connie arrived this morning. After stopping to see the temple driving in from the airport (I left my camera at home, so no photos), we went to Sacrament Meeting, had Sunday dinner, and after some rest time, we drove an hour to the "Noche de Luz"

"Silent Night" a wonderful Christmas musical program with video and slides and narration

by a 20-missionary choir, plus violionist and other instruments played by missionaries from the Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission.

(We arrived 30 minutes early and almost didn't get a seat. The 8 performances--each Sat/Sun evenings in December before Christmas--plus some Thursdays, were filled to overflowing.

(A missionary could only come if they brought investigators.

The investigators had reserved seating in the front rows.)

Dec. 21 - Monday - Day 2

We're on our way to Iguazu Falls.

Dale and Connie sat behind us on the cama bus.

Tuesday, Dec. 22 - Day 3

We rendezvoused with the other Sr. Missionary Couples for dinner at Hotel Carmen in Iguazu.

Our 16 and 1/2 hour bus ride was delayed an additional 5 hours when mate farmers were protesting a new tax on their crop. They built a bonfire in the road and stopped all traffic from 10:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m., so by the time we got to the town of Iguazu at 5pm, the gates into see Iguazu Falls had closed for the day.

Many of the first group who had arrived on an earlier bus and spent the day at the Falls got really sunburned. We put on extra sunblock the next day when we went to the Falls.

Dec. 23 - Wednesday, Day 4

Iguazu Falls - 700 miles from Buenos Aires

Thursday, Dec. 24 ~ Day 5

Christmas Eve was with Elder y Hna. Bowen, our area president and wife.

Dale & Connie took photos of the Sr. Missionary Couples at the Christmas Eve Dinner and Program with our Area President and his wife and daughter: Center front: Elder & Hermana Bowen, and their youngest daughter, Devyn.Christmas Day - Friday, Dec. 25 - Day 6

Yes, Santa finds the good boys and girls no matter where they go in the world, and no matter what age~! One of the things we did on Christmas day...go to the Casa Rosada.

Saturday - Dec. 26 - Day 7

Traveled by car, subway, taxi, and bus... At Recoleta and Evita's tomb...this is only photo I took.

Walt didn't know if he would be pickpocketed again on the subway.

He had put his wallet in his sock.

Subway to Florida Street but city bus tour was sold out... Sunday, Dec. 27 - Day 8 - Church at Liniers


Monday - Dec. 28 - Day 9
We tried for the city bus tour Saturday, but the tickets were sold out for 3 hours ahead, so we went early Monday morning and got right on. CityBus Tour with headphones for the narration in English.

Family Home Evening with the Sr. Missionary Couples was at Bartons who gave a lesson on "change as a daily improvement" versus a bunch of New Year's Resolutions that go by the wayside.Tuesday - Dec. 29 - Day 10 - Had a tender experience when we went to see Hermina Silva de Avila, the widow of the branch president and counselor in the misson presidency, in Dale's first area of his 1959-1962 mission to Argentina.

(I left my camera in the car...then a cloudburst kept me from getting it--so no photos.)

That night Dale & Connie packed, and we packed some things in the space they had left.

Did I think to get a photo in the hub bub of trying to make sure each suitcase didn't weigh over 50 lbs? No!

Wednesday - Dec. 30- Day 11 - Last day and a second trip to LaBoca (sound familiar Janie, Daniel, Katie, and Heidi?) for souvenirs for family and empty nester friends.

Then a dash back to the apartment, a quick lunch, picking up the big Church van to fit the four suitcases and two carryons in.

Off to the airport....and they're on their way.

WHAT A WONDERFUL TIME WE HAVE HAD WITH

OUR DEAR BROTHER DALE AND HIS SWEET WIFE, CONNIE.

We thank their children for sharing them with us for this Christmas season.

We will be relieved to know they are back home in Twin Falls, Idaho, safe and sound after the failed terrorist bomb threat on Christmas Day in the United States.

Family & Friends are forever!

Dale & Connie are here! We are thrilled.

Yes, they're here!

Dale & Connie's plane landed at 8:08 Sunday morning, Dec. 20.

We wisked them to our apartment...stopping at the temple for some photos --

except my camera was sitting back at the apartment. But they had their cameras.

Then we wisked them off to the ending of our block -- Sacrament meeting.

After dinner we finally let them get some sleep after their 16-hour, 3 different plane trip from Twin Falls, Idaho, to Salt Lake to Atlanta to Buenos Aires.

They breezed through customs when some airline person kindly escorted them past all the long lines and right out the door to where we were waiting.

And the $130 USD charge for each U.S. citizen entering Argentina that the US Embassy had advised us went into effect December 20th, didn't.

The photo below shows us at the Monte Grande Stake Center (1 hour drive) after the final performance of 8 of "Noche de Luz" (Night of Light) by a choral and instrumental group of Argentina Buenos Aires South Missionaries.

A marvelous musical rendering of the Savior's Birth, Life, and Atonement.

Connie tried to get a photo of this little boy as he was taking a photo of one of the pretty, blonde Sister Missionaries who had sung in the choir.

We had a typical Mormon Sunday dinner: Roast beef, mashed potatoes & gravy...except the gravy was non-typical since Walt (before we dashed off to the airport early morning) seared it and put the onions on the bottom and top. However, I thought he knew to put in a couple cups of water since we let it slow-cook for 6 hours, but he didn't and all the drippings were burned. But the roast was okay. Luckily there was a "country gravy" mix left from our predecesors, which I made and it was better than no gravy at all.

Did I mention we're so excited to have them here?!