March missionary madness

Missionary work just gets more fun!  We went to an Open Chapel in Parque Avellaneda and there we were helped by two young men who found the Church at our last Open Chapel there.  We went to an Open Chapel in Rivadavia and a sister missionary told us that as a result of the Open Chapel we had in Moron 1^st Ward (pronounced moroan) the husband of a faithful sister there got baptized.  Then as we were presenting the training in Garin an Elder Anderson told us that as a result of the Open Chapel in Parque Patricios a less active sister came with her family and her husband and son were baptized.

Saul y Luis

 

 It is fun to hear about the results of our efforts because we seldom do.  We just love being out with the people both for the trainings on Sunday and the actual Open Chapels on Saturday.

Of course the highlight of the month was mom’s birthday.  She got breakfast made by me, but then things started to pick up.  The other missionaries got her ice cream and treats.  I had one of the sisters surprise her with a really pretty blue (as in the Argentine flag) sweater which she really likes.

We are loving the Pathways class that we teach.  It is a course in the Book of Mormon in English to 24 students who after this semester will be able to enroll in BYU-Idaho as fulltime online students.  We are learning so much.  We made it through 2 Nephi and Isaiah and actually enjoyed the allegory of the olive tree in Jacob. 

One of our latest challenges now that school is back in session and people are back from vacation is getting to the office each morning.  We have to ride the subway.  There is no limit as to the number of passengers on the subway cars.  Just when we think the car is full and we are all standing there crammed together, nose to armpit, and literally “cheek to cheek”, a large middle aged lady decides to board and it gets really intense!  Of course there is no air conditioning inside the subway.  It is so hot and so humid and there are so many bodies that after just a stop or two, we wonder why we bothered to shower and wish that the teenage boy next to us had.  We have to ride for 10 stops which takes about 25 minutes and we are always sweating profusely when we emerge above ground at the plaza in front of the Pink House where we go every day.  What a relief to be above ground and to feel fresh air and to have 7 hours to look forward to repeating the process to get back to the apartment!

But summer is almost over here and the leaves are starting to fall, so the weather will make life in general and especially the subway trip to and from work more pleasant.

We gave away another Book of Mormon to a little man we pass by as we walk to the subway each day.  Hope he takes time to read it.

This month we have 6 Open chapel events scheduled.  We have two back to back on Saturday, March 7th and 8th, then on Sunday evening with a training in between on Sunday morning.  Some of the bishops that have had one in the past asked for another and since our Saturdays are all booked through June, we have had to schedule them on Sunday, Tuesday, or Friday.  The Tuesday or Friday have been holidays here.  They seem to be a good day because no one works.  All in all we really enjoy our weekends.  It has been so fun to get to know so many great members of the church here in Argentina.