Elder Frost and Elder Baker finally received their visas and arrived Saturday evening. They were quite tired but in good spirits. Since they came late in the evening, we treated them to an Argentine restaurant where they got their first Argentine steak. Our three Assistants Elders Wiest, Frischknecht, and Hopkin came along and got spoiled with the rest. There is nothing like a steak here in Argentina.
Welcome Elder Baker from Raymond, Alberta Canada.
Welcome Elder Frost from Allen, Texas.
Elder Reininger from Valencia, California
Elder Holt from Redmond, Washington
Elder Larsen from Taylorsville, Utah
Elder Passantino from Keller, Texas
Elder Roche from Laguna Niguel, California
Elder Robinson from Gastonia, North California
Elder Austin from Vancouver, Washington
Elders Falcon from Resistencia Argentina (left)
Elder Taylor from Southaven, Mississippi
Elder Sterling from Derby, Kansas
Elder Winget from Eagle, Idaho
Elder Strong from Highland, California
Elder Gonzalez from Las Vegas, Nevada actually arrived three weeks ago. He was fast tracked from the MTC because he already spoke Spanish.
The last supper with President and me. This group of 16 missionaries came 22 months ago a day late. They missed their connection in Texas (luggage problem) and arrived in Buenos Aires where there were no flights to Mendoza. So that night they loaded them on a bus and they traveled all night (11 hours) to get to Mendoza. They had been traveling at that point for 2 1/2 days. They were all good sports, and survived the long hours. When they arrived we called them our basketball team. They are the tallest group of missionaries we have ever gotten.
Our testimony meeting was sweet, and we will miss them all. They represent many of our leaders in the mission. We wish them all well in their lives.
Zone Conference with San Martin, Maipu, San Juan, Chimbas Zones.
Zone Conference with Guaymallen, Mendoza, Godoy Cruz, Valle de Uco
Zone Conference with San Luis, Villa Mercedes, San Rafael, Alvear
President and Elder Aidukaitis as they discussed points of interest.
Practices with Elders in the mission.
This picture is of the office staff, Elder and Sister Nope on the left and Elder and Sister Packer on the right. Elder Miller and Campbell are our office elders who serve as historian and pensionista.
After short messages from President and I, Elder Aidukiatis took the remainder of the time to help our missionaries be the best that they can be. He is a superb teacher and we were blessed to have him come and give us a different angle of training for the mission.
The baptismal font for the areas where we rent our chapels. I bet that water from that hose isn't very warm. It makes you appreciate the common conviences of an LDS chapel.
Elder Rodriguez about to baptize Brother Carlos Figueroa in Justo Daract in the outdoor baptismal font.
I went to check out a pension in Alvear, the pension of the Zone Leaders. Usually I go with trepidation because most of the time (sorry to say this moms) I am extremely disappointed with the cleanliness of the apartments. But these young men surprised me with a very clean pension. I was delighted. (left) Elder Abella, Moncur, Aparcana, Medina, Fowler, Reynolds. Elders Aparcana and Reynolds, the traveling assistants were there staying with the four Elders and were the lucky recipients of a clean pension.
The San Juan zone were is good form. They all were happy and glad to see President. Elder Bigelow and Hopkin are doing a great job of creating "animo" in their Elders.
I don't know why we took such a formal picture in Chimbas with the zone, but Elders Frischknecht and Gomez (Zone Leaders) had make this special sign and they wanted to show it off. It had the names of all of the missionaries. The leaders love to show solidarity in their zones, which just makes missionary work all the more fun (which it should be). Oh, by the way, Presidents name tag was on his suit coat which we made him take off.
Some Maipu Elders waiting in the office for their interviews with President and me. I always have a little quiz during my interview time, and check the needs for the pension, check the english language cards for the Latinos and give them their english homework, and last but not least I check their daily planners. Recorded in the back are their "spendings, or gastos" which shows me they are spending their money properly.
Godoy Cruz zone on preparation day at the zoo. They had a great time, and the weather was perfect. Nothing nicer than a spring day in Mendoza. Zone Leaders Elders Robinson and Lucas are way back on the flag pole, and can hardly be seen.
The Hermanas at the zoo. I haven't seen these missionaries this happy in a long time. It must be that they aren't in nylons, skirts and walking shoes.