Our Oldies Leave and Our New Missionaries Arrive

President had the oldies over for dinner the night and testimony meeting before they left. Hermana Mallea helped out by cooking the dinner. I was sad not to be able to tell them all goodbye and at least be able to give Sister Kartchner a hug, but we are hoping to see them all at our first reunion in October 2011. Saying goodbye to our missionaries is always one of the hardest things we do. These fine young people have sacrificed and given up all the comforts of home but traded for the experience of a life time. They will never forget the happy days or the very hard ones. But the hard ones were the ones that have molded their testimonies and forged their futures to be the great leaders of the church.
(left) Elders Davis, (President Lindahl), Hurst, Bateman, Reynolds, Mitma, Bills, Aparcana, Ahmad, Hermana Kartchner

OUR NEW MISSIONARIES ARRIVE AND MEET THEIR COMPANIONS

Elder Valle with companion Elder Pederson

Elder Fackrell with companion Elder Williams

Companion Elder Hyer, with Elder Owens

Elder Allred with companion Elder Barton

Elder Wharton with companion Elder Peterson

Elder Galati with companion Elder Barlow

Companion Elder Torres with Elder Solano

Companion Elder Quebbeman with Elder Stufflebeam

Companion Elder George with Elder Molen

Elder Tanner with companion Elder Moriarty

Elder Norblad with companion Elder Moncur

Companion Elder Stout with Elder McMurray

MORE OLDIES LEAVE

During my absence (December 15th)President also said goodbye to one of our very best Assistants Elder Wiest. They failed to take a picture of him before he left, but I wanted to include it in this history of the mission. He served with President for 6 months, the longest we have had an Assistant serve while we have been here.
These three fine Elders left this week, each one wanting to get back in time to go to school. They have all three served as zone leaders and were fantastic. Elder Rodriguez serving with Elder Weist as an Assistant. We said goodbye to Elder Rodriguez about 6 times in the last two days. Because of expired documents he was not allowed to board his plane yesterday to Chile. After a desperate trip to the Consulate and many phone calls, and two days at the airport they finally let him on last night. We are hoping he made is safely home into the arms of very patient parents.
(left) Elders Nieve, Rodriguez, (President), Elder Boyd

Just a photo we thought we would send to Steve Winn from Mr. Mac's in the Orem Mall. His suit bag has survived 2 years of abuse and is still ticking. Elder Rodriguez will be taking it to Chile, so we can now say that Mr. Mac has now gone international.

NEW MISSIONARY

Poor Elder Liñares from San Salvador has been serving in his country for six months as a missionary, and his Visa finally came through. We were happy to go and greet him and welcome him finally to the only true mission south of the border- MISSION MENDOZA!!!

Visit To The States

My trip to the U.S. for the wedding of our son Barrie and the birth of our 12th grandchild began in November. I left Mendoza Argentina on a nice spring day and arrived in a blizzard at the Salt Lake airport.

I stayed with my daughter Tara who lives in front of the Draper temple. In the next few weeks I would travel to the home of my son in Pleasant Grove to stay with that family. Then off to Mesa Arizona for the wedding of Barrie and Lacy, and then to our son Spencer's home in Chandler Arizona to help with the new baby.

There was a trip to the Aquarium in Utah. It was grandma's desire to get to know the grandchildren she didn't know- Lucy Lindahl (left) and Blake Bowen (right). The only way they would warm up to grandma was the package of fruit snacks I had in the hand. That is the hard part of serving a mission so far away, not even being recognized by your grandchildren.

THE HAIR CUTS

During my stay at Tara's home, the girls decided to all donate a foot of their hair to "Locks Of Love." This is a picture of Faith's hair before she had it cut. I am sure she had enough hair for two wigs, her hair is so thick.

The results.

Even Mom got in on the act, and cut 12" off of her hair.

Brooke's hair before it was cut.

Lovely Brooke after it was cut. They were all excited to help cancer children who had lost their hair. Tara is an RN who specialized in pediatric oncology. She has many stories to tell the girls about the children in Primary Childrens Hospital.

THE WEDDING

THE WEDDING OF BARRIE LAYTON LINDAHL TO LACY GRACE
DECEMBER 11, 2010
MESA ARIZONA TEMPLE

To help celebrate with Barrie were my sisters and my mom.
(left) Ruth Brown, Tammy Murray, Vivian Nash, Me, JoEllen Carlson
(missing is my sister Shawna, who volunteered to watch my father who is no longer able to leave the home, and my brother Randy Brown. It was Barrie's wish to not have his grandma Brown miss the wedding)

The wedding group on the steps of the Mesa Arizona temple. Grandma Joy Lindahl and Grandpa Blaine Lindahl are in the front row on the right. Grandpa Lindahl sealed Barrie and Lacy in the temple. He has given all the grandchildren their patriarchal blessings and married everyone of the grandchildren (with only a few to go).

Our grandchildren at the reception with Barrie and Lacy.

The best picture we could get with all the grandchildren and me. Of course the person we miss the most is Grandpa who had to stay in Mendoza and watch over his missionaries. It was a hard day for him.

THE BABY IN ARIZONA

After the wedding I remained in Arizona to help with the birth of Melinda and Spencer's baby. The day Melinda was in labor we waited at home till she got close, then I loaded up Kimball, Lexus, and Elise and headed to the hospital. It took mom another hour so we played out by the hospital Christmas tree.

McLaren Ruth Lindahl was born at 10:30 PM in the Mercy Memorial Hospital on December 21st. She weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20" long. She has all her toes and fingers and she is lovely. And doesn't Mom look happy, along with two proud big sisters.

The Spencer Lindahl family (and friend Chris on the right).

Grandma and Elise showing off our new baby born four days before Christmas.

Barrie and Lacy were good sports to put on the children's nativity costumes and be apart of the pageant on Christmas Eve. It was a treat to have our own live baby Jesus.

Barrie grew the beard just for the program (I am kidding- they just got off their honeymoon and he must not have shaved)

Kimball, Lexus, and Elise showing off their Christmas pajamas.
I left Arizona on December 27th and returned to Mendoza to find all well there.

CHRISTMAS EVEN CAME TO MENDOZA ARGENTINA

We know it is a hard time of year to be so far away from family, we hope that these little gatherings helped to soften the hurt and provide some joy.
The mission was divided in half for their December Zone Conference. One group on Tuesday December 21, the other Wednesday December 22. (I am still looking for the other picture)

With Sister Lindahl out of town, other directors were chosen. Sister Nope was chosen as director of the thousands of details (I thought she was kidding when she said "nope" when I asked her). Her assistant was Sister Packer, and the "go to guys" were the Assistants, Elder Hopkin and Elder Frischknecht.

Elder Packer (alias Santa Claus) and Sister Packer were great sports and filled in where they were asked with no grumbling (because of course Santa was watching).

Poor Sister Nope and Elder Nope the day before, were not quite sure if their voluntary service as Senior Missionaries qualified them for these crazy hours of work.

The decorating went on far into the night. I bet that night in the Nope apartment, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

And the tables were set...

In hopes that the missionaries would remember what had been taught in their heads...
When our artist and nurse Sister Packer realized we had no manger scene, she said, "no problem." She sculpted these statues with her clay and Sister Nope sewed the clothes. But I think her sacrifice went way beyond the call when I found out that Sister Nope had cut her hair to use on Mary and Joseph. The manager is basic paper mache with lots of glue. Since I wasn't there for the last few weeks, I wouldn't put it past those two ladies to grow and cut their own hay for the manager.

All the trees were decorated.

The costumes set out and ready for the pageant.

There was no room (in the Inn) for the eating tables and the games, and so the eating tables were set in the hall ready to be brought in at lunch time. Aren't our little elves TALL!

After a short zone conference meeting, the missionaries adjourned to the cultural hall for the festivities.

There was even entertainment, as the missionaries shared their talents.

The pageant.

Let the fun begin. Games were played.

Can't have a party without food.

The treats table.

The lunch was cooked and served by the famous Rastelli and Acosta families. Roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy. The North Americans loved it, the Latinos love the beef, but have never seen gravy before. So many different customs that we all can learn to enjoy.

Ho! Ho! Ho! To end the day the missionaries had a visit from Santa Claus. It was so nice of him to come down here to the Southern Hemisphere to bring the missionaries their stockings.

Santa was a great hit! Only the very best little girls and boys got stockings this year- all 200 missionaries of the Argentina Mendoza Mission.
Thank you to my sisters Vivian Nash and Tammy Murray who each year contribute to the goodies in the stocking, and Vicki Willes my good friend who provided the Sisters gifts and somehow got involved sending boxes of gifts through the mail this year. We couldn't do it without you.

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Goodnight!
Thank you Sister and Elder Nope, and Sister and Elder Packer!!!