Why we are in twos...

This is a list of reasons why the church always makes sure we are in twos when we are on the Lords errand (mission, internships or marriage).
1. Someone to make sure the water heater stays on while the other is in the shower. This is done by sitting in the kitchen and monitoring the gas flow into the water heater- and if it turns off, the kitchen sink must be turned on to help the hot water.
2. When walking down the street one must always help the other by making sure the bus or any other passing object doesn't smash into the other.
3. When entering the house one opens the door while the other watches the street to make sure no one trys to mug us.
4. While waiting for the bus to come, one hangs on to all the luggage while the other ones goes to the bathroom.
5. When walking on the side walk one must always be looking at the floor to make sure dog poop isn't stepped in while the other watches out for the buses and other moving objects mentioned in number 2.
6. One always has someone else who will listen about all of their recent health issues and actually be able to be sympathetic because the other also has the same problems.
7. When teaching the workshop one can rely on the other to watch the time so the other doesn't talk to long.
-Heavenly Father was a genius when he decided that two is the perfect number for missions, internships and marriage!

Salta

Salta was where we stayed for most of our time. It is a gorgeous city in the middle of hills (much like provo- but the mountains are a lot closer together). I love salta!! This is where I lived for about 2 months of my mission. This is where the three generational family lives. Usually when I talk about the Galvan family that is how I refer to them. All 6 were baptized eventually. They invited us over for lunch one day. While we were in Salta we taught a three day workshop to 20 people. It was so fun!!! I love when there are big energetic groups. Some were missionaries I knew who were just starting the mission when I left and now they are leaving. Wow- time flies. We also taught about the perpetual education fund to two different institute groups. I love being with the young single adults my age! So fun! Clary got sick our last night and the doctor was called to the hotel. She is better with medicine to control her sinuses and lungs. One night we were invited by the mission president to go out to dinner. So fun! I loved being with his family who goes home next week to Mexico after 3 years living in Argentina. We were able to go up the gondola our last day and look over the city- it is beautiful! Our favorite place in all of Argentina by far!

Tucuman

Tucuman proved to be another adventure.

We stayed with my old ward mission leader and his family the Arechagas. This picture was taken our last night and the girl in the middle is one of the girls I taught- Maria Laura. She ate dinner with us that last night. Another common trend you may see in my pictures is the black scarf that was crocheted by my last companion in the mission. I seem to wear it - hmm... well everyday that it is cold. Luckily Maria Laura bought me another one so I can alternate now. I also got to visit with lots of others, including a girl I taught but wasn't around to see her baptism. Her name is Marcela and she also wants to go on a mission. We had such an exciting time visiting with Hermana Arechaga. She fed us lunch and many dinners. When we got off the bus and first got to her house she had home made pizzas just out of the oven waiting for us. We were fed great! (a little too great..haha).

Going back to Santiago (first and last area in the mission)

Saturday night we left Santa Fe at 8 pm and arrived in La Banda, Santiago del Estero at 5 am. Rought nights sleep, but we survived. I was so anxious to see familiar land, I couldn't stop looking out the window all night. Some small set backs along the way: 1. the cell phone we use was left on the bus- so no more direct communication with everyone. 2. Carola the girl whose house we went to didn't have credit on her phone for us to use. The bright side: I got to ride on a motorcycle for my first time in Argentina- while we went to the gas station to by a calling card- to call our boss in Cordoba to tell him the news and try to find the cell phone.

Good news: People I taught- Coco and Marta got sealed in the temple and go to church, Jorge Sosa recieved his mission call to Paraguay and is currently ward mission leader. Rene is the deacons quorum president and passes the sacrament. Rita- his sister was also at church.

Sunday I went to both sacrament meetings from my first and last area in the mission. The first ward I went to asked me to give the opening prayer and as a suprise announced I would be giving my testimony. It was so great to be back there and sharing my testimony! That same day we left and went to Tucuman- a two hour bus ride on a not so nice bus! Once again- we survivied!

Last day in Uruguay

The last day in uruguay we were in Salto. I spent the afternoon with Melina while Clary visited some of her friends. This is the bus we left the country on, and always travel with. Once we got on the bus we encountered a grumpy old lady who was sitting in my seat. I didn't mind, but I tried asking which seat she was supposed to be in, so I could go sit in it, and she got mad at me. Ooops. Well- now I know not to talk to older ladies with canes, because she lifted hers up and next time I might get swatted with it. Oh well. On the way back home to Santa fe we had a layover, if you will, in a bus stop and we met a nice guy who told us all about argentina and his wifes jewish ancestory. We shared the gospel with him, and he listened. Good times had by all!

Fray Bentos

I love this little town. It is four hours north of Montevideo and to the west- closer to Argentina. Monday we woke up and had a great breakfast with Nancy Curbelo. We left with Zulma and Raul in their car to visit some of Clarys friends, but no luck. No luck at the bank either. We went back to the Curbelos (where we were staying) and we had milenesa and mashed potatoes. There is always dessert in south america and I love that! We had home made cake! After lunch we walked around the city and visited all of Clarys friends. The town was really little feeling. We woke up that day to the roosters! It was nice to be out of the big city. At night we made "tortas fritas" in a big pan of boiling fat. It was so fun!! We had family home evening and Clary prepared the lesson. It was such a cool feeling being with this family that is so loving and giving to everyone. We ate the tortas fritas and drank malta (cebada is what they call it in uruguay). The missionaries showed up and one is from Fair Oaks. We went to the leather mans house to look at the neat things he sells and while we were there the little 4 year old son peed on my leg while he was sitting on my lap. Poor kid cried of embarassment and I just chuckled and didn't worry to much about it. They say if a kids pees on you it is good luck..haha. That was the end of another great uruguayan day. The next day I went on Sister Curbelos motorcycle with her and we went to the bank real quick. Then we went to the bus stop super early and while we were saying good bye to our friends, the bus pulled out, so we had to wave it down AGAIN..

Sunday in Uruguay (day 3)

Sunday we of course went to church and I went to primary with Tricia to get some ideas on how to help out the primary here. It was a lot of fun. We were in the nursery and there was one little girl. We didn't know her name for the first bit, because she barely spoke, but finally a girl in primary helped us out with the name. We sang lots of primary songs and I went over to the CTR class where there was just one little girl about 13 years old. We played a game and I enjoyed it all! After church we went home and made some milenesas. We scraped up what food we had and made an amazing meal! HAHA... Well I was just grateful for food! The adventurous part was hurrying to the bus station where we had two minutes before the bus left and we still had to buy the ticket...so as this greyhound looking bus was driving away it opened its door and we jumped on. We rode for four hours to Fray Bentos where we stayed at the house of a family. We each had a bed to sleep in and MANY blankets. You see- it was FREEZING!!! We were just fine though and had a hot shower and there was a wood burning in the fireplace. This was at the Curbelos house. (end of day 3)