Is there school yet?

False alarm: we did not have school this week like we had been told. Monday was a local strike day. Tuesday was a country wide strike day, and Wednesday a new teacher was still in training. Thursday was predicted rain, and by Friday there was too much mud from all the rain on Thursday afternoon so school was postponed again. Kids in the states would probably like this strike of luck 😊 (we're so punny!) like the kids here do. You should have seen the smiles on both students and moms. In the long run, it is not good for the kids education.  

We did make it to Los Peralos, and piano in Felicano went well though we only had one of the two young women show, and we taught one of the missionaries in place of 10-15 youth. Not to worry! Feliciano had a big fiesta the night before keeping everyone up late so we are told that next week should be different.

Speaking of a big fiesta in Feliciano, it was a celebration of the terrneros (calves). Streets were blocked off all around the town square, and the whole town came out to the BBQ. Strange how the honored quests were on the menu. 😊

We usually try to avoid as many cow pies as possible. After a summer of little driving on the campo (country) roads, Gregg had quite the challenge. Do you think he can dodge them all?

How about this stretch? (Actually, Gregg was not able to do all that well and ended up back on the car wash.)

Is this terrnero hiding from us because he’s embarrassed of the mess left behind? He’s too cute to do such a thing don’t you think? It was probably his cousins.

El Quebracho doesn’t just raise cattle, they also raise sheep for the families who work here upon request. As we waited at one of the gates, this herd of sheep came through. I wish I could put in words the majesty of watching one gaucho with his dogs herd the sheep in the direction he wants them to go.

Gregg has found a great way to enjoy mutton. He had the butcher grind the meat, then we ground it a second time. Gregg added chopped green peppers, onions, and lots of spices. He rolled it really thin and fried it like a hamburger. We ate it with potatoes and vegies. It was the best ever.

Una Adventura!

Written Thursday, March 09, 2017

There is so much on my mind, I hardly know where to start so I’ll begin with my testimony that God lives; He loves us; as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have been given the gift of the Holy Ghost. Having the GIFT of the Holy Ghost means that the Holy Ghost can be a constant companion if we remain worthy of Him by keeping God’s commandments. I bear testimony that we have indeed had the Holy Ghost with us constantly throughout our recent trial.

The ordeal began on Monday afternoon when we learned that Yuca was heading to the main office in Vernado Teurto, Argentina with three other main directors of the church ranches for a few days. There was going to be a country wide strike planned for Tuesday, the next day so he was leaving a day early, and he wanted us to stay home. School had been canceled much to our dismay but not to our surprise. Not a problem… We have our music, our reading, and we have learned how to keep ourselves entertained here.

It was less than five minutes after our discussion that Yuca came knocking on our door again with a request for us to take Juancho to faraway Parana on Tuesday as he had finally been given an appointment for a cancer treatment that he drastically needs. Juancho apparently is a very talented employee that is missed greatly as no one has been able to take his place. We felt a little confused after the strike scare and request to stay home but sensed the urgency to help Juancho and agreed to make the five-six hour trip on a national strike day.

Tuesday morning, we got up early and had our normal ritual of a healthy breakfast after a heartfelt prayer asking for protection. Little did we know the close calls that we would face that day, but they would have nothing to do with the strike. (more on strikes later)

The first problem didn’t seem too drastic though we acknowledged that it was our 20 minutes late start that allowed time for a little more sunlight. That small difference of extra light kept us out of some deep holes that we could easily have found ourselves in just a few minutes earlier.

However, one of the biggest problems of the day occurred shortly after we reached pavement. The highway is “deformed” as the signs warn and deformed they are with bumps, dips, and miles of deep ruts caused by the heavy trucks and poor soil. As we watched a vehicle pulling a trailer approach us from the other direction, it began to swerve due to the deformed road. Seconds before we passed each other, the trailer jack knifed and tipped over throwing the car out of control. Somehow, the approaching driver maneuvered to his right, and we pulled to our right avoiding impact. We’re still not sure how it all happened but there was debris everywhere, and we are very, very grateful.

Though this was the most blatant dangerous situation, the trials continued all day. Multiple times we witnessed big semis swaying back and forth either in front of us or approaching us. Of course, we were extra mindful of them after our experience that morning. One time an ancient truck hit us from behind unable to stop at a light. Fortunately, no one was hurt and not much damage occurred to our truck. (The other truck was so old that we couldn’t tell what damage could be new.) We were glad not to have the police involved.

One time Gregg began to move into the lane with oncoming traffic to pass some big semis and there was a truck in his blind spot that Gregg is quite certain hadn’t been behind him. It seemed to have come out of nowhere and was going incredibly fast. Fortunately, Gregg was able to get the truck under control and back in our lane without incident.

Part of the day’s trial came after reaching the cancer clinic in Parana. Though Juancho had an appointment, he needed to stay a couple of nights in the clinic and it looked like all the beds were taken. We waited a couple of hours to make sure he could stay for his treatment before we headed home. In the end, there was room for both he and his wife, but precious time had elapsed.

We were also stopped by the police. First, the officer wanted our identification card so we offered all our official documents, but he only wanted one at a time. On and on he went drastic to find reason to ticket us. (Fortunately, our lights had been on.) Finally, when he found everything in order, he asked to see our fire extinguisher. It too was in place and recharged as required. By that time, he had another vehicle pulled over so he waved us on. We think our accent is the problem, and all Americans are rich and can pay fines, right? Anyway, it was annoying and stressful.

Even though Tuesday was a day full of anxiety, it all culminated today, Thursday. I, Amy, awoke early with clear signs of a bladder infection. This is not unusual for me. In fact, my doctor sent me to Argentina with antibiotics assuming that I would need them. It is only the second infection I’ve had since August which is record breaking for me, but the infection leaves me rather weak and uncomfortable for a day or two. So, this morning when we received a call requesting us to return to Parana and bring Juancho home, we had to decline.

Both Gregg and I felt that we should NOT go this time under the presumption that it would be bad for my health. Otherwise, we would have tried to make it work of course. However, it is early afternoon exactly when we would be coming home had we made the trip, and we are engulfed in a very heavy rain storm.

Here is a picture of the water that collected around our house in just 20-30 minutes, and it has continued to rain all afternoon.

 

Could it be that getting the infection kept us home and away from the dangers of muddy roads? We felt guided all along and know that we were directed to stay home, but the reason for staying home may have been much more than a little infection.

Many times, we have expressed our acknowledgement that blessings have kept us from major disasters. Certainly, we have struggles like everyone else, but we would be ungrateful or just plain ignorant not to acknowledge the influence of the Holy Ghost the past few days.

(Just in case you were wondering, there is a public bus that can take Juancho and his wife home. It is expensive but doable.)

Also, Thursday afternoon this connection for the air conditioner caught fire. Most fortunately we were home and the connection was coincidentally resting on a marble floor lamp or we may have had a house fire.

Strikes in Argentina

So here’s the deal with strikes according to one of our tour guides during our cruise last month. Argentina was under a dictatorship in the 70’s so when a coup took over the government and ousted the unwanted rulers, the people demanded more freedoms. To appease the masses, strikes were allowed. Strikes can happen at any time and any place, and they happen all the time—probably multiple times a month. Almost always, the reason for the strike is unknown. Many times they are on busy streets during rush hour in big cities like Buenos Aires clogging up traffic for hours.

But, we see strikes in the campo too. Some only last a day while other times, they last much longer. The truckers’ strike last spring lasted for weeks. We know because Yuca was unable to move his terrneros to Los Perales or get feed in to keep the cows fed. Two thousand of the cows had to be slaughtered early.

Also, according to Yuca, on a national strike day like last Tuesday, strikers can become violent and throw rocks at drivers not honoring the strike as well as other things. (Yuca didn’t explain the “other things”.)

There is a group camped out in front of the Argentine Capital Building striking because they had family members die in the Falcon Island war, and they want to be compensated for it. They have been camped there for over eight years.

Hmmm…. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

Speaking of the Falcon Island war, we got the British side of the war story when visiting the island since the British still rule there. The Argentines don’t want to talk about it, but it’s clear that they don’t like the Chileans or Americans for siding with the British. Apparently, all other South American countries sided with Argentina. Perhaps, that’s why Gregg and I had such a hard time getting our visas. 😊 Maybe Argentines hold grudges for a very long time.

Our neighbor, Mr. Frog, tried to hide in our bucket that is used to collect condensation from the air conditioner. I don’t see him… do you?