We want one of these contraptions below for getting through deep ruts around the ranch. Do you think we can get it approved from Salt Lake? On second thought, it wouldn't do us much good without a fork lift as well for getting in and out.
Visa Renewal:
We are coming up on a year of being in Argentina and it is time to renew our visas. We started the process in May. Tuesday of this week, we were asked to drive to the Santa Fe Mission Home to have the full time missionaries there help us complete the process. We had to cancel school that day, but rain was predicted for ten days starting on Wednesday so we couldn't postpone the appointment.
Santa Fe is about 3 1/2 hours away so we left at 6 AM for a 10 o'clock appointment. We made it in record time and got to meet the mission president in the mission home before he left for a Zone Conference with Elder Bragg from Salt Lake. The President has four assistants to run the Mission while he attends to the Zone Conferences.
The young missionaries were incredible help. We have to submit finger prints for another back ground check, and as we entered the building to start the process, we noticed a long line of people. However, the missionaries took a number and then marched to the head of the line. Apparently, the other people were waiting for something else, and we got in right away. Without the missionaries, we wouldn't have known that fact and probably would have waited in line half the day for no reason.
Los Perales:
Rain was delayed so we were able to go to Los Perales on Wednesday. However, Vanesa was sick, and Vero had to take her son to the doctor so for the first time in almost a year, we drove out but didn't have a class. However, we left two sewing machines for the chicas to use and delivered forms from Yucca, so it wasn't a waste.
Vanesa finished her son's vest and sent me this picture. I am constantly amazed with her drive and skill.
We stopped in Federal on the way home and picked up some of the Galeano family and brought them back to their home on the ranch. You see three generations below wanting to be together for a few days. People would rather not carry their babies on motos so it was a good service for them. We were actually glad to have extra time in Federal (since we did not have to teach in Los Perales) to assist the family with some errands.
We had school on Thursday and Friday, though school closed early on Friday when the rain started.
This is often what we see blocking our route.
Rain is here to stay now for at least the next few days. We are home keeping ourselves busy instead of traveling to Córdoba for a temple visit. The kids have winter break for two weeks, but with so much rain in the forecast, we didn't want to get stuck in a hotel for ten days. We are hoping that we can get out next week to see more of Argentina.
Thoughts from Gregg:
Gordon B Hinckley thought that he was wasting his time and money as a young missionary in Great Britain, and said so in a letter to his father. Dad wrote back and suggested, "forget yourself and go to work." Mark 8:35 the Lord said "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my name sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it."
"Those words of the Master, followed by my father's letter with his counsel to forget myself and go to work, went into my very being. I made a pledge with the Lord. I would try to forget myself and lose myself in His service. From that day, I dedicated himself to the Lord in the service of others.
None of us may rightly say that his life is his own. Our lives are gifts of God. We come into the world not of our own volition. We live not according to our wish. Our days are numbered not by ourselves, but according to the will of God."
I would hypothesize that most leaders of the church have made a covenant with God to dedicate their life first to Him at a young age. Opportunities of growth in the form of church leadership positions may be presented. You will be given skills that will facilitate a change in the lives of those you serve. With the additional opportunities to serve will come purpose distilled in your heart along with eternal happiness and joy. Our lives will be consecrated to our Lord and we will bless the lives of all we touch as we put God first.
Thoughts from Amy:
We weren't able to go to church today due to muddy roads so we studied the Sunday School lesson together. The lesson was on adversity and enduring our trials well. I've also been reading about what Michael Wilcox teaches on adversity in his series of books, What the Scriptures Teaches... I've noticed that whenever I give voice to frustrations, whatever I'm complaining about grows in intensity, I feel more of a victim, and less likely to have a good attitude about the struggle, and therefore be able to endure it well. My new goal is to keep still and say nothing unless it is uplifting.
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