MikeMaryMission

The first step before seeing the dentist was going to this center to get xrays.  Dentist visit was okay. I do not like dentist visits so Mike went with me but this week's follow up? I think I can handle it by myself.  Much like young missionaries, senior missionaries go through the process of getting acclimated, feeling you know what you are doing, getting a handle on the language and actually doing something worthwhile. The 2025 South America South area was completed and submitted. I felt like I had arrived, I had a handle on things and did something of value. That's not to say that it's a Pulitzer Prize winning document. Far from it. It simply means that I am doing some good here, I helped someone, the Area Historian, with a big job accomplish a big task. Here's the thing about historical reports. Who reads them? No idea but we have been commanded to keep a record of what we are doing and so we keep a record. We make it as accurate and well written as possible.  What ...

How is this for an Easter egg? It was on display at an ice cream store close to a museum where there was an exhibit by a local artist. The Edward's, Sister Richardson and the Moore's visited the exhibit, had a nice dinner in the museum cafe and then ice cream at this little shop nearby.  We have actually seen eggs this size in many different places. This is a spirtual experience that I feel is important to share. We have found a hamburger place we really like. We don't go out to eat much but if we want a burger, we go to this one particular place. It's a few minutes' walk from our apartment. When we left the restaurant, about half a block from where we started, I noticed a man looking at us strangely. It was creepy. A few steps later, Mike remembered that he left his glasses on the table at the restaurant so we turned to go back, got his glasses and walked back again. That man looked at us oddly again. We have been told that we, as senior missionaries are targeted b...

  No idea where the hazy effect is all about but this is church ... after church.  Classes always start about 10 minutes late each Sunday and sometimes even 15 minutes late.  It's lovely really. These are brothers and sisters in the gospel connecting.  So ... every night at about 9:30, we hear quite the racket. It's the trash pick up. The large dumpters are on the street. Everyone takes their trash bags to these receptacles. In our building, we actually take our trash to a regular trash can in the stairwell across the hall from us. The building workers then take it to the large trash container. You can see how quickly they end up overflowing in spite of being emptied every night, seven nights a week. How are they emptied? A crane lifts them over a compactor truck. Unfortunately the boxes in this picture obscures the huge hook at the top of the container. The bottom is shut but there is a remote that another person presses, the bottoms of the container opens up, trash...

  This is Elder Tim Hansen. He and his wife Bev, are among the angels on earth with whom we serve.  This conversation, in impeccable Argentine Spanish, was a delight to see.  Any wonder that this man was a pediatric anesthesiologist?  The Hansen's moved to St. George shortly before their mission. Isn't that wonderful for us!? On a senior mission, we interact with angels every day. No. Not the kind of angels we usually think of, extra terrestial beings who come and go in our lives. No. These are human angels, an extraordinary group of senior missionaries. They love the Argentine people, they love each other, laugh together and serve each other. Sometimes there are things going on at home that, even if they were home they couldn't do anything to help the situation, but it's hard to see grown children going through difficulties and be so far away. It's wonderful that in many cases, senior missionaries go home for a period of time to assist when a new baby is born, ther...

Trees on Bonplante, the street where the area office is located.  Whenver I think of Buenos Aires, I think of trees. Trees here are lush, green, beautiful. Even in winter, without their leafs, they are beautiful. There are two entrances for the Area Office and both are on tree-lined streets. In the heat, the trees provide needed shade. I'm sure some of my enthusuasm is connected to where I come from, a beautiful desert where trees are not as plush as here.  As fulltime missionaries, we try to keep away from the worldly things that interested us before we were called. However, as a group of senior missionaries, we do sometimes talk about current events in the U.S. The perspective is different here. We all have our views but we do agree that being here has helped us see, if we didn’t already, how far the media in the U.S. has moved away from reporting facts. Media’s ability and willingness to stir up emotion seems limitless. We pray for our country. We know that miracles can and...

  This statue is dedicated to all the soldiers who participated in the May 1810 -1816 revolution. Argentines kicked out the Spanish viceroy.  This is in the middle of a park that surrounds a large military installation that's right next to Jumbo, the large grocery store near us.  Depending on how we walk to or from the office, we pass the installation and the grocery store.  It was nice to get back to the office. We were ready. Mike has struggled with migraines and a couple of other little things but he keeps working on legal projects at home.  Since writing these blogs, I haven't mentioned much about spiritual experiences. We've had a few. I am just very careful with sharing those sacred things. However, there is one that I need to share. I have written before about working with the area historian on the annual historical reports for 2024 and 2025. The 2024 report has been a real bear. Frustrating. The changes that need to be made are things that can be fixed b...

  One of the many beautiful Nativity scenes we have seen this year. Argentines may not do much to do with Christmas in the lead up but their homes frequently feature the birth of Jesus.  It's been a while since I sent out a blog. I have to be inspired to have something to say. 😅 On January 5, we will be here six months, as missionaries almost seven months. Time flies. The folks leaving the mission in April, three couples, are all starting the process of setting up their lives at home.  Every couple in this group of senior missionaries has an amazing story to tell about how they got here. Many miracles and tender mercies, just like us. We know that we are blessed to be sent here and taken in by these lovely people. They continue to teach and inspire. Added December 30. A couple of days ago, one of the senior couples traveling by bus, had one of their phones stolen. A traveler elbowed Elder Richardson's chin, grabbed his phone, jumped off the bus and into a car that had pu...