Elders Love Cecily's Artwork

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

We went to immigration office today to get a "tarjeta de salir" to make our departure  easier at the airport.  When we returned to the office we had a package from Myron and Tara!  Great thing to cheer up our day.  The elders loved Cecily’s artwork.  If you want to see some of her great art look her up on facebook.

The hermanas cheered us up leaving their love notes for us.  They were in our apartment with us when we found out about Dad Burnett's imminent departure.

The hallway floor leading to our front door.

Nuestro puerta

My favorite!

We also celebrated birthdays for Elder Pugmire and Elder Burnett.  Sister Cook was our gracious hostess in the mission home.

Thank You for All Your Condolences

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Day of emails and reports for Capilla Abiertas.  Lots of facebook and emails condolences have been coming in.  Thank you so much!

Here are some facebooks posts:

A Spiritual Giant has Left This Mortal World

Monday, May 19, 2014

Mike’s Dad passed away 6 pm Uruguay time, 3 pm Utah time.  It was a sacred opportunity to send him into the spiritual realms.  We were able to participate via Facetime.  Tears, of course. He had only been ill for a couple of weeks.

President Cook has given us permission to return home to attend the funeral.  We will have 1 week.
At first I was reluctant to return home, but they were all selfish reasons.  I just didn't want to have to say good-bye to my family again.  But supporting Mike and saying good-bye to Dad Burnett plus being able to hug all my family, outweighed my selfish reasons.

The church arranged our flights at their discounted rate.  Our great family is providing the funds to pay for our return home and back again.  

Kudos to the sister who played this piece of music!

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Anyone who plays the piano

will know why I was so surprised when this was played at the beginning of sacrament meeting today

We did our orientation today for the Carrasco Ward. They are located in the temple block. As we gathered in the chapel for Sacrament Meeting the most interesting music started. 

The sister who plays the piano got out these huge, long pieces of music taped together. Then she starts this major, fast, triumphant type music. We were all standing and I was in the front row. I am sure the Stake President was amused with my incredulous face. It took me about 3 minutes to realize that they were singing their national anthem. Wow! It went on forever and the sister playing the piano was pounding it out!  It so happens that wikipedia states the Uruguay has the longest national anthem.  I tried to find a piano only version but click on the link and you will get a flavor of their enthusiastic national anthem.

Uruguay National Anthem

Our Own Ward Malvin Capilla Abierta

Saturday, May 17, 2014

We had the opportunity to do a Capilla Abierta in Malvin, our own ward. 

The members participated fully. The stake president led by example and brought a friend with him. 

Reference Card Comments: 

"Very special visit,  thank you." 

"I would like to take the gospel."

Stats:

VISITANTES

# de misioneros   12

# de miembros en recorridos 18

# de miembros no en recorridos  10

# de miembros menos activos   2

# de no-miembros  10

TOTAL Visitors     52

REFERENCIAS : 41

Video Link:Malvin

Our ward Malvin. On the far right is where we
work in the mission offices most every day.

This is the Stake Center also. On the left is the organ that no one plays.

I was happy to see some food storage. They also had some home canned goods.
I asked them where they get their lids.  From the hardware store.

Alma

Lehi

La familia

Teaching about baptism

It is nice when parents bring their little ones.

Our family the Lopez's. L to R  Angel, Pedrito, Pedro

We met this man this morning at the feria. He talked with
Mike for 30 minutes at the feria and we gave him an invitation
to come to the open chapel. He came and as you can see
he was very impressed with Mike's friendship.

Playing Grandpa with Pedrito

Our office missionaries

Our apartment Hermanas, Sister Schaelling and Sister Zegarra

We ended the night with a 

beautiful rising of a full moon

coming up from the ocean. 

This is right outside of our apartment

Locked Out

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

P-Day  We visited a downtown, indoor old train station turned into mall. We went with the Pugmire's and Sister Cook.  The nice thing about this mall was that it was very clean. 

Wednesday, May 14, 2014 

We came home from the office today 

only to discover that Mike had no house keys!  I never carry the second set because he always has the keys and we are always together.  I visited with the Pugmire's and they were kind enough to share their mac n cheese dinner with me while Mike looked back at the office, up and down the street and where ever.  Our little apartment was locked up with no windows left open or anything.  So, we had to call a locksmith!  Nothing like taking some of your own medicine!  He couldn't pick the lock, so we had to install a new lock.  After 3 hours, we were back into our apartment and we will be eating PB & Jam for a while.  So lesson learned.  I will always carry keys and we will have a key made for the Pugmire's to keep and a key for the Hermana's to keep.  

We also got an email from Teri telling us that Mike’s Dad is not doing very well.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Office work.  We had a nice charla with Aida. We posted her parents' pictures on familysearch. She was so happy that she cried.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Another email this morning from Teri.  Dad probably won’t be with us much longer. This is so hard to be this far away and not be able to help in any way.  At least we can be a sounding board for Teri who is handling all of this with the help of her husband, McKay. Mom is doing better though.

I made bread for us and brownies for the office elders this morning.  I used my sister-in-law's recipe (Donna's) from the Ojai cookbook.  Of course they were devoured!

While perusing through iMOS, the church's mission office software I finally found where all the instructions are for running the finances of the office!  And it wasn't under HELP.  It was under POLICIES.  Who would have known??!!  Obviously Salt Lake didn't know.  Someone there told us there were no manuals.