CAPILLA ABIERTO

 Our ward shared a Capilla Abierto (open chapel) with the other ward in our building. The members worked for several weeks to get ready by giving invitations to non member friends and also less active members of the wards. The less active members were visited in 

 person by priesthood leaders. The evening began at 5 p.m. When guests came to the church, they were instructed in the 

chapel and then the cultural hall by Sister Missionaries. Then the Senior Missionary couples took the groups to the baptismal room, where two missionaries in white taught about baptism by immersion and asked one of the members to bear their testimony. After that they were taken to the various auxiliary rooms, where they were taught by many different people. The young men and young women did an outstanding job telling about what they learned at church and about their activities and achievements. After taking them to all of the rooms, we finished in the Relief Society room, where Dean bore a beautiful testimony to each group after the Relief Society presentation. At the end, they were turned over to the missionaries to give out Books of Mormon and make referral appointments. They also had refreshments. Many non members came and showed a lot of interest in learning more about the Gospel. One man in our ward, who was baptized three weeks ago, brought his wife and twin baby sons. His wife had not wanted anything to do with his new religion, but at the end of the Capilla Abierto, she wanted to learn more. He said it was a miracle.

We are pictured with our Bishop, Bishop Hernandez, The Anderson's, who are in charge of Capilla Abiertos in our Area, and the Wallace's, who attend the other ward, Constitution.

SAN ISIDRO

 We spent a beautiful Spring day in San Isidro last week. After boarding the train 5 blocks from our apartment, we traveled along the river, catching glimpses of it every once in awhile. We saw some very pretty areas of Buenos Aires with lovely homes. In San Isidro, there is a nature reserve that is along the big river. We saw millions of lily pads and birds that look like Egrets. There were turtles, frogs and Iguanas and it was a great walk.
We visited several old homes that have been turned into museums. At one, there were many costumed people re-enacting several 

 scenes from long ago. The homes and grounds were just gorgeous and so well kept. One of them even had a large boxwood maze, and flowering trees hundreds of years old. We had a delicious lunch sitting outside across the square from the cathedral. There was a large fair in the square by the cathedral. We bought a stove for our railroad.

We ended the day at the Via Flaminia, an ice cream shop that is truly unique! They have awesome flavors of ice cream, and they pile it up on a cone with tools that look like trowels. They stretch it out and then dip it in chocolate, which hardens around

 

 it and helps keep it all together. It was so much fun to see if we could eat it before it melted all over the place. What a mess! And delicious!
We were with Hunters, Nielsens and Roths. Fun Day!

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE

September  12th was an International Day of Service. Our stake took on the project to paint a school, inside and out. It was quite far from the homes of our ward members and us. We took the train and then walked about 8 blocks. It was amazing! There were hundreds there to help and we were just the morning shift. A whole other group came in the afternoon. There were about 100 missionaries including seniors, young elders and sisters. Everyone had so much fun.  President Wu, our Stake President worked alongside everyone else. Also, Terry and Linda Spallino worked all day.   Brother Spallino is in charge of temporal affairs in the Area.

 
       Everyone got in on the act and a lot of paint was spread!

                                                 

FROM CATHEDRAL TO TEMPLE

Family Home Evening last week was held in the Cathedral that we walk past every day on our way to work. It is where the remains of St. Martin are entombed. The Cathedral is absolutely gorgeous and huge. We arrived early and were able to walk around and take some photos. Below is a photo of some of us who attended, the Nielsen's, Holtkamp's, Andersen's and Roth's. Others sat farther back. 

  The reason we were in the Cathedral was to attend a concert performed by some people from Wales that were touring. Their music was absolutely stunning. We had a great evening including dinner at Tomatilla's.

The next day was spent at the Buenos Aires Temple and was such a special day. We left home around 7 a.m. and didn't get back until around 4. The temple is out away from the city and takes awhile to get to because of all the traffic. We took the subway to one stop  and then walked a few blocks to a school, where a small bus picked us up and took us to the temple. There were about 12 of us who went, including several sisters who were temple              

workers. 

We did initiatory work when we first arrived. It was a beautiful experience listening to all the sacred promises in Castellano. 

Then we went through a session.  Dean and I were priveledged to be the witness couple. I was a bit nervous because everything would be done in Spanish.  I concentrated 

on the words more than I ever have so that I would always know right where we were and what I should be doing. I'm very grateful for all the time I have spent in the temple so that I knew the words and what to do.  I made it through just fine and can't wait to go back!

THE REST OF THE STORY

 This is our La Boca Chapel, near the mouth of the big river that feeds into the ocean. La
 Boca means mouth. Dean taught his first lesson today in the Gospel Principles class for new members and investigators. He did a great job (I think, I am not sure of all he said, but he looked good!)

A few weeks ago I told about the Elder's miracle with finding a young woman who had read the Book of Mormon already and was ready to give up smoking and become a member of the Church. She knew the Book of Mormon was true when she read it.

Elder Johnson, on the right, is going home to Provo this week and is very sad to leave. He bore his testimony in church today and could hardly get through it. But a wonderful parting gift for him today was to perform the baptism of this great young woman.  She was so ready to join the fold. She has been coming to church and bearing her testimony. She answers questions like someone who has been a member for many years. After Elder Johnson baptized her, she came out of the water absolutely glowing. What a thrill for all of us to see.

 The other set of Elders in our ward have been teaching a young family, and they baptized the 4 children today. It was awesome!There is a girl who will be in Young Women's, a boy who will be a Deacon and a primary aged boy and girl. They were so happy.

The baptism was right after church. We weren't expecting it and the missionaries told everyone during Sunday School. The service was just like at home with the talks on baptism and confirmation, then the baptisms and lots of singing of hymns while they dressed. Then there was a talk from all the auxiliary leaders welcoming them into their various new classes. It was such a joyful meeting. I cried all the way from the opening song, I Am a Child of God, to the last song, Come Little Children. It was so touching. It's wonderful to be on a mission and see the Lord's work move forth throughout the world.

 

AREA CONFERENCE

 The last Sunday in August was our Area Conference. All of the Members in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay met in our Stake Centers to hear from our leaders. President Gonzalez, our Area President spoke first. And then we heard from two Apostles, Elder Cook and Elder Hale. They all spoke of the importance of families attending Sacrament Meeting together and going to the temple together. It was very inspiring. Our ward is the State Center (above) and we are sitting with several other Senior Missionary couples. The Andersons are from Boise, ID and the Licursis (across aisle) are from Cordova, Argentina. We love them all so much!



We bought a pretty green plant that we were not familiar with
and it wasn't labeled. We transplanted it into a pot on our deck, and a few days later, this gorgeous Gardenia bloomed! We are so excited. We could never grow such an exotic flower at home. It's just in the 50's and 60's here and doesn't feel too humid yet, but it is still the right climate for blooms such as these.

Our last Sunday walk was about 6 blocks from our apartment to the Buenos Aires Botanical Garden. What a treasure we found. It looks like a jungle and it's still winter! And it's free!


 There were several of these beautiful greenhouses and then the park was divided into different parts of the world. There was a section for Germany, England, France, China, The America's and many others. It featured waterfalls, bridges,

tons of statues, and benches everywhere to sit and enjoy. The pathways were all over the place and made of rocks, dirt, cement, cobblestones, etc. It was enchanting. We are so excited to see it when it is in bloom, which should be within a month or so.


We feel so blessed to be centrally located in the city. We are within walking distance to so many beautiful attractions and parks. It is fun to explore. We never tire of it. We love Argentina!