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Sunday, August 23, 2009
Today we left our apartment early to attend a ward some distance from our usual ward. We walked two blocks to the bus stop, rode the bus for 3 miles, went below ground to the metro (three flights of stairs) and rode the subway for about 30 miles, and flagged a taxi to get us to the chapel. (He was somewhat lost, but finally got us there.) We did a dry run yesterday, so we could be on time for the meeting. Yesterday we missed our metro stop - went one stop too far. Glad we made the mistake yesterday. Today was no problem, even with the taxi driver being lost for a bit, we were 30 minutes ahead of the meeting time. The bishop and his councilors were just beginning their planning meeting and so we got to introduce ourselves to them. I wandered into the chapel, a large room with folding chairs all set up for the meeting. I could see no piano at first, then looked around the end of the stand, and there was a small electric piano tucked behind. I wondered if anyone would play it today. I looked around to see if it were plugged in. Nope! In fact when I pulled the chord up from the back of the piano, it had no plug at all, just two bare wires sticking out! I decided they must not have a pianist. Elder D, without knowing all this, offered my services, but I showed them the bare wires...magically while my back was turned - someone wired on a plug and it was ready to go. I lifted the lid - and oh my - the kids had probably been playing on it during the last quilting bee. I ducked into the ladies room, dampened some paper towels and frisked the keys - just like new. I turned on the piano and played some hymns for a prelude. The councilor conducting the meeting thanked me for playing and said how nice it was to have a prelude after so long not having anyone to play the piano. The hymns went well and I was happy to meet the hymn conductor after the meeting. But.... this is all an aside to why we were there.

Elder R, my trainer for my secretary job . He is sitting at my desk.

Assistants to the President that are in training, one from the states the other from Argentina.

This is just one of three rows of elders from one of ten zones. We had a zone meeting with them just 3 days after arriving. What a handsome and awesome group of young people! We love them already!

Looking south west.
The mountains are magnificently grand.
They are often covered this time of year with fog and then smog from the big city.

Looking straight south. There are 6 million people in this city - lots of high rise housing.

Looking to the east and the Andes mountain range.

Night shot from our 7th floor apt of el templo. The lights from it light our apartment at night. It is beautiful! We just ride the elevator down each day and then walk across the street to enter the grounds and walk to our office.

This first week we studied and were trained in the entire Preach My Gospel - a marvelous text. Tuesday and Wednesday we taught a real live "investigator" (volunteer) who came to our apartment, a discussion from PMG - after we had discussed it in the main group, and planned our lesson in the small group and in companion study. On Thursday, we taught a lesson to a "new convert" (volunteer). This was a great experience! We learned that even though we are office specialists, we can also find investigators, teach them the discussions and Elder Day can also baptize them. We are so delighted and anxious to do real missionary work!

Preach My Gospel is available at Deseret Book - you can study it yourself to be more knowledgeable and confident in speaking to those around you who would like to know more!

The photo is a replica of the stone that President David O. McKay saw during his mission to Scotland and quoted from often -"What ere thou art, act well thy part." We're Trying :)