¡Hola!
Well, its another P-Day here, and its hot...again. And there´s humidity...again. But, it´s all good :-) It was another good week in Argentina this week. We got together as a Misison on Monday and had a Christmas celebration with everybody. It was awesome! We had a gift exchange and a talent show as well. I played Carol of the Bells with God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen on the piano. It was so much fun! We ate so much for Christmas, Asado (Beef), Pollo (Chicken), Chancho (Pig), Chinchulin (Pig Intestines), Empanadas, Lingua (Cow Tongue), and other miscellaneous stuff like chips and soda pop. The pig intestines and cow tongue were epecilally delightful. Seriouslly, they were really good. I got the opportunity to talk to my family as well on Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve in Argentina, the people here launch fireworks when it hits midnight. So my companion and I had the opportunity to watch fireworks on Christmas Eve. Not much to report this week, but just know that I love you all and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! (¡Feliz Navidad y Feliz Año Nuevo!)
Monday, December 27, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas
We got a phone call this afternoon from Garrett. He sounded so good, and it was great to talk to him. Let me see if I can remember some of the things he talked about.
He said that Christmas in Argentina isn't commercialized for Christmas at all. It isn't a big holiday like it is here in the United States. They had dinner with a family on Christmas Eve which is unusual because the members have dinner so late that they can't go to dinner. He had pig intestine and said he liked it. They usually have lunch with the members instead, but last night was a special occasion. Then after dinner they went home got up on the roof of their apartment and watched the fireworks.
His companion is from Columbia and is 24 years old. He speaks very little English, and Garrett has said that he really struggles to understand.
He was calling from the Bishop's office when he talked to us, and he said the Bishops office is the only part of the building that has carpeting because of mold problems.
He said that he has to wear sandals in the shower because the tape worms will get into your skin through the bottoms of your feet. YUCK!
Loves his mission president, and his wife. They take really good of the elders and know of all the elders health issues. They are taking care of Garrett's high blood pressure. Mom is relieved!
There isn't really anything that they are restricted to eat except a kind of herbal tea. Not because it is bad for you, but the people drink it for hours on end, and so since the missionaries can't stay in someones house for longer than an hour they cannot have the tea. He said the people like to talk a lot and are very friendly.
I'm not sure exactly what all these pictures are except his mission president, but he looks like he is enjoying his mission. He loves the gospel, and even though he struggles with the language, he looks forward to learning it well. He says hello to everyone, and please write!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Merry Christmas!
Even thought these pictures were taken at the MTC, I thought they were great!
As most of you know Garrett is in Argentina now, and loving it. I can hardly wait to talk to him this Saturday.
Christmas is not about the gifts, the decorations, Santa Claus, the tree. It is ALL about the Savior. He is the reason for the season!
He gave his life so that we could live again. I'm thankful, and I know Garrett is thankful for his sacrifice for us!
Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Hey!
Well, another week in Moreno, and it was a good one. Turns out, I lost like 10 pounds since i´ve been in the field. I´m starting to lose it all around my face, yeah! I´m going to come back a skinny handsome man! Haha
Our Ward in Moreno had a Christmas Party last week and it was pretty much the best ward party I have ever been to in my life. I have pictures, but I didn´t know we were going to come to the computers right now. I thought we were going later. I will send them ASAP. During the ward party; the Bishop was playing some music on his computer and it was music in English. Althought the lyrics weren´t the best. But, knowbody understood English so they didn´t know! It was hilarious. He eventually turned it off because he asked me what it meant. Totally hilarious.
Okay, I need to answer some questions. First one, I didn´t come on the computers until now because we had a Christmas Mission Conference this morning in Haedo, which is about an hour by train to the main mission office. We had the opportunity to listen to both the President and his Wife, all in Spanish of course. But, I could understand when they spoke, but everybody else, no way. We had a gift exchange with all 170 missionaries in our mission and it was tons of fun. It was nice to relax a little bit and be spiritually recharged for the week. For lunch we had: Hot Dogs (for those people that never had them before), Asado (which is like a thick steak), Sausage (Delicious), Fruit Salad, a vegetable salad with mayonesa (the people here love mayonesa), juice, and a salad with like lettuce and carrots and a little bit of vinegar. It was delicious. So, yeah we got back at like 6:00pm Argentina time. Its about 7:05 now so sorry for the late letter. We had a talent show where I got to play a special musical number on the piano (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen plus Carol of the Bells). It went pretty well. Two Elders in my District (Elder Hart and Elder Woodruff) decided to have a Dance-Off during lunch. And the President loved it! He was laughing so hard he was about to fall on the ground laughing.
I did recieve the package from you today. Thank you and I look forward to enjoying it as soon as we get back to the apartment.
I don´t know what time we are calling on the 25th, but be ready for a call anywhere between 6am-12pm that day. Because of the time difference and I don´t know when it´s going to happen.
I got to see my companions from the MTC at the conference today, Elder Alkema and Elder Jones. They are doing well and they are in the same boat I am with Spanish, that is, not a lot of understanding but can speak well.
About the yellow tie in the MTC pictures, I found about 5 ugly ties in the ceiling tiles in the MTC in our residence hall. Every friday, we had ugly tie friday for our zone. But I didn´t follow it much, because I always like to wear a good tie. But this other Elder didn´t have any ugly ties. So, I asked if he wanted to trade one good tie for 5 ulgy ones (because I deserved a reward for my exploration and excavation). He agreed and thus, I have the yellow tie.
During this Christmas season, we need to remember the gift that the Savior gave us. He gave us the opportunity to live with our families forever in the presence of God after we die, clean from sin, and perfectly happy. A plaque in my Mission President´s Office says: "The most important things in life are not things". Remember that as Christmas roles around, accompanied with advertisements, sales, and propaganda surrounding the latest toy or gadget for the holidays. Christmas is a time to celebrate the Birth of our Savior and the life that he lead for us.
Well, another week in Moreno, and it was a good one. Turns out, I lost like 10 pounds since i´ve been in the field. I´m starting to lose it all around my face, yeah! I´m going to come back a skinny handsome man! Haha
Our Ward in Moreno had a Christmas Party last week and it was pretty much the best ward party I have ever been to in my life. I have pictures, but I didn´t know we were going to come to the computers right now. I thought we were going later. I will send them ASAP. During the ward party; the Bishop was playing some music on his computer and it was music in English. Althought the lyrics weren´t the best. But, knowbody understood English so they didn´t know! It was hilarious. He eventually turned it off because he asked me what it meant. Totally hilarious.
Okay, I need to answer some questions. First one, I didn´t come on the computers until now because we had a Christmas Mission Conference this morning in Haedo, which is about an hour by train to the main mission office. We had the opportunity to listen to both the President and his Wife, all in Spanish of course. But, I could understand when they spoke, but everybody else, no way. We had a gift exchange with all 170 missionaries in our mission and it was tons of fun. It was nice to relax a little bit and be spiritually recharged for the week. For lunch we had: Hot Dogs (for those people that never had them before), Asado (which is like a thick steak), Sausage (Delicious), Fruit Salad, a vegetable salad with mayonesa (the people here love mayonesa), juice, and a salad with like lettuce and carrots and a little bit of vinegar. It was delicious. So, yeah we got back at like 6:00pm Argentina time. Its about 7:05 now so sorry for the late letter. We had a talent show where I got to play a special musical number on the piano (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen plus Carol of the Bells). It went pretty well. Two Elders in my District (Elder Hart and Elder Woodruff) decided to have a Dance-Off during lunch. And the President loved it! He was laughing so hard he was about to fall on the ground laughing.
I did recieve the package from you today. Thank you and I look forward to enjoying it as soon as we get back to the apartment.
I don´t know what time we are calling on the 25th, but be ready for a call anywhere between 6am-12pm that day. Because of the time difference and I don´t know when it´s going to happen.
I got to see my companions from the MTC at the conference today, Elder Alkema and Elder Jones. They are doing well and they are in the same boat I am with Spanish, that is, not a lot of understanding but can speak well.
About the yellow tie in the MTC pictures, I found about 5 ugly ties in the ceiling tiles in the MTC in our residence hall. Every friday, we had ugly tie friday for our zone. But I didn´t follow it much, because I always like to wear a good tie. But this other Elder didn´t have any ugly ties. So, I asked if he wanted to trade one good tie for 5 ulgy ones (because I deserved a reward for my exploration and excavation). He agreed and thus, I have the yellow tie.
During this Christmas season, we need to remember the gift that the Savior gave us. He gave us the opportunity to live with our families forever in the presence of God after we die, clean from sin, and perfectly happy. A plaque in my Mission President´s Office says: "The most important things in life are not things". Remember that as Christmas roles around, accompanied with advertisements, sales, and propaganda surrounding the latest toy or gadget for the holidays. Christmas is a time to celebrate the Birth of our Savior and the life that he lead for us.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
¡Hola!
Thanks for sending an email back! It´s so good to hear from you guys.
Know that I love you and I think about you everyday (not that I´m
getting trunky at all, because I´m not) but I still miss you all
terribly. I wish you could all be here with me, because It´s so
beautiful here! Minus the heat of course. The people here are the
nicest you have ever met, well the members are anyway. I have had
Empanadas twice since I got here. It filo dough filled with meat and
sometimes scrambled eggs and other spices and then pan fried. They´re
pretty much the best thing the world. I´m really getting sick of the
cucarach music here, but I guess I will learn to love it, after all,
I´ve still got a while to go. The food here is pretty good, when you
an get it from good places. My first area is a little city called
Moréno, its like Coeur d´Alene compared to Spokane. The people here
are either dirt poor or they do pretty well for themselves. We helped
somebody build a house the other day. Nothing but brick and mortar and
concrete, no insulation. We poured cement and laid bricks, it was
pretty tough work, with the heat and all. We live in a tiny apartment
above a soccer uniform shop. The place is boiling hot during the day,
because the only AC unit we have is in the bedroom. So our bedroom is
nice and cozy while the main room could boil water if you left it out.
Coming out in the field made me realize how bad my Spanish is, but the
members seem to understand cause they smile and give me very kind
looks when I speak. My companion is super nice and helps me a lot. Our
Mission President is pretty much the man. He is the kindest man I have
probably met in my life, and he loves the new missonaries. Plus, its
super nice that he´s from Boston because he speaks English. Mom, don´t worry
about me having money in my account. The exchange rate here is pretty
amazing. I saw a hamburger the other day for one and a helf pesos.
That roughly converts to $0.56. I didn´t get my package yet, but
everybody gets mail here on Tuesday when we have district meeting, so
I may get it on tuesday. Anyway, I´ve got to go so I will talk to you
later. I love you all, and I will see you soon.
Con amor,
Élder Garrett Brighton Rook
Misión Buenos Aires Oeste
Thanks for sending an email back! It´s so good to hear from you guys.
Know that I love you and I think about you everyday (not that I´m
getting trunky at all, because I´m not) but I still miss you all
terribly. I wish you could all be here with me, because It´s so
beautiful here! Minus the heat of course. The people here are the
nicest you have ever met, well the members are anyway. I have had
Empanadas twice since I got here. It filo dough filled with meat and
sometimes scrambled eggs and other spices and then pan fried. They´re
pretty much the best thing the world. I´m really getting sick of the
cucarach music here, but I guess I will learn to love it, after all,
I´ve still got a while to go. The food here is pretty good, when you
an get it from good places. My first area is a little city called
Moréno, its like Coeur d´Alene compared to Spokane. The people here
are either dirt poor or they do pretty well for themselves. We helped
somebody build a house the other day. Nothing but brick and mortar and
concrete, no insulation. We poured cement and laid bricks, it was
pretty tough work, with the heat and all. We live in a tiny apartment
above a soccer uniform shop. The place is boiling hot during the day,
because the only AC unit we have is in the bedroom. So our bedroom is
nice and cozy while the main room could boil water if you left it out.
Coming out in the field made me realize how bad my Spanish is, but the
members seem to understand cause they smile and give me very kind
looks when I speak. My companion is super nice and helps me a lot. Our
Mission President is pretty much the man. He is the kindest man I have
probably met in my life, and he loves the new missonaries. Plus, its
super nice that he´s from Boston because he speaks English. Mom, don´t worry
about me having money in my account. The exchange rate here is pretty
amazing. I saw a hamburger the other day for one and a helf pesos.
That roughly converts to $0.56. I didn´t get my package yet, but
everybody gets mail here on Tuesday when we have district meeting, so
I may get it on tuesday. Anyway, I´ve got to go so I will talk to you
later. I love you all, and I will see you soon.
Con amor,
Élder Garrett Brighton Rook
Misión Buenos Aires Oeste
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Letter December 7th
Hey Everybody!
Well, I made it to Argentina! And its hotter than blazes down here! There are so many people and more dogs! I just wanted to email and say that I am safe and I made it okay. The flight was extremely long and very uneventful. It was a whole 10 hours! Our apartment is something else. Its a two bedroom, the main room is just as hot as it is outside, and the bedroom is fairly cool with a super noisy air conditioner. My new companion is awesome! His name is Elder Cortes, is from Colombia, and he speaks very little English. He is the nicest guy on the planet. We didn´t waste anytime today. We touched down in Buenos Aires and drove to the mission office. We greeted some other new missionaries from all over other Latin countries and got to meet our Mission President. He is so cool and definititely made me feel welcome. Its definitely a whole new world down here and it´ll take me a while to get accostumed to it. But, I´m excited nonetheless. We were walking around getting some errands done and we were contacting people. We met like two nice people out of 15 who were actually courteous to us, at least I could tell by the tone of there voice, because I didn´t know what they were saying :-( Its going to be a very long next couple weeks, but it´ll get better once I know the drill. Anyway, I´ve got to go so I will talk to you later!
¡Vive Argentina!
Élder Garrett Rook
P.S. I will send more pictures once I get more time and I remember to bring my camera :-)
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