Logan Utah Temple

My Mom and I decided to visit each of the temples in Utah this summer. On Thursday, June 10th was our first temple trip to the Logan, Utah temple. Neither of us had ever been inside the temple so it was a neat experience for both of us. I enjoy so much having this special thing to share with my mom and being able to spend time with her apart from the craziness that somehow has become our lives.

Santiago del Estero Argentina

Wednesday, May 19th:

• 7 hour bus trip which was okay because we ended up sleeping most of the way. Thanks for the pillow...err...your shoulder Ramiro! Some sights...

• Arrived at the hotel and went to visit Julio, Mariela, Santy, Jorgelina, and Florencia. I couldn't wait one more minute to see them! It was a very sweet reunion with lots of hugs and kisses (cheek kissing is the custom in Argentina). It felt like a dream, one that I had been dreaming of since I left the area-- to be back with this family. They are just the most remarkable people and were baptized right after my companion and I were emergency transfered from the area. (Thanks stalker!) Their extended family continues to accept the gospel and join the church and they are now the biggest family in the ward. It felt so wonderful to be in their home with them again.

Flor, me and Jorge...beautiful little girls, aren't they?

Our hotel room

Thursday, May 20th:

• Shopping in centro of Santiago!
• Lunch with Julio, Mariela and their kids. Mariela is so sweet and made my favorite lunch-pasta with chicken and sauce. She is just the most thoughtful person and I can't believe she remembered that was my favorite! Julio says his daughters want to sit as close to me as they can because I'm a life size Barbie doll for them...because they don't know anyone that looks like I do. haha

Jorge with a mouth full of American candy

Florencia counting in english for me...over and over again.

Santy, Julio, Flor, Mariela, me, Jorge, and my Mom

• We walked through part of my area in La Banda-9 de Julio...where my Mom found quite a few surprises!

My Mom thought this looked like a gingerbread house

A little big of garbage...

A bus similar to the one my stalker drove...that we had to ride in everyday

The bodyguards: Ramiro, me and Luis in more garbage...They appear to be doing a pretty good job don't you think?

And dogs...LOTS AND LOTS of dogs in Santiago

• Visited my converts Marisa, Noelia, and Solange. I was worried they wouldn't remember me because I haven't been able to contact them at all since I left the area but when I clapped at their gate Noelia instantly came running out and gave me the biggest hug I think I have ever received...a teary reunion. It was amazing to see that she and her mom (Marisa) were doing so well and her baby was huge!

• Swimming at the hotel with Ramiro and Luis where they teased me endlessly about how white I am. Hahaha...I don't feel like I can be blamed for that!

Friday, May 21st:

• Ramiro bought us Grido's ice cream for breakfast...bless his heart :) Best ice cream ever.
• Lunch again with Julio and Mariela...milanesa. YUMMY! Santy had drawn me a couple of beautiful pictures of Christ. He is an incredibly talented artist. Walking away from their home to go get on a bus to travel to Tucuman was SO difficult. I just wanted to stay with them forever...Julio and I have decided the only thing that makes our time apart livable in this life is the knowledge that because we are now family we can be together forever. I enjoy talking with them because I learn so much from their faithfulness. Should be reversed seeing as how I was the missionary but I am certain I've learned more from them than I could've possibly taught. This family aspires me to do and be better each day. What a blessing I've been given!

• Visited my Mom of Santiago, Rosa and her family. We drank hot chocolate and talked about some memories...unfortunately we only had a few minutes to spend in their home before we had to go get on the bus and were in such a hurry we forgot to take a picture!
• Bus station waiting for our bus that showed up 2 hours late...Think we brought enough luggage?

On the bus...just before Ramiro drank someone else's soda that he FOUND on the bus!!

Salta Argentina (cont.)

Monday, May 17th:

• Visited a few converts in my first area-El Tribuno.

This is a cart used to sell produce in the streets. The men carry megaphones and yell out what produce they are selling in their horse drawn cart and the people come out of their homes to buy the goods.

• We were invited to lunch at Bishop Cueva's home in 3 Cerritos and so we ate asado with his family.

My new friend Betty Cuevas. She was on her mission in Chile when I was in the area where she and her family live.

• Visited with Lia and her family in my second area-La Loma. Her daughter Mimi was baptized when I was in the area and directly after I left her husband Abel was baptized.

Tuesday, May 18th:

• Centro! Plaza 9 de Julio in Salta. This is the main plaza where everyone comes to do their shopping in the morning.

The main catholic cathedral in the plaza

• Visited Mariana in my last area-Portezuelo.

• Lunch with Claudia, Eduardo and their family. EMPANADAS...de pollo, carne, y queso (chicken, beef, and cheese). They were delicious!
• After lunch we had to stop by the grocery store Super Vea for some original Argentine food...milk in a bag anyone?

• El Teleferico with Mariana. This is a tourist spot for viewing the city. You ride a gondola up the mountain and then can see all over Salta.

• Ended the evening stopping by the Nunez family home to say good-bye where my Dad ended up talking two of their boys (Ramiro and Luis) into traveling with us the next day to Santiago del Estero...to be our bodyguards. haha

Salta Argentina

Phase 2 of the Argentina trip. As we flew into Salta I felt unbelievably happy. It was difficult for me to hold back my enthusiasm even knowing it may not be the same...and in fact could have been full of disappointments. I reminded myself it didn't matter what happened; just being able to see the place I lived for 18 months of my life and share that experience with my parents would be marvelous! We got lucky and saw SO many of my friends and converts during our 4 day stay. As the plain landed I felt a rush of happiness come over me. It felt amazing to be in a foreign country that, in my mind, happens to be my second most familiar place in the world.

A timeline of Salta:

Saturday, May 15th

Leaving Buenos Aires

The river that makes up the Argentina/Uruguay border

We also saw:

• Mariana Navarro-A recent convert from 3 Cerritos (one of my areas)
• The Nunez Family-members from 3 Cerritos
• Viejo Jacks-a restaurant that has some of the best steaks you'll ever put in your mouth. mmm-just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

Sunday, May 16th

• Attended sacrament meeting in two of my areas: 3 Cerritos and Portezuelo. Seeing how the wards have progressed and how the members and converts we worked with were doing was incredibly rewarding. So many recognizable faces and SO much love!

• Lunch with The Nunez Family. That's one thing about Argentines...they will never ever let you go without eating in their home. This family is a particularly special one that is especially considerate of the missionaries.

• ...and afterwards a trip on (notice I said on...and not in...because some of us had to ride on the back flatbed standing up) this truck up the Virgin Mary hill behind their house:

• Spent the evening with Claudia and Rodrigo, her son. I lived with them the last 6 months of my mission so it was wonderful to get to be in a place I once called my home with people who were my family during that time.

My old bedroom-shared with Hna. Johnson and Hna. Bustamante

"El Reino Celestial"--due to the fact that we had an air conditioner

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Due to the fact that I have so much I want to say and so many picture I want to post about our trip to Argentina I think it's best to do it in a couple of sections.

On May 12th, 2010 we left Utah and began our travel through Atlanta into Buenos Aires. As soon as we landed I could barely stand my excitement. I felt like I had arrived home. Funny seeing as how it's not really my home and no where could ever feel the same as being in our home in Draper with my family--it's difficult to explain. My second home I suppose. We were in B.A. for 3 days (May 13th-15th) and were shown the beautiful city by two of my good friends from my mission. Thanks Jorge & Julio! I had never seen anything apart from airports there so it was great to have the opportunity to see a little more of the city.

We saw:

The BOCA futbol stadium

Great friends-Jorge Saucedo & Julio Zarza

The Pink House (similar to the "White House" of the USA)

Puerto Madero

The Cathedral where my Dad managed to

interrupt mass twice by tripping into the pews. :)

Great shopping, amazing food, and Argentines--three of my most favorite things! What more could I possibly ask for...