Another Interesting Week

Well, it's time for another installment. It has been a bit of a whirlwind again this last week, so I hope this coming week will be back to normal...whatever that may be!

When we first arrived, a real estate women was helping us to find an adequate place to live. She drove to many, many places. One of the locations she drove to several times was "La Rambla" or "the beach." We had no desire to live near the beach...traffic, too many people, too much noise, did I mention the traffic. It is a really nice beach area all along the coast and very close to where we are, maybe a 20 minute drive.

We had another training on Friday morning at the chapel next to the Temple. It was a very good training. During the lunch, I took a photo of Elder W. and the wonderful "mission nurse" serving here, Hermana Barney.

Many of you know that I was robbed on the street on Friday. I was actually with Hermana Barney when it happened. I'm good but very, very angry at myself for allowing it to happen, and to the two "hoodlums," for thinking it is OK to take something from someone else. Mostly they took my self confidence. I will get that back! Elder W. took care of canceling the cards and our friends at home were also a huge help to us...AS ALWAYS. I will be eternally grateful I was not hurt.

Yesterday we needed to get out and get some exercise and fresh air. So, we set out for a very large park we had heard about down toward 'la rambla.' We found it. It is called "Parque Rodo," a beautiful park for children and families. There were several attractions for little ones, food and other things too. I took many photos of the carnival type atmosphere. Unfortunately, they do not open until 3 pm. We were there at 1 pm, but they were having a birthday party with the Bumper Cars.

                                                                                                     
Close to that park was another park, with a large field for soccer, swings, teeter totters, swings for really small children. So here are a few of the many photos we took of our adventure. They had several more carnival type attractions. Montevideo is a very family oriented city.

                   

This was the cutest train that took children all around the carnival area. The paint on the 5 cars was great. Of course I choose to stand next to the truck that says "BOMBEROS" in English "Fireman." It is the second car in the train.

 We continued to walk around and found large statues and monuments, beautiful trees and playgrounds.

On the left of this walkway are tennis courts,  handball courts and several different swing sets. We continued our walk across a wide street to end up at the beach. It was such a perfect day. There were many people beginning to gather. You have to remember, in Latin America everything fun begins later in the day or late at night. We found a family going for a swim. The water looked very clear...that does not happen very often because of the wind here on this coast. The water is pretty cold, they did not look very upset by that. Also, look at how shallow the water is so far out, they are all standing up!


We had a very nice calm day and it allowed me to gather myself again. We drove home and the regular Saturday "chores" were completed. Laundry, shopping for groceries. And oh yes, Elder W. bought me a new wallet, and a smaller purse that I can wear across my body. Now I can take my entire purse and not just my wallet. I am married to a wonderful man.

In my next post, I will digress just a little and mention a few interesting things that have happened since our arrival. We miss you ALL! Even though we have had a few hiccups, we are both doing well. We pray each of you is well and have a happy heart. The gospel is true and we love serving.

Until I write again, our love to you all.
XOXO

Our Arrival

 

Our arrival in Montevideo on September 20, 2012.  Elder W. is pushing the total of our lives for the next 18 months.

It is everal months later I am just now beginning to write this blog! We have had a bit of a bumpy ride thus far, had a few hiccups, but we hope we are beyond that now.

I will take a few steps back and start from the beginning. We arrived on a Thursday and resided with President and Sister Armstrong for several weeks as we looked for an apartment. We looked for quite awhile, but finally found a very nice fairly new complex with good security. Working in the mission was kind of put on hold during this time until we became established. We did assist with missionaries coming and going from the mission home as needed.

Finally on the 9th of October we signed our contract (yeah) and moved in on the 10th. We spent one night in our apartment and the very next day went with President and Sister Armstrong on a mission tour to three zones. When we arrived home, after a very hectic but very spiritual 3 days, our apartment had been broken into!!! Our laptop, I mean OUR LIFE, had been taken along with my jewelry, an extra camera and a small amount of American money (I don't even know how much.)

Our apartment is the second from the bottom (the tree is in the way) where the burglars entered.
The managment of the apartment complex have been very, very good to us since then. They have taken all the suggestions that Elder W. gave them on how he wanted the sliding glass doors (where the burglers entered) to be secured. They did exactly what he suggested. Since then they have added 3 security lights at the back of the complex, and additional security locks to the glass doors AND the windows! We are sure they did not want any type of lawsuit for lack of security. We really are very comfortable here now!


Since that time we have had several mission changes...missionaires coming from the MTC and Elders and Sisters leaving for home. All of these meetings are such special times. This is a photo of a zone leaders training. Boy can the missionaries eat...anything, and lots of it!!!

We are more established now and I will continue to write as time permits. As I write, I will go back each time to fill in a few blanks and share some photos and stories.


Our love to you all. We miss our family so much and our friends and ward members more than you  know! Please take care of one another until we return.

Until next time.