The best part was getting to be with Grama and Grampa for seven days! We did so many fun things, but what we enjoyed the most was just being together.
Here's a rundown of our days way down south: (you may want to get a snack and get comfy before you begin... pace yourself, this could take two or three sessions to get it all read)
Wednesday:
Grama and Grampa met us at the airport, Grama buys a quick breakfast for everyone at McDonald's -- including a few extra items just in case anyone is still hungry (we found out that some things never change -- thankfully!) Grama begins putting pesos in our pockets almost immediately -- she's been saving them up from her "allowance".
We went to their apartment to rest up. Daniel, Katie, and Heidi, were out cold for a few hours. I was too excited about being there to even think about sleeping. We unpacked all the "American" items that we brought -- peanut butter, powdered sugar, stovetop stuffing, chocolate chips, tomato soup, etc. It was like Christmas!
G&G took us to the South America South Area Office. It was really fun to meet everyone there -- the employees and the other Sr. missionaries. G&G are very well loved!!
We had a great dinner of stew and scones, felt just like old times!
We were all so tired we were almost asleep before 9:00, but then we revived with a second wind when we put in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". We laughed our way through it, Katie and Heidi thought that one of the bride's names - Dorcus - isn't one that would be high on their baby-names list.
Thursday
We were on our way to the area office, to catch the nearby subway, when Grampa got a call from one of the Sr. missionaries having some heart trouble. Grampa was torn, but really felt that he needed to go with this missionary to the hospital for the testing. We fully supported him doing this, but we were sad that he didn't get to spend the day with us.
We rode the subway (a first for Heidi) to the city center. We started the city bus tour on the double-decker tour buses. We got off midway through at La Boca - the colorful tango area of the city. We had fun watching the tango dancers, and Daniel and Katie even got to show off the three tango steps that they know!
After a yummy lunch of Argentine food (there's a great story here, that will have to told in person -- just note that if Grama ever asks for a certain flavor of soft drink, and you tell her that you don't have any, just be prepared...) , and some souvi shopping, we headed back to the bus to finish the tour.
Grampa had called to say that he was done at the hospital and was back at the office. On the tour map, it looked like we had at least another hour to go. It looked like to me that we could get off at the next stop and be a few blocks to a subway line that would intersect with the subway line that goes back to the office... (another story here involving asking soldiers for directions, deciding to take a taxi, no cash, an ATM out of cash, and a body to body subway ride). We made it back to the office after what Grama referred to as "more adventure than I bargained for!" (There is one more story which also must be told in person -- involving a Grama standing on the subway, and two business men who do not get up to offer her their seat when her grandson asks if they would trade ...)
That evening we took Daniel to the missionary's apartment to spend the next 24 hours with them. The elders were thrilled to have Sis. Petersen's grandson join them -- because it meant that in addition to this jr jr companion, they also got a whole panful of Sis. P's famous homemade cinnamon rolls! We found out that everything is relative -- in Argentina when you say something (like where someone lives) is close-by, it means that it's about 20 minutes away. In Rexburg when something is 20 minutes away, you say -- That's all the way past Rigby!
Our movie of the evening was first the mission-appropriate parts of "Evita" (we sang "don't cry for me Argentina" the rest of the trip), and then "Forever Strong", which G&G really enjoyed.
FRIDAY
We had a really sweet experience going to the Buenos Aires temple. Katie and Heidi got to do baptisms, and were confirmed by Grampa. Then G&G and I did an endowment session, and Grampa was the veil worker to take both Grama and I through the veil. It was a very special and emotional moment.
G&G introduced us to their favorite restaurant - Kansas. We all had delicious steaks and baked potatoes. Then we stopped for helado (ice cream). Mmmm, it was so good -- I love the dulce de leche flavor. We picked up Daniel and then watched "Chariots of Fire". Daniel was so worn out that I think he only saw the first 20 minutes, and then he was out cold. He had a good experience with the missionaries -- a very realistic glimpse of mission life. The companions weren't very fond of each other, and had a minor skirmish, two of their three appointments fell through, and they ate a very typical lunch with one of the members. It was really cool seeing Daniel in "mission mode".'
SATURDAY
We drove to the city center to tour the Casa Rosada (Pink House) which is similar to our white house. On the plaza in front of it, we had pigeon encounters of the too-close kind. The kids had a blast having the pigeons land on the hands, arm, and heads! I'm not so into that...
On the way back to Recoleta, the large cemetary/mausoleum and artisan fair, we drove down 9 de Julio -- the widest street in the world, with 20 lanes going each way. We had a McDonald's lunch that day -- Katie was thrilled!! Although with most of our meals being homemade by Grama, she/we ate very well on the trip! We then saw Evita's grave, and shopped at the artisan booth's.
Then it was time for Daniel and Grampa to leave for the big event -- the Argentina vs. Peru world cup qualifier soccer game!!! We were so thrilled that José from the area office completely arranged for the tickets, and then agreed to go with them to the game (so they wouldn't get lost!). Daniel was so stoked!! We were just having a cozy girl's night at the apartment when we noticed around 8:00 that is was pouring rain... They came home so soaked, even their socks were dripping water, Daniel's belt was even soaked through. They said that it just added to the overall awesomeness of the whole experience. Daniel was totally starstruck seeing players that he's watched on tv -- and truly amazed at how great they were.
SUNDAY
We attended the regular ward that G&G attend. Katie and Heidi sat very patiently through 3 hours of church without understanding anything, except for Grama's testimony (which she gave in English so they could understand it -- and Grampa tranlated it into Spanish). Grama told them that now they know how she feels every week in church. Daniel of course made several friends during the meetings, like father like son...
Then we headed to Santa Fe, where I lived for 8 months of my mission with the Castañeda family. G&G met them when they came to pick me up. I was not sure they would remember me, as they had dozens of missionaries live with them, and it had been 25 years since that time. But, it was a wonderful reunion! They got out their "missionary book" and it had my picture, and our wedding announcement in it, and a letter that I had written them. They asked if I had married "the one that sent the flowers". Rod had called and explained to them what daisies looked like, and asked them to get me something similar for valentine's day. They were really tickled to be in on that fun surprise.
It was really special to talk with them and hear all about their family. They had the same special spirit and love as before. They thought Katie and Heidi were just beautiful, and they were highly entertained by Daniel practicing his Spanish with them. We spent a couple hours there, and I will always treasure that time.
MONDAY
On the way back to Buenos Aires, we stopped at the Rosario mission home and office, which is the very same one as when I was there. It was extra fun, because it was p-day, so Daniel got to play a little hoop with the elders. They had an Idaho v. Utah game. One of the elders recognized Daniel, and vice versa -- and they figured out that they had played soccer against each other for three years. He had been on one of the I.F. soccer teams. Katie was also a little twitterpated at all the cute elders!! (Finally some cute guys...)
We took a picture of me, Mom and Dad in the same pose as when they picked me up from the mission home. We all look a little older...
We spent the afternoon at the Gaucho artisan fair in Buenos Aires. It was a very fun atmosphere with traditional music and dancing, gauchos doing great riding feats, and super shopping! Katie's shopping quota was full -- so she started making bargains like -- Heidi, you and I could share this... (Heidi still had a lot of pesos left to spend).
Monday night we at at "Siga la Vaca" (follow the cow). Daniel had been looking forward to this since Grampa told him about it the first day. It's a big Argentine grilled meet restaurant. The grills were about the size of our living room, full of meat! Katie went to the salad bar first, and came back in a few minutes with an empty plate... Nothing recognizable really. Daniel took a little of everything, and only had to spit out the raw beef mixed with lettuce.
The meat was delicious -- the girls had some chicken, and a little bit of beef. Daniel had three platefuls of meat, and would have gone back for more if the girls weren't insisting that it was time for dessert (more helado!)
TUESDAY
We couldn't believe that a week could pass so quickly -- it really did seem like we had just arrived, and it was time to pack to go home. We needed to do just a little more souvenir shopping. Unfortunately, this is when Dad got pick-pocketed. Mom told about that in an e-mail last week. So he headed back to the office to start taking care of the cancellations, and then we sent Mom back to the office in a taxi, and then we took a taxi (another first for Heidi) back to La Boca where we were able to get our last few things. Daniel got a soccer ball of course, and we got jerseys for Sam and Michael.
Then we had to say our farewells at the airport. It was sure hard to walk away!
We are really so grateful that we had this very special opportunity to spend a week with Grama and Grampa on their mission. They are so loved and admired by everyone there; we felt really proud to be part of their family!!
Thank you Grama and Grampa Mission for your great example of love and service!
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