Dear Family and Friends,
The trees are shaking with cicadas (or some other loud buzzing bug), the mangos are ripening (the other day I watched as a group of kids picked the green mangos from the lower branches of the tree and chucked them at the taller branches to try to knock down the riper red fruit which always seems to first appear just out of reach for some reason), the air is full of smoke from the constant explosion of fire crackers and the smell of asado (argentine barbecue), the streets are littered with half-moon watermelon rinds and bees are bathing in the sweet nectar, meanwhile small plastic swimming pools are popping up in every yard and children are happily splashing and bathing in the (sweet) cold water, santa is playing his saxophone and even the smallest corner kisok is stocked full of packaged sweet bread. What does all of this mean? Christmas is near, of course!
So far I am enjoying my summertime Argentine christmas. Like I said above there are lots of santa statues in stores and street corners and for some reason he always seems to be playing a saxophone. I was heretofore unaware that santa played the sax but...I like it!
The work is going well here in Resistencia. We are working hard and meetings people and things are looking up. Last week we got a reference from the elders for a man that lives in our area. His name is Julio. We passed by his house several times and he never answered. The last time we passed by one of his neighbor´s, Ramon, saw us leaving and said "Julio isn´t answering? Here let me try!" and he proceeded to knock yell ("Julio! Julio!"), slam windows and, finally, push the key through the key hole. Julio finally emerged. He is going through some rough times, it seems, ever since his girlfriend left him. He doesn´t get out of bed much. But he had been reading the Book of Mormon which the elders had given him when they met him on the street. We are just starting to teach and work with Julio but I will keep you updated on how it goes. I have a soft spot in my heart for him. and for Ramon who helped us get him out of his house and who is also listening to our message.
Last week Hna. Griffeth and I bought a little Christmas tree for the equivalent of $5 and we have been decorating it little by little this week in our rare snatches of down time. I made a popcorn string and Hna. Griffeth has been making really cool origami ornaments. We also bought ourselves some stockings and are going to fill each other´s stockings with little gifts.
Yesterday we watched the re-broadcast of the first presidency christmas devotional in our chapel here and I loved it. It is nice to remember the true spirit of Christmas and to be spending this Christmas visiting people and teaching and singing and praying with them. I can´t think of anything better. I know the savior lives and that the atonement is real.
Merry Christmas,
Hna. Parker
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