We've Got Some Poodle Meat In The Freezer

Randys!

Hey there! how goes it all? kickin', I can only presume. What a cool week. That’s great to hear about Emily getting married. Major props! And that you, Dad, are serving with the legendary Tom Russell. Tell him I said "sup".

Man, what a week this week. A common thing that’s happens en-route to district meeting is protests!  Where a bunch of angry workers throw tires in the middle of the highway and light them up so you can’t drive past.  This always seems to happen like, a mile from the chapel so we have to walk all that way to district meeting. You can imagine I'm very happy and pleasant when this happens.

I can’t remember if I told you guys but everything here is made of wood and is built like a lean-to. I'll have to snag a pic of these houses. It’s impressive like, the majority are houses made of wood and whatever else can be found. There are also just miles and miles, mountains upon mountains, of orange groves and they smell soooooo good! We have a lot of abandoned country lanes in our area so it’s nice to just walk with the sun setting in the distance and a warm wind hitting you while you're smelling the oranges—Kerouac had nothin’ on this.  But the weather here is either very, very cold or very, very hot and sticky. Right now it’s hot and sticky...I’m waiting for these first days of spring (fall really) to kick in. I want cold. I miss cold.

We live near a club that’s just up the street from us. Every weekend you can’t get to sleep until around 12 or 1. I haven’t heard Chris Brown played so many times in my life. It’s sad, really.

There’s not much happening with investigators here so we are hunting for some more and praying for some more. My comp is kinda remembering and forgetting the investigators he had here. It’s a bit difficult but it’ll work out well.

We had leadership capacitación in San Pedro (the largest city near us) yesterday. President was there and he gave all the presidents, bishops, and counsulars a capacitación. We rode in a super sketchy van to get there. There was like, a hole in the floor below me which made it fairly hard to take a nap.

After the capacitación, to our surprise, there was a regional satellite conference broadcast to all of Argielandia. Hermana Stevens, Elders Bowen, Clayton, and Nelson all spoke. It was so cool and, guess what? I had no clue but Elder Nelson speaks Spanish and he gave his talk in Spanish!  It was way tight and we all felt the spirit something good. Elder Clayton said something interesting. He said when we are doing the things we are supposed to be doing (praying, reading, going to church, keeping our covenants and commandments) then we can figure out our problems when problems come to us. We’ll be so blessed and prepared by the Lord that we can find a way around difficult situations. I just thought that was a nifty thought.

We also bought an oven! Yes! We have an R.C. Willey-type of joint near us so we bought one there. This is like the 56th time I've bought an oven in my mission but it’s so worth it.

My love for the Book of Mormon has been in full force this week. F´reals, I love studying it and reading it and, the best part, just finding all the gold nuggets this amazing book has. There are just numberless verses and amazing promises and blessings. I’m scanning over the very beginning of Alma that I’ve read so many times but I just like to swing by periodically and read it. Good stuff from a good, true book. That’s about it for the week I’m afraid. This upcoming week should be pretty eventful but till then, Q´s?

How long has your companion been in the mission?

• He’s got Zach’s time in the mish. He’s a cool kid and was actually Zulauf's comp in Tucumán. He’s cool but can be a bit of prideful fella yet he's a good egg. It’s really just kinda like being with the brother from 50 First Dates. For example: I find him periodically taking pictures of himself with pouty face poses...I wish I was making that up.

Do you walk a lot in your area?

• Yeah, still lots of walking, just a change of scenery—country lanes, hills, highways, and whatnot.

Was the pig skin you ate cooked?

• I hope so...

Do the members feed you there?

• Yeah, we eat with them just about everyday. Its a bit of more humble circumstances here: Chicken and rice (mostly rice), sandwiches, etc...I’m at the point in the mission that any hesitation to try out foods has been replaced by a mindset of: "Well, it looks like food, I’m hungry, I’m gonna eat it".

How many are in your area?

• 2 in Yuto. Just us 2...

Do the skies look very different there?

• Oh yeah! Like, you can find the Southern cross and everything. It’s way different. I can identify a few constellations I learned in school and not much else but yeah, its different.

How’s it going as 1^st counselor?  What kinds of things do you do?

• Good. For now its assigning people to do stuff and giving people their Liahona´s and it's relatively smooth goin'.

Are your leather scripture covers done yet?

• They are still in process. They guy said its probably like a few months before the end of my mission that I’ll see 'em so I’m guessing around June or July-ish.

What’s P-Day like there in Yuto?

• The norm: Wash, clean, write, and sometimes we hang out with the member kids and play guitar and piano. The other week we played a bit of soccer but its just the norm. And, yes! We do have a washer and its like a rich-person washing machine. It’s not the cylinder washer. It’s like one that has a lid. It’s amazing.

Were your sunglasses okay or should I try to send a different kind?

• No, no. They are perfect! They are just right!

Well family. Good chatz and what not but I’ve gotta peace. I’ll just have you guys know that its all good here in Yuto and that I’m having a ball. Please pray that I have some more tolerance for my comp and that all will be well. I love you guys so very much. Have a great week! I love you, its all good!

Con Amor,

Russ

Country Roooooads...

Church!

Our Pench in Yuto

The Chapel

We welcome you today, to our pri-mar-y

Things Are Going To Start Happening To Me Now!

Benlingtons!

How goes it!? It sounds good. I’m glad everyone was burfdayed and that it all went well. A very Happy birthday to Papa and Anna! I’m sure it was nothing but the bee’s knees and that, in all actuality, Anna is turning 5 or 7 and is nowhere near 15.....15´s a cool age; you can finally get to vote, buy tobacco, get a tattoo and get hitched.  At least I believe its 15 that you can do all that stuff....or is it 12? Something like that.

While all youz guys partied it up on Saint Patty’s day by drinking Guinness and listening to the Pogues, I was here in my new town of Yuto. This place is amazing! It’s a small, dinky town in the middle of nothing and yet has everything! It’s got a really heavy Italian influence here so there is a surprising amount of Caucasians here. The town is really low key and tranquil. You can see the stars at night because there is absolutely no surrounding light. There is every kind of fruit EVERYWHERE! I’ve seen forests of banana trees, sugar cane, mangos, tobacco, avocados, grapes, etc. It’s crazy. It’s tropical. We have a banana tree and an avocado tree in our backyard. And yes, our pench is really almost perfect. We are faulting an oven but we are buying one soon but it’s really amazing. We have to take buses everywhere and not just like buses buses, like greyhound legit buses, to go to like district meeting (which is an hour away) but it is way, way tight. The church though is another story. It’s a rented out big old house. And to try to give you a feel of what it’s like, it’s kinda like having church in the cabin at the end of the Blair Witch Project. It’s a wreck but it’s the best we got and we are supposed to be moving soon. I’ll have it get some pics of it next week.

The branch is very nice. Our branch president is a cool, funny guy. The majority of the branch are women. Like, there is almost no priesthood here. I think it’s just us and president and that’s it for priesthood. I’m the 1st consular in the branch presidency here so it’s a fun job. You get to do interviews, conduct sacrament meeting, and all that jazzy jazz. I’m pretty stoked for that. The members are all very nice. We had this one crazy, super menos activo guy give us freshly killed pig skin to eat and we ate it...It’s all right. Very greasy but, I guess, all right.

We had zone conference this week. I also got the package you guys sent me with the sunglasses and all. Much obliged, thank you thank you. But the conference was very nice. We talked about just living up the mission life while you can ‘cause you’re never gonna have this time again. So true, it was a good booster for the zone, I think.

The comp is a good scout. It’s a little like living with the brother from 50 First Dates but it’s all good. I’m happy, getting to know the area, and content. Other than that kids, that’s about it.

I think I answered all the questions about my comp, the area, the branch, etc.  But I will answer the one you asked about how people down here feel about having an Argentinian Pope. Yes, it’s Popin’ good fun here with Francisco I in office; everyone is pretty giddy about it. But he´s Porteño so I’m suspecting we´ll be seeing a lot more wrist shaking, gold chains, and khakis coming out of Vaticanville.

Well familys, that’s about it. I’m doing a lot better. I’m kinda bummed about the move and not training there but I’m in a good, new area and yes, things are going to start happening to me now.  It's just changes and all, you know. Well, until next week, see you later. I love and miss you, it’s all good.

Con Amor,

Russ

Streets of Yuto

Baño

Lucy and Ricky's Bedroom

My Desk

Santa's Workshop

Front Room

The Study

CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES!

Family timez!

Gosh darn it! How are you guys? I'm glad to hear it was a good week. Down here it was a week with more unexpected twists than an M. Night Shamalamianman movie.

We started out the week having lunch at the Familia Armella’s house on Tuesday. They have a little girl named Luz (short for Lucy) and we are about best friends. She has about Molly’s age maybe a little younger and is a whole bunch of fun. We played “throw the toys violently on the floor and scream” and, of course, the “purse” game where we have to put everything we find in the toy purse and then take everything out. We also played "Al-fee!" She can’t say “Allphin” so we have to settle for the next best thing. She will whisper “Al-fee” and then I say it again a little louder and then she says it a little louder and then, when it’s as anticipated, as loud as ever and she will hop up and shout it. It’s a grand time you know.

We also did some service in the week. We dug a draining ditch for an investigador who has arthritis. We were essentially digging up sewage, whacking out bamboo roots, and possibly getting dengue from the skeeters.

Well, some news. We were both expecting new missionaries right?....Well, we were at the house of Maxi and Noelia, teaching them a discussion, and we got a call from the zonies—not enough kids are coming. The mission had to make some ch-ch-ch-ch-changes and I’m leaving Aeroparque for another city in the province called "Yuto". I was, and still am, more than heartbroken. We were sitting right in the middle of Maxi and Noelia's house so we said our goodbyes right then and there. It was about, hands down, one of the saddest things I've ever done in my entire life. Everyone was just crying and it just seemed so unreal. I didn’t even see it coming. Maxi gave me one of his little baby boy’s shoes and said that he’ll hold on to one shoe and I hold on to the other shoe and we will wait for the day when these two little shoes will be back together.  We shared a very special moment. We all told how much the gospel has impacted our lives. I just hope beyond hope that they will be baptized. Its one of those things that’s just gonna make me think for ever. I’m having a feeling that thought is gonna haunt for a long time. But MAN! C’mon! I was here such a short time and I’m more than crushed to leave but I packed my bags, said "ciao" and hopped on the bus to Yuto.

My companion is named Elder Rosano from Uruguay. He is a funny kid. He’s like a mix on Matt Bezzant and Adams.  He seems like a chill, cool dude. The area is also really cool and the pench is perfect! Yuto is just a small town. We have a branch and I’m the first counselor in the branch presidency, apparently, so that’ll be interesting. I’m not sure if I’m DL, I don’t think I am but we’ll see.  Sorry this is kind of a short letter. We have to get going to an activity in a little bit but just know that I’m all good and safe and sound in my new area and that all is good. Questionz?

I cant’ remember.  Do they do daylight savings time in Argentina?

Argentina would cease to exist if you dared touch their time. The country, I’m quite sure, couldn’t function if they had it.

Are your shirts holding up?

Yeah. No matter how much bleach or cleanliness, they are still getting yellow. But that just means more experience.

What’s for dinner?

POLENTA!!!!!

Is summer turning into fall yet?

No, maybe, I’m not sure. Here I’m closer to the tropics and it’s really humid and the sugar cane is in full bloom. So nahhhh. Here, not so much.

Do you play soccer anymore?

Not much. I think the missionaries in this area play more soccer but, for the most part, only the younger missionaries play soccer. Everyone else’s is having their knees fall apart.

Well fams. Sorry for the short, quick email. Its just one of those crazy “I never saw it coming” change days but next week I will have a fuller report, I’m sure of it. Please pray that everything will be all good and normal and all good. It will be. You just know how I feel about changes. Well family, I love you all and miss you all so so very much. Have a great week. I love you! It’s all good.

Con Amor,

Russ

Gauchos!

 

Sweet 'Tater Jell-O

Dear Krinligton Family of Bellenwhacket, Indiana:

Elder Inman and I used to do that all the time. Its a spoof on those like fake fen-phen weight loss pill commercials and the people's testamonials of how great the product is but its always from people with non-existent names in non-existent towns like: “Hi! I'm Shy-Lee Meckenbrow from Runlinsbow, Nebraska and I've lost 25 pounds on the Melvadin system” or "I’m Jarintine Huggintaw from Grunshuckel,Mississippi and I've lost 683 pounds on the Dr. Burns 'Slim it to Win it' diet challenge" and so on and so forth. You get the picture....

Hello family! Its that time again when I get to say the “what's up?” and what not. I'm glad to hear all is good on the home front. I'm glad that sister Bayless is sitting by you at church so nobody will be taking my seat. We need to keep our pew safe from the Chitty and Smith gang for 8 more months (I'm not sure but I think that sounds like a great name for a big and tall store: "Chitty & Smiths: Just the right fit").

Yes, all is well here on the Argie front. This week was a rather interesting one; kinda crazy, man. We headed over to a member's house for a family night and her mom gave me something as a reward to represent all my hard work. Its a good llama-y handmade hat, a work that Jade Madison would surely be proud of--it's a gem.

------'s baptism was coming up this week and all seemed to be well, he was all ready and so was the family. The mom was intently listening to us about what happens and all was going well.

Then Satan, the creep, comes in and louses up every thing and, f'reals, problems just kinda sprung out of nowhere. ------'s sister called us and told us she had to tell the bishop about something she did and it was something major. I told her its OK, that she doesn’t have to tell us any details and that she should just go talk to her bishop. Apparently she came home crying, sad, and angry and scared her brother to the point of not wanting to get baptized and putting the mother to be super angry. This all happened Friday night. We got over to their house and they told us all about this and I thought I was going to die. Now ----- doesn’t want to get baptized, the mom's mad, OUR PETS HEADS ARE FALLING OFF!!! It was a mess but luckily we talked it out. It's all good and we had the baptism. After seeing the baptism the mom chilled out and, I think, kinda figured out the repentance is not "how dare they discipline my daughter" but something maybe a little more significant. The upshot is, she still wants to listen to us and wants to get baptized. ----- is all baptized and what not. Mariño baptized him and I confirmed him and it went all well.

I got a lot of opportunities this week to give blessings and do confirmations and just really exercising the priesthood. One thing that kinda stood out was a returned sister missionary in our ward asked if I could give her cousin a back-to-school blessing. She said that, before her dad passed away, he would always give back-to-school blessings. I gave the blessing and, idk, it got me thinking how great of a thing it is, the priesthood. That, even though it is just hard to comprehend at times, what a great blessing it is to use it and bless others with it. Its really got me thinking that I just want use it and bless others with it for the rest of my life: Family, future family, friends, etc. I just kinda had an epiphany and have been thinking about it all week. Just kinda knowing what it is, trying to understand it, and feeling the power and love that comes with it has been a good testimony builder for me. Good stuffs.

We headed over to a recent convert's house whose poodle just had puppies a couple of weeks ago. They sold them all but kept one and named it "Allphin"....YES! ...He's a prized pooch. I will send a pic of the mutt next week. The Killers are coming to Buenos Aires sometime soon. I hear it on the radio all the time and try not to punch someone in my blind fury from being tortured with something I can't have. I am patience but still, its The Killers.

Well fams. that’s 'bout it for the week. Queztons?

• Are the folks down there all atwitter about Benedict XVI resigning or do they just accept the fact that he was too pooped to pope.

Yes. It's crazy! Everyone is kinda in denial about it but its all over the news. My comp said its 'cause he read The Book of Mormon. I laughed at the joke but now I hear it 8 times a day...

• Are the peaches on the peach pizza canned or fresh?

FRESH! I had it again today.

• What's the worst thing to eat down there?

Liver, fish, certain kinds of cheese, bean soup, and there’s a desert called membrillo con queso which tastes like sweet potato jello with salty cheese on it...I'll eat it but I'm not happy about it.

• Do you still have your mini?

No, he left for Tartagal in the Salta province. He was a good kid. It's a good bit of training for the prospective missionaries.

• Is everyone down there still polite?

For the most part, yes. Lots of people will yell, "hello”, “123”, “I love you"... I try to imagine if you were in the states and saw someone from Mexico you would really yell "hola" or “uno dos tres” from across the street? I don’t know if they are being rude or if its just that they like America: The movies, music, and life there because they are always asking about it.

Well familees. I best be toddeling off but will be talking to you guys again soon. Idk what's gonna happen next week as the newbies are expected to come. Idk what the travel plans are so just know that will probably be happening next week. Pray it will all be good for my kid as he comes (I sure hope he does) and everything else. I love you guys have a great week and what not. I love you guys so so much. It's all good.

Con Amor,

Russ

P.S...Dad, I've found the Argentine Morrissey! His name is Vicentico and he has a song called "Creo que me enamoré" and he has a music video. Not just any video, it's a sad old man dancing music video. See if you can find it on Youtube...hang the DJ!

The Aeroparque Ward

So white it's almost blinding.

Somewhere watery in Aeroparque