Week 086 - He Gets None Of My Mario Jokes

Hi Guys,

That’s a serious mess that’s going on over there. I didn’t realize how bad the storm was until a couple of days ago, I get a little information here or there from members. But the pictures of the schools and the outside neighborhoods are a devastating site. I’m really impressed though by all the help that is going on over there, its impressive to me all the uplifting help that instantly goes on after an event such as this, I feel somewhat un-useful as I just read and look at pictures about it. What was really nice though was that on Wednesday this past week, the district president asked us to join the district of Rafaela in fasting for safety and comfort for those in Texas. He didn’t know that I have family and friends in Texas. Argentina is on the other side of the world, but fasting and prayer is a universal act that works in whatever part of the world. And I was also impressed by what members would be willing to do here. In a disaster such as this. I’m glad everyone’s alright though.

Happy birthday Dad! September definitely is the best of months. I’m sure mom and the sister’s gave you a great fiesta.

JUSTO! I just got transferred to a new area. It was kind of sad; I was hoping to stay in Rafaela until the end of the mission. In fact I was so sure that I was going to stay in Rafaela until the end of my mission, that I used all the money that I should´ve used for traveling, leaving me with nothing. So it was fun trying to figure that out. For reals though, I had this meeting with my mission president like 5 days ago, and he kept talking to me like I was staying. "You need to do this in Juan de Garay; help with this is Juan de Garay." Now I’m thinking that president has no idea who Elder Greene is. 

But I was sent off to the city of Santa Fe, in the Belgrano ward, northern Santa Fe. Pretty sweet that I get to live the city life now. All is well. I arrived safely yesterday just in time for lunch at McD's. Gladly paid for by my new companion, Elder Mario. And Elder Mario doesn’t seem to know who Mario really is, so he gets none of my Mario jokes. It’s funny because Mario is an Italian that looks like a Mexican. Argentina is a bunch of Italian Mexicans if you get the gist of things. He is from the famous Buenos Aires of Argentina...The Capital. But he's not so porteño as he seems. He’s from the province of Buenos Aires but lives in the tiny tiny tiny not so famous city of Rauch. So not only am I finishing off the mish with a strait Argentine, but one that is from a gaucho town, that went to a high school where you study gaucho, and how to live like a gaucho. Beyond fantastic for me as I am one that desires to one day receive gaucho status.

I’ve only been here one day so I haven’t met a lot of people. But it’s apparently a very strong ward here, with lots of members. We get lunches like everyday, sweet. We ate dinner last nigh with the family Pérez. They are super cool, super fun, and very active in the church. The man of the house is named Maxi, and check this, his dad is the founder and head honcho of the distinguished cumbia band named La Contra. Now like usual you guys probably have no idea who they are. But they come out of Santa Fe, and there are super famous in Argentina. The two very famous Santafesino cumbia artists are Las Palmeras and La Contra. Cumbia comes out of Columbia but Argentina cumbia is different and distinct and bien Argentino. All cumbia in Argentina comes out of Santa Fe. So that’s what I hear 24/7. Cumbia is funny because everyone listens to it here, whether you’re a baby or the Viejo’s. It doesn’t matter. I thought it was like a an old folk tune but girls at their 16th birthday parties listen and dance to this stuff like its Katy Perry. Anyways good times.

it was rough leaving Rafaela though; there are some great people there. I’m going to miss it a lot. 

I hope the best for you guys, keep working hard. I love you!

Elder Greene

I also got my ecclesiastical endorsement with my president, so we are set. I’ve been looking up classes I can take in the winter, mostly art and religion classes, but I don’t know a lot about what I can do with my Spanish, supposedly there is a test or a class I can take, I was hoping if you guys can take a little look into that. It would be awesome. Registration doesn’t start until the end of October so we have some time.