Trip to the Campo

While at General Villegas we were treated to a gran asado (great bbq) by the Cruz family. The above picture is of us with Brother and Sister Cruz by their mud oven. He started the wood burning outside in front of the oven. When he had hot coals with fire, he put them in the oven. When the oven was white hot inside, he put the grill and the meat in. He was cooking sausage and the traditional cut of the back. He then blocked the opening with a metal door and propped it closed until the meat was cooked.

Above is Brother Cruz with some of the meat he cooked. It was delicious.

We are all eating and enjoying the great meal with the Cruz family and the Elders. Along with the meat, Sister Cruz served an Argentine potato salad, chicken roulade and salad with cooked beats. For dessert we had a delicious layered torte with dulce de leche and fresh strawberries.

A picture of us with the Cruz family in front of their home.

This is a picture of the General Villegas Branch after our Sunday meetings.

We were asked by President Benton to do five things at General Villegas:

1. Review the finances and help them set up a proper system and complete their reports

2. Help them find a new pension (if necessary)

3. Visit various families and stay for Church and give some talks.

4. See that they are using the new chapel area and what physical needs they may have. We brought them an additional 15 chairs for this first Sunday in their new chapel area.

5. Check up on the English studies of Elder Alvarez, the Branch President.

The Elders were prepared and excited to have us. We were able to fulfill all of the President’s directives. We concluded they definitely needed another apartment and agreed on their choice, after viewing several possibilities. On Saturday we visited with the Edelio and Monica Moreno family and their eight children who have been members for about a year. We were touched by their humble circumstances and their strong testimonies of the gospel. On Sunday, the Elders and us were invited to eat an authentic Argentine asado (bbq) with the extended Cruz family. The father is a real gaucho (cowboy).

The branch has been open about three years. When the previous Mission President (President Ramos) served, he found himself always thinking of General Villegas, which had no missionaries. He felt impressed to travel there with his wife and to stop in the main plaza. She was hungry and wanted to get something to eat. He told her “No, we need to stay here longer.” Soon a young woman approached them, noticed their name tags, and said, “I know what church you belong to, because it is our church too.” This was the youngest daughter of the Jose and Graciela Cruz family. She is now married and the YW President in the branch. The Cruz’s had moved from Ituzaingo (a suburb near us in Ramos Mejia). They had been without the church for seven years. This is just another example of how our Heavenly Father is mindful of his children and how we can be in tune to the Holy Ghost and act on his promptings. They are a stalwart family. There are currently a little more than thirty members in the branch.

It was a wonderful experience to visit General Villegas. The spirit was very strong and the members are very dedicated.