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THE DIARY OF CLARK S. KNOWLTON,
9 February - 9 December 1940
February 8, Thursday: Now I am in La Plata. Elder Brinton came in around 12:30 and picked me up. We took the train for La Plata that seems to be about the size of Salt Lake City. My report scheme worked. But I had better stay away from the central office for a few weeks. The missionaries in La Plata are Elders Brinton, Standing and Borén, Elder Borén is a native Argentine. He is extremely intelligent, a very fine missionary. I felt sorry about leaving Liniers. Elders Jantzen and Barton and I have become very close friends. Here I should learn Spanish much faster then in Buenos Aries, and be a far better missionary. I received a letter from Dad telling me that he was sending $30.00 down by air mail. I ought to get out of debt.
February 9, Friday: Got up around 6:30 and studied Spanish for an hour. Elder Brinton says that I'll be able to obtain a fairly good pronunciation. It rained in the afternoon while we were at a cottage meeting. I think a lot of Samuel Borén. Because of him we speak Spanish. I have been given an English class to teach composed of a young man who is about my age and wants to learn English. He ought to teach me a lot of Spanish. I am beginning to get my missionary spirit back at last. I think that the Mormon church has a great future in Argentina. Most of the people appear to be honest and open hearted. Most of them are against Catholicism.
February 10, Saturday: The papers say that President Roosevelt has sent Summer Wells to Europe to test the possibilities of peace. The president may be honestly seeking peace or perhaps creating a diversion for the coming election. He will visit all countries at war. We had a water fight today. My room was drenched. We went downtown and I bought sheets and stockings. I am going to take my poncho home with me.
February 11, Sunday: Went to Sunday School. There is no Priesthood here hence no Priesthood meeting. Five were in attendance. We have 7 members and 15 investigators. We feel that our Church can expand greatly in La Plata. We had a fine crowd out for our evening meeting. Elder Dana gave a talk on the 13th article of faith. He is very sick. Barton is also sick in bed. Colds and flues are running rampant. At night we went downtown to see the ending of Carnival. Everybody was in costume and men and women strolled up the streets hurling paper picados in at each other and squirting perfumed water. People in gaucho dress were riding up and down the streets.
February 12, Monday: Studied Spanish all morning. It was my turn to cook today so I cook. My meals did not turn out so hot. I hope to buy a cook book soon. We don't have an oven only a charcoal native stove and a primitive stove by which all of our cooking is done. In the afternoon we visited investigators.
February 13, Tuesday: Nothing exciting happened. Studied Spanish most of the day. In the afternoon we went visiting. There is a man who is not a Mormon but knows a lot about the Incas. I hope to make his acquaintance. There is quite a rich treasure of Archaeological works in Spanish which I hope to buy. The papers say that Roosevelt will probably run for a third term.
February 14, Wednesday: Got up around nine. Mosquitoes are a serious problem. My turn to cook again. After dinner we went out visiting the Taylors an old English family resident in Argentina. After the visit, we went up town and purchased some tango sheet music and magazines in Spanish. The Russians have penetrated the Mannerheim line.
February 15, Thursday: Got up late. Studied Spanish. After lunch we visited investigators. A little girl invited us to her birthday party. Finns still holding the Mannerheim Line. Guerrilla warfare in Palestine and some fighting on India's northwest frontier.
February 16, Friday: Studied part of the morning. The mission newsletter came. I have $30.00 in the mission home. Elder Quarly had to go home. The doctors say that there are indications of a brain tumor that needs operation. He leaves today on the Brazil with Elder Duke. There is a plan to scatter the German sailors of the Graf Von Spee among the diverse cities of Argentina. The German firms say they will provide employment for them. Hope some come to La Plata. Would like to talk to them. We visited an upper class home. Luxury is no word for it. Their homes are comparable with upper class homes in the United States. Their girls flirt more than lower class girls.
February 17, Saturday: The Mannerheim line in Finland is beginning to give. I feel sorry for the brave Finns. No one is coming to their assistance. The war so far is a watch and wait game. Wait for what? Springtime is on the way.
February 18, Sunday: The Finns have abandoned the Mannerheim line. The Russians are paying very dearly. The British invaded Norwegian waters to get a German boat even though the boat had a Norwegian escort. Norwegians are all hot about it. No matter who wins the war in Europe the European hegemony of the World is shattered.
February 19, Monday: Poor Paraguay has acquired another dictator by the name of Estigarribia, former minister of war. AT night we went to a show. It was good. We saw a picture portraying Indian life in part of Argentina. I would like to visit them.
February 20, Tuesday: Got a letter from home. They say that it has been raining a lot instead of snowing. England is threatening Norway. The French have fallen into a series of ambushes on the Western Front.
February 21, Wednesday: The Germans have sunk another British destroyer. Seven British destroyers have been sunk so far.
February 22, Thursday: We went tracting this morning, the first time for me. I enjoyed it very much. I doubt that I did much good because of my limited knowledge of Spanish and of the gospel. In the afternoon we visited investigators. In the evening we presented a mutual. The place was crowded. We showed slides of Iguazú. We then served cookies and mate. The Argentine people are very hospitable. They are a very proud people. If you insult one it may mean a knife or a revolver.
February 23, Friday: We went tracting for three hours this morning. Much to my surprise I find that I quite enjoy tracting which we seldom did in Liniers. La Plata is an attractive town. Its streets are clean. The only paved streets are in the center of town and in the better neighborhoods. Today is election day and people vote openly in an open room. One goes into the room and in front of you is a table at which are seated representatives of each political party. In front of them are the ballots. you pick one up corresponding to a party. You sign it and drop it into the box. Everyone knows how you voted. It is very easy for fraud and corruption to creep in.
February 24, Saturday: Went tracting for an hour this morning. Then we went up town. I bought some books on the Mayas and Incas. In the afternoon, Elder Brinton and I visited the Natural History Museum. It was a very good museum and I enjoyed it very much. The paleontological exhibits were extremely good. Argentina once had a very fascinating fauna in the Pleistocene period. The bird exhibits were also good. The Fauna and archeology exhibits were but fair.
February 25, Sunday: My turn to cook, again. Elders Whipple, Christenson, and Moffat came to La Plata to speak in Church. Elder Brinton went into Buenos Aires to speak. Meetings went off very well. We had a good time with the visiting elders.
February 26, Monday: The Argentine elections were fraudulent. The people are up in arms. The Argentine president promised that there would be no interference with the elections. More elections are to be held next Sunday. There were several large hostile demonstrations in La Plata over the electoral feud.
February 27, Tuesday: Today marks the end of my third month in Argentina. I am further advanced in the language. I am far happier then last month. Today I acquired a new English student. He is very intelligent. We use English classes to attract investigators. The address of my La Plata local is Calle 18, 1529. Summer is slowing changing into fall. Elder Taylor is down with Scarlet Fever. Having only one lung makes his condition serious. The rest of the missionaries are down with colds. So far I have not been sick.
February 28, Wednesday: I received a letter from home telling me that a neighbor girl Elinor Peed married Orwin Hatch. Elinor has joined the church and takes an active part in the ward. Lucille Sundberg married a non-Mormon. She was out of control during the past few years. Mother writes that they are thinking about moving from Holladay; into the city. This I don't like, but I will not raise any objections.
February 29, Thursday: Studied Spanish all morning. Visited investigators all afternoon. I do enjoy visiting the Argentine families, Italians, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, East Europeans, people from all over Europe. Summer Wells is on his way to Berlin after visiting other European capitals. I hope that peace may result but the war still goes on, Romania now arming. Russia slowly gaining ground in Finland at a tremendous cost. War in China still drags on.
March 1, Friday: Went into Buenos Aires early in the morning to attend a meeting of Elders. Received letters from Don Selin, Verda Dowsett, and Dad. After lunch went down to attend a baseball game between Los Mormones and another team. We won easily. Argentines have no sense of sportsmanship. They booed every act of the umpire. I have never seen players pull such dirty tricks as the Argentines. Native Argentine umpires are afraid to rule against Argentine team.
March 2, Saturday: Have been reading Prescott's works on the conquest of Mexico and Peru. I believe he treats the Aztec Empire to harshly. When I read of what the Indians suffered I remember that I have Indian blood and hope someday to see the white dominance of the Americas crushed. Europe has much to answer for in its treatment of the native people of the Americas.
March 3, Sunday: No meetings today because of Argentine elections. Studied Spanish. I try to get up at four in the morning every day to study until 7. Then comes breakfast followed by tracting, lunch, and visits to members and investigators. I feel that I am learning Spanish. Wonder what kind of a world will emerge from World War II.
March 4, Monday: Yesterday's elections were interfered with by the national government. But then we have crooked elections at home. The war in Europe seems to have become a waiting game except for the war on the sea. The British are moving troops toward Ethiopia. Finns are slowly giving ground to the Russians.
March 5, Tuesday: Missionary work continues as usual. We are subscribing to La Prensa.
March 6, Wednesday: Went visiting most of the day. Italy apparently wants to stay out of the way. England and France seeking to outflank the Seigfried line.
March 7, Thursday: We went tracting for two hours in the morning. The people are extremely hospitable. Elder Borén has gone to Pergamino to play basketball. My companion Elder Brinton goes home right after conference. This will mean a new companion and perhaps new assignments. The people rioted in La Plata protesting the corrupt elections. The police showed their teeth today. They chased the crowds. The Radicalista party won the elections but they are being intimidated by the government. One senator has been killed. I find it difficult to understand why the people don't protest more. Things are going to pop in Argentina sooner or later.
March 8, Friday: Missionary work as usual. The war captures most of our attention.
March 9, Saturday: Washed clothes and scrubbed down the local.
March 10, Sunday: Went to Sunday School and night meeting. We visited members and investigators.
March 11, Monday: Had to speak in Spanish at the cottage meeting. With the help of the Lord I did pretty well. There are reports of seven new missionaries coming in on the 28th of March. Some of us juniors may have to be made into senior companions. My Spanish is coming along fairly well.
March 12, Tuesday: Spent the morning tracting. After lunch visited investigators and our few members. Taught an English class. We have many young Argentines anxious to learn English. It is a technique to make friends, reduce prejudice, and develop investigators. Wished that I could speak Spanish better. Must study more.
March 13, Wednesday: Went tracting this morning. Then visited investigators. Rumors that a Treaty of Peace has been signed between Russia and Finland.
March 14, Thursday: Tracting and waiting. I do enjoy missionary work. The Argentines are very hospitable. It is difficult for them to send us away from their door. On the other hands maids will seldom invite us in or get their employers to come talk to us. We had a fine meeting last night. President Williams brought us some new films and presented them to a very large crowd. Letters from Don Selin, Jack Robins, Harriet Hinckley, and Aunt Chloe Hess. Our tracting is having some results. Attendance to our meetings is increasing, and we have more invitations to visit people.
March 15, Friday: The Finns have been forced to cede considerable territory to the Russians. I pray the day may come when they recover it. It is a tragedy that no one came to the Finn's assistance. All fighting seems to have stopped on the Western Front. Missionary work as usual but it is hard to tear one's eyes away from the war news.
March 16, Saturday: The other missionaries went to the Relief Society Bazaar in Liniers. I stayed here to study Spanish and the Gospel.
March 17, Sunday: Went to Sunday School and Night meeting. Our attendance is really growing. We have started a primary for neighborhood children with considerable success. I suspect that the war in Europe will start in earnest in a few weeks. Finland, Sweden, and Norway have formed a defensive league. Roosevelt asked for a just peace treaty.
March 18, Monday: Tracting in the morning. Visiting in the afternoon. Cottage meeting at night. Elder Standing gave a fine talk. We anticipate some baptisms within a few days. Hitler and Mussolini met at the Brenner Pass. Something will erupt.
March 19, Tuesday: Nine more missionaries will roll in tomorrow on the Del Mundo. The Relief Society was organized in our La Plata branch for the first time.
March 20, Wednesday: Out primary met. I am in charge. The number of children attending primary grows constantly. Tracting in the morning. Visiting investigators in the afternoon. Study t night. I am determined to learn Spanish extremely well. Study it every morning from 4 a.m. to 7.
March 21, Thursday: Tracting and visiting. I deeply enjoy missionary work. The variety of immigrant groups in Argentina fascinates me.
March 22, Friday: It rained a little today. We visited investigators most of the day. I quite enjoy missionary work. I am beginning to gain confidence in my Spanish and to use it more and more. I quite love the language.
March 23, Saturday: Rained all day. We stayed in the house. Three new missionaries arrived in the mission. I studied Spanish and the Gospel most of the day.
March 24, Sunday: The days are getting colder. Missionary work as usual. There is a group of young men who come to our local consistently. They are very curious about the United States. Whenever we go out we are surrounded by the neighborhood children. I always carry some caramels to give them. They are the raw material for our primary.
March 25, Monday: I am getting to enjoy Argentina a great deal. I now feel quite at home. The food here is mainly meat and Italian pasta.
March 26, Tuesday: Life as usual. Missionary work goes on and the war goes on in a low key. The Argentine railroads are beginning to burn corn.
March 27, Wednesday: It is a little warmer than usual today. We visited investigators all day. Today marks my fourth month in Argentina. We practiced our road show. Our members and investigators are enthusiastic about it.
March 28, Thursday: Went tracting for two hours. Then went visiting. At night held mutual. Mutual is very popular with the young people here. Received letters from Eldridge Threat, the family and Ann Henrichsen. The politicos in Utah are after dad's job. They have appointed K. C. Wright, Dad's assistant chief road commissioner as commissioner. Mr. Wright is a bishop's counselor.
March 29, Friday: Tracting again for several hours. We were invited in to a number of homes. Many are quite curious about what two Americans are doing knocking on their doors. We visited all afternoon. I spoke at a cottage meeting. Am beginning to feel secure in my Spanish. Waldo Henrichsen sent me the Utah Chronicle. He is at the University of Utah. Evidently Ann Henrichsen's father has some financial difficulties. They are taking in boarders. I suspect the family needs money. The weather is quite warm. Winter seems to have postponed its coming.
March 30, Saturday: It rained a little but soon cleared up. I studied Spanish a good part of the day.
March 31, Sunday: So ends the month of March. Tracting and visiting. We are hoping for some baptisms soon. We are now in the middle of Fall. Heavy German artillery fire on the Western Front. Elders Lawrence Jantzen and Watson spoke at our night meeting. Our attendance has picked up considerably. Our tracting seems to be bearing fruit. Jantzen reports that a mission may be organized in Bolivia. My close friend Barton is going to Mendoza in the far west of Argentina. I am thinking about forming a boy's club here.
April 1, Monday: Rained this morning. Had to cook. Studied Spanish all morning. Went visiting in the afternoon. I gave a talk in Spanish at a cottage meeting. Talked on faith. Apostle Ballard made the remark that someday there would be a temple built in Argentina. This must mean a tremendous growth in church membership.
April 2, Tuesday: Nationalism is certainly a curse in the modern world. The war is suicide for Europe. I don't think that continent will recover from it. I only hope that all totalitarian governments will be overthrown. We held a relief society meeting today as well as diverse English classes. We had a very fine day. Many investigators will come from these English classes.
April 3, Wednesday: Washed clothes all morning. Studied Spanish and the gospel. The wife of the Argentine president died today. We practiced our road show play this evening. Weather cool and pleasant. Mosquitoes are still a nuisance.
April 4, Thursday: Elder Burton went to Buenos Aires this morning. Elder Standing and I are going tomorrow. Most institutions closed a half day today in honor of the deceased wife of president Ortiz. Flags at half mast. We visited investigators all afternoon. We ought to have some baptisms soon. Liniers baptized five people.
April 5, Friday: We traveled into Buenos Aires for the conference. I am staying in Liniers. All day in conference. In the evening we visited members. I am not forgotten here. The Olmos girls and the Lady in Black were baptized. Baptism makes an enormous difference in the lives of these people. I bore my testimony in conference. Saw Elders Brewerton, Tolman, Anderson and the rest of the old gang. It was good to see them. Dad sent me a book on Oriental philosophy. I will always remember these missionary conferences. The spirit of the mission is extremely good.
April 6, Saturday: Up about six. Attended an elder's meeting in Spanish until noon. Testimony and instructional meeting. Then came mutual. Talked about courtship and marriage. It is my opinion that most Argentine girls marry below themselves. After the meeting the Duarte's invited me over to take mate. Enjoyed it very much. I can now understand virtually everything. At night each branch put on a road show. Sáenz Peña, a branch of all girls, very charming and lovely won. After the meeting a dance was held. Then the elders cleaned up the Liniers local. Three meetings are scheduled for tomorrow.
April 7, Sunday: Conference today. Three meetings. The Liniers chapel was very crowded. I could understand everything that was said. We have around 552 members in Argentina. The Church is growing very fast. Since November we have had 34 baptisms. We are working to fulfill the prophecy that someday a temple will be built in Buenos Aires. The Articles of Faith during the evening meeting were delivered in 13 different languages. Many of the girls are equal in beauty to any in the United States.
April 8, Monday: Two new missionaries came in. As usual I am close to being broke. The war is approaching Scandinavia. Norway and Sweden have mobilized. England is laying mine fields in Norwegian waters. It rained. The Elders went downtown to see a show. One town in Argentina was destroyed by a cyclone, many people killed. We returned to La Plata around 1:00 a.m.
April 9, Tuesday: Germany has invaded Denmark. Sweden is mobilized completely. Relief Society met today. Germans have also invaded Norway. Rumors of a major naval battle in the North Sea. Holland is mobilizing as is Italy. The war with the coming of spring is spreading unfortunately.
April 10, Wednesday: Denmark has capitulated without a fight. Norway is putting up an unorganized resistance. I studied Spanish for two days and the Gospel for two. It is hard to do missionary work when the news captures our attention almost totally.
April 11, Thursday: War and more war. We visited members and investigators hoping for baptisms. Attendance at our meetings is increasing steadily.
April 12, Friday: A few members of the Church from Rosario visited us. We took them on a tour of La Plata a most interesting city. We went tracting for an hour this morning. I am enjoying my mission very much. The Argentine diet is heavy with beef and scant on vegetables.
April 13, Saturday: German and English naval losses appear to be heavy in the North Sea fighting. The Norwegians are fighting fiercely. It has rained most of the day and our guests from Rosario went home today. We visited during the afternoon and evening. We visited the Taylors and Mazzuchis. Mr. Mazzuchi is German and his wife is English, a daughter of the Taylor's.
April 14, Sunday: It rained most of the day today. We had a very fine Sunday School and Testimony meeting. We are encouraged by the growth of attendance. Letter from Jack Robins who wrote that he is discouraged with life. Because of rain the night service was canceled.
April 15, Monday: Rained all day. We were unable to go outside very much. Studied Spanish and the Gospel most of the day. When the rain let us we visited investigators.
April 16, Tuesday: Elder Brinton went to Buenos Aries. Weather a bit colder. It rained so heavily that Ensenada was flooded. The wind had swept the water up out of the river. The poor were especially hard it. Indian blood in evidence in the population.
April 17, Wednesday: Washed all my clothes by hand in the morning. We visited members and investigators during the afternoon. Went to a show in the evening with an investigator named Párraga. There are a lot of shows for men called Cine Bar. One is allowed to drink, smoke, and eat in them. Prices are low. The shows are never vulgar. It looks as though all the towns along the La Plata river including Buenos Aires were flooded. Very poor drainage in this flat land. Few good roads.
April 18, Thursday: My turn to cook. Read the Book of Mormon in Spanish for an hour. Brinton not yet returned from Buenos Aires. I wonder who my next companion will be. Standing and Borén will leave within two months. Brother Brinton asked me to buy him some lace if I go North.
April 19, Friday: My companion Elder Brinton came in at night. We talked all morning. After dinner we went uptown to mail off packages for him. The Argentine post office has an incredible amount of red tape. After lunch we visited an old English couple by the name of Taylor. They are very nice but I do not think that they will ever join the church. During the evening I took charge of a cottage meeting. I spoke and then we had slides of Utah. I enjoyed it very much.
April 20, Saturday: Elder Brinton went to Buenos Aires again to see about his visas. We cleaned up the local and our quarters. It is my turn to cook. A letter came from mother. Studied Spanish for several hours. Read a church report that Mormons number around 800,000 in the world.
April 21, Sunday : Weather a bit warmer. Sunday School. Attendance a bit off. Dinner. Studied Spanish for several hours. Our night meeting was packed. We now have 10 members. A family of members moved in
April 22, Monday: Arose a bit late. Elder Brinton left for Buenos Aires. He has been a very good missionary. We had an enjoyable cottage meeting at the Se\'f1oritas. Seventeen were present at our first meeting. The boys down here are allowed to run wild in the streets while the girls are closely guarded. Curious customs.
April 23, Tuesday: Very cold today. Relief Society. Elder Brinton and I visited members all day. The branch gave a party for Elder Brinton and a fiesta for the starting of mutual. The hall was packed. Elder Brinton goes to Mendoza with Elder Taylor to help Elder Barton and a native Argentine elder to get started. They will be there for three weeks. My new companion is Elder Standing. He is O.K. He does not know as much gospel or Spanish as Elder Brinton. Brother La Vista has been staying with us for the last few days, his house was flooded and is being fixed.
April 24, Wednesday: Got up about 9:00. Studied a few hours before dinner. Then we went visiting brother Párraga. His younger sister and brother are sick with bronchial pneumonia. Local houses have not heating arrangements. It is a wonder the entire population does not come down with pneumonia. Just finished reading Radin's book, The Story of the American Indians.
April 25, Thursday: Arose around seven and studied Spanish until lunch. Then we visited several families in nearby rural areas. Returned to la capital Plata and visited a Maldonado family. Maldonado is the Spanish for McDonald. In the evening we went to a show.
April 26, Friday: Today was rather mixed. Arose late. Studied Spanish for an hour. Then we visited investigators. I bought some Argentine sheet music. We taught our English class. The class is composed of a woman school teacher plus several sisters. They belong to the high middle class. Their living standard is almost as high as our own.
April 27, Saturday: All the elders went to Buenos Aires today. We visited Mara Rendón Olmos. She is the sole support of a large family deserted by their father. They are of German blood and very poor. One of the Olmos girl is extremely talented. She paints, sculpts, makes her own clothes and helps support her family by sewing.
April 28, Sunday : We enjoyed our Sunday School and Sacrament meetings. Enrollment steadily increasing. Elder Standing went to Quilmes to speak. I spoke in our own Sacrament meeting for 10 minutes. My Spanish is still a bit shaky. Nice day although a bit cold. The missionaries' letter arrived. Indications of a major shift in missionary assignments. I would like to stick around La Plata for a few more months. I like this town. The missionary work is progressing. We now have over 50 people in attendance at each of our meetings.
April 29, Monday: Arose around 7. Studied Spanish for two hours. Morning a little cool but day turned out nice. We visited all afternoon. Then attended a cottage meeting held with two ladies who are Catholics but interested in Mormonism. At night we attended our English class at Lavallers. They invited us to their birthday party tomorrow.
April 30, Tuesday: Relief Society today. Our Relief Society is quite successful. Visited investigators all afternoon. For supper we went to the birthday party of our English student. Delightful crowd. They were a little afraid of us. We may get some favorable contacts from the party.
May 1, Wednesday: A national holiday. We visited investigators all day. Weather very good. Primary in the late afternoon.
May 2, Thursday: Studied Spanish and Gospel all morning. Two young members of the Church La Vista and Párraga were with us most of the day. They are two fine members of the church between 23 and 26 years old. Both should have a great future in the Church. La Vista was a former 7th day Adventist. His parents are quite unhappy at his baptism. The more I learn about the Argentines the more I like them. The boys of the middle class are like any group of middle class boys back home.
May 3, Friday: Attended to our English class in the morning. Went visiting investigators all afternoon. Studied Spanish during the evening.
May 4, Saturday : All the missionaries in our district went to Buenos Aires. Every elder had to speak. The president read a comparison of various missions. We rank fairly high among the leaders. The German and Japanese missions have the highest percentage of members paying tithing. The highest baptism rates are in the Pacific Islands. The Brazilian mission is doing all right.
May 5, Sunday : Fast Sunday. Our Sunday school won the Sunday School Banner for the month for the best attendance record in the Buenos Aires district. Elders Jantsen, Pugmire, and Madsen came out from Buenos Aires to speak. Brother Párraga was made a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood. We now have three teachers in the branch. La Vista ought to be made a priest. He knows the gospel thoroughly. We only had 34 people in attendance at our Sacrament meeting. We generally have from 60 to 70 people out.
May 6, Monday : Weather is warmer today. Studied Spanish. Visited investigators. Attended a fine cottage meeting. It now gets dark around 6:00 at night. In the evening we sent to the Lavallers English class. They are swell people. Their house is like an iceberg. No Argentine house has central heating and their construction is poor.
May 7, Tuesday : A fairly warm day. Relief Society. It was a very good meeting. Attendance is picking up. Tracted for an hour. Studied Spanish and Gospel all afternoon. Mutual at night. In the evening Párraga and I went to a cine bar. It cost only 40 centavos. A peso is worth about 23 cents in American money.
May 8, Wednesday : The war still intrudes on our thoughts. Allied warships sunk. Germany army against stiff English and Norwegian resistance is steadily advancing in Norway. Letter from home. The family is visiting Santa Fe New Mexico. Mother writes that Francis M. Darter is causing trouble back home trying to stir the people up against the authorities. She estimates that he has around 1,000 followers.
May 9, Thursday : Argentine music is sad and melancholy. Everyone seems to be dying for love. I like most Latin American music, Argentine, Brazilian, Mexican. I also enjoy Italian music. I even enjoy German music. Wonder when mankind will tire of the nationalism that is killing millions of men today.
May 10, Friday : The war is spreading once again. The papers say that Germany has invaded Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Hard to concentrate on missionary work. We held a cottage meeting in Villarruel. We also visited investigators. I do enjoy visiting Argentine families.
May 11, Saturday : Went alone to Buenos Aires. Got 100 pesos and bought German and Italian grammars. The raining down of troops from the air is a new way of fighting.
May 12, Sunday : After watching a few athletic events, I am inclined to believe that Argentine teams do not know the meaning of sportsmanship and most referees are not objective but are partisan. Sunday school in La Paz. We held a mother's day program in our sacrament meeting. The local was very crowded.
May 13, Monday : We were quite busy all day. Had a cottage meeting, visited members and investigators, and held our English class. We also visited some North Americans. According to the papers a German offensive has erupted on the Western Front. Weather a little warmer. Studied Spanish for an hour or two.
May 14, Tuesday : Usual missionary day. Studied Spanish and the Gospel. Visited investigators and members. I directed the mutual. This is the first time that I have ever directed a meeting in Spanish. I did fairly well.
May 15, Wednesday : Rained a little today. Studied Spanish in the morning. Directed our primary. We have found that primaries bear fruit. We work with children and through the children reach their parents. Show in the evening, Of Mice and Men. Rained during the afternoon.
May 16, Thursday : Tracting most of the morning. Studied Spanish. Visited investigators in the afternoon and evening. I pray that we can stay out of the European conflict. Loss of life is extremely heavy.
May 17, Friday : Arose at four. Studied Spanish a good part of the morning. My Spanish is improving all the time. Letter from Ross Christensen in Brazil. He has been sent to a small town on the sea coast. Visited investigators. Elder Brinton returned from Mendoza. Taught my English class at night. Germans have broken through the allied lines and are moving ahead rapidly in France.
May 18, Saturday : Rained all day. Mormons beat the Swift Club in Soft Ball, 20 to 1. Our athletic teams in basketball and baseball are being invited to play games all over Argentina. Athletics has been a major means of breaking down prejudice and making friends in Argentina. I want to learn enough Spanish to speak fluently on every topic.
May 19, Sunday : Sunday School in the morning and Sacrament meeting in the evening. The mission president and Elder McBride came out from Buenos Aires to speak to our meeting. The local was full. I did not even know half of the people. We visited investigators after Church. I am trying to improve my Spanish and to increase my missionary work.
May 20, Monday : Rained most of the day. We took care of our cottage meeting. I enjoyed it very much. As my Spanish improves, I am playing an ever more active role. We taught an English class at Taller in the evening. Weather is very warm and humid. Fungus is beginning to grow on our shoes and other items of clothing. I seriously question the quality of food and milk in Argentina.
May 21, Tuesday : Rained all day. Because of the weather Relief Society did not meet. But we did have a fine mutual. Letter from Don. He and Verda are still going together. Mt. Olympus chapel is about finished. Show at night. One really needs to live in another country to appreciate his own. I find my pro-German attitude weakening.
May 22, Wednesday : Once again the greater part of the poor neighborhoods are under water. A letter from Mima Humphries. She just found out that she is adopted. Her real name is Simmonds and her father lives in Indianapolis. Mima is a very wonderful girl. I wish her the best of luck.
May 23, Thursday : I find myself not getting homesick as often now. A cool wind is blowing. Elder Edmunds came into La Vista from Rosario. Attended a soccer game. Poor game. Today was Corpus Christi day. The Catholic Church had a great celebration for all the town.
May 24, Friday : Tracting in the morning. Shopping uptown. Visited members and investigators. German invasion of France and Belgium progressing.
May 25, Saturday : Argentine National holiday. The war of independence against Spain started today. Went to Buenos Aires to observe the dedication of our Mormon sport club and playing field. This was followed by a dance n the chapel. I stay at Haedo all night. Heavy fighting still raging in France and Belgium.
May 26, Sunday : Returned to La Plata. President Williams came out to visit and to speak in Church. Both Sunday School and Sacrament were well attended. Studied a little Spanish. Visited investigators. After Sacrament we visited the Gaite family. War still goes on with the Germans advancing.
May 27, Monday : Studied Spanish most of the morning. Visited the Lencinas in the afternoon. At night attended a cottage meeting at the Señoritas. English class which I enjoy. An enormous amount of talent is going to waste in Argentina among the poor. The loss of life in the war must be enormous. What a tragic waste.
May 28, Tuesday : I had a very nice day. Got in two hours of Spanish study before breakfast, we had a fine Relief Society in the early afternoon. Mutual at night. Taught the young people how to dance the Virginia Reel. Most of them liked it. Belgium surrendered today. British and French troops are running. The missionaries are planning to join the sport club El Atenas and form a local Mormon club to play basketball.
May 29, Wednesday : Letters arrived from Don Selin and Harriet Hinckley. Our primary was extremely good. Number of children increasing. Elder Edmunds is a fine elder and good teacher. We visited the Corte family who plan to move closer to the Church. I am in hopes that they will be baptized. Verda Dowsett is working and making good money.
May 30, Thursday : I have been assigned to speak in Sacrament Meeting next Sunday. Carefully wrote out my speech in Spanish. Letters from mother and Waldo. Everything seems to be going well with the family and in my Holladay world. Virginia, my sister graduates from high school, and my brother Paul from Junior High. Virginia is getting a G medal. Today we visited the Saltalamacchias and Señora Abondonado. We then visited a bitterly anti-Catholic man.
May 31, Friday : Cottage meeting at Villarruel. English class and a music class. Then went to another English class at the home of Lavaller. Elder Standing came to visit them for the last time. They almost broke down. I wonder how I will feel when my turn comes to leave the mission. The United States is rearming. I am afraid of the future. It seems black and stormy.
June 1, Saturday : Today marks the first day of my seventh month in the Argentine mission. I can really say that I like the country and its people very much. I now feel that I have lived in Argentina all my life. Went to Buenos Aires with the other elders to see Los Mormones play. They won. Elder's meeting. The spirit of God was very strong in the meeting.
June 2, Sunday : Our Sunday School is gaining in attendance. I studied my speech in Spanish most of the afternoon. Delivered it with fear and trembling at Sacrament meeting. I did fairly well. After Church we went over to the Levaller family for the farewell party for Elder Standing. I like this family very much. If only we could baptize them. There are a lot of families who like the missionaries very much, come to Church occasionally but will never be baptized.
June 3, Monday : I have a few problems with my stomach. Took charge of the cottage meeting at the Se\'f1oritas. Very nice meeting. Taught the English class at the Levallers. We talked about the church. They are very open minded. The situation at Dunkerk must be terrible for the English Soldiers involved. I hope that the United States stays out of the war.
June 4, Tuesday: Did not do much today. Our Relief Society met. We are gaining new members. At night the mutual. Not well attended. Day very humid and damp. I am very much aware of my deficiencies in Spanish and am studying the language several hours every day.
June 5, Wednesday : The Germans are now sweeping through France with little resistance. Studied Spanish several hours in the morning. We visited the Salvioli and the Lencina families. Enjoyed our visits. Both are excellent families. Our night meeting was very good. After the meeting Párraga and I went to a show name Suwanee River. These Argentines are great music lovers. The sound of a musical instrument draws large crowds. Many Argentines tell me that I have become an Argentine and will stay in the country, Argentines are great garlic eaters.
June 6, Thursday : Arose rather late this morning owing to the show. Elder Edmunds went off to Buenos Aires. I studied Spanish and the Gospel. Suspect that our Church may be entering a period of rapid growth around the World.
June 7, Friday : Very busy day. Focused my Church study on the apostasy and reformation. I understand it better. The Catholic Church in Argentina has a strong position in the public schools. The majority of the people we contact are but nominal Catholics. They knew little of the doctrines or history of the Church.
June 8, Saturday : Rained most of the night. Today is very humid. Encountered Tristán Villalobos and his girl friend in the Plaza yesterday. Made a date to visit Tristán next Tuesday. Rained all afternoon. Went up town to see a show, Gerónimo. Visited the Gaite family. While we were there, Pancho Lencina, Juan Párraga, Israel Lencina dropped in to visit the Gaites. Rained most of the day. Brother Standing has misplayed our tracting records.
June 9, Sunday : Day very cold. Picked up a bad cold. Went out in the rain last night and got wet. Our Sunday School and Sacrament meetings in spite of the rain were fairly well attended. An old Italian member, Constantine spoke. he was the first native Argentine member to be called into the mission field. I gave Book of Mormon to Pocha Montes. I believe that she and Mrs. Mazzuchi will be the next people to be baptized.
June 10, Monday : Morning very cold. We had a branch party to honor Israel Lencina who is going to Santa Fe. this was followed by a well attended dance. Norway capitulated today. She put up a long hard struggle against the Germans.
June 11, Tuesday ; Cold day. Relief Society. I mended most of my stockings. Also my coat was fixed. We had a very nice visit with Tristán Villalobos. So Italy entered the war. She may pay dearly. The Italian entrance into the war will affect Argentina because of the large Italian population. About a third of our members are Germans and Italians.
June 12, Wednesday: Wet and rainy day. Fog rolled in towards evening. My shoes and books are still sprouting fungus. We had a fine primary today. Elder Edmunds can really handle children. He has taught me a lot of things. We visited the Taylors. I doubt that they will ever become members. My Spanish is progressing. I have to prepare a talk for next Sunday.
June 13, Thursday: Day warmer in spite of the steady rain. Brother Edmunds went to Buenos Aires. Brother La Vista and I visited the family of Saltalamacchia. Had a very fine visit. Anti-German sentiment is spreading among the people but not among the government. Two missionaries were arrested for taking pictures. We are warned about talking English in the streets. The Argentines act before they think. I certainly admire the fighting abilities of the German soldiers.
June 14, Friday: Played basketball today. We have joined the Club Atenas and have formed a local basketball team. The Church tournament takes place in July. La Plata will enter a team. Paris fell to the Germans.
June 15, Saturday: Am a little sore after yesterday's basketball. Studied Spanish a good part of the day. Visited the Gaite family. A letter came from Eldridge Threet who is now in Taos, New Mexico. He has the missionary spirit. Prepared a speech on Revelation. Took some photographs of La Plata. I would like to settle down in South America someday.
June 16, Sunday: All the missionaries visited Juan Párraga on his birthday to take chocolate. We had a fine Sunday School. The meeting was well attended as was our evening meeting. Elders Wheeler and Palmer spoke.
June 17, Monday: France has surrendered to Germany. Many Argentines are extremely sad. The French cultural influence here is extremely strong.
June 18, Tuesday: Rained a little. All of our Sunday Meetings were well attended. Spoke in mutual in Spanish without notes. This is the first time that I have spoken extemporaneously in Spanish. Papers say the U. S. government is considering conscription.
June 19, Wednesday: Rained all day. Brother La Vista went to Liniers to attend a dance. We visited the Maldonados and had a nice gospel conservation. Played basketball at night in the Ateneo Vlun.
June 20, Thursday: Rained all day. Worked all day on my speech. In the afternoon we visited the Saltalamacchia family; a very nice visit. Letter from mother. Virginia graduates from Granite High school and Paul from Junior High. The family is really growing. Virginia plans to attend the university of Utah.
June 21, Friday: Played basketball this morning. Very stiff in the afternoon. First day of winter. Visited the Lavaller family and then the English class the family tells me that I will never return to the United States. I am completely Argentinized.
June 22, Saturday: Studied Spanish and the Gospel most of the day. Cleaned up the local. In the evening we visited the Gaite family. Most of our investigators here are of Italian origin. Carlos Párraga and Pancho Lencina also came with us. They may be interested in the Gaite girls. A bit anti-Roosevelt.
June 23, Sunday: Sunday. Our meetings were well attended. Our missionary efforts seem to be paying off. Gave my speech at Sacrament meeting and took change of the meeting. With the help of the Lord I can speak fairly well in Spanish. France and Germany signed an armistice today.
June 24, Monday: Rained a little. Took charge of a cottage meeting at Prima Sala. I finally have gained confidence in both my Spanish and my ability to do missionary work. From there we visited the Taylor and Gaite families. After our cottage meeting we went to our English class at Lavallers. I was surprised. It was the birthday of Dora Lavaller.
June 25, Tuesday: Rained most of the day. No relief society. Nice crowd at mutual. Taught them how to dance the Virginia Reel after the lesson. The after mutual dance is attracting a lot of young people. Edmunds and I ended the day by seeing the show, My son.
June 26, Wednesday: Rained most of the day but cleared up at night. Our primary was a success. We are attracting more and more children. We visited the Corte family at night. Enjoyed the visit.
June 27, Thursday: Rained again today. Edmunds went to Buenos Aires. I studied most of the day. Pancho Lencina came over at noon. Found out that his mother is against the Church. He told me he would become a member someday. I would like to see him baptized before I left La Plata. He has the potentiality of becoming an excellent church leader. I have learned not to be critical of anyone unless you fully know the circumstances in which they live.
June 28, Friday: The Balkan countries are fighting each other. We visited the Lencinas. Played basketball. Then visited the Salvioli family. Then followed a cottage meeting at Villarruel. The English class at Lavaller followed.
June 29, Saturday: Saturday. Washed all my clothes by hand. Letters from Don Selin, Mimi Humphries who is now Mima Simmonds. I wish her well. She is an excellent girl. Don writes that he and Verda may be breaking up. At night we had an enjoyable visit with the Gaite family and stayed late. I do enjoy visiting Argentine families.
June 30, Sunday: Sunday. Weather quite cold. Our Sunday School and Sacrament meetings were quite successful. I am no longer fearful of speaking or of taking charge of meetings. None of these Argentine houses are heated. In winter they are quite cold. Colds, flu, and other respiratory diseases are extremely common. Most of the members are now moving to be closer to the church.
July 1, Monday: Daylight saving time has come to Argentina to save fuel. The trains are burning corn. Most of her coal came from Germany before the war. I took charge of the cottage meeting in the home of Primasala. I'm sure that this family will join the Church. I believe that La Pocha de Montes will also join the Church shortly.
July 2, Tuesday: We all tracted for an hour this morning. I encountered a very interesting Baptist that I would like to know better. We are encountering resistance to our tracting. People have heard so much about fifth columnists that they are highly suspicious of foreigners and their messages. Our Relief Society met today. A very successful meeting. Our evening mutual was highly successful. After our lesson we danced the Virginia Reel.
July 3, Wednesday: Tracting all morning. Our luck was not very good. After lunch we visited Giantorno. He is an elderly Italian immigrant who has changed church membership many times. Catholic, Baptist, Methodist. He is a very intelligent man who knows his Bible. Is not active in any church. Letters arrived from Ann Henrichsen, Dad, mother, and my sister Sarah who is thinking of a mission. She has spent two years at B.Y.U and done very well.
July 4, Thursday: Today was a national holiday in Argentina. Did nothing to celebrate it. Elder Edmunds went to Buenos Aires. I studied my talk for next Sunday. We visited the Saltalamacchia and Maldonado families. Very nice visits. Humid and warm all day. At night went over my lesson for Monday's cottage meeting. Párraga visited us with two little relatives. The family has moved close to the Church. We hope to baptize them all.
July 5, Friday: Studied Spanish and the gospel all morning. In the afternoon after lunch we had our cottage meeting. Then we went over to Lavallers for our English class. Once again they told me I would never leave Argentina. Tomorrow we travel to Buenos Aires. Practiced basketball.
July 6, Saturday: Went to Buenos Aires for the monthly missionary meetings. They were very inspiring. I had to give an extemporaneous talk in Spanish. The mission president congratulated me for my progress in the language. Invited to go to Haedo the second week in August to talk. First time I have been invited to speak in another branch outside the one I was working in. I felt the power of the Holy Ghost all through our meetings.
July 7, Sunday: Our Sunday School and Sacrament meetings were not as well attended today as they have been. Threatened to rain all day. I spoke in Sacrament meeting. Tried to use a written talk. Stumbled a bit. This is the last time that I will ever use a written speech. After church we visited the Gaites. Letter came from Dixie Nicol, a convert to the church in New Orleans. I met her there when we passed through New Orleans. Very intelligent and interesting girl, a friend of my sister Sarah. Talked to Samuel Borén about organizing a priesthood meeting.
July 8, Monday: Very cloudy, rained a little. Our relief Society did well. I enjoyed our cottage meeting at Prima Sala. There were four present.
July 9, Tuesday: Today is national flag day. The elders went to Buenos Aires for the fiesta and basketball games. Our La Plata team lost by 5 points, church tournament. After the games there was a patriotic program and then a dance. Liniers is growing more every day. The hall was filled with new faces.
July 10, Wednesday: I was alone most of the day. Studied Spanish and the gospel. Our water pipe broke, and I spent most of the day fixing it. As it was Tuesday we had our mutual. Rained most of the night.
July 11, Thursday: Rained most of the day. As my companion Elder Edmunds was in Buenos Aires, I studied all morning. After Lunch upon his return, we visited the Saltalamacchias and George Maldonado's grandmother. I am getting tired of people saying that the world is evil and people are in the hands of the devil. To me the human race is fairly decent and good. I have a strong belief in the essential goodness of the common people.
July 12, Friday: Rained most of the day. I note that Elder Edmunds does not go visit the people as I do. Because of this I feel that the La Plata branch is not progressing as it should.
July 13, Saturday: Rained most of the day. Studied Spanish. After lunch we visited Párraga and the Gaites. Had two very enjoyable meetings. I have started to read Argentine history in Spanish and to learn as much as I could about Argentine literature and culture. Have subscribed to several Argentine geographic and scholarly publications.
July 14, Sunday: A lovely Sunday. Weather warmer. We saw the moon and stars for the first time in a month. Our two Sunday meetings, Sunday School and Sacrament were fairly successful. I am now speaking in Spanish almost every Sunday. John Edwards came out from Buenos Aires to speak. I have enjoyed my study of Argentine history, ethnology, archaeology, and literature.
July 15, Monday: Lovely day, warm and clear. We visited the Taylors and the Señora de Montes. Cottage meeting at Prima Salas. Then came our English class at the home of the Lavallers. They are doing their best to persuade me to remain in Argentina.
July 16, Tuesday: Rained quite hard all day. Cancelled our usual Tuesday meetings. We visited the Lencinas. Brother Edmunds lost his temper and jumped on Elder Samuel Borén. Edmunds is very insecure but is a fairly decent missionary. He is rather shy.
July 17, Wednesday: Am plagued with a cold this Thursday. Did not sleep well last night. Toothache as well. Edmunds went to Buenos Aires. La Vista and I visited the Saltalamacchias. We had an excellent visit. Edmunds came back from Buenos Aires. After the visit we met with a group of young people who are practicing the Pericón, the national dance of Argentina. Letter from Jack Robins. He was shot after a girl tried to extort money from him claiming that she was bearing his child. Then he picked up a streptococcal infection. He thinks he got the infection with a bad heart.
July 19, Thursday: Quite a busy day for a Friday. Played basketball all morning at the Club Ateneo. The team is improving very much. Then we visited Villaruels. They are a fine family who are interested in the Church. They have just come in from the campo. The church was quite crowded today. We heard a lot of favorable comments from the people about our patriotic activities.
July 20, Friday: Rained all day. Wet and dismal. I am stiff from playing basketball all day. We cleaned up our building. In the afternoon we visited the Gaite family. Very fine visit.
July 21, Saturday: Sunday again. The Buenos Aires visitors arrived before Sunday School. Our attendance was not as good today. After Sunday School we visited the Museo. I do enjoy visiting the museum. Our night meeting was crowded. Quite a few new people who were attracted to our Friday fiesta were in attendance. I think that we have gained several new families.
July 22, Monday: Studied Spanish and the Gospel all morning. After lunch we visited Salviolis and Mazzuchis. We enjoyed our weekly cottage meeting in the home of Prima Sala. At night we visited the Lavaller's to hold our English class. It was enjoyable as usual. The elders went to see, "The Grapes of Wrath". It made quite an impression on me. My socialist tendencies were deepened.
July 23, Tuesday: Another Tuesday. Our Relief Society and Mutual meetings were well attended. We have been very successful in bring a number of new people to the Church. We danced the Virginia Reel at the conclusion of our Mutual. Now if only we can baptize the new people.
July 24, Wednesday: Wednesday, our primary day. Our primary is a great success. We are picking up more and more children. Their parents come to see what we do with their children and many start attending our other meetings. The primary is a good missionary tool.
July 26, Thursday: Elder Borén left for Rosario. He is to speak at the Rosario conference. I studied the Gospel. We visited the Taylors in the afternoon. They want to discuss the war with us which I avoid.
July 27, Friday: To catch up for last Thursday, July 25, we visited the Saltalamacchia family. My foot is getting worse. I am afraid of an infection. Rained all day. Elder Beck came to visit us. We all went to the show. Hard rain. The new missionaries assigned to the mission have not yet received visas. They are stranded in New York.
July 28, Saturday: Very lovely day. We did not have as many people for our Sunday School and Sacrament meetings. The new investigators are still coming. We are trying to visit them all. I was in charge of Sacrament meeting. The Argentines are very curious and hospitable people.
July 29, Sunday: Monday. It has been a very good day. Received letters from home and from Mima Simmonds-Humphries. She is a fine girl. In the afternoon we visited La Pocha. I think she will be baptized soon. She already has the spirit of the gospel. My mother wrote that a very rich and influential Argentine family has been staying at our home in Holladay.
July 30, Tuesday: Tuesday. Mutual and Relief Society Day. Our meetings are well attended. La Vista is quite sick with influenza. Many of our members and investigators are down with it. Over 40 people attended our mutual.
July 31, Wednesday: Rains seemed to have ceased. We visited investigators all day preaching the gospel. We visited Lencinas, Mazzuchis and others. At night La Vista and I went to a show, "Rebecca The Unforgettable Women!"
August 1, Thursday: Elder Edmunds went to Buenos Aires. Elder Borén and I went tracting. After lunch, La Vista, Párraga, and I visited the Saltalamacchia family and had a very fine visit. I can now understand everything that anyone says to me in Spanish and can communicate well in the language. A letter came from Don Olson.
August 2, Friday: We enjoyed a fine basketball practice at the Atenas athletic club. We play Sáenz Peña tomorrow. Washed clothing and cleaned the house and local. At night we had our English class with the Lavaller family.
August 3, Saturday: We all went to Buenos Aires for the missionary monthly meetings. La Plata beat Sáenz Peña 20 to 4. I had to speak in Spanish in the first meeting. I deeply enjoyed the spirit of the meetings. I noted many new faces at Liniers.
August 4, Sunday: We had 198 people out for our Sunday School. A testimony meeting followed. After lunch Elder Edmunds and I visited the La Plata Museum. Each time I come it is a little different. I enjoy our museum visits. Elder Sorenson came out from Buenos Aires to speak to our Sacrament meeting. We blessed a little child of the Rodriguez family.
August 5, Monday: Tracted all morning. I arose quite early to study Spanish for three hours. Beautiful day. After lunch we visited la Pocha. We were there an hour. Then came our cottage meeting at the home of Prima Sala. Then our music class at Lavaller's.
August 6, Tuesday: We had a good day today. President William's wife visited our Relief Society. She brought her baby with her. We visited the Taylor family had a nice visit. 33 people attended our Mutual. I asked Elder Edmunds to go tracting with me but he does not like tracting. So we did nothing.
August 7, Wednesday: I asked Elder Edmunds to go tracting this morning, but he refused. He can always find excuses not to go. His missionary spirit seems to have vanished. I visited the Rodriguez family this morning with Samuel Borén. Studied Spanish and Gospel until lunch. After lunch we visited the Mazzuchi family. At night Samuel Borén and I visited Mrs. Corte. I hope and pray that she will be baptized soon.
August 8, Thursday: Elder Edmunds went to Buenos Aires. I was left alone. So I studied Spanish until 3:00 P.M. Then Párraga and I visited the Saltalamacchia family. We had a fine visit. Then we went with Samuel Borén to visit the Gaite family. I suspect that Párraga is quite interested in Matilde Párraga.
August 9, Friday: Edmunds did not return from Buenos Aires. So as his companion I could do little studied all day. Worked out my speech for Sunday. Samuel Borén and I took over the Villarruel cottage meeting. Good attendance. Samuel Borén really has a fine knowledge of the gospel. Would that I knew as much.
August 10, Saturday: Space in my journal is running out. I am having a hard time finding another. We beat Liniers, 20 to 14. We are part of a Buenos Aires District tournament. We had a branch fiesta. Over 100 people attended. Jantzen, MacCullough, and I went to a show in Buenos Aires.
August 11, Sunday: We had an excellent Sunday School. After Church I traveled to Buenos Aires and spoke in Haedo. I was very frightened. But as I continued to speak I gained confidence.
August 12, Monday: Brother Pugmire came to La Plata to replace Elder Edmunds. We visited all our investigators. We had a fine time at the cottage meeting held in the home of Prima Sala. We are to initiate a plan "de seguridad" or welfare plan in the mission. English class at the Levaller's abruptly canceled. They apparently did not like the change in missionaries.
August 13, Tuesday: Relief Society and Mutual today. Both well attended. Rained almost all day.
August 14, Wednesday: We visited investigators all day. I took charge of the Primary.
August 15, Thursday: All the elders went to Buenos Aires to attend the fiesta. We lost our game 5 to 8 with Haedo. Good game. Dance in Liniers to begin the fiesta. The welfare plan was explained to the members.
August 16, Friday: Studied Spanish for Several hours. The primary had been put in my charge, Priesthood meeting, and a cottage meeting. Elder Pugmare is vigorously changing things.
August 17, Saturday: We spent the day totally cleaning the house and the meeting space. We were invited during the evening to attend a party at the Lavaller to say goodbye to Elder Edmunds. Very fine time.
August 18, Sunday: President Williams visited us to explain the "El Plan de Seguridad" or Welfare Plan. The Church was filled with people.
August 19, Monday: Little of anything happened today. Studied Spanish most of the day. Cottage meeting in the evening.
August 20, Tuesday: We went tracting in the morning. I enjoyed it very much. After lunch we visited the Rodríguez and Montes families. We had very good meetings. We met with our Relief Society and Mutual.
August 21, Wednesday: As I have not found a replacement for my journal, I am giving but the bare essentials of what took place each day. Tracted all morning. It felt good to be doing real missionary work again. Cold day. Visited the Mazzuchi family.
August 22, Thursday: Tracted all morning. After lunch visited the Saltalamacchia family.
August 24, Saturday: Cleaned up the local thoroughly. Studied Spanish.
August 25, Sunday : Yesterday we went to Buenos Aires. Our basketball team defeated Liniers, 25 to 15. I was told that I had played well. I never imagined that as a missionary I would become a basketball player. Brother Palmer and Brewerton came to La Plata to speak in our Sacrament Meeting.
August 26, Monday: Tracted all morning. After lunch we took Elder Palmer and Brewerton to the La Plata Museum. They enjoyed it as much as I did. We had a fine cottage meeting in the home of Sister Prima Sala.
August 27, Tuesday: Tracted all morning. Visited investigators all afternoon. Held Relief Society and Mutual.
August 28, Wednesday: Tracted all morning. Primary came right after lunch. Then we visited the Ramirez and Maldonado families. Both visits were very good.
August 29, Thursday: Tracted all morning. Investigators all afternoon.
September 1, Sunday: Another month of my mission has passed. Winter has gone. Spring is coming. Our missionary work in La Plata goes well. The spirit of the Lord has been with us. I enjoy my missionary work extremely. I have good companions and the spirit of the Lord is with us. La Plata is a very enjoyable city.
September 12, Thursday: At last I have secured a record book to serve as a journal. During the past few days in which no journal was kept many interesting things happened. Our team played the mechanical reform school basketball. We deliberately lost to give the boys confined here a pleasant experience. I was shocked at the conditions of misery in which the boys were kept. The boys had no stockings nor anything but ragged clothing. It looks as though I may become a senior companion even though I am not ready. Eleven missionaries arrived in Buenos Aires, and two will probably come here. We visited the Lavaller family the first time in months. I had thought they were no longer interested in our lessons.
September 13, Friday : We can hear frogs and crickets for the first time. The nights now are soft and warm. We finally moved to a new local out one block from the old one. It is a very modern and new building. I went to Buenos Aires to see a dentist. I have two bad cavities. In Buenos Aires you can almost hear as much English as Spanish.
September 14, Saturday: We have moved to a new local. It was quite a job moving everything. Elder Pugmire went to Buenos Aires in the morning to pick up the new missionary, an Elder Reed from the Mexican border. He is a plumpish rather small but a very nice missionary. He speaks some Spanish. I am glad that he and Elder Pugmire will be companions. If I had to be Pugmire's junior companion, I would have serious problems. I can not forget that he left me waiting for five hours in the mission office. Besides I much prefer Elder Samuel Borén.
September 15, Sunday: Our priesthood meeting was a little better then last week. We had 25 out for Sunday School and 40 for Sacrament meeting. It rained very hard all day. I read that the conscription act had passed Congress.
September 16, Monday: We had a fairly good day today. As Elder Borén's companion I will do most of my visiting alone. Elder Borén is occupied with branch duties. Today I visited the family of Lencina and took charge of the cottage meeting at Primitiva Sala.
September 17, Tuesday: Went to Buenos Aires to visit the dentist. It rained quite badly. In spite of the rain we held our Relief Society and Mutual meetings. Danced the Virginia Reel after our Mutual lesson. The dance has become quite popular there among our people.
September 18, Wednesday: We tracted all morning with some success. in the afternoon we visited the Montes family. We had a fine visit discussing the Book of Mormon. He has read the first thirty pages. The family, if baptized, would be a great addition to our branch. Visited the Lavaller family. We had a nice gospel conversation. If baptized this family would be an enter into the Argentine upper class in La Plata.
September 19, Thursday: Tracted for two hours this morning. Tracting is always an adventure for me; an exciting adventure. One never knows what each door will bring. After lunch we had a very nice visit with the Saltalamacchias. They are among the many who tell me that I am as Argentine and will remain in Argentina. I do like Argentina very much. It is such an undeveloped and corrupt country. An intelligent man could do well here.
September 20, Friday: Elders Pugmire and Reed spent the day in Buenos Aires. I visited the Gaite family and directed the cottage meeting at the Villarruels. I enjoyed being on my own.
September 21, Saturday: It rained most of the day. There was little to do. Reed and I went down town. We walked around the Plaza San Martin and along Calle 7. Here the boys and girls stroll up and down casting languishing glances at each other. Saw Tristán de Villalobos. He does not impress me very much. No inner moral fiber.
September 22, Sunday: Priesthood, Sunday School, and Sacrament meeting. We had fifty people out at our evening meeting. Since we moved, our attendance may have gone up.
September 23, Monday: Went to the dentist in Buenos Aires. He charged me 35 pesos. I went up to the mission office to meet the new missionaries. There was one an Elder Yestlingson whom I liked very much. He is of Icelandic descent. He and I seem to share the same political ideologies.
September 24, Tuesday: There were 42 people at our Mutual. Our Relief Society also went well. We started our small plot of land. Párraga was the only member that showed up to work.
September 25, Wednesday: We worked on the land all morning getting it ready to plant. After lunch, Elder Reed and I visited the Salvioli family. I taught my primary in the late afternoon.
September 26, Thursday: The day was very nice. Worked on the land all morning. Right after lunch we had a missionary bible class. Then we visited the families of Lencina, Corte, and Saltalamacchia. We had a fine gospel conversation with Rodolfo who is a member. He knows his Bible quite well. In the evening we saw a show.
September 27, Friday: Very humid day. Rainy season. We visited Taylors and had a fine gospel conversation. Then we walked over to the Mazzuchi. I believe that she will be baptized. Papers say that an alliance had been signed between Italy, Germany, and Japan.
September 28, Saturday: Mission newsletter came. I ranked second in the mission in study of the gospel and in Spanish. There was only 1 point between me and the leader.
September 29, Sunday: Priesthood, Sunday School and Sacrament meeting. About 25 people came out from Buenos Aires. We had farewells for Samuel Borén and Elder McBride. A wonderful spirit pervaded the farewells. We visited the Museum and the zoo. It was an interesting experience. I quite enjoy the museum. Each time I go I learn much.
September 30, Monday: All the missionaries arose at 6. I manage to study ten hours. Rain fell most of the day. Our cottage meeting at Prima Salas’ was a success. I felt the spirit of God pervade the meeting. It was a wonderful experience. We seem to be moving more toward her baptism.
October 1, Tuesday: Fairly good day. The pampero wind was still blowing. Washed my garments. I enjoyed our Relief Society during the late afternoon. It was quite well attended. Worked on our plot of land for three hours. No great enthusiasm for it among our members. Managed to get in six hours of study. In the evening we visited the Montes family. The man is a very cultured retiring studious individual.
October 3, Thursday: We go to Buenos Aires tomorrow for general conference. I am to stay in the White Branch. Elders Anderson, Edwards and Brother and Sister Mitchell are assigned to this branch. Brother and Sister Mitchel are a retired couple doing excellent work in Argentina.
October 4, Friday: We went to Buenos Aires in the morning to attend the two Elders' Meeting and receive instruction from President Williams, a very fine mission president. I had to speak in Spanish. Officers meeting. Attended that. It was good to see all my friends in the Buenos Aires district.
October 5, Saturday: Today marked the end of my first missionary year. A year ago I said goodbye to Salt Lake City. We had another elders and officers meetings. I attended the German meeting. The Germans want to recognize the work in their language.
October 6, Sunday: We had three very well attended conference sessions. At the end of the last meeting President Williams gave an inspired address. I was enchanted by the conference. I ate at the home of Clava, a very faithful member who can't understand why some of the members do not fully live the gospel.
October 7, Monday: Woke up with a bad cold. All the missionaries gathered at the athletic club of the Liniers branch and played baseball and football. At noon we gathered at the President's home for chili, pie, and ice cream. It was all very enjoyable. Elder Reed and I returned to La Plata in the evening and went to a show with Párraga.
October 9, Wednesday: Mistake in dating. Rained most of the day. I held my primary. Mutual was very good. Elder Samuel Borén came in from Buenos Aires.
October 10, Thursday: We had a pretty full day. Studied Spanish and the gospel all morning. In the afternoon, we visited the family of Saltalamacchia. Visit was very nice. Then we visited the family of Torres. She is grandmother of George Maldonado. We had a fine gospel talk. They said they would like to have a cottage meeting in their home.
October 11, Friday: I felt ashamed of myself today. We did very little missionary work. I studied Spanish most of the morning. After lunch we visited the Párraga family. We also held our cottage meeting at the Villarruel's home. Later in the middle of a real bad downpour, I visited the family of Gaite with Rocha and Pancho.
October 12, Saturday: Went to Buenos Aires. Did not realize it was a national holiday. Everything closed. Returned to La Plata and studied the rest of the day.
October 13, Sunday: Very warm day with a feeling of spring in the air. I quite enjoyed our Priesthood Meeting, our Sunday School, and Sacrament meeting. I conducted the first and 3rd of these meetings besides speaking without a written outline in the evening meeting. Spoke of duties of members and the importance of baptism and the Sacrament. Brothers Párraga and Saltalamacchia also gave good talks. Brother Saltalamacchia ordained a priest by Elder Pugmire, Knowlton, and Reed. Pugmire presided.
October 14, Monday: We finished planting potatoes in our farm plot. After lunch I visited the Rodríguez, Villarruel, and Párraga families. Also held the cottage meeting at Prima Sala.
October 15, Tuesday: Rode the train to Buenos Aires with Brother Párraga. Talked with President Williams. Then went to the bank and bookstore. Returned to La Plata. Assisted the Relief Society meeting. Then Elders Reed, Pugmire, and I visited the Montes family. Then Rocha and I visited the Lencina family. We had a fine gospel conversation.
October 16, Wednesday: Very nice day. I visited the Maldonado family and had a fine gospel conversation. Studied Spanish.
October 17, Thursday: Brother Mazzuchi invite us to go fishing in Berisso at a place with the name of "Las Tres Bocas". We had excellent luck. I caught eighty fish. We had a very fine time. The weather was very pleasant. We got to know Brother Mazzuchi much better.
October 18, Friday: Studied Spanish most of the day. I have lost interest in the war. My missionary work absorbs virtually all of my attention.
October 20, Sunday: Took charge of the Priesthood meeting. Fine discussion. Our Sunday School was a success. Attendance is growing. I was in charge of our evening Sacrament meeting. Went to Quilmes but got there too late to talk. I did have a good talk with Elders Jantzen and Barker.
October 21, Monday: Tracted all morning. After lunch we visited the Taylor family and had a good visit. I held my cottage meeting at Prima Salas. She indicated a desire to teach a primary class. I also visited the Lencina family. Then Rodolfo and I went to a show.
October 22, Tuesday: Traveled to Buenos Aires to pick up some money. Now at last I am free from debt. Saw the new missionaries. Quite favorably impressed. Bought the Life of Disraeli and de Valera. Intend to read the biographies of great men for what they can teach me. Had five pesos stolen. Suspect a missionary. Mutual and then primary.
October 23, Wednesday: Elder Reed and I went tracting. We have some luck in getting in. I finished reading the Life of De Valera. I was shocked at the behavior of the English in Ireland.
October 24, Thursday: I visited the Saltalamacchia and Olivella families. I thoroughly enjoyed the visits. Both are close to being baptized. They are seriously reading the literature that I gave them. I feel quite thankful. Over ten people have asked me when I was coming to visit them. We are thinking about organizing another home cottage meeting.
October 25, Friday: It is still cold. We visited the families of Villarruel and Salvioli. I loaned them a Book of Mormon. Rained a bit. The Párragas are moving far into the Loma district. The Chapmans live there.
October 26, Saturday: Went to Buenos Aires to get my junior companion. His name is Frank Scoville from Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from Granite High and attended the University of Utah. I did not know him then. It is hard to believe that I am a senior companion. I pray constantly that I may be a good one.
October 27, Sunday: Gave my priesthood lesson. Then came a very fine well attended Sunday School. After Sunday School we all went to the Lencina family for a farewell party for Bro. Saltalamacchia. We had a very nice time. Elders Jantzen, Brown and Brown's junior companion came out to talk at Sacrament meeting. After our meeting we hurried to Quilmes where we arrived late but I gave a fairly good talk. We ate supper at a little German restaurant that I found. Food was excellent. The Quilmes branch is an excellent thriving branch. I would like to work there. Stayed there all night. Caught a bad cold.
October 28, Monday: Laid in bed until ten not feeling well. Elder Barker and I talked most of the night. He knows a good many of the people that I know in Salt Lake City. I took Elders Scoville and Reed to town and then to the Cottage Meeting at Prima Salas.
October 29, Tuesday: We had a very enjoyable day. We organized a Spanish and gospel class for the new elders. Then we all tracted for two hours. Bro. Saltalamacchia ate with us at noon. After lunch we visited the Lencina family and went on to the Rodriguez, nice visit. A good day.
October 30, Wednesday: Went uptown in the morning to do a little shopping. After lunch we visited Tristán de Villalobos. We were there for three hours. Went to a show with Bro. Saltalamacchia.
October 31, Thursday: We tracted for several hours in the morning. Then Elder Pugmire and I visited two families, we first visited the Jiménez family without much success. There is a quarrel between them and the Lencinas. Then we made an extensive visit to a La Papa family. They were quite interested in our message. They have not been visited for two years. They were very glad to see us. Then I personally visited the Obella family. I had a good gospel conversation. I am going to plan our visits and topics of discussion very carefully from now on out.
November 1, Friday: We started a new tracting district this morning and were at it all morning. A few families treated us very kindly. Elder Scoville and I visited the Párragas. Their new house is very nice. We had a long gospel conversation. His mother was not interested but his sister was.
November 2, Saturday: Studied most of Saturday. Rocha and Oscar Castro paid us a visit in the afternoon. Planted tomatoes and put wire around them.
November 3, Sunday: Our Priesthood, Sunday School, and Sacrament meetings were well attended. I felt a bit sick all day. Wished that Elder Pugmire would quit harping on tithing and offerings in a testimony meeting. It leaves a bad taste in people's mouths. I was in charge of the sacrament meeting. Elders Barker and Lloyd spoke. They did quite well. I spoke after them and did not do so well. My Spanish left me. After the meeting we were invited to the Lencinas family for a birthday party. Had a very good time.
November 4, Monday: A bit cold but otherwise a fine day. We visited a Díaz family contacted on our tracting beat for the first time. The lady of the family is of English descent. Her husband much older is of Argentine Criollo stock. We also visited Prima Sala.
November 5, Tuesday: A very pretty day. We tracted all morning. After lunch we visited the Rodriguez and Monte families. We had a very fine gospel conversations. Potential baptisms.
November 6, Wednesday: Just about a perfect day. We visited the Maldonados and were there for about three hours. They are a very nice family. They seemed quite interested in our message. Bought one peso of candy to distribute among the children. There were only 14 at our mutual Elder Borén came out and gave a very fine lesson. Two cousins of Lencinas sang very fine. I hope that they will keep on coming.
November 7, Thursday: We really had a busy day. Tracted all morning. After lunch Elder Reed and I visited the Chapmans for a very nice visit. The family is of mixed Irish and Italian descent. A young daughter is very lovely and quite shy. We then had a very nice gospel conversation with Prima Sala. We also paid Salviolis a visit. Then spent three hours visiting Lavallers. I had a good conversation with them.
November 8, Friday: We studied most of the morning. Elder Samuel Borén came in the early afternoon. We visited the Gaite family and then visited a Torres family for the first time. We are visiting a number of new families met on our tracting beat.
November 9, Saturday: All the elders traveled to Buenos Aires to attend the monthly elders meeting. The meetings were very enjoyable and quite spiritual. After the morning meeting I ate in Liniers with Elder Young. Then after lunch returned to La Plata for our English class. It went fairly well. Then hurried off to Quilmes. Went to a show with the Elders. To my surprise Duncan and Nora McLeish were there at Quilmes. I believe it would be wise to show them no more warmth then we show toward the Argentine members and investigators.
November 10, Sunday: Remained in Quilmes over night. They have a very small but enthusiastic Sunday School. Of all things, I had to direct music; me without any musical ability. Also gave a talk. Returned to La Plata right after the meeting. The Mission President spoke in our sacrament meeting. I like the Quilmes branch very much and would not mind being stationed there. Besides the president, Sister Mazzuchi spoke. Around 30 were in attendance.
November 11, Monday: The elders all except for myself went to play basketball at the Mecánica. I felt a little sick and did not go. I studied all morning. After lunch we all attended the cottage meeting in the home of Prima Sala. We had a very fine meeting. My darn cold has come back.
November 12, Tuesday: Studied all morning. After lunch visited the Rodriguez family who received us very well. We next visited the Villarruel family. I doubt that we will convert anyone here. Then we visited the Lencina family. On our way home we visited the Monte family and the Señora La Pocha who is expecting again. I think that we will get converts from both families.
November 13, Wednesday: I really have a bad cold. Weather quite warm. Stayed in bed a good part of the time. Got up to take care of primary and mutual. We had a fine attendance at both meetings.
November 14, Thursday: Elder Scoville is sick and was in bed most of the day. I attended a party at the home of Maldonados. We had a very nice time. Then I visited Prima Sala. At night Párraga and I visited the Gaite family. I do enjoy visiting Argentine families. I feel right at home and now have no trouble with understanding them. I have a hard time controlling my temper. Elder Pugmire is one of the most selfish persons I have ever met. I need to be more humble.
November 15, Friday: The day was lovely. Could not sleep very well. My cold persists. I could hardly breath. I bought myself a photograph album. Elder Borén, Elder Scoville and I visited the Párraga family. I am glad to see that they have a nice house. Elder Pugmire seems afflicted with a bad memory. He forgets when and to whom he delegates authority and then gets angry because people take charge.
November 16, Saturday: Had a very bad night. Could not sleep. However, this morning my cold is much better. It is almost gone from my chest. Letters arrived from Dad, Harriet Hinckley and Mima Simmonds. They are all wrought up about the war. I do not pay the attention to it that I once did. I suspect that the war will totally change the world and old ways of doing things. I studied most of the way. Elder Pugmire went to Buenos Aires to get branch funds. At night there was a dance in the branch. I watched the dance with a little envy. The other elders all went somewhere.
November 17, Sunday: We had a very fine day. A good crowd attended our Sunday School. The Torres girls brought me some flowers as they do everyday. They are about 11 and 13 years of age. I like them very much. I hope that they will be baptized. I visited the Lencina family and had a very long talk with the menfolks of the family. I hope that I did some good. The mother of the family is resistant to baptism. Señora Corte lent me two books written by Carlos A. Marelli.
November 18, Monday: Studied Spanish all morning. Right after dinner we went down town. I bought some corners for my photograph album. Then I visited the Rodríguez family. Elder Scoville and I then attended the cottage meeting at Prima Sala's. I got into a serious argument with other elders. I get so angry when I hear a missionary criticizing Argentina. They know nothing about the country or its people and have little desire to learn. I am studying Argentine history and society. I quite like Argentina and its people. Argentines know who like them and who does not.
November 19, Tuesday: A very fine day. La Plata holiday. The people are celebrating the 58th anniversary of La Plata. Listened to Amadeo, interventor of the province of Buenos Aires speak. He gave a fine talk on Dardo Rocha, founder of the city and governor of the Province of Buenos Aries many years ago. The vice president of the nation also spoke. I was delighted that I could understand them perfectly. The celebration in Plaza Moreno was remarkable for two things. One was the lack of enthusiasm among the people toward the speakers and a scanty popular attendance. The music and singing was marvelous. In the afternoon Elder Scoville and I visited a new family in Berisso named Puigmrte.
November 20, Wednesday: I visited the family of Maldonado and had a fine gospel conversation. After my visit Elder Scoville and I visited the Montes family. The señora will have a baby soon. We had a long conversation with Señor Montes. Mutual. Elder Borén gave a very find talk.
November 21, Thursday: My cold is getting worse. Studied all morning. In the afternoon I visited the Olibella, Gaite, and a new family named Lavon. I am doing a lot of missionary work on my own. In the Gaite family the father is a drunkard. The mother has severe varicose veins. One of the girls had a heart attack. The Pavón family is another new family; an excellent family. I think this family will join the Church.
November 22, Friday: My cold is getting worse. Settling in my chest. Tried to visit an archaeologist named Marelli, the director of the Zoological garden. He was not in. As I did not feel well I remained at home and studied all day.
November 23, Saturday: We paid a visit to the Mecánica or reform school to play basketball and Argentine soccer. I played all day under a hot sun. It put me in bed with a fever. Brother Lencina came over and gave me a hot lemonade to take. Then he put cold clothes over my head. I started sweating and slept fine.
November 24, Sunday: Remained in bed most of the day. Elders Adams and Brewerton came out from Buenos Aires to speak in our sacrament meeting. I also talked. Elder Scoville gave his first talk in Spanish. He did very well. Elder Adams came out to talk to me. He is having a difficult time reconciling Mormonism and science. He has a fine analytical, matter of fact, mind. We talked for several hours and discovered that we shared many scientific, political, and religious ideas. He has the potential to become a fine scientist or lawyer.
November 25, Monday: I remained in bed studying until four. Then Elder Scoville and I visited Prima Sala and Lencina families. We had very good conversations. It is a great pleasure for me to visit Argentine families.
November 26, Tuesday: My cold stays with me. A letter came from Saltalamacchia. We visited the Montes family and had a fine time; a long gospel conversation. Found out that Elder Finn had blessed their baby and that the blessing had worked. They seem very much interested in the gospel.
November 27, Wednesday: My cold still hangs on. We had fine primary and mutual meetings. Mutual ended for the year. Elder Borén was a very fine teacher. Elder Pugmire still does not feel comfortable around the Argentine people. Párraga told me this.
November 28, Thursday: We visited the Pavón family for the second time with Pancho Lencina. Another elderly man was there. A criollo he played the guitar for us. I loved his criollo music. He played all the old Argentine songs that I love. I was totally fascinated even though Elder Scoville was bored. I love Argentine Music with a passion. Today ends my first year in Argentina. When I look back I wonder if I have done any real good. I have baptized no one. Yet I learned very much. I have introduced the gospel into a lot of new homes. As a humble servant of the lord I may have helped the cause along.
November 29, Friday: It rained all day. I did feel much better. We visited the Párraga family. Had a long very nice visit.
November 30, Saturday: We cleaned and waxed the entire building as the mission president is coming.
December 1, Sunday: I was disappointed by the attendance at our Sunday School. Our attendance does fluctuate, especially among adults. President Williams and Elder Myers came out to speak in our Sacrament meeting. I was informed by the president that I am to be transferred to Pergamino. I am very sorry to leave La Plata but I am very happy to leave Elder Pugmire. I don't like his attitude toward the Argentine people nor his work habits. In the evening Párraga and I visited the Corte and Lencina families. We were there until late at night. Mrs. Corte is a very intelligent and remarkably well educated man.
December 2, Monday: The day was extremely hot. Typed letters and reports all morning. Right after lunch, Pancho Lencina, Elder Scoville and I visited the Diaz young lady who is in the hospital waiting for an appendicitis operations. Then Elder Scoville and I visited the Rodriguez family and Prima Sala. We had two fine visitors at our meeting with Prima Sala. Párraga then joined us and we visited the Taylors. We left just before a magnificent display of lightening and thunder; the greatest outbreak of celestial fireworks that I have ever seen.
December 3, Tuesday: Rained off and on all day. Letter from Mima Humphries. Studied most of the day.
December 4, Wednesday: Letter from home. Directed the primary. Elder Borén visited us at night. He has many assignments in Buenos Aires. He, Párraga, and I went to a show, Edison. It was very good. We saw a film about Germany. I have a great love for the German people yet I hate Hitlerism and all that it means.
December 5, Thursday: I woke up with my chronic cold slightly worse. Studied most of the morning. Right after lunch Párraga and I visited his niece, the Diaz girl in the hospital who is a little better. Then Elder Scoville and I visited the Maldonado family for a very fine visit, We were there more than four hours. It is very hard for me to bid farewell to these wonderful people. They are like my own family. Maldonado almost cried when I told him I was leaving.
December 6, Friday: It rained most of the day. I visited families throughout the day saying goodbye. I was almost in tears. I had come to care for these people very much. We visited the Ricos, George's abuela, Montez. We were in the latter home until midnight. Returned home to find that Pugmire's and my cameras had been stolen. I think that Rocha took them. Pugmire lost 50 pesos. It was quite a blow.
December 7, Saturday: All the elders traveled into Buenos Aires to attend Elders meeting. It was very spiritual and rewarding. In the evening Elders Jantzen, McCullough and I went to see a show in Buenos Aires. We saw Loraine Day in a Dr. Kildare show. Then we attended a church officers' meeting. An incredible beautiful German girl from the White branch by the name of Frieda was there.
December 8, Sunday: We had a fairly good Sunday School. In the afternoon I visited the Lencinas. We had a delightful time. They are a splendid family. Then I went to Buenos Aires to speak at the Villa Urquiza branch, the former German branch. Elder Barton spoke also. The work in German was discontinued and the Germans attended the nearest branch to avoid trouble with the Argentine authorities. I really like the German people. I spent the night in Villa Urquiza. Elder Barton is a special friend.
December 9, Monday: I returned to La Plata. Checked with the police about my camera. No action ever taken. Later the comisario came to our local. We had a very nice talk. Went to Pima Sala to say goodbye.
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