Iguazu Falls

 From Mendoza we flew to Iguazu Falls.  We actually ended up having a problem because our flight was canceled and we had only planned 24 hours in Igauzu Falls.  We ended up walking into the airport about 10pm (we were suppose to leave at 8 am the next morning).  We told them our problem and miraculously this lady was able to send us through Salta and on to Iguazu Falls.  We ended up landing in Iguazu falls several hours later than planned so our first half day was wasted.  The next morning we woke up early and headed to the falls.  

Adam told me we needed to choose a couple things to see because we couldn't make it to the entire park.  Well we arrived about 8:30 am and we had to leave at 1:00pm.  I told him, "where there is a will there is a way."  We had over 17000 steps completed before 1:00 and we had to run to several of the spots but we saw everything!!!

We even made it on a boat ride into the water falls.  

We arrived at the airport when our plane was boarding and we were still soaking wet from the water fall.  Luckily we were able to change just before we walked on the plane.  Im so thankful we got to Iguazu Falls, this would have been a huge lose if we had missed it.  

Mendoza

 After spending a few days in Buenos Aires we went to Mendoza.  Mendoza is where Adam served his mission and where the temple was going to be dedicated.  

We spent a week in Mendoza.  We toured an Olive Oil factory.  

I feel like if I study the olive oil and olive growing process I will understand the scriptures a lot better.  

We ate A LOT!!! When you sit down to eat, unlike the US where they try to get you in and out fast, it turns into hours!  I felt like we spent the entire trip either waiting for food or eating food.  

This is a common item there, it is Milanesa. 

This was our first of many trips to the temple.  It is truly amazing to see this diamond in the rough.  The peace felt on the grounds of the temple is undeniable.  

We rented a large Air B&B with the other two families we were with.  We ended up hosting a party and invited several return missionaries, their families and a few Argentine families to the party.  Argentines start their dinners around 10 pm.  By the time the party officially started Adam and I were climbing into bed.  

We went to a natural spring in the mountains for a day trip.  I wish I could remember the names of the places we went.  

One of my very favorite things to do in Argentina was to go to church.  There is something special about hearing the sacrament prayer in Spanish and to listen to the testimonies of people that truly sacrifice a lot to be members of the church.  

This is one of the "flats" where Adam lived in his mission. 

This is the mission office.  

The "families" left on Sunday but Adam, Chris, Tomas and I stayed a couple extra days.  

We decided to spend our last day going to see one of the tallest mountains in the world.  We were cruising along, in our little Honda prius rental when we hit a pot hole.  It was a pot hole that was more like a sink hole.  The tires didn't pop but the rims on the car bent so bad that it blew out the tire.  We were in the middle of nowhere.  We changed the tire and by a true miracle the 2nd tire continued to hold air.  We abandoned our plan to go see the mountain and flipped a U turn so we could go to the nearest town.  As we passed by the pot hole a huge truck pulled up to repair the hole.  

We were extremely worried about the 2nd tire and we knew every mile we went once another miracle.  We started calling tire shops trying to find someone that could help us.  After calling 4-5 shops we realized we needed another miracle to get this car repaired.  We were leaving the next morning at 8 am.  

We called a family member of Tomas and asked where we should go.  He sent us to shop and assured us these guys could take care of the problem.  We got to the shop and they told us, no way.  But they referred us to a guy who knew tires.  They directed us to his shop/ house.  

We pulled up to the house and asked an old man if there was anything he could do to help us.  He has us drive the car to the back of his house where he had a great little shop.  

As we visited with this guy he told us what a miracle it was that we showed up.  He had gotten a ticket and he didn't know how he was going to pay for it.  This had been a huge problem for him.  We asked how much the ticket was and he told us $150 dollars.  We thought well we know the cost of the repair will be at least $150.  

We walked to town get some lunch while we waited for the guy to finish the work.  When we returned he said to pay him $75.  (Now this was a repair that would have cost us at least $500 in a shop, if not more). We happily handed him the $150 dollars he needed for his ticket.  

Even though this wasn't what we planned to do on our last day in Mendoza we felt we had been blessed to be able to help this man with his financial problem.