The Tabernacle Choir is in Buenos Aires

 The choir is in Buenos Aires.  This is where I served my mission, and it makes me feel emotional listening to the choir and the people form South America.  I hope the link works for everyone.

Stars Wars Playbill

 After not being allowed to see movies; our mission president gave us permission to see Star Wars as it was a cultural phenomena in the United States.  We were given a week to attend; and since it included two P-days I attended twice.  I remember we had to ask them to turn up the sound because the had subtitles for the Spanish speaking customers and would turn the sound down low.  I was in Don Torcuato at the time, I think with Elder Freeman.  After seeing the movie and then started buying the Star Wars cards from the local kiosks.  I had quite a few, but I don't think they made it home with me.

Machu Pichu Trip: Train Ticket

This is the ticket pamphlet for the trip to Machu Pichu from Cusco in 1978.  The first part of the trip was somewhat subdued as we climb out of the valley.  The train had to take many switchbacks and it looked pretty scary at times.  It was also fun to see the artifacts that the Incans had on their homes, and the roof style, with tiles.  It was a great trip as we had tour guides who provided instruction during the train ride.  This included pointing out many Inca constructions along the route, large boulders that hat been put into the river to create a place down stream for a bridge etc., terraces on the hills.  He also talked about the diet of the Inca.  This included many varieties of the potato.  The trip included such amenities as a box lunch.  We also had a tour guide at the ruins.  As a group we left the English speaking guide (his English was poor) and went with the Spanish speaking guide.  There was als some time to explore on your own, and we hiked to the top os a peak (not Machu Pichu, but a smaller peak.  It was incredible. 

People Who Wrote Me on My Mission

To a missionary, the mail service is his lifeline.  We use to visit the post office everyday to pick up letter.  This is a growing post, as I find more old letters.

Sherry Nelson, graduation announcement, and several letters including a report on the "Hyrum Crusader" and talking about a special fast for moisture.

Carol DeBolt, reported on Weldon's baseball and basketball  coaching etc.  She included a picture of David from the paper swimming for the Sky View swim team.
Carmel corn recipe from Carol DeBolt
Carmel Pop Corn
approximately 2 gallons of popped corn
2 cups brown sugar             1/2 cup Karo Syrup
1 stick butter                        1 tablespoon water
Mix together, let come to a good hard boil, add just a pinch of soda.  Blend together, then pour over popcorn  (1 cup popcorn not when not popped.)
you could make it into balls; we just make caramel corn and leave it in pieces.

Kenneth Chase sent the wedding announcement for his son.

Raeburn Ormond, who actually wrote from home and then from his mission in Iowa, Des Moines where my son later served.  He served in fairfield, and was hoping to be able to help with the Relief Society Statues dedication while serving there.  President Kimball did the first dedication, and then he said other general authorities would read the dedication prayer after that for the other sessions.

Audrey Anderson, girl from Mendon.  She said my letter to here brought her up.

Uncle Norval

Niel Frank from his mission in Italy.

Argentine Foot Bath

Argentina, especially in the capitol (Buenos Aires Federal District) the sidewalks are made of tile.  This really is very nice looking, and the are efficient, unless a tile comes loose.  Then you have problems, especially when it rains.  It does rain a lot in Buenos Aires.  The moisture gets under the tile, and then when you step on the tile it works as a little pump and squirts water on your feet and ankles.  You can protect yourself with an umbrellas, but there is no protection against the little foot bathes coming from below.

An example of a tile sidewalk

LTM (MTC) Teacher/Basketball Coach Ken Wagner

http://byuhawaiisports.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/ken_wagner
I have crossed paths with Ken Wagner a couple times in my life.  The firstwat at the Language Training Mission in Provo.  He was one of my two Spanish instructors.  He was born in Chihuahua Mexico and served a mission in Monterrey Mexico.  While I was in the LTM Spanish instruction included grammar, but also a memorize the discussions part.  One day I vomited the food they were serving, and didn't make it to class as a result.  He came to check on me.  I was studying as hard as I could without being in class.  I think he was worried I was just being a slacker.  I only missed half a day.  I wasn't really sick, just sick of thick pancakes.  He was my instructor the entire two months.
The second time he crossed my path was when he was coaching at Lehi High School.  Weldon's team form Tintic High School had a game scheduled with them.  This was the case of the 1A school (Weldon's) taking on the larger 2A school.  Not only that, but Lehi at the time was a very good team.   They played in a couple state championships.  I don't remember the score, but Lehi won the game. From Lehi High School he went south to Dixie College.  He has been at Hawaii BYU for 25 years.

Our High School Hymn: Where the Mountain Peak Meets the Starry Sky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH4cevLI1xk
Concert version performed by the A Capella Choir 1975

Where the mountain peaks meet the starry sky,

Where the green hills meet the blue,

Stands a place close by with its standards high,

It's our school, our own Sky View.

There's the blue and white and a golden hue

We will long remember, too.

It's a place close by, with its standards high,

It's our school, our own Sky View.

We will always say as we go our way,

And of this it can be told,

The friendships dear we have made while here

Are a treasure more than gold.

Where the mountain peaks meet the starry sky,

Where the green hills meet the blue,

Stands a place close by with its standards high,

It's our school, our own Sky View.

While I was serving my mission in Argentina, Dean Samuels also served there.  Our paths overlapped for a few days in the same ward, Barrio Uno Liniers.  Dean is a terrific pianist, with the ability to play by ear and add his own accompaniment to a melody.
While in the church one day, I heard our school song playing.  Dean was in the primary room, on the piano there, playing this song.  It was one of times I felt nostalgic for home, and enjoyed his song very much.

Dolls form Peru

These dolls I brought home to my mother from Peru.  There were flea market venders at many important locations, including the train station at Machu Pichu and also in  Cusco.  These cam from one of the flea markets.  It is a couple of natives and a llama.

I Was In Argentina When the Revelation on the Priesthood Was Announced

http://bwardlehistory.blogspot.com/2013/11/mormon-movie-review-long-awaited-day.html

I heard of the revelation on the priesthood I think on June 2, 1978.  The revelation was announced the day before, and the church did not waste any time in letting the missionaries know of the revelation.   We received a call from our district leader, who was following the chain I am sure, making sure all the missionaries knew of the change as soon as it happened.  Of course this opened to us the possibility of actively proselyting to people of African descent.  However there were not a great deal of people who fit this category in Argentina.  There were a few, and it felt good to treat all people the same.
We attended a zone conference shortly after and during the testimony period another missionary shared an experience.  Shortly after hearing of the revelation and investigator questioned them as he had heard the Church discriminated against people of African descent.  The missionary boldly responded, the Church extends the priesthood to all worthy male members irregardless of race.  It was a great day, a testimony affirming day as we know that prophets still receive revelation for our behalf.

Argentine Mission: Going Home: Trip to the Airport

I stayed up most the night the night previous, and was very glad to have a ride to the airport.  Lucy and Lilly had a friend with a car who agreed to take me. 

Ezeiza International Airport is to the Northwest of Buenos Aires, so it was a good drive.  San Martin, where I was, is to the Southwest of Buenos Aires.  I think Elder Jacobs caught a ride with the Apata family, from Don Torcuato, as they were at the airport as well. 
Elders Lynn, Reed Jacobs, Dennis Lange and I traveled together. 

We flew Aerolineas Argentinas.  We were headed to Peru for a four-day tour on the way home.  I watched the ground as we flew West from Buenos Aires.  It was interesting to watch the lay of the ground below, and how the urban terrain gave way to the rural.  It was my last view of Argentina before I fell asleep.

Mission Argentina: Area Conference 1978

Hermana Diaz made us empanada sandwiches to eat by the obelisk

President Kimball is in this picture below the stage

One of the highlights of the mission was the visit of President Spencer W. Kimball to Argentina for area conference.  The conference included three sessions that I attended.  Most of the conference was in Luna Park, the large in-door stadium in Buenos Aires.  On Saturday night their was a cultural event portrayed.  This included a reenactment of many scenes from the Book of Mormon.  The visit of Christ was done very effectively.  They had Jesus descend from the top of the arena coming down the steps with the light on Him in such a way that it was very effective.  The show was very well done.  I know Hermana Duarte sang in the choir for conference, as I saw her.  Also many other local members participated.
The large conference meeting was very interesting.  For most of the speakers there were translators.  However Elder Faust did not use translation.  He had served his mission in Portugal.  I remember his mispronunciation of the work Gaucho when he told a story.  Elder Wells has a very deep voice.  He was the area seventy in Argentina at the time.  He talked of the importance of living so as to be worthy of a temple recommend.  It was a very fun conference.  At the time there was a temple in Sao Paulo in Brazil, and many members were hoping for one in Argentina as well.  However this was not announced at this time.  President Kimball talked about the importance of doing things in God's way.
We had at least one meal there.  Elder Steed and I ate milanesa sandwiches sitting at the base of the obelisk.

A letter I wrote home describes my experience of these events:

President Kimball visited Argentina this last Saturday and Sunday for the second area conference in Buenos Aires.  Mormons from all over Argentina came to participate in the two day event.  It started Saturday with a cultural program in Luna Park, probably the biggest indoor stadium in Argentina.  My companion and I went with the parents and grandparents of a girl here in San Miguel.  Her parents etc are not members.  We went in car and arrived rapidly, 45 minutes while in bus and train it take an hour and a half.
The cultural program was something really special.  President Kimball was in attendance while youth of Buenos Aires acted through the Book of Mormon with scenes of Joseph Smith, Lehi and Nephi, conversion of Alma the Younger, Abinadi before King Noah, the 2000 sons of Helaman, the robe of Mormon, the visit of Jesus and the blessing of the children, and the destruction of the Nephites, ending with the challenge of the Book of Mormon and depositing of the plates in the Hill Cumorah.
Then Sunday we went with a couple of person we baptized the other week to participate in the meetings.  There were three meetings Sunday.  The General Authorities who came were: President Kimball, Elder Packer, Elder Hinckley, Elder Faust and Elder Wells.  The first meeting was at 10 and we arrived a bit late to get good seats but the same we enjoyed the meeting.
At 2 we had the Priesthood Meeting while the ladies had their own meeting.  It was really something special.  There was a special spirit while we listened to the prophet and Elder Pack and Elder Wells explain several gospel subjects.
After this there was a special meeting for the missionaries in which all the general authorities talked which we found good seats and waited for the last general session.  There were more than 11,000 people present, member and investigators.  Only the apostles and presidency spoke in this meeting.   The time went too fast and the prophet was on his way to Brazil to dedicate the first temple in South America.

The Night Before Leaving Argentina

The day before leaving Argentina our companions left us at the mission home as they prepared for transfers, and we spent the day with the mission president.  He served us dinner, and we turned in our final write up and talked about future plans.  We  were dismissed about eight o'clock to go and get our stuff, and then be back to the airport the next day.  This was really strange because we did not have companions.  I jumped on a bus and asked for two tickets before I realized what I was doing.  Riding the bus back was crowded but lonely at the same time. 

Corsi Family, Rosa and Ricardo kids Lucy, Lilly, Ita, Ricky, Teresita

No rule against holding babies

Getting back to San Miguel there were many people I had promised last night goodbyes.  This including the Barrientos who served me empanadas dulces, or empanandas with sweet jam inside.  I also visited the Corsi family who had an evening of tricks for me.  Lucy gave me a big sucker which I never ate, but brought home and placed with my mementos until it became ruined.  I also visited the Diaz family, but after everyone was asleep.  I ran into my old companion as they were out working, and gave them a last goodbye as well. 

getting a little sleep

The Diaz Family

Release Paperwork from my Mission

Brother and Sister Wardle,
It is with great reluctance that I forward the release of your son, Elder James William Wardle, from the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission.  He will be missed by all who were blessed with his companionship.  He served honorably and well.  You can take great pride in the many accomplishments he achieved while serving here.
If there is one phrase that might exemplify your son, I would think that phrase would have to something like, "actions speak louder than words".  He has consistently performed at a very high level in the mission field.  He has a true sense of purpose of those things which are important and does them with singleness of mind.  He has been an outstanding missionary and I am personally very sorry to see him leave.  WE shall miss him and his strong spirit.
I thank you very much for having made it possible for him to have had this incomparable experience of serving the Lord through service to the Argentine people.  He will always remember his mission
Warmest person regards, Joseph L. Bishop Mission President.

Argentina Thanksgiving 1978

I was in Argentina for two Thanksgivings.  Thanksgiving is not a holiday in Argentina.  However my second year, just before I came home, Hermana Diaz wanted to do something special for us.  I suggested banana cream pie would be just the thing.  This is a tradition in our family.  They did not have banana pudding mix in Argentina at the time, but vanilla pudding was very common.  I never helped much at Thanksgiving so suggested putting bananas in vanilla pudding and that should be it.  It tasted very good, but not quite the same thing.

Hermana Diaz with vanilla banana cream pie

Diaz family

Corsi Family Mementos

Hermano Corsi worked for the City of San Miguel, and as a result I was given some scrap papers.  I had a bunch of dog and cat papers, and could write notes on the other side.  He, and his family were always talking about taking care of animals. 

They were also always looking out for me. This is from Teresa, their baby at the time.

They had a party for me the night before I left Argentina.  They gave me a big sucker, which I did not eat, but kept as a memento until it went bad.  Lilly and Lucy drove me to the airport the next day.

Mission: Rama San Miguel

My final area to serve was in San Miguel.  In this area I had three companions, and made many friends.  Hermana Diaz made our meals for us.  Another sister did our laundry, and we lived with the Rosas family.  We worked hard and had some success.  The branch was large, but lacked priesthood leadership.  Hermano Zopetti, who had lived across from the church in San Fernando, had moved with his family to the area and was the ward mission leader.  We did lack priesthood leadership.  The branch president was from another ward in the stake. 

Flores family, baptized

Lucy and Ita

Elder Perez

district

Corsi family, Hermana Rosaura, Lusu, Ita, Ticky, Teresa, Lilly and Hermano Ricardo.

with Teresita

Lilly's baptism

Elder Steed on the left

San Miguel

Elder Petersen

Diaz family

Barrientos family