Saturday, Enero 16, 1926
Buenos Aires – Went to office of News Paper “La Prensa,” to see about getting our announcement of meeting in. Had to make another trip at 4 pm and they promised to print free what we gave them. We went again to the Post Office to correct their sending our mail to Rivadavia Street address, had to make out new solicitude of change. I received a card from my office force in El Paso, also a letter from my son Rolfe, reporting all well at home. Bro Ballard and I visited the salvation Army hall on Rivadavia Street and looked at several places out there with prospect of renting for meeting purposes. Found rents very high, $750.00 for store room, with three living rooms in the rear.
Sunday, Enero 17, 1926
Buenos Aires – Our announcement did not appear in the news paper “La Prensa” this morning. The reason why, we do not know. We had a good meeting with the German Saints at 4 pm. First a Sunday School class with a lesson on Church History. Then the Sacrament was administered and some of the German brethren spoke on the principles of the Gospel. Owing to our notice not getting in the paper, no one came to our Spanish meeting but Mrs. Belgrams and her daughter. We visited for a while, then they went and got a friend and her son and we all went to the river front. It was very hot, and thousands of people were there trying to get a breath of air. Next to hottest day of year.
Monday, Enero 18, 1926
Buenos Aires – Received notice that Books etc from Independence had arrived and we went to see about getting them from customs house. Found we had not received the Bills of Lading signed by Argentine Consul at New Orleans and till we get it we cannot get our Books. With Bro Ballard went in evening to home of Russian Jew I had met, Mr. Gurevien Elias on Larazaban 488. Had a splendid two hours with him and his family talking gospel. They speak Spanish and I had to talk to them in that language. Returned to room after 10 p.m. Cooler today and tonight.
Tuesday, Enero 19, 1926
Buenos Aires – Bro Hoppe came to our room about 8.30 am. and told us his little baby was very sick and wanted us to go with him to administer to it. We went right after breakfast and arrived at his home after 10 am only to find the baby had died about the time he had come to our room. We did what we could to help and arrange for funeral. Agreed it should be Wednesday (next day) at 2 pm. We returned to our room and in the afternoon we got some German Books from the Post Office, and then Bro Ballard attended to some other business while I sent out to advise Friedrichs of death of baby. returned home 8 pm very tired.
Wednesday, Enero 20, 1926
Buenos Aires – Bro Ballard and myself went early to home of Bro Hoppe to hold funeral. About fifteen German women came in and Bro Friedrichs spoke to them in German and I spoke in Spanish. Child was buried in Avellencia cemetery. In evening we held meeting at home of Bro Friedrichs, German and Spanish in separate rooms, 16 Spanish speaking people present. Most of them children, but very interested. The Spanish lady, Sra Jose Molares, invited us to hold a meeting in her house Friday at 4.30 and she would invite some of her friends in. The weather has been much cooler today with cool wind from South East.
Thursday, Enero 21, 1926
Buenos Aires – In forenoon Bro. Ballard and [I] looked at some more Halls. In the afternoon went to express our Steam Ship Companies looking up matters pertaining to our Book and tract shipment. No results. Gave notice of our Sunday meeting to “Prensa” and “Nación” which they promised to print. I received a New Year’s card from little Rey. Also a fine letter from May and one from Melba. Also a letter from Elder Haymore reporting conditions in Mex Mission as favorable in general, but some trouble with Elders McDonald, and Lowe, also some of younger missionaries. Wrote Elder Haymore instructing release of Elders Brantner, McDonald and Lowe. Weather much cooler.
Friday, Enero 22, 1926
Buenos Aires – I wrote on typewriter a lot of letters for Bro Ballard. In the afternoon we went to the home of Sra Jose Molares in Laniers and held a meeting with a few people that came in. There was a good spirit present. She invited us to eat and gave us Chocolate and sweet cakes. Made arrangements to hold a Sunday School at hoe of Bro Fredrichs for Spanish speaking people out there and invited children to come.
Saturday, Enero 23, 1926
Buenos Aires – Heavy rain fell early in forenoon. When it stopped Bro Ballard and I went to American Express to sign some papers pertaining to moving picture shipment for us there. We then went way out on Rivadavia Street to look for some place that might do as a hall with living quarters in connection. Saw five or six places that would do very well; out about 10000 block and a little beyond. Prices $300.00 to $400.00 pesos per month. We are of impression we could get more people out to meetings there than in heart of the City.
Sunday, Enero 24, 1925
Buenos Aires – We left room at about 8.30 am and went to Friedrich’s. Held Sunday School with 40 Spanish speaking children, being present a few older persons. All were very interested and we were encouraged with he opening. Had dinner at Friedrich’s, and then visited short time with Senor and Senora Jose Molares. Returned to our room and at 4 pm held meeting in our room with German Saints. Withal a very good day, although Spanish papers did not print our notice of meetings and we had no Spanish meeting at night.
Monday, Enero 25, 1926
Buenos Aires – Called on Post Office to enquire about our newspapers etc which have not been coming lately. No satisfaction. Mail service here is very poor indeed. We bought loose leaf book to keep mission history in. Cost $9.00 (pesos) I wrote a lot of letters for Bro Ballard. One very long one to Presidency making recommendations concerning future of mission here. Recommended a younger man be called for Mission President here. Ernest Young and Harold Pratt mentioned. Personally I think either one of them could do as much with the mission here as Bro Ballard or myself.
Tuesday, Enero 26, 1926
Buenos Aires – Wrote long letters to Rolfe and May in the forenoon. In afternoon did some business in town and then visited the zoo. It is the largest and has the most and rarest kind of bird and animal life I have ever seen. Many animals and birds that I had read about but had never seen are to be found there. It was a very educational afternoon and I wish I could have all my family see it.
Wednesday, Enero 27, 1926
Buenos Aires – Read and studied a great deal. In pm looked at a number of houses on Rivadavia Street out about 10000 block. Called at home of Russian Jews, Elias family, and invited them to meeting at Friedrichs. They came but too late for the meeting. We had meeting at Friedrichs at 7.30 with about 50 Spanish speaking people present, Children mostly. A new Baptist woman was present who manifested a great interest.
Thursday, Enero 28, 1926
Buenos Aires – A great deal of the day was spent in study. Very very hot. In afternoon I wrote up in Mission history Book about 2 months history. Nothing much of note happened.
Friday, Enero 29, 1926
Buenos Aires – Studied in forenoon. In afternoon again looked up places on Rivadavia Street. Went to home of Mrs. Jose Molares and held cottage meeting at 1.30 pm. Nice crowd out and very interested. Sra Molares and her friend who was at meeting Wednesday night had had quite a discussion about us and our teaching with Secretary of Baptist Church. He had done all he could to prejudice them against us, and they had a great many questions to ask but I was able to satisfactorily answer them all. Hottest day of the year.
Saturday, Enero 30, 1926
Buenos Aires – Went in forenoon to see owners of some houses on Rivadavia Street. Conditions of lease are very exacting. They require guarantee of some commercial house and two years contract and rent in advance. Studied in afternoon as it was very hot. Recd fine letter from Elder Haymore. Also a circular letter to missionaries he had written to them. Some perplexing problems in Mexican mission. Elder Haymore seems to be exercising good judgment. Fine young man. Recd letter from Rolfe and Bro. [illegible]
Sunday, Enero 31, 1926
Buenos Aires – We went in the morning to home of Bro Friedrichs where we held Sunday School at 10 a.m. There were 30 Spanish speaking people present, mostly children. We had a very good Spirit present and it is very noticeable to see how the children are progressing. It had rained the night before and also this morning making it very muddy walking. We held German Sunday School and Sacrament meeting with the German Saints in our rooms in the afternoon. Very much cooler today.
(To be continued)
This kind of on-the-ground perspective is very enlightening. Thanks for this, Ardis.
“Laniers” is probably Liniers. That was where the first chapel was built and it was my first area.
Rivadavia street goes through the whole city proper and surrounding areas and the map book says it is the longest city street in the world. My address was on Rivadavia once. It’s like home every time he mentions it.
Carol’s right about Liniers–there are a number of street names present in nearly every decently sized city in Argentina, and “Liniers” is one of them. A chapel in my mission, in fact, was located on the corner of Entre Rios and Liniers!
Also, it looks likely that “Larazaban” is “Larrazabal”–not sure of the spelling in the source, but there doesn’t seem to be a “Larazaban” in Buenos Aires.
Thanks for the spelling corrections — I’ll take a look again to judge whether I misread Pres. Pratt’s handwriting, or whether he misspelled unfamiliar names. His writing has lots of extra curls and flourishes so although it’s ordinarily very legible, I could easily misread an unfamiliar name.