Tierra del Fuego

Nine months ago Elder Dallas Bruce was surfing warm water waves in sunny Costa Rica. Thoughts of a future mission were in the back of his mind and seemed very far off. He was enjoying the moment. Well those nine months have flown by and...

on Tuesday Elder Bruce landed in Buenos Aires, Argentina and met his Mission President, President Gulbrandsen and his wife. He also met with his new companion via skype. You might ask yourself "Why on Skype?" His trainer is located four hours away by plane from the mission home and couldn't make in for transfers.

You see Elder Bruce was assigned to the city of Ushuaia, the most southern city in the world and located at the tip of South America. It is the last stop before heading to Antarctica. The highest average temperature during the summer is 48 degrees and the wind is so strong that sometimes you have to face backwards to walk. But the pictures do look beautiful.

So now this surf-loving missionary is living in the land of penguins and petrified frozen forests. He will learn to appreciate the comforts of home and will finally wear the scarf that I suggested during his winter at BYU. He says his flight was scary and great at the same time. He wrote that the clouds were the most awesome and unusual he had every seen.

I'm told by a few who have visited this part of the world that landing at the airport in Ushuaia is an out of this world experience. Only former Air Force pilots are allowed to land there and during their approach to the airport the landing gear is lowered into the water to help slow down the plane so touchdown on the landing strip can be a fast and furious stop.

We are all anxious to share in the experiences that Elder Bruce has in Tierra del Fuego. I know great things will come to pass as he serves diligently.