#12

Que calor. This week has been pretty great! I can barely remember anything hahaha. Something I do remember is that on Saturday a former investigator called my phone and said hi I'm Loe can you visit me today? And so we of course said yes, and then we went to her house and she pulled out her Book of Mormon and other books and told us to teach her. She bore a beautiful testimony to us and offered an even more beautiful prayer. It was so great! We set up 2 more cites with her for next week and I think things will get going pretty well. She also speaks English very well so that's a score.

Speaking of English.... We have had so much English this week! It is still exam season so EVERYBODY is calling the missionaries to help them with English. And we are fluent in English so I don't see why they wouldn't. It has been a great service opportunity and I think in some way some how it helps my Spanish... maybe. But we have been helping several people with English this week and it has been fun! I love being able to serve people here. It's something I've been itching to do and now I think we are finding small ways that we can help. After we help these investigators/ less active members with English we are always able to share a message with them and it always goes very well.

 It is hot here everybody...  goodness gracious. I have reached the point where I am just always 100 percent sweating 100 of the time hahaha. But it's still not as hot as good ole Moapa  Valley. I've been trying to convince people here that it is hotter in southern Nevada than here in Sevilla and nobody believes me. Hahaha  like they refuse, it's funny.

I love 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given is the spirit of fear; BUT of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." As I have made this scripture my motto the last couple of days It has changed the way I work. I always knew that with me being set apart as a missionary, I have been set apart with a mantle of such power, but it's nice to know that I  can have this heavenly power all the time. And everyone can. Whenever I am out contacting I carry this scripture with me in my heart and then I always think of something that Gary Batchelor seemed to tell me everyday until I left on my mission : "Be bold" it has worked miracles for me. The weather is hotter, which means the work is a little harder, but I'm up just gonna work with a little more power and everything will be swell! It's a very rewarding experience to be able to share this gospel. And to be able to have Christ right here with me doing it. It remind me when Christ sent out his disciples to go and do missionary work, He promised them that He would be with them always. I like to think He'd say the same thing to me. 

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

alright that all! See ya later adios! 💙Os Quiero💙 I'll send pictures 

Tell me this isn't the most Disney princess-esque  picture you've ever seen 

I caught a bird

España views

We went to the Castillo de Alcalá this mornimg with Mari 💙

This is the neighborhood squad

Blurry Hermana rust/ Princess Rust 

This is our cute little English class and our investigators Manuel, Luisa and kevin!

Kevin is our best friend

#11 Summer is here. Traslado 3

Hot tamale I am sweating. This week we reached a nice balmy 98 degrees. And before all you southern Nevadans get riled up, I know I know, it reached 105 there, so I shouldn't be complaining.... but who is out walking in it all day? There is nothing else I'd rather be doing. I love the nice dry heat here, reminds me of home 💙 and it's only beginning! But the tan lines are real. It got so hot last week that for pday we ended up just having like a trizone water balloon fight. It was legit. And this pday we had a nice spike ball tournament. I think it's safe to say that my pre mission practice with the fam didn't really affect anything, I'm still awful 😂 but it was tons of fun!

So because of the new rules and guidelines regarding the new schedule for missionaries, Hermana Spencer and I decided that we were going good to change things up. We can decide when we do our studies and take our lunch and what not so we have decided that rather than doing most of our studies in the mornings, we are going to just do our planning and then leave because there are so many more opportunities for work in the morning, it's cooler so there are people out and about to talk to. So then we will come in for lunch and do our studies because honestly from about 2-7 there isn't a soul on the street. It's insane. Spaniards really take their siesta time very sacredly. It isn't until like 8:30 that people start filling the streets. So yeah, it's been working well for us! And it also saves us from some of the heat too. 

I get to meet and learn about so many people. This has to be the best part of serving a mission. The members here and the random people we meet are some of the sweetest most genuine people I know. They are just so so kind; I love doing this.

So remember Luisa from last week? Well we set a Cita with her AND SHE ACTUALLY CAME! MILAGROS. We had a buenísima lesson with her and her friend Manuel. We were able to teach them that God isn't just an energy, that He is our Heavenly Father and He is a person and then we taught them that we can pray to Him too! How cool is it that we can do that? How lucky are we to know that God lives and that He loves us and wants to communicate with us? I just found a whole greater appreciation for my Heavenly Father because of this experience. Also was it Father's Day on Sunday? I literally have no idea? 

In my personal study I have been following the life of Christ and coming to really know my Savior. I'm taking the challenge that President Nelson reissued at conference to read and mark every verse about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide. I love it so much! Also I have the first paragraph of the Living Christ in Spanish memorized 😎 I Love Jesus Christ! I could study Him and his life everyday for the rest of my life, and I plan too. He is the greatest man alive and I have such a profound appreciation for Him. How cool are the things that I get to teach people? The people here all love Jesus Christ like I do, so that's pretty neat. 

Now for some bullet points

• This week I witnessed two very Spaniard men trying to talk/yell in English and oh my goodness... I thought I knew humor before the mission, but I was sadly mistaken. It was single-handedly the best and funniest occurrence that has ever happened in my existence. I love Spaniards. 

• I can get 4 loaves of fresh REALLY GOOD AND CRISPY bread for 1 euro. Which consequently means I can gain 5 pounds for only one euro too! Wahooo how fun

• It is hot. Before I leave the Piso I get my hair and clothes wet but no worries, it is already dry by the time we cross the street.

• I love my small little Pueblo Alcalá. I love it here so much. The hills are killer but I love being able to climb them.

• Tomorrow we are having taco Tuesday for our last district meeting because Our DL is getting transferred and theheheohats sad but I'm excited!

VAYAS CON DIOS VENGA VALE HASTA LUEGO CON AMOR Y CARIÑO HERMANA RUST 

THIS IS THE BEST ICE CREAM. They have a really dark chocolate oreo that just makes my life 

Cristina, our ward missionary and I

This is the tasty bread that I love 

We go to the residency every so often to visit Clara and this is her friend Juan. We play tic tac toe with them and it's the cutest

#10

This week was one really great week! We were so busy! We are trying to strengthen our relationship with the members.   We have been able to meet with some of them for a couple minutes this week and that has been really nice. We didn't think this week was going to be as good because we didn't have any set Citas with out investigators, we were calling them every day all week long and nobody was picking up the phone and also with our younger investigators and less actives, they've all had exams this last week and are super busy studying and what not. And also the Feria is in town so lots of people canceled on us because they went to the Feria 😅😒 if I weren't a missionary, I would totally be a fan of the Feria, but as a missionary, it's the worst hahaha. So we weren't really sure how this week would work out, but we saw miracles this week! Little miracles all over the place it was awesome. I'll share some.

1. We were out contacting one morning and we had been doing pretty well at getting future investigators and what not but we decided to turn to go into a big park. So right when we turned the corner to go in, a woman just made eye contact with us and very joyfully said "Hola!" And we said it back, and then she just started asking how we were and where we were from and she basically initiated the conversation, calling us over to talk to her! She was stealing our job hahaha. But she asked where she we were from and we told her the United States and she just got so so excited and happy she told us that everything about the United States calls her attention and she just longs to know more so she basically just told us that she wants to learn more English, about our culture and about out church too! Her name was Luisa and she was so so lovely. That was a small miracle, I have high hopes for her.

Miracle number 2. As I said we had a tough time meeting with investigators this week, but we called our part member family Sunday morning, Melisa is our investigator and she's 17.and we just called in hopes that they'd come to church because they haven't been in  a while and they answered and the mom, Mirra  said they were getting ready to come! And Melisa too! It was so sweet, she said it was truly a miracle that they were all coming and that they could really feel our prayers. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. SOME WAY SOME HOW HE DOES.

MILAGROS. It was a good week in the Spain heat. I'll send some pics.

We ate this beauty .

These are pretty Feria lights but we couldn't go in because it wasn't on p day 😢.

I wanted to get a better picture, but for the Feria everyone and their mom wear these huge beautiful Feria dresses with flowers in their Hair and everyone goes to the fair in a horse drawn carriage and it's the best. I wore my polka dot dress basically all weekend because for the Feria everyone's dresses have polka dots so I really fit in 😉

This is our dear Bolivian family 💙💙💙 melisa, our investigator is right next to me, and her parents Mirna and Kike. I adore them. Sofia, the other daughter is just missing. 

#9 (emailed 5/29/2017)

This week was cray cray. Hmm let's see. So on Tuesday we contacted this super super adorable couple named Ruth and Diego. They were the cutest and we talked to them for a good amount of time and that's why  love being a missionary. Because I can just talk and talk and listen and listen and learn about all of the people here. It's the best.

On Tuesday we had set citas to meet with 3 of our investigators and a couple of less actives, and all but one Cita failed 😅 gotta love it when that happens. And it happens a lot.

 Wednesday I went to my first zone conference! That was really fun and a good experience. I got to meet the sisters from the office whom I adore and some other pals from the CCM because there were about 3 zones there. I have already met most of the Hermanas that were there because there aren't that many  but there were a ton of  other elders there and I just met a whole lot of em so that was fun. I had the assignment to Introduce Our Comisión as missionaries. I don't know it very well in English but it talks about how we are chosen to be representatives of Jesus Christ and that we stand in His place and do what He himself would do if He were ministering to the very people that I am. Anyway it's by Elder Bruce R McConkie and it really is such a cool thing that we get to recite everyday. President Anderson talked a little bit about that during his talk at zone conference just saying how I take the place of Jesus Christ right now on my mission and He always takes my place when I am in pain or in sin. Because God trusts Christ, he trusts me. And it's our job to guard the standard that He has set and plant the ensign to the nations. And yeah it was just so good! It was so long... and it was all in Spanish... and guess who understood almost everything? Me. I did! I found out that basically if you don't speak with an Andalusian accent I can understand just fine! Hahaha were working on it.

Zone conference was in Sevilla and we just have to take 2 buses to get there so it isn't too bad, it's about 45 minutes. And then on Thursday evening we had intercambios so we had to go back to Sevilla. Intercambios was really fun. I didn't really have any idea what they were... and you'd think I would, but I don't know they just slipped my mind. So yeah I went to be companions with my Hermana Trainers for the day. It was a good experience, my sister training leaders are so nice and very willing to help out so it was nice to talk to them. I just kind of followed them around because I think all of their citas failed too hahaha. So Intercambios lasted until Friday evening and we finally went back to our Alcalá. 

Friday we had a noche de hogar with our ward and we were in charge of the lesson. For our lesson we based it off of Elder Ballard's talk from last conference, Return and Receive. One part that I love is he says it is good to have goals and plans for our careers and education It is also important to have goals for our marriages, our families, and our Church callings and as missionaries. But our greatest and most overriding goals should fit into Heavenly Father’s eternal plan. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” I love that as we make our number one goal to return back to live with Heavenly Father and relieve His gift of eternal life, and we do everything in our power to accomplish that goal, that we need not worry too much about the other things, because they will be added unto us, through our faithfulness. So for all of my college student friends out their who have no idea what they are doing with their lives, don't worry! Seek first the kingdom of God and you'll be okay! But you should get good grades too.

Okay next. This week we found  Aldair (his name was so hard for me to remember so just to help it's pronounced kind of like "I'll die here" 😉😂 but he is from Peru and he's 17 and he was baptized when we was 14 and basically hasn't come to church since. His entire family is Catholic except him. He has a heart of gold and he really believes, he just doesn't "practice". But he always accepts us when we come and he'll even come sit our in the hot air outside with us to read the Book of Mormon because we aren't allowed to go into his house without his mom being home, so really he is awesome!

Our bishop has moved out to Barcelona for work and he has been gone for 3 months and so technically our ward doesn't have a bishop. It has been under the control of the Stake President, Presidente Anta. But I finally met him and he is awesome! He has been a bishop in some ward or another for 20 years! And he is only 41! But he called us into his office and just talked for a bit and it went something like this: he said that since he has been gone for 3 months, about 20 people have gone inactive. There have been no baptisms and I don't think any new investigators and he just told us that we were serving in the most difficult area in Spain. He said he doesn't expect a new bishop to be called until about September and he just pleaded with his to talk to our mission president about getting a bishop out here because our poor ward is struggling. It was so nice that he still cared about what was happening here even though he doesn't really live here anymore but whew it was a bit overwhelming. Hermana Spencer and I just kind of swallowed that all and went back to class. So then later that day I was reading in 1 Nephi and there is a verse that says "and according to his word he did lead them; and according to his word he did do all things for them; and there was not any thing done save it were by his word" and I just got the overwhelming peace that God has a plan for our little Alcalá ward and he hasn't forgotten us. He has a plan and this plan is going to be fulfilled according to His way and in no other way. I'm confident about that. Now we have just got to figure out what that way is and help bring that plan to pass.

 

You know what, we say all the time that "we cant" and we are probably right, we can't. But He CAN! And He wants to! And He will! And therefore, with His help, we can. I don't know if I will have a reason ever again to doubt anything because how foolish of me that would be when I Know that He CAN! OF COURSE He Can! He has before so why should we ever doubt? When things are too much and everything kind of seems to be crumbling apart, I choose to remember that He can. 

Something I've been thinking about this week.

It's been a marvelous week! I'll send pictures 

This is from Intercambios! Left to right is Hermana Briggs, going home this transfer. And then Hermana Favero, she's 26 and told me about her crazy life it was awesome. I love her. And then me and Hermana Spencer 

This is my district! And Sergio. We played soccer this morning together and it was so fun! It this was right before we played and then it rained super hard on us and we were soaked but we still played and it was fun

We finally got some pan here in Alcalá de Panadería. Delicious. I ate that entire loaf... and then another one. Nothing has changed about me 

This is the super Hermana training leader from the office, Hermana Cole. When I first arrived to Màlaga she and the other elders from the office and president and sister Anderson were there to greet us and almost simultaneously everybody there made a comment on how much we look a like. The pictures don't really do it justice but even if think we look similar 

There are giant sunflower fields right outside of Alcalá and I just want to frolic in them and then take all the pictures in them and then live in them. I'm in love 

OH this is funny. So right passed the bald man's head is a float type thing. So this parade thing is called "la cruz de mayo" and it celebrates Christ's resurrection. They have the Semana Santa parades during Easter about Christ death but now they actually celebrate that He lives! But a couple of these have been going on and the only way I know about them is because many people are gathered to watch it and you can hear the drums. The first one I saw was at like 10 of clock at night and honestly it was a bit freaky haha. There was fire and the drums just kept reminding me of the "death March " we used to do when we would "burn the eagles" in high school  (go pirates) but yeah I just thought it was funny because it kind of sounds like death not like life, but whatever it's still cool! Gotta love SPAIN

#8 (emailed on 05/22/2017)

Hi mommies. You and the whole family have been in my every prayer this week. I'm so glad that you were able to feel so much peace from this sad event. I have been thinking so much about the Plan of Salvation too this week. How incredibly blessed we are to be loved by a Celestial Father who has created something so wonderful that we can all take part it. How blessed we are to have a Savior who is the very center of that plan and has made it all possible and continues to make it possible. I love reading in Alma 40 verse 11 regarding the spirit world.  Where we "are taken home to that God who gave them life" how personal and comforting. As we were teaching an investigator Luis, about the Plan of Salvation this week, I found,myself say "I'm excited to die" and it kind of came out wrong but it's true! I can't wait to see who is there with my God welcoming me. How cool is that?? It's true... I'm sure it's a joyous reunion. 

I've been very humbled this week. Something that dad was telling me is that I just kind of want to set this town on fire right now because I just want to baptize everyone but I can't forget that the Lord wants it to be done His way and quite frankly, I don't think I was patient enough for His way 😂.   I have learned that I need to develop patience so that is what I'm trying to do haha. But I also  learned that Heavenly Father notices the desires in our hearts and He notices our good intentions. And He blesses us in time for the righteous desires we have. There is so so so much work to be done here in Alcalá, and it can be a bit overwhelming, but God has taken me through His work one step at a time. And I'm still working on that whole patience thing. But it's coming. God sees that I desire to do this work here and He knows that I don't really know what I'm doing quite yet so He is slowly but surely guiding me through it. 

Contacting has been something that I had been stressing and struggling with, and I don't know why, I love people! But Thursday I was about ready to explode I was so discouraged, that afternoon I just turned it over to the Lord and told him that I would muster up every ounce of faith I had to allow me to just be able to speak to one person. I asked him for strength just to be excited about contacting and not dreading the word. And then we went out contacting and my whole life was changed! I was able to do it! I enjoyed it and even today I still enjoy it! We were able to finish a wonderful week of contacting and we were just much happier. It was incredible. That was definitely a tiny miracle that happened here in Alcalá for Hermana Spencer and I. We still don't have many people to teach or new investigators but I think slowly, in the Lord's time, if we continue being faithful and working hard, we will be able to see the results. I've just learned so much about first needing faith and then being able to be led by the spirit and what not.

 I gave a talk In church on Sunday! One of the members was supposed to talk but wasn't going to be able to come so they asked me to on Friday! I went pretty well I suppose, that was the first talk I had ever read! I just spoke about the Holy Ghost as our companion. There is a talk about this from President Eyring. I just bore my testimony about it and shared a story. Yeah I think it was okay! I also led the music again and Hermana Spencer played the piano. We were and able meet with three investigators this week. Paula is gold and she has  much faith the only thing is that she works every Sunday and hasn't been able to even try sacrament meeting. I know that if she will just come one time to church she will know that this is the true church for her. 

 Yesterday we contacted this lovely woman named Joanna. She was so so lovely and so so kind. Wow I loved her. She listened to what we had to say and she told us she said catlotica but she still accepted for us to come meet with her one day so I'm praying for that one. She even left asking if she could give us besos hahaha. I love the besos here. Something else that I've heard a lot of people we contact say "vaya con Dios" which is just so sweet. It means like "go with God" the usually tell us good luck with our work and then vaya con Dios. I just love it. They also say Venga a lot. And that means "come" but they say it  like alllllllll the time. Like kind of as adios. So I'm still trying to figure that one out. Also at 7:45 every night, a weird gunshot type noise fires and I'm still trying to figure that one out too. And to all of the people that told me that I look like a Spaniard, they are wrong. Before I even say one word to people they say "hello" I don't know why they say hello, I say hola. Ah. I'm gringa oh well. Can you believe I've been gone for 2 months already! Wooowwww! It's so strange. I will send many pictures now.

We made cheesecake for some members in the ward. I had to whip up that egg by hand and I was sore. 

We also made some lunch.

 And then the members that we were going to give this cheesecake to left early from church and they live a 6 hour walk away so we ate it.

We reward ourselves with pancakes. Also I found this shirt in the apartment and now I finally have a shirt that matches this skirt! Wahooo

These are my girls Melisa and Sofia. I absolutely love them.

 So today we went to this huge nature park thing that nobody really knew existed in Alcalá and it is sooooo beautiful I love it! It had this dirty river running through it and it kind of reminds me of home 💙 hahaha I will send more pictures but today for pday we had a picnic there.

Little ducks in the green water 

It's kind of jungly there 

There are bridges 

And a castle 

#7-Alcalá week 2 (Emailed on 05/15/2017)

Okay so I'll just tell a little bit about this week that I didn't get to! I will muster out every bit I can think of.

Tuesday was a good reawakening day. We had our first district meeting so that was real nice! It was so great having a district again and being surrounded by missionaries again 😄 Hermana Spencer and I are the only Hermanas and the rest are 6 elders! There is one elder from my CCM fam in my district so that is nice. My district leader is from Henderson and he just kept saying how nice it was to be able to have another person from Nevada on the mission hahaha. The first district meeting we just kind of did a get to know you type things and then after we get to go eat Domino's 😅 the elders love eating American pizza in Spain 😅 but we did do the all you can eat. Haha but yeah it was fun. The elder who is from Henderson just wanted to talk all about Vegas and what not it... was funny how excited he was. And then that night we went to Melissa's house. Melisa is 17 and she has a sister Sofia who is 12 and then two parents. Everyone are members except Melisa. So we go to there house and do a noche de hogar. But they are so so lovely that family! I loved being in their Piso. We were able to just get to know them better and hear about the parents conversion stories it was very nice. They just remind me of a cute little normal family. I love it. Sofia is kind of loud and looks for attention just like an average 12 year old would and Melisa is sweet and moody like an average 17 year old. I just adore those girls they're the best. 

Wednesdays we go and visit an elderly woman named Clara in the residency. We decide we are going to to visit her only every other week now because.... well yeah. We just share a video and then leave. We also met with the investigator Luis, the man with the old LDM. We had a good lesson, but you know those older guys love to talk so the lesson went a little over. He believes everything is true and wants to be baptized but his wife just isn't having it. She is slowly starting to open up though so I have faith. Wednesday's we also have English class and those are fun because Mari ( the girl you met yesterday) comes to learn English but I always get her to help with my Spanish hahaha  whoops. 

Thursdays are a bit weird because we weekly plan for about 3 hours and we don't end up leaving the apartment to til about 6 because of Medio día. But we went and visited  a nice woman  who lives alone and needs some happiness in her life. So that was good. And then we went to Melisa and Sofia's to do personal progress! That was so great! Hna Spencer worked with Melisa and was even able to teach a lesson with it so that was awesome. And I worked with Sofia who was not thrilled to be doing it at first but we had so much fun and we are best friends now. I'll have to take pictures and send them next week with them

Friday we had interview with President and I got to see my Finnish Hermana Ruotsalainen! It was so great seeing her. Interviews were awesome. President Anderson is a sweet man and mission presidents are just awesome. They are so so so close to the spirit. On Fridays the ward has a noche de hogar and those are fun! We have a lesson and play a game and eat food. Hna Spencer and I were in charge of the game but then everyone wanted food so we only played for about 3 minutes hahaha oh well.

I forgot to mention that I eat Spanish tortilla and that is so gooooddddd. A member made us one and it was delightful and beautiful and it lasted us 3 meals. 

Saturday was busssyyyy! We did some contacting in the morning, went to Julio's piso and ate some tasty hamburgers and then we spent the whole night contacting. We didn't get anyone's information so that was a bit discouraging but we did have some good conversation and meet very nice people. We stopped this young man and he immediately got defensive and started saying He was atheist and we got him to calm down and I just asked him why he was atheist and he was able to tell us that he doesn't really know but we were able to bear testimony that we do have a Heavenly Father and that He loves him. It was nice. He respected us and what we told him, still wasn't interested but I think we left him with a good feeling. I did too. 

And then Sunday I already told you about but was it funny is this: right after we got done skyping, Asuncion, (Mari's mom) made Hermana Spencer pluck her eyebrows and it was so so so funny, 

Today we went to the other Piso that is here in Alcalá where Hermanas used to live a couple months ago and completely cleaned it out. Wahoo fun. And now I'm writing you! 

The first door I knocked! Nobody answered hahahaa

Drenched in rain HAHAHA

Selfie at our little capilla

Random kids always love playing at the capilla and they beg us to let them In to get agua. They're so funny. They just wanted us to talk to them all night long 

These are some pics from the CCM at the park! The top one his name was Brian, and the bottom one is with Hermana Sinclair and TOMAS. WE LOVE TOMAS. teachers just sneakily go around and catch us in action. 

This is to redeem my Spanish to Holly. I really do know spanIsh I just have a hard time speaking it hahaahahahah. I didn't use any sources of help just my brain so you'll either be very impressed, or still disappointed hahaha. My testimony. 

The view outside of my Piso window. And also dryers don't exist, we just have a drying rack and a little room where you open the shutters to dry your clothes I think it's so cute 

Lunch with Julio and Cristina