Badalona - Week Fourteen

Hey Family!

This week was THE BEST! I'll tell you about it on Thursday. We had a GREAT lesson with Marlyn this week. My comp invited her to be baptized and it was super great. I was really proud of her for being bold.

We also had a super great zone conference, an incredible concilio with Elder Kearon from the area presidency, and DAVID ARCHULETA came to do a fireside with us and our investigators, ANNND jessie (my recent convert from zaragoza) came on saturday to spend the day here and work with us. It was a killer week.

Well talk on Thursday! I'll send pics

Os quiero muchisimo! BON NADAL!

Hermana Reid

Badalona - Week Thirteen

Hi Family!

So this week I got stuck in an elevator...

I know you've never seen the elevators here but they comfortably fit about one person. Maybe two. I think ours is actually supposed to fit four, who knows. Anyway, us five Hermanas (Hermana Lopez is training a new so they are in a trio till H. Jarman leaves) were all in the elevator the other night at 10 when we ended the day, and we got to our floor, but the door didn't open. And literally we were all so close to each other. And then we were stuck. Luckily an investigator had given me some corn bread she made. You know us Reids, we have a fear of being hungry. So I was glad for the corn bread in a time of terror.

Anyway, we had to call the elevator-life-saving guy and he told us we just had to pull the doors apart and they would open. Who knew? It was really funny.

I'll keep it short this week cuz if I talk too much, we won't have anything to talk about on Christmas and we will just sit and stare at each other the whole time.

But I'll tell you a sweet miracle we had. Yesterday we went to see a menos activa woman (after we watched the first presidency Christmas devotional which was SO good) her name is Maria. She actually served a mission too a while back, but she has had lots of problems in her life and she's raising two kids by herself and little by little she has become inactive. Anyway, when we went to see her, we talked a lot about the Savior and Christmas and why we celebrate it and all that. I think it helped to remind her of her mission and all the good experiences she had. She told us how she has made a goal to read the Book of Mormon lately and how as she has read, she has really felt like God is telling her she needs to go back to church. She cried as she bore her testimony about how she knows the gospel is true and how she needs to change and make the effort to come back. She kept thanking us for coming and for helping her to realize how important the gospel really is. As I sat there, I felt like I saw a glimpse of what our Savior must feel for each of us. I felt so much love for her and wanted her to just know that God loves her no matter what, and He is always there with His arms outstretched. The spirit was so strong in the lesson. It was really a sweet visit.

ANNNNYYWYAAAYYY, I love you lots Fambam! Talk to you next week!

Hope you had a great birthday Nessa!!!!!

Hermana Reid

This is our friend Archie.

Badalona - Week Twelve

HI Family! 

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK NESSA! YAYAYAY! That's so fun! I hope you have a good one..

This week was good. To be honest I don't have much to say.. we had a really great day on Wednesday, we had zone conference , and President and Hermana Pace came for it and then we had three great lessons with Eduardo, Francis, and Marlyn. They are all reading in the Book of Mormon and are all progressing. We're hoping to be able to set baptismal dates with them soon, that would be the best. 

Nothing else is new really, just a good normal week. Except get this, the other day my comp was telling me how when she took the stress test (an online test in the mission to measure your stress) it told her the amount of stress she had.. I told her when I came into the mission, I had the same amount of stress she did and she goes ¨wow, you were stressed? I can't even imagine that, you're never stressed!¨ CAN  YOU BELIEVE THAT? I couldn't. So I made her say it again on camera for proof. Go me. Not stressed. 

Anyway, life is good. It's cold. But we're good. Love the mission. 

I hope you all have a good week this week! I love you lots! 

Hermana Reid 

Here's us four (we lived together in Zaragoza)

This is me and Hermana Ratliff on her first day!

I just wanted to see if i could fit in the suitcase.. its big

Me and my comp again

Us four that live together (h. jarman, lopez, ratliff, reid)

Cooking for Thanksgiving (personal progress points)

Our humble Thanksgiving

Hermana Vance!

Me and my comp

Thanksgiving!

My chocolate package that i already opened.. haha

Haha... just tired.

Badalona - Week Eleven

HI FAMILY!

Life is super good. We had a good week! And a super good Thanksgiving! I have lots of pics to send home, but my computer never lets me.. so it'll be a big surprise! I contributed the gravy to the Thanksgiving meal, and the green beans. I know, I'm progressing. We had mashed potatoes, chicken, fruit salad, and brownies too! It was super fun with us four in piso. A success for sure.

This week I also got to go see Hermana Woodbury in the islands to do an intercambio with her! It was way fun. We laughed our heads off the entire time reminiscing about San Se together. Actually, while I was in the airport, I saw Hermana Porter (I lived with her in Zaragoza, she's the best) and we were on the same flight to and from the islands cuz she did an intercambio with other Hermanas! It was super fun.

Yesterday, we had concilio, and it was incredible. We got to see that new Mormon message about Christs birth and it was SO GOOD. I cried. I cry a lot. Sensitive. The church has new cards they want us to give out for Christmas that promote the video. I love Christmas!

Also we found out that David Archuleta is coming here in 2 weeks to do a concert for us and our investigators! Haha it'll be sweet, we're super excited. I wonder if people here know who he is..

Also last night we went to see Francis, who we haven't seen a whole lot lately. When we got there, she hadn't read in the Book of Mormon so I told her we would read together, and she was super eager to read. She wanted to read the whole chapter and after we finished, she asked if we could keep reading. It was a super great visit! She's got such great desires to learn and to understand the Book of Mormon. It was the best.

Anyway, I'll keep it short this week. Transfers are this week too so I'll write again on Tuesday.

Love you lots!

Hermana Reid

OH P.S. my Christmas package came. I'll be honest, I saw the Munsons shaped boxes and couldn't help but opening them SORRY. haha. I'll probs open all of them today.. still love me though Mom! We have to enjoy all the candy the whooollleee month! :)

Badalona - Week Ten

HI FAMMILLLYY!!

So I think this week was one of the best weeks of my mission. On Thursday  we had specialized training with the Paces and our zone and the Barcelona  zone. That means nothing to you probably, but it meant that I got to see Hermana Findlay, so it made my life.

It was one of the most inspiring conferences I have ever been to on my mission. I think its because it was really focused on the Savior and how we are trying to be like Him. The spirit was really strong throughout the entire thing. It was really incredible.

Then I did an intercambio.. with Hermana Bastidas actually! Tell Paula that. It took me a while for it to click that she was the one I was supposed to look for. She said shes neighbors with Paula's parents? I didn't take a picture with her.. but she took one.. so ask her for it. I bet its cute. haha.

Then on Saturday  Elder Quinten L. Cook came to speak to us! Almost the entire mission was there, which was super fun because I got to see people I haven't seen my entire mission, including Hermana  WOODBURY who I love! I haven't seen her in 9 months. Crazy right? But I'm actually going to do an intercambio with her on Wednesday, (I get to fly out to the islands!) so that'll be so fun, especially since a year ago, we were put together as companions.

Anyway, the conference was incredible. We all got to shake his hand too. He let us ask him anything we wanted to. He talked a lot about prayer and a lot about faith. He told us about how the 12 apostles have a meeting in the temple every Thursday and he told us about how incredible it is when they get together to pray. Every time we would ask questions he would turn to the scriptures and just blow our minds. He talked about how about how sometimes were called to things and we don't feel prepared, or we feel like someone is better than we are at everything, and it's intimidating, he told us how even all of them feel like that sometimes too. He said Boyd K. Packer says that he still wonders why he got picked to be there, and he's been serving there for over 30 years or so now. So if you ever feel unqualified to fulfill a calling, you're not alone haha. I liked that.

The conference was just an incredible reminder for me of how grateful I am to be a missionary. I was thinking about that a lot this week because about two years ago around this time, the thought of a mission was just a thought. It's weird to me to even think that it was even just an option at one time, because now, I can't  picture my life without it. I am so grateful to be a missionary of my Savior, Jesus Christ. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. This is exactly where I am supposed to be.

Last night, we had a pretty open night, so we were passing by less actives and contacting people in the street. As we walked, I was praying really hard, asking God if he would help us find somebody to teach. Almost immediately afterwards, I decided we should pass by a reference that the elders had given us that we hadn't  been able to contact yet because he hadn't  been home. We entered the building and knocked on his door and he let us in. And there he was with his wife and his son. A FAMILY! I asked God to help us find one investigator and he blessed us with 3.. I wanted to cry. He is so merciful. He always answers our prayers. Wow, the mission is incredible.

OS QUIERO

Hermana Reeeeiiid

Badalona - Week Nine

HIIII FAMILY!

So this week was WILD. It felt like two separate weeks. We're making progress with the people we have, and slowly getting more references and work from the ward members, so it's picking up. We at least usually have a lot less time to walk the streets these days, which is nice.

So we moved this week! It was crazy. I've never had to move a whole apartment before like that. We had to move beds, furniture, the fridge, everything. So Friday and Saturday this week was completely dedicated to the move. Luckily the elders helped us too. Our new piso is in a really good spot in our area too so that'll be nice. It's a super nice piso, it's nice and cozy. It feels like a real home, we all love it, were not so on top of each other anymore. The people that left it, left it really dirty though so we basically had to scrub the whole thing down so it took forever, but now we are all moved in!

Also, we had a bunch of meetings this week with the elders about changing our areas. Our bishop told us that he had a meeting with the stake and they want more work to be done in the elders area, because there's a lot more potential up there, so we talked about splitting our area vertically in half instead of horizontally in half like it is now. It will make a HUGE difference for us in our area because we will have all new sorts of potential work up where we haven't ever been before. For us, it's a miracle. I'm REALLLLLY excited to start working up there, I think it'll help things pick up more in Badalona.

As well, get this. K so yesterday I was getting ready for church, and all of a sudden the thought came to me "you're going to speak in church this morning". It came out of nowhere. So as we left, I grabbed the talk I had written from when I spoke in Valencia, just in case. Sure enough, when we got to the church, the Bishop told me someone had cancelled on him last minute and asked me to speak. It was straight up inspiration, I was shocked. And so thankful that I had my talk. Miracles.

Also... what else. I don't know really, we're doing well. Still trying to find. OH we had a miracle yesterday because a woman in the ward brought TWO friends to church, and one lives in our area! We're meeting with her on Wednesday. MIRACLE. Things are looking up lately, it's been good. People are starting to give us references, we're getting better relationships with the members, it's progressing. Just taking time. We're really excited to work up north too in the new part of our area. Badalona is bringing us miracles. Life is good. And not that cold either! Winning!


Os quiero muchisimo. haha I love vosotros. Spaniard pride.

LOVE HERMANA REID

PS Elder Quinten L. Cook is coming to speak to us this weekend! WOOO HOO!!

I LOVE THE MISSION!

Badalona - Week Eight

Hiiii FAMILIA!

First off, shout out to MAKENNA and SHANNON for their birthdays this week! I can't believe Makenna is ONE. What the crazy? I have never even met her! She looks super cute though. For real. Can I adopt her? Did you know missionaries can't hold babies? I think they are worried we will drop them. So it's been a long while since I've held a baby.

Also sorry I haven't sent pics in forever, the place where we email hasn't been letting me. I promise I'm taking pics though. Well sorta. I'll be better. But I'll try and send them when I can. haha

Anyway, this week was actually pretty good! We were super busy with citas, which was a nice change. We set up visits with everyone. We're trying to see all of our members to work with them better. I really love this ward a whole lot. There are a lot of super great members. We are also going around to all the members houses to heart attack their doors. It's been good so far!

We had a good lesson with Eduardo this week. We taught him the restoration  and he really liked it. He came to church on Sunday too! We were also teaching his 14 year old son Alejandro, who said he didn't believe in God. I asked him "if there was a way that you could know that God exists, would you like to know?" and he nodded his head. We talked to him all about prayer, and why we do it and how we do it and invited him to try a prayer for himself. He's actually read in the Book of Mormon too, he's got lots of potential because he's super willing to act.

As well, yesterday we had a sweet tender mercy. One of our visits fired on us so we were contacting on the way to our next visit and I contacted this lady in the street. Her name is Rosa and she's from Bolivia. We asked if we could share something with her and she was really open to it. She told us we couldn't come to her house because she only rents a room, but that she would meet with us in the church. She was so eager about it she asked if we could show her where the church was right then. So we walked about 15 minutes with her to the church and talked to her all the way. She told us all about these miracles shes had in her life that have helped her to know that God exists. It was really neat. She was one of the most receptive people I've talked with since I've been here. It just amazes me to see God place prepared people in our path all the time.

I think the biggest thing I'm learning here is to never lose faith in miracles. They can come at any moment. It all just depends on our faith. When we act with faith, God always surprises us with miracles. I've learned how much power there is to a sincere prayer. God wants us to see success just as much as we want to see it, we just have to ask for it. I'm really grateful for Badalona. This past week I really felt like I had so much support, I can't really explain it, but it felt good. Anyway, life is good, as always. My companion is doing well. We had a scare this week cuz she drank juice (not knowing it was juice) and is allergic to it, but she's all good now. She's super sweet.

Love you to the moon and back! un abrazo!

Hermana Reid

Badalona - Week Seven

Hey fam! Happy Halloween!

This week was good! On Wednesday, I went down to Barcelona to pick up my trainee. Some of my favorite Hermanas were there as well so it was super fun to see them. The meeting was really great, as they always are. My trainees name is Hermana Ratliff! She's super cute. She's a red-head and from California. She said it's called Victorville. Wherever that is haha. I'm sure it's cute.

We have had a lot of fun together this week! She speaks Spanish pretty well so she's picking it up fast. It's always fun to be with new missionaries because they have lots of energy and excitement. Which is exactly what Badalona needs.

We had a fun Halloween party on Friday night, we helped set up for it on Friday morning. Lots of people came actually, including one of our investigators, Eduardo, so that was good. I think he really had fun. Halloween isn't super big here though. It more of an American thing, and Spaniards aren't really for that haha. But we saw a few kids dressed up.

Yesterday we had concilio. When I got there, I asked President Pace if I could talk to him about his advice in having more success in this area. We had a really nice chat, we both shed a few tears, and at the end he told me that we can do a fast together this next weekend for my area. For me, that was huge. The fact that with all the things he has to do, he would take time to help me in my area, it meant a lot to me. He is a really incredible person. The concilio was really great. It always is a great spiritual boost. It always reminds me of how lucky I am to be here. Oh I got to see Hermana Vance too! She's a sister training leader now. That was fun.

Anyway, were doing the best we can here in Badalona. I'm growing a lot, that's for sure. I've never felt so close to my Savior, and for that, I will always be grateful.


Have a great week!

Hermana Reid


PS I forgot to tell you I think.. but remember Matilde and Frank from Valencia? They both got baptized last transfer! Miracles. Sometimes they don't come when you want them to, but they always come. The best.