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.

Valencia - Week Eleven

HIII FAMMM!

SO I don't have much to say about this week. Also I don't have much time because I sent some pics, and I've been emailing you all individually. So it'll be a short one. This week was pretty good, pretty average. We found two cute new girls. One from Colombia and one from Ecuador that live together. They are about my age and were super sweet. We're excited to teach them. Matilde didn't come to church on Sunday, which was a bummer. She does so well and is progressing, but she won't commit to church. Other things keep coming up first, but we will get her there next week for sure.

We had interviews this week with President. It was really weird actually. Time has really flown. Kinda scary. But life is really good in Valencia. I know I say that every week, but it's true. We are really blessed here. We have been finding so many new people lately, so we are excited to teach more and to help them get baptized.

I got to do an intercambio this last week in Barcelona, and this week I go again! I have been there once a week for the past 6 weeks haha. It's a beautiful train ride too. Three hours. Hermana Benson will come here with H. Vance. which will be super fun. And I'll get to go spend time with H. Findlay again!

Transfers are this next week as well, but I think I'm staying to finish training Hermana Vance. I won't leave just yet. I really like it here. I wouldn't mind being here a while. Sorry its so short. But I promise life is so good! LOVE YOUUUUUU FAAAAMMMM!!

Love, Hermana Fras

My water bottle fell.. behind this fence.. how sad. I can't get to it.

The lighting is bad, but its all of us STL... on the train!

My last time seeing H. Benson!

Valencia - Week Ten

HHHiiiiiii family!

So pageants over? Remember that last year? The day after (which would have been today), I got set apart, and then Tuesday I was off to Spain! How weird is that? I thought about that yesterday as we taught these two Nigerian men yesterday on a bench.. If I would have known that a year ago, I probably wouldn't have believed it. Wow.

Anyway, this week was super good! I can't remember if I told you this story yet, so I hope not. We passed by a lady on our ward list a couple weeks ago named Matilde. The ward list said she and a few of her family members were members of the church. When we stopped by, we talked to her and her daughter and they told us that they not only were not members but that they had no idea what the Book of Mormon was and had never seen missionaries before. Anyway, we started meeting with Matilde, (her daughter has always been busy) and Matilde wants to be baptized! She's been reading a ton and we've taught her the first two lessons. Her goal is to be baptized the 9th of August. So that's super exciting. Sort of a crazy miracle. How did she ever end up on the ward list if she's not a member? Not really sure. But hey, now she will be!

We also did lots of birthday stuff this week. Ana and Nicole both had birthdays this week so we went and surprised them both with cake and balloons and stuff. It was fun. I think they were really happy that we remembered them.

Other than that, it was kind of a mellow week. We have been finding lots of new people lately, this week I think all of them were Nigerians which is cool. I loooveee Africans. One we found is named Glory, who is a friend of a recent convert. We met with her yesterday and she as well wants to be baptized and is preparing for the 9th! She's super sweet. She told me she might move up north (to San Sebastian!!) when Peace moves (which could be next month) so I hope she stays long enough so we can teach her everything. She was really sweet.

The elders had a baptism this week so I'll send pics of that. We sang at it as a district. We did a sweet rendition of come thou fount and Oh my Father. Everyone really liked it. Would I ever have sang in a group of 6  before the mission? Nope. I'm getting bolder. Also guess what else I did? Played the piano in Sacrament Meeting. I know 4 hymns. So those were the ones I played. Haha. We're gonna have to sing God be with you till we meet again every other week...

Anyway, tomorrow we have interviews with President! Then on Wednesday and Thursday I'm going to do an intercambio in Barcelona, and then on Sunday I head up to Barc again for concilio (which means I'll probs write on Tuesday next week) By the end of this transfer, I will have been in Barc on average once a week. My poor companion. She's doing so great though, we have lots of fun together.

Life is really good. We are working really hard and seeing lots of miracles. I hope I get to stay in Valencia a while, I like it a lot. The members are really great here. Have a fun week FAAMMMM!!! Haha I just remembered red robin YUMMMM! Go tytyb2. Remember how if someone said red robin the other one would have to say yum? Haaaaha. We are so strange. K love you lots!!

Love, Kassibaby2000 haha.

Valencia - Week Nine

HIIIII!!!

Valencia is just the best. I really love this place. I am always dripping in sweat, but it's fine. Kinda like being in New York in July right? haha Valencia is a great place to be. We had a good week this week. It fleeeewww by.

Monday night we had an FHE with Ana and her kids at a members house. We watched the 20 minute restoration video (pageant flashback oh my gosh, it's so weird to think about how I was at the Joseph Smith home a year ago and now I'm in an Ecuadorian home in Spain teaching a woman from El Salvador about the most important thing in my life) Big throwback. Anyway, we watched the video and Ana reallly liked it. I think it was good for her to be able to see the restoration and to feel the Spirit that the video brings. She told me afterwards that it really touched her and that all of the scriptures from the bible that the movie quotes, she knows from memory. She's doing really great.

Sad news, we saw Veronica this week and she told us she was having doubts about different things. So we read together in Alma 32 about faith. We taught her about how faith starts with a desire. She told us she mostly struggled with believing that the BOM prophets were true because she was more familiar with the ones in the Bible. We explained how everything starts with a desire. If she has the desire to know its true, she's just got to be willing to act on it by reading the BOM and asking God about it. She told us she had the desire and everything ended well. Unfortunately after we left her house that night, she called us and told us that her desire really wasn't in it. I'm not sure what happened but she said she was content where she was and didn't want to continue anymore.

I was really devastated. It was really really hard. It's hard to see someone progress so much and start to recognize the Spirit and feel good in church and then just change their minds. I think she just got scared. I don't think its all completely over with her, but it was really, really hard to hear her say she was done. At the same time, I felt a lot of peace about our part as missionaries. I felt we had really taught clearly and the Spirit guided us in the lesson and I don't feel like we should have done anything different.

So I don't remember if I told you but we are teaching a Pakistan man named Farooq. His English and Spanish isn't very good, so we have to keep it really simple. He contacted us. It was really cool though because yesterday I had a moment as we taught him on the bench. I sat there with my Spanish Book of Mormon, he had his BOM in Ardo  and Hermana Vance had hers in English. I just thought man, if  you would have told me a year ago that I would be in Spain, on this bench, teaching Farooq the gospel in three different languages, I wouldn't have believed it. It was a really tender moment. I am really glad to be here. I love the mission so so much.

Oh one last little thing. On Tuesday, Hermana Munns and I went to Barcelona for our conference for sister training leaders. It was really good! We talked about how we can lift the mission and help unite the sisters. It was a really powerful meeting. President and Hermana Pace are incredible. They are so inspired, I love being with them (Also they gave us homemade Cafe Rio salads, talk about being in heaven) After the meeting, I got to go out and work with HERMANA FINDLAY. it was THE BEST! I love her so so much. It was the biggest tender mercy, especially since last week was kinda rough. We just laughed and reminisced about when we were in Zaragoza. Love her.

Also, for any of you that ever get nervous about leading music.. try leading a group of 100 people without a piano.. this last Sunday got wild, let me tell you. But I loved it. I volunteered to play the piano sometimes. Because I know four songs. One of them being God be with you till we meet again haha that'll be a regular Sunday one now. We have no pianist! Help! Anyway, life's good. I'm glad pageant is a blast. Tell them all I miss them and love them.


I love you fam bam!

Valencia - Week Eight

Hey fam!

I hope you all had a good week! I can't wait to hear about it someday... haha sorry, I guess I must have made it sound like I wasn't going to be on today.. my conference in Barc is on Wednesday.. awkward. that's okay, I'll tell you about my week.

So this week was kinda rough to be honest. We had lots of great visits and such, I was just more tired than usual I think. My animo was down. But we ended the week really strong so that was good.


We saw some really good miracles this week!

One miracle was that we started teaching a girl named Veronica, a friend of a less active. We met with her this week and taught the first lesson. Hermana Vance said the first vision for the first time and rocked it. She invited her to be baptized too and Veronica gave a solid YES. It was so great. She's preparing to be baptized on the 19th! She was so excited the next time we came back she asked if we could send missionaries to her family in Paraguay! She and Maria came to church on Sunday too! Veronica doesn't have money for the metro so they walked an entire hour there and back. It was incredible. Maria told us normally she cant walk more than a block because she has bad stomach problems but that she was willing to sacrifice for Veronica. Later she told us that as they walked she didn't have pain the entire two hours of walking! Maria as well told us that ever since we have been meeting with Veronica, she has completley changed. She's had a better attitude and has been super sweet. Maria said she's been praying for Veronica for a long time now, and now were seeing miracles. Such a blessing. I am really really praying that she will be prepared for the 19th. It would be a huge huge blessing.

Another miracle was that Abi and Ana and their whole family came to church again! That was a miracle because the other day Abi told us they were probably going to get kicked out of their house on Monday and every time we saw them they were super stressed. So I thought there was no way they'd come. AND THEY DID. I shed a few tears when I saw them. It was the most tender mercy from God.  They are really incredible. I really hope we can help Ana be baptized this month. She's so ready, we just need to help her realize it. The members were super sweet to them as well.

We also had a miracle with a man named Farooq. He's Pakistani but wants to know about the Bible. He contacted us and told us he's searching for the truth. We have met with him a few times now as well, and HE walked to church too! He told us he would leave at 7 so he could be there at 9 30 when it starts, and HE DID! It was a huge miracle. We were really blessed this Sunday.

Anyway, life is good in Valencia. It is hotter than hot can be, but were surviving it. I think it'll still get hotter before it gets cooler...

Also Mom, I cut a watermelon today just the way you always do it (I think it's the first time I've ever cut an entire watermelon.. embarrassing) anyway, it went well. Personal Progress points? Yes.

I love you fam! Hope youre enjoying pageant!

love Hermna Fras

Valencia - Week Seven

 Hiiiiiiiiiiiii

It's pageant time again! That's the best! Thinking about pageant made me think about when I received my call. Remember how we were all wondering when I would leave and Rockstar (this is why we call him Rockstar) totally knew that I was going to leave July 24th, three days after pageant. And it happened. I was thinking about that and how much of a tender mercy that was for us. It's really interesting to see how God works. Obviously if I would have been called to report before pageant, it would have been fine and life would have gone on.. but God knew how special it would be for me to be at pageant right before I left, so He let me. For me that was one of the biggest testimony builders that God is really involved in the little details of our lives. He wants us to be happy, and what's important to us is important to Him. He really loves us. Besides, I'm pretty sure He knew I would totally rock that King Noah crowd scene last year..

Anyway, life here in Valencia is good! It's.. hot! haha. But not as bad as Palmyra in July yet.. but I think it'll come. People say theres still more hot coming. We had a really good week last week. It was kind of scattered because i spent half of it in Barcelona getting my new comp. But the second half of the week was good.

Sad news, we went to visit Ana and she told us she's just not ready for a baptismal date yet. She wants more time. I know we can keep working with her though. We explained how it's just a goal, and that it can be changed, but she wasn't ready for it yet. So that's a bummer. I know that she will get baptized this month though. Keep her in your prayers.

Other than that, to be honest I don't remember much from last week.. sorry. We had a lot of good visits though. Hermana Vance is doing great. She's a hard worker and she's up for anything. She's not nearly as sensitive as I was when I first got here. It's weird how I keep asking her if she's okay or if she's sensitive or if she's tired.. (cuz that's how I was when I was new) but shes a champ! So it's been way fun. She's willing to do anything and everything, I'm really glad to be with her. Especially because she's blonde. Blondes are the best.

So Sunday night, five of us (2 zone leaders and 3 STLs) went to Barcelona for concilio. We got to sleep over at Hermana Findlay and Bensons piso (yes they live together, so not fair!) but it was SO fun to see them. I love them so so much. On Monday we had concilio. It was really incredible. We have been working as a mission to work hard to find new investigators together. It's been really uniting and motivating. I love going to those meetings. They are always so inspiring and the Spirit is so strong. I feel blessed to be able to go. Next week we have a meeting in Barcelona again for the sister training leaders. That's three weeks in a row that I'll be in Barcelona haha. It's like a 3 hour train ride so it's not bad. It's fun to do it with the other STLs as well. We have really bonded a ton.

Anyway other than that, I don't have much for this week. This week we have coming is going to be great! We're super excited to work really hard and to make some progress with the people we are teaching. I love this work, it has blessed me so much. Have a great week fam!

love, Hermana Reid

Valencia - Week Six Pictures

Valencia - Week Six (Pictures to come!)

Hey fam bam!

So you all sounded like you had a WILD week. But good. Well maybe you didn't think it was wild, but I did. YAY FOR PAGEANT TIME!!!! THE BEST TIME IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. Remember how a year ago we went to the Palmyra Temple? YAY! Also all my companions think I'm crazy because I talk about how OBSESSED I am with pageant. But it's fine. They're all convinced they need to do it. I think it's cuz I act out the King Noah scene so well for them. 

ANYWAY BIG NEWS

I'M TRAAAIINNNIINNNGG!! We got calls Saturday night and I was super pumped when I found out. Hermana Munns, who I live with got called as a STL so that's sweet too because I LOVE her and it'll be way fun to travel with her and do intercambios with her. 

Anyway, I just picked up my companion in Barcelona. Only two sisters and two elders came in. Her name is Hermana Vance. She's blonde! Woot! She's from Ohio. She did one semester at BYU  Idaho and now she's here. She's super cute and ready to work. I'm pumped about these next two transfers together. There's something about new missionaries that I just love, they are so excited to work and learn. It will be so so fun. 

So this last week was really good. We had a lot of really great miracles. We have been finding more and more news through the members lately, it's been great. This past week, just from stopping by members we have been able to set up visits with some of their friends that happened to be in their house at the same time, so it's been really great. 

So this week I was pondering. It's a new hobby I have. I have been really wanting to learn more about the Atonement. I have been praying for God to help me understand it more. Last week Tyson told me sad news about one of his friends losing their baby and it really struck me hard. That night I was praying a lot. I felt so bad for the family and what they must be going through. It's really really hard to see bad things happen to really good people. People that spend their whole lives striving to do what is right and then are given incredibly hard challenges. In my prayer I was asking God why something so bad had to happen to such good people. While I was praying, a phrase from a talk I once heard came into my head, "he's my son, too". I remember reading a talk where a dad had begged God to know why his son had to have so many complications with his eyesight. The doctors did a ton, but he would only be able to see out of one eye. As the dad prayed one night asking, "why" he heard in his head, "Spencer, he's my son, too". 

I think sometimes I forget that just like we love our family and friends, God loves them too. He loves each one of us with a perfect love. He knows our needs, our strengths and our weaknesses. Sometimes I still don't understand why bad things happen to good people, or why we are given the trials that we have, but what I DO have, is faith in my Father in Heaven. I know He knows better than I do, and that every challenge we are given is to help us, to strengthen us, to bring us closer to Him.

I am so grateful for the Atonement. I am grateful to know that on the days when I'm tired or stressed or just about to give up, that I have someone right by my side. I have a Savior that knows exactly what I am feeling. I have a Savior that loved me enough, to come to this earth and suffer voluntarily just for me. Just so He could know how to strengthen me when I am weak and comfort me when I am sad. The Atonement is the most incredible thing. I am so grateful for this gospel. That is why I am here. The peace the Atonement gives me is unreal. People need this in their lives. I love the happiness this gospel brings me. I love the knowledge that I have that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know He lives. I know we have a Father in Heaven that is very aware of us. He is in the details of our lives. 

Life is so good. 

I love you, family.

Love Hermana Fras