HIIII FAMMILLY!!
I really loved reading your emails this week. I mean I love them every week. But they were real good this week.
Also dad and I are twins! We both spoke in church on Sunday. How tender. PS. if you ever get nervous about speaking in church again.. just remember, at least it's in your native language! Haha. I think it went well though. I really love speaking in church so it was fun. It was hard to prepare though cuz I didn't have much time. I used all my free time to work on it (and by free time I mean sleep time and lunch time... missionaries don't have free time haha). Maybe I'll send it to you eventually. It's handwritten, and in Spanish.. but maybe I'll copy it and someone can translate it for you. I need it here just in case I gotta speak again. I talked about how the Atonement is the reason we do missionary work. It was fun to write.
Anyway, it was a GREAT week. First off, Billy, our Cameroon friend, came to church! He knew some of the members too! He really liked it. So keep praying for him that he can be baptized on the 6th. We taught him the word of wisdom this week and he said he drinks sometimes, but told us he was willing to drop it if God commanded it. He has really great faith.
Also were teaching this Spaniard couple, Juan and Lolin. We ate with them yesterday, they are super sweet, Juan actually isn't interested, but he loves having us over. Lolin is in 2 Nephi 9! She's really incredible. We asked if she was praying to know if it was true and explained to her how she would recieve her answer. She's really great. She will be baptized one day.
Wanna hear a funny story? So when we were talking with Juan while we were at their house, all of a sudden he goes okay, I gotta go to the service. (and I'm thinking he's going to his catholic church service because he's done that before while we have been at their house) but I wanted to make sure we shared something with him before he left, so I was like wait! Can we share something before you go? And he was like, no you can share it with me after, I have to go right now, and I was like please? We have to go soon too, it'll just be really quick, 5 minutes, no more, and he was like no, I'll be right back, I have to go right now.. and I was like okay, how long will you be gone? (just thinking in my head, I guess we can wait till he gets back) and he goes I'll just be 10 minutes, maximum, and I said okay... so he leaves,.... and then wallks in the bathroom. And right then it clicked haha. He said service but he was talking about the bathroom... Hermana Vance and I about DIED laughing. It was so funny. I totally thought he meant church service because all he said was the word service.. gah. funny. But you probably had to be there to get it haha. But we were dyinggggg of laughter.
Anyway back to serious.. so a miracle this week was that a less active lady we are working with came to church! Her name is Odalia. She brought her whole family too (who aren't members). We are going to her house on Tuesday to eat, so hopefully we can start seeing them more regularly.
Yesterday we had a little miracle. We were teaching one of our African friends, and he brought another friend named Stanley. Well Stanley was very... fierce haha. SUPER sassy in our lesson. But at the end, I invited him to be baptized. I asked if God told him that this church was His church, if he would be baptized. He said absolutely! Unfortunately, he's headed back to Nigeria on Tuesday for a few months, so we won't see him for a little while. We were super bummed about that, because he will make a great member. Later that night he called us and told us he was explaining to a friend about our church and who we are, and the friend told him he had always seen missionaries but had never talked to them and was wondering if he could meet with us. YAY! So that's sweet. Miracles happen all the time. God always is putting prepared people in our path.
I love being a missionary because it has helped me to see how much God is really involved in every detail of our lives. He gives us miracles every single day. It's incredible to see how the gospel changes lives and how much joy it really brings to the people we teach. The mission is really rewarding.
Anyway, that's all for the week, short and sweet. LOVE YOUUUUU!!!
Love Hermana Reid
Monday, August 25, 2014
Valencia - Week Fourteen
Hi family!
So the lake was crazy? Wanna know what's funny? Everyone said, I'm sure you've already heard about the lake, so I won't tell you about it.. but no one really told me what happened.. except mom kinda, thanks mom haha
Anyway, life here in Valencia is super good. It was cooler this week so that was nice. We had a really good week. Wait but first, I just got an email from Tatiana (she's the less active woman we were working with in Zaragoza) When I was there, all her kids weren't baptized, and weren't really into it, and Tatiana really suffered because of it. She felt a huge burden for the fact that her kids didn't want to be a part of the gospel. I don't know if you remember, but the week after I left, the oldest boy, Alexander (who was the most uninterested at the beginning) got baptized!! Tatiana emailed me this week saying her two other kids just got baptized this weekend and that they are planning on going to the temple at the end of this month. Gosh, it made me cry. I loved that family so much. I couldn't be happier for them, how incredible. I'm so sad I couldn't be there for any of their baptisms, but I'm glad to know that they can now be sealed together, forever. Gosh, the gospel is incredible.
So this week.. were teaching a guy named Billy. Did I tell you about him yet? Hes about 6´4 and from Cameroon. His first language is french, but he speaks English pretty well too. He's super cool. We've met with him twice now and he has read a ton in the Book of Mormon, he had even marked things he liked and things that he wanted to ask us about. The neat thing is that the elders had a baptism this week of a man from Camaroon and it turns out that he and Billy are friends! Unfortunately, Billy couldn't go to the baptism, but I'm hoping that his friend can help us with lessons and such. Billy has the goal to be baptized on September 6th!
Another neat thing is we are teaching this older Spaniard couple named Juan and Lolin. Lolin put her own name in as a reference because her daughter in law is a member. We went back this week to teach them the restoration and it went really well. Juan actually isn't super interested, he's very very catholic, but he loves having us visit. Lolin has read 20 chapters in the Book of Mormon! She's really great, it's fun to teach them. They talk A LOT. You have to be super smart about what questions you ask because otherwise they will go off haha. But we love them.
We had a specialized training this week that was super good. Only President Pace was there because his daughter just got married so Hermana Pace went home for the wedding. It was really good though. I always love when we have conferences, they are super inspiring.
I am really loving the mission. I learn so much every day. I love the Book of Mormon, it is such an inspired book. I have no doubt that it is true. I love learning about my Savior. His example is really incredible. You know, it's really incredible that I am here. My Heavenly Father really does love me. When I think about the fact that I am on a mission, I can't help but be grateful to my Father in Heaven for helping me to get here. It has changed my life. I know that I am His daughter, and that He loves me, and that is the greatest thing.
Life is really, really good.
Love you and miss you fam!
Love Hermana Reid
So the lake was crazy? Wanna know what's funny? Everyone said, I'm sure you've already heard about the lake, so I won't tell you about it.. but no one really told me what happened.. except mom kinda, thanks mom haha
Anyway, life here in Valencia is super good. It was cooler this week so that was nice. We had a really good week. Wait but first, I just got an email from Tatiana (she's the less active woman we were working with in Zaragoza) When I was there, all her kids weren't baptized, and weren't really into it, and Tatiana really suffered because of it. She felt a huge burden for the fact that her kids didn't want to be a part of the gospel. I don't know if you remember, but the week after I left, the oldest boy, Alexander (who was the most uninterested at the beginning) got baptized!! Tatiana emailed me this week saying her two other kids just got baptized this weekend and that they are planning on going to the temple at the end of this month. Gosh, it made me cry. I loved that family so much. I couldn't be happier for them, how incredible. I'm so sad I couldn't be there for any of their baptisms, but I'm glad to know that they can now be sealed together, forever. Gosh, the gospel is incredible.
So this week.. were teaching a guy named Billy. Did I tell you about him yet? Hes about 6´4 and from Cameroon. His first language is french, but he speaks English pretty well too. He's super cool. We've met with him twice now and he has read a ton in the Book of Mormon, he had even marked things he liked and things that he wanted to ask us about. The neat thing is that the elders had a baptism this week of a man from Camaroon and it turns out that he and Billy are friends! Unfortunately, Billy couldn't go to the baptism, but I'm hoping that his friend can help us with lessons and such. Billy has the goal to be baptized on September 6th!
Another neat thing is we are teaching this older Spaniard couple named Juan and Lolin. Lolin put her own name in as a reference because her daughter in law is a member. We went back this week to teach them the restoration and it went really well. Juan actually isn't super interested, he's very very catholic, but he loves having us visit. Lolin has read 20 chapters in the Book of Mormon! She's really great, it's fun to teach them. They talk A LOT. You have to be super smart about what questions you ask because otherwise they will go off haha. But we love them.
We had a specialized training this week that was super good. Only President Pace was there because his daughter just got married so Hermana Pace went home for the wedding. It was really good though. I always love when we have conferences, they are super inspiring.
I am really loving the mission. I learn so much every day. I love the Book of Mormon, it is such an inspired book. I have no doubt that it is true. I love learning about my Savior. His example is really incredible. You know, it's really incredible that I am here. My Heavenly Father really does love me. When I think about the fact that I am on a mission, I can't help but be grateful to my Father in Heaven for helping me to get here. It has changed my life. I know that I am His daughter, and that He loves me, and that is the greatest thing.
Life is really, really good.
Love you and miss you fam!
Love Hermana Reid
Valencia - Week Thirteen
Hey Fam!
Sounds like the lake has been super fun! I'm so glad, that's the best. Valencia is still the best, as always, I love it. I think its getting hotter though. For real. But that's okay, it keeps us tough.
We had a good week again. One highlight was that we contacted this kid the other day on a bench named Barry. Hes 23 and from Cuba. This last week we had a lesson with him that was so good. We taught him the restoration and he told us that he had read 13 chapters of the Book of Mormon, so that was the best. He totally understood the restoration really well. He told us he has never really believed in churches, but has always believed in God. He thinks churches are corrupt. But he said he really liked the Book of Mormon when he read it, it made sense, and he was excited to keep reading it and meet with us more.
Another miracle was that Cosby, our 15 year old Nigerian came to church this week again! We visited him during the week and it was kinda rough. I think stuff was going on with him and his family because he wouldn't talk to us and he seemed upset. He wasn't sure that he wanted to keep meeting with us. Which was WAY sad cuz last week he LOVED church and was so excited to go back. So we were super super sad. On Saturday we called him, and he brought up church first! He asked if he could come again! He came with us again, and loved it. So that was a miracle.
Another neat miracle we had was that one day this week, I think Friday, every single one of our citas fired haha. wait that's not the miracle. But that happened first. So we were passing by menos activos (I think you're supposed to stay stopping by? someone told me passing by makes it sound like youre just walking past them? idk.) anyway, as we were walking, a woman shouts at us asking if we are from England. So we stopped and talked to her for a second. Her name is Amparo and shes from Peru. She told us she has met with the missionaries before and that she really likes our church. She told us she didn't have time but asked if id write down her info and come visit her. (miracle, that never happens) So Sunday afternoon we went by and she had made us a chocolate cake! How sweet is that? We talked to her about the restoration and about baptism and she accepted a baptismal date! It really was a miracle. She was super super sweet.
After that, i just felt so blessed. God is so loving. He knew we were bummed because everything fired and we were just trying to keep going, and He placed someone in our path. It was a really incredible tender mercy.
As I've been re-reading Jesus the Christ, ive been learning a lot about the nature of Christ. He really is our perfect example. And everything He did was out of love for us. It is really incredible. I love the mission. I have really come to know my Savior. I know He knows me. I know He understands what I go through. I know He has felt what I feel. I know that I never have to feel alone, or sad, or burdened down. I have someone by my side every step of the way. The Atonement is incredible. The Book of Mormon is incredible. The mission is the best.
Life is good. Be safe family! I love you lots and lots.
Hermana Fras
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Sounds like the lake has been super fun! I'm so glad, that's the best. Valencia is still the best, as always, I love it. I think its getting hotter though. For real. But that's okay, it keeps us tough.
We had a good week again. One highlight was that we contacted this kid the other day on a bench named Barry. Hes 23 and from Cuba. This last week we had a lesson with him that was so good. We taught him the restoration and he told us that he had read 13 chapters of the Book of Mormon, so that was the best. He totally understood the restoration really well. He told us he has never really believed in churches, but has always believed in God. He thinks churches are corrupt. But he said he really liked the Book of Mormon when he read it, it made sense, and he was excited to keep reading it and meet with us more.
Another miracle was that Cosby, our 15 year old Nigerian came to church this week again! We visited him during the week and it was kinda rough. I think stuff was going on with him and his family because he wouldn't talk to us and he seemed upset. He wasn't sure that he wanted to keep meeting with us. Which was WAY sad cuz last week he LOVED church and was so excited to go back. So we were super super sad. On Saturday we called him, and he brought up church first! He asked if he could come again! He came with us again, and loved it. So that was a miracle.
Another neat miracle we had was that one day this week, I think Friday, every single one of our citas fired haha. wait that's not the miracle. But that happened first. So we were passing by menos activos (I think you're supposed to stay stopping by? someone told me passing by makes it sound like youre just walking past them? idk.) anyway, as we were walking, a woman shouts at us asking if we are from England. So we stopped and talked to her for a second. Her name is Amparo and shes from Peru. She told us she has met with the missionaries before and that she really likes our church. She told us she didn't have time but asked if id write down her info and come visit her. (miracle, that never happens) So Sunday afternoon we went by and she had made us a chocolate cake! How sweet is that? We talked to her about the restoration and about baptism and she accepted a baptismal date! It really was a miracle. She was super super sweet.
After that, i just felt so blessed. God is so loving. He knew we were bummed because everything fired and we were just trying to keep going, and He placed someone in our path. It was a really incredible tender mercy.
As I've been re-reading Jesus the Christ, ive been learning a lot about the nature of Christ. He really is our perfect example. And everything He did was out of love for us. It is really incredible. I love the mission. I have really come to know my Savior. I know He knows me. I know He understands what I go through. I know He has felt what I feel. I know that I never have to feel alone, or sad, or burdened down. I have someone by my side every step of the way. The Atonement is incredible. The Book of Mormon is incredible. The mission is the best.
Life is good. Be safe family! I love you lots and lots.
Hermana Fras
Valencia - Week Twelve
HIIIIII HOOO HIIIII
Sounds like you're all just killin it this week on the lake. That's fun! Keep the boat crumb free OKAY? just kidding. Just drop all your cheesy soggy bread crumbs wherever you want. haha.
So let's see. This week was wild. I was in Barcelona three times between last Wednesday and this past Thursday. So I'm pretty exhausted haha. I feel like dad. They need to give me frequent flyer miles.
I got to go work in Barcelona with Hermana Hair, so I got to stay with Hermana Findlay again! It was the best. We went out to lunch with a woman that's about to be baptized and bought the biggest hamburgers you've ever seen. I only ate a fourth of it haha. Lets get real, I could have eaten the whole thing, but I didn't really want all of that inside of me. But don't doubt my abilities.
So we were running wild this week. We had a ton of super great citas. One person we are excited about is a 15 year old kid named Cosby. He's about the most hipster Nigerian I've ever met. He's cool. His dad was an old investigator, but never had time to visit with the missionaries, so he stopped progressing. Cosby told us the other day that his mom told him he can choose which church he wants to go to, so he's really sparked an interest. He came to church with us on Sunday, and he LOVED it. Let me tell you, some of the greatest joy I have ever felt in my whole life is when an investigator comes to church. Gah. Love it. He told us afterwards that the people were super nice to him and that he wants to come back next week! So that was really exciting.
As well, we went to see Glory yesterday, she also had the goal to be baptized on the 16th, but she said she is moving to San Sebastian on the 13th. Super big bummer. But she told us she wants to talk to the missionaries there to help her be baptized.
We are teaching so many new people lately so our life is pretty busy. I love it. We have been really really blessed lately in this area. I really am loving Valencia. The ward is so great, and I love my companion so so much. Hermana Munns just got transferred to Zaragoza! We will really miss her though, she's been a huge blessing throughout my mission. We started day one together. Haha that was a very rough day one.. Now we just look back and laugh.
Matilde, our Spaniard we are teaching is doing well. The only problem is she always says she's coming to church and then plans come up on Sunday and she doesn't come. She's way excited to be baptized as well. So if she starts coming, we can help her be baptized. Did I tell you she only has three upper teeth? Haha love her.
Our mission has the goal right now to invite someone to be baptized every single day. I am loving it. In 5 of our lessons yesterday we talked about baptism. It just feels so good. Baptism is such a blessing. It is one of the most incredible gifts that God has given us. The Lord has really been blessing us in our work here. I am excited to help all of our new people start progressing towards baptism. I am so happy here, even though I'm sticky sweaty all day long. Makes it even more fun right?
Well today were going to the Zoo. Gooo us! haha
LOVE YOU FAMMM!!!
sorry my emails are always a scatterbrained mess.
Love Hermana FRY.
Sounds like you're all just killin it this week on the lake. That's fun! Keep the boat crumb free OKAY? just kidding. Just drop all your cheesy soggy bread crumbs wherever you want. haha.
So let's see. This week was wild. I was in Barcelona three times between last Wednesday and this past Thursday. So I'm pretty exhausted haha. I feel like dad. They need to give me frequent flyer miles.
I got to go work in Barcelona with Hermana Hair, so I got to stay with Hermana Findlay again! It was the best. We went out to lunch with a woman that's about to be baptized and bought the biggest hamburgers you've ever seen. I only ate a fourth of it haha. Lets get real, I could have eaten the whole thing, but I didn't really want all of that inside of me. But don't doubt my abilities.
So we were running wild this week. We had a ton of super great citas. One person we are excited about is a 15 year old kid named Cosby. He's about the most hipster Nigerian I've ever met. He's cool. His dad was an old investigator, but never had time to visit with the missionaries, so he stopped progressing. Cosby told us the other day that his mom told him he can choose which church he wants to go to, so he's really sparked an interest. He came to church with us on Sunday, and he LOVED it. Let me tell you, some of the greatest joy I have ever felt in my whole life is when an investigator comes to church. Gah. Love it. He told us afterwards that the people were super nice to him and that he wants to come back next week! So that was really exciting.
As well, we went to see Glory yesterday, she also had the goal to be baptized on the 16th, but she said she is moving to San Sebastian on the 13th. Super big bummer. But she told us she wants to talk to the missionaries there to help her be baptized.
We are teaching so many new people lately so our life is pretty busy. I love it. We have been really really blessed lately in this area. I really am loving Valencia. The ward is so great, and I love my companion so so much. Hermana Munns just got transferred to Zaragoza! We will really miss her though, she's been a huge blessing throughout my mission. We started day one together. Haha that was a very rough day one.. Now we just look back and laugh.
Matilde, our Spaniard we are teaching is doing well. The only problem is she always says she's coming to church and then plans come up on Sunday and she doesn't come. She's way excited to be baptized as well. So if she starts coming, we can help her be baptized. Did I tell you she only has three upper teeth? Haha love her.
Our mission has the goal right now to invite someone to be baptized every single day. I am loving it. In 5 of our lessons yesterday we talked about baptism. It just feels so good. Baptism is such a blessing. It is one of the most incredible gifts that God has given us. The Lord has really been blessing us in our work here. I am excited to help all of our new people start progressing towards baptism. I am so happy here, even though I'm sticky sweaty all day long. Makes it even more fun right?
Well today were going to the Zoo. Gooo us! haha
LOVE YOU FAMMM!!!
sorry my emails are always a scatterbrained mess.
Love Hermana FRY.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
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
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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!
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My last time seeing H. Benson!
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!
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
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.
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 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!
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