Wow. Another week in Hospitalet went by really
slow probably because I am trying to get used to the new area still. I used to tease Hermana Jorgensen about being
so tired and even falling asleep in lessons in Zaragoza...now I am the one being
tired and almost falling asleep in lessons. I think it is just because of change
and transitioning. I am grateful that this area is small and is not too hard to
learn. We walk most of the time so I don´t have to memorize any bus routes or anything.
I only have to memorize street names and metro stops which is super easy. I am also
surprised that there is not as much Catalan than I thought there would be here.
I am in Catalunya now instead of Aragon, but I think because of the area we are
working in, I mostly feel like I am in South America because of all the South Americans
here! Also, they ALL want to feed us. I have
never been fed so much food before in my life...it´s rough. I am trying to learn
tricks on how to not eat as much. We often try to ask for a box to take extra food
home(they seem to not have plastic containers). It´s an interesting culture. Everywhere
we go we are always offered some kind of cookies, crackers, and juice or soda. NEVER
WATER. And the cookies and crackers are Spain style-which is fine..but different.
Anyway, needless to say I miss eating what I want in my piso back in Zaragoza. I
barely go grocery shopping and eat at home now. When I do eat at home, Hermana Mancera
always cooks. She is from Venezuela and moved here to Malaga when she was 12. It´s good, but it is also a lot...haha it´s just
their culture. Anyway, it's different from Zaragoza...The other day we ate with
a Spaniard family! I love eating the Spaniard food (don´t worry Mom, the Spaniard
Mormon families really clean up the food before they feed us because they know we
are in a foreign country and in a different culture-so don´t worry too much about
that octupus thing! Olga insisted that it was fine and I never got sick from it
so that´s good). I am grateful and these people are so sweet. They don´t have much
to begin with and then when you visit they are so sweet and give you all they have.
Always giving and always caring.
Haha anyway...
Speaking of Zaragoza...I talked to my former comp,
Hermana Jorgensen this morning. She says that Pres Wolfart is still in the hospital
and they still don´t know what´s wrong with him! :( Please pray for him and his
family. Also, my recent convert, Engracia, accidently spilled boiling water on her
and has third degree burns all over her stomach and legs!!! How horrible! The whole
Branch is helping her out around the house and visiting her. Please keep her in
your prayers as well. Thank you.
Please let me know when the package gets there.
It is full of letters and there are two t-shirts for Jasmine and Bryanna (I hope
they fit). You can decide whether to give them to them for Christmas or now. I also
have great Christmas presents for everyone on the way!
Happy late Thanksgiving! How was it?! It is like
it didn´t exist this year because we actually were fasting and of, course it's not
a Spanish holiday!
The time is sure flying by fast. I can´t believe
that Thanksgiving came and left and Christmas is just around the corner. It sure
is tough sending off another missionary but I pray often and receive strength to
help her, me, and the area. It is an interesting situation.
With the increase of missionaries, President Pace
says that some missionaries will have to train two sisters at one time! I wonder
when this will happen...it will be interesting to see...I personally think it will
be super exciting-for sure tough but I am so excited to think about all of the missionaries
that will be joining us :) These are the last days and the Lord needs all the help
he can get from his worthy children. We really are armies of Helaman bringing the
world his truth, it seems. Something that is different in this area is how much
we need to contact people on the streets and in the metros. In Zaragoza, we got
referrals all the time. People were calling us wanting to hear about the gospel.
Here we need to approach people. It´s different for sure and I am learning to come
out of my comfort zone. Hermana Walker is amazing at contacting. She has no fear
and never gets embarrassed-a great companion and example for me. We work well together,
so far.
Hermana Walker asked me what my favorite part
about being a missionary is. I told her that I love the relationships that I am
making and influencing peoples´ lives for the better. I love being a representative
of Christ and helping people feel of His love through me. I love listening to peoples´
stories. Everyone has their own stories, opinions, and ways of thinking. Peoples´
stories are incredible. I feel so blessed to have the life I lead, the family I
have, and to be the person I am especially with the knowledge of the gospel in my
life. I am really learning about patience and charity. I think those are the two
attributes of Christ that I have really studied during my time as a missionary.
I have realized that everyone likes to have a listener and everyone likes to feel
loved. If we can figure out how to achieve those two goals with everyone that we
come in contact with, we will be successful missionaries and good brothers and sisters
to all because we are all of God´s children here on this earth together. Really
that is what everyone needs-a friend and to feel loved. Sometimes it is harder than
it seems but I know that it is possible and it is worth it in the end.
This is copied from Hermana Walker´s email:
We saw so many miracles this week. We had a lesson
with a Spanish man who claims to be an atheist.
He read over 50 pages of the BOM!!!
We asked him if he would say a prayer that night to ask God if He was there
and is real. He said out of curiosity he
would. As we testified to him the spirit
was so strong!! We felt it and we knew as
we looked into his eyes he felt it. It was
the best lesson ever! He excepted a visit
back, we are really excited to teach him tonight and invite him to be baptized. Afterwards Hermana Johnson got in the elevator
and just gave me this huge hug and then we said a prayer of thanks.
This week was a good week. We are trying to find
new investigators! We have looked through antiguos and tried calling a lot but their
phone numbers were wrong or turned off. So, we are continuing and trying to find
the elect and prepared people! We also have been visiting many members so that I
can get to know them and we always ask for referrals. A few of them have taken our
pass along cards to give to their friends and we have received referrals but none
for our area. We also carry with us everyday two Books of Mormon to give to people
who we feel inspired to talk to. We have had pretty amazing experiences but for
some reason it is tough to find these people again-they are never home or they never
answer their phone. We have faith that the Lord will bless our efforts.
A miracle story this week was one that followed
my miracle story last week. We contacted that lady where the keys dropped from the
upper building on the rope...well we got a random phone call a few days later from
a man named Oscar. When we met with him we discovered that his Mom was the lady
I contacted at the door where the keys were lowered on the rope the week before.
Oscar is 23 years old and so prepared! We had an amazing lesson with him and he was excited to start reading the
Book of Mormon. Even his Mom joined in and they were so excited to learn how to
pray. It was amazing. We were blessed with a wonderful opportunity to share the
gospel to people who were searching. Unfortunately, neither of them came to church
after much effort, but we do have a cita with him tonight and we will invite him
to be baptized.
Another miracle story is that we finally got a
hold of an antiguo investigator, named Daisy. We had a very intense lesson with
her, her young adult son, and his friend. We taught lesson 1 with more detail that
I have ever given since being on the mission because of all the questions that her
son asked! It was an interesting conversation and sometimes hard to speak. But the
Spirit was the strongest when I recited the First Vision. Every time I recite the
First Vision in a lesson I am touched and my testimony is strengthened so much of
the reality of what happened in that arboleda and the impact this had on history
and on our lives. The Spirit was strong in the room at that moment, but people have
their agency and sometimes choose to harden their hearts. Something that I have
learned is that our efforts as missionaries are never worthless. Even if we think
no one is opening their hearts and listening, Heavenly Father is always aware of
our efforts and he will bless us accordingly. Even if the Spirit didn´t touch the
son´s heart (or he was in denial over it), it touched his Mom´s heart-enough for
her to surprise us and show up for the first time at Sacrament meeting! She enjoyed
it and we hope she will come back.
It's a challenge contacting Spaniards. Out of
every 10 or so that we contact a day 1 or 2 actually take a pass along card. We
are brainstorming different ways to approach them and different things to say.
Also, this week we had a huge conference with
Elder Richards who is in the Area Seventy and is in charge of the Missions in this
part of Europe. It was a wonderful conference and we were deeply enriched on Tuesday
from 1:30-6! A lot of sitting but a lot of
revelation received. I think one of my favorite pieces of advice was him telling
us how we need to try to teach our lessons simple, yet powerful. As missionaries sometimes we get into the habit
of saying the same things over and over again to teach certain principles. We try
to be sensitive to the persons´ needs and questions but we also get too comfortable
explaining things a certain way. While we practiced teaching in the meeting, it
made me realize how much I repeat myself and how much I need to change my teaching
habits. It was interesting. I think another favorite part about the Mission is learning
about myself. I have learned a lot and about who I want to be when I go home...We
Sisters met with Sister Richards. It was really good but I missed a lot because
I was busy translating for Hermana Mancera...tough! It´s hard to translate when
people speak so quickly, but I could feel the Lord helping me and I knew Hermana
Mancera appreciated it-as well as Hermana Farrell. She was a little stressed thinking
about how she needed to translate so I volunteered to do it instead.
Anyway, that is the news from this last week.
I love you and hope all is well.
Love, Laura
With Hna Mancera, Hna Walker, Hna Ferrell in Hospitalet
