Saturday, September 8, 2012

Barcelona Mission: (Zaragoza) Week-19 2012

Mon, Sep 3, 2012 7:59 am

Time is flying by so fast and I can´t believe it is already September. I feel like I just got here to Spain. There are some days where I forget that I am here in Spain, or even in Europe.  Then I hear people talking and think wow!  They’re not speaking English.  It´s funny how that happens.  In a month from today Hermana Reeder is going to be on the plane headed home!  It’s so weird to think about. I don´t envy her. I love being out here, it has been a wonderful experience.  I have learned so much and there is still so much I need to learn.
 
This last week was a fun week. We did really well. It was not a Standards of Excellence week like the four previous weeks, but pretty close!  Thank you for all of your emails Mom I really appreciated them and loved reading them.

Also, better to have packages sent to my apartment address instead of the office.  It takes FOREVER for me to get them from the office (unless I move to a different area close to the office).  The next transfer date is Oct. 2nd to let you know.  I feel like I will be here though for another transfer showing someone the area.  We will see.

This last week was really good.  There are two amazing Africans that we have been teaching called Bright and Elvis... what names right? They are doing well and progressing; Bright more than Elvis.

We had a Zone enfoque this week and went to Lleida by train on Tuesday. An enfoque is without the President and the ayudantes (assistants). This week we have a Zone Conference with the Paces and the ayudantes in Lleida on Thursday. I am excited to see them again. Also, we don´t have to take the train because the Churchs will be driving up there and taking us with them. I am also really excited because President Pace invited his first counselor, President Wolfart to speak at the conference!!!  I love the WOLFARTS!!!  I am so excited to hear from him again.  He is so great!  It´s from 10-4 with a luncheon at 2.  I want to sit next to Pres. Wolfart at the table because I love hearing his stories.

We got a calendar passed around this Sunday and we are eating with some of the members, which is really nice.

We have been running every morning and I feel good!  People have told me I lost weight hahah. I don´t know if that´s true but I know I feel good. I also have great healthy meal ideas for when I go back to BYU, thanks to Hermana Reeder.

The huge miracle that happened this week was that a less active African member of our Branch spoke up during Gospel Principles class. It doesn´t seem like a big deal but after all that we have been through with Kingsley, it was wonderful.  Kingsley has been a member a while in Nigeria.  I am not sure how many years he has here in Spain, probably more than four, but he doesn´t like going to church because he and so many others say that it´s not the same as the church in their own country.  Then they go on and on about the differences in the culture and the people and the traditions.  They say people don´t greet them or even smile at them.  It´s very interesting. They also don´t like the Spanish language and prefer for us to speak to them in English.  We invite Kingsley to church every week and he has even been a little missionary himself helping us in some visits with his friends.  He has a strong testimony but just needs to attend church!

Another miracle was that after Sacrament Meeting the Branch President´s wife asked me about Sonia´s progress.  I told her Sonia doesn´t want to get baptized until her sister can come from Portugal to be there.  Resu offered to think of a way to tie that into her lesson in Gospel Principles so that she could help Sonia better understand baptism and it was wonderful!

Anyway, Kingsley spoke up in class! He raised his hand and in Spanish said: "I will try to explain myself adequately but might need some translation."  He started out in English but then moved into Spanish and talked about the wonderful blessings that come from tithing.  He even mentioned he was in a Branch Presidency in Nigeria.  We had no idea!  It was wonderful.  His testimony was so strong and it really helped Sonia better understand tithing.  Hermana Reeder and I looked at each other and both had tears in our eyes. What a wonderful miracle to hear him!

Later that day, I felt an impression to call Kingsley and thank him for his comments. We are following Hermana Pace´s advice and working on compliments. I complimented Kingsley´s comments and he was shocked.  We told him how much it helped our investigator and how much we could feel the Spirit. He said, "It was my pleasure." Then I handed the phone to Hermana Reeder and she did the same. At first he was laughing because he didn´t think we were serious but then it was great.  Compliments and the two little words, "thank you" mean so much.  It was something small but great at the same time and we hope that in the future things will change for Kingsley, and maybe he could be an example for the other Africans to change as well.

We had a baptism: Angela Mendez Garcia from Nicaragua. She is 53 years old and has 12 children (who all live in Nicaragua). If it wasn´t for our great Ward Mission Leader, Sergio Siles, she wouldn´t have been able to get baptized. (Also, because of the help of the Lord and Sergio we have been doing so well here in Zaragoza...really Sergio is the reason. He is always sacrificing his time, car, money, everything for the work of the Lord).

Anyway, Angela found the church through a less active member named, Mayela. Mayela brought her to church one Sunday back in May.  She came for a month and we should have started teaching her back then but so many changes were happening around here, and it turned out it wasn´t her time anyway. Hermana Reeder and I started teaching her in June.  She got a job in a pueblo taking care of older people and left town in July.  We were so sad because she seemed so prepared.  Although she can´t read very well, she has such great faith in God and is diligent and so loving.  Anyway, she made it back to Zaragoza and got baptized. It was beautiful and she is so happy.  Another wonderful miracle!

Love,
Hermana Johnson
Angela Felix's Baptism

Angela's Baptism

Nice train compartment

Jamon (Ham) Store in Zaragoza

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