Hermana Laura Johnson: Barcelona Mission: (Zaragoza) Week-23 2012

Hello family,

This last week was fun in Zaragoza, which was Hermana Reeder’s last week before she had to go home to South Jordan, Utah. Everyone wanted to say goodbye to her and celebrate her birthday with her. Many people surprised her with citas, etc. She had a wonderful week. She loved seeing all the people and doing all the things we did. (We did a lot!!) We are both exhausted. The surprise birthday party with the Relief Society went really well. She had no idea and she was so surprised and happy. She said it was the best birthday she has ever had in her life. She turned 25 years old! I made her a card that had a list of our memories and the dates that they occurred. Then I made a list of our inside jokes/songs/poems. Last, I wrote a list of the things that I learned from her and a thank you letter. It was like a 5 page long card. And I gave Elder Tirado some money to buy her favorite candies. She loved it all and cried a lot.

Saturday night we had a Missionary fireside with the two Branches. We had a question and answer session with Hermana Reeder and the members. She played the violin, also. Hermana Church and another member did a tap dance! Then the Elders prepared this very funny skit that I narrated. I have to find a video of it and there are a lot of pictures that I would like to send but this locutorio I am at (internet cafe type place) won´t read my SD card for some reason.

Hermana Reeder said goodbye to everyone on Sunday. We had an extra good pancake dinner at the Church´s house, which reminded me of home and the U.S. Then early this morning sweet Abel picked us up (on Thursday for Hermana Reeder´s birthday Abel and Maria Jesus-the ones who took us to the pueblo/castle and gave us cherries-he took us to a really fancy Italian restaurant). Anyway, Abel took us to the train station so we could go to Barcelona and the Mission office Elders picked us up to take us to the office. There Hermana Reeder weighed her suitcases, had her exit interview with President Pace, and then we went up to the Mission home and she had a video interview. They always interview the leaving Missionaries and show it to the new Missionaries. It was so interesting watching all of that. Hermana Pace showed us around their home and then we left the office, took the metro, and went back to the Hermanas piso (the ones that live near the Sagrada Familia.) Hermana Reeder got kind of sick, too much excitement, probably!

My new companion is my friend Hermana Jorgenson! I can´t believe we are companions now and it´s going to be great. She and I had a class together at BYU in the Elementary Education program. After we both got our Mission calls, we contacted each other on Facebook and helped each other with ideas on what to pack, and then entered the MTC together on October 12th. We both then got reassigned to the Salt Lake City Mission, because our Visa's hadn't come yet. I was in Rose Park the whole time while she got transferred all around the Mission (mostly in English speaking areas.) We flew to Madrid together. Then I went to Sabadell, my first area, and she went to Valencia, where she's been ever since. I get to show her the area for the next 6 weeks and then I will most likely leave the area in the next transfer in November (I've been here in Zaragoza for 7 months!) Anyway, I wanted to stay in Zaragoza for a bit longer to strengthen my relationships with the members. I know that the work is still booming and I am happy to be a part of it. There are a lot of amazing people that are potentials to be baptized. I am very hopeful and these next few weeks are going to be great.

Elvis, our recent convert, is still looking for a job. He has great faith and knows that God will help him. He was able to earn some money by giving our sweet Ward Mission leader Sergio a haircut.

Happy and Pius are still struggling. They don´t have things for their children...food, diapers...The Branch President is trying to help them. They also don´t have a way to get to church. Happy started walking and got lost on her way yesterday. She called me and gave up hope trying to find the way in her heels and holding her 6 month old baby. It was bad communication, I guess, so when we found a ride for her, she said it was too late. I felt so bad. It is a sad situation.

Bright is still homeless. Sweet Sergio agreed to let him put all of his stuff in his piso. Sergio lives with other family members so there is no room for Bright to live with them. Bright always seems to come to church looking good and still is reading and studying the gospel. Luckily he has papers to work here. The economy is so bad and there are hardly any jobs available. Sergio is a saint and is just driving these people around, serving them...even though he doesn´t have a job either and his car is breaking down...

Engracia is still doing well in church and fits right in. She is lucky to have a job to go to everyday, also!

Overall, I am shocked by how much faith these people have! They are incredible! They always remind me that God knows how they feel and that He is aware. They are pretty optimistic and just keep moving forward living day to day. And they are very glad that they have been baptized. They can recognize the Holy Ghost in their lives. I have hope and faith that things will soon work out for them...

Our District here in Zaragoza is amazing. We sure love our Elders and together as a District this week we had 9 baptisms!!! Our Zone exceeded our goal of 10 baptisms (we had 11 in the Lleida Zone). It´s incredible to see the miracles and be a part of them. But most of all to be instruments in the hands of the Lord. He is preparing people to come to accept the gospel and enter the waters of baptism. It was a blessing to help 4 people be baptized this last month. :)

Tomorrow night Hermana Jorgensen and I are going to "Singing with the Angels"; it is a tradition that is done every 6 weeks for Missionaries who are at the end of their Mission. We gather in downtown Barcelona in Plaza Catalunya (close to that food market we went to last week). Members come to it to say goodbye to the departing Missionaries and we sing hymns. It will be my first time and I am so excited! I will tell you all about it later. Then we will be catching a train early Wednesday morning to go back to Zaragoza.

This week is Hermana Jorgenson´s birthday!! So many birthdays! It is on Thursday and I saved some balloons from Hermana Reeder´s birthday and talked to a few members and set up a few visits that we can do...I hope she enjoys it.

Always adventures here and I love it and am so grateful for the Paces and for the chance I have to be here in Spain. I feel I am progressing and growing a lot. I have for sure learned a lot and my eyes have really been opened to different situations that I never thought I would ever see. I have learned a lot about myself... what I struggle with, my weaknesses, and how to overcome them to become a better person. I have a lot of work to do...a phrase in Spanish "poco a poco" little by little. I am grateful to be here. Thanks Dad and Mom for teaching me and raising me right. I love you so much and pray for you often. I hope you´re doing well.

Love, Laura