Called to Madrid South

"Poco a poco" is a phrase I have heard close to 1000 times now. It means " little by little " and it is the phrase pretty much everyone tells me when they find out I am learning Spanish. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and conversion to Him is a lot like learning a language. For our conversion (and learning a language) I have noticed 3 things. 1- Have patience : it's never going to happen all at once, it's "poco a poco" trust that the Lord is helping you and will bless you. It is the consistency, the diligence, and the obedience that will lead to the end goal. 2- Immerse yourself : When learning a language, immersing yourself in that language is one of the most important things you can do. Conversion to our Savior is the same. Immerse yourself in scripture study, in prayer, in worship, etc. Immersion in the language of the Lord is going to help us learn, grow, and build the habits we need in order to be fully commited to the Lord forever. 3- Don't g...

Week 2 in Spain and it feels like I have been here a month! Everyday is packed and I'm learning so much. I am convinced there will not be a boring day on the mission because all we do is talk to the most random people. I've talked to cool, weird, old, young, mean, kind people and none of them are boring, especially when I'm desperately listening to understand them. I probably look something like a dog begging for a treat, but you gotta learn somehow. Yesterday in church, while straining to understand, I recognized the phrase "Tomar sobre sí" in the Sacrament Prayer on the bread, which means "to take upon". This is the same phrase used in Alma 7:11-12 ( And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.---And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he...

This one's gonna be a doozy; this week has been the best, worst, most exciting, confusing, overwhelming week of my life. Estoy perdido!!! Let's start with the end and share a little  something that has helped me get through this week: D&C 123:17 " Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." This week has been really hard and it's been difficult to know where to start. I'm overwhelmed with the language, new people and new country. It has undoubtedly been a practice of patience. (A trait I no longer want to pray for hahaha) Everyday, all I can do, all any of us can do, is to try our best, then stand still. Missionary work so far seems like mostly rejected invitations, but I know I can be fulfilled in knowing I did what I could. I'm grateful for my Savior. I'm grateful that this work is i...