Cáceres Spain!

Hey everyone, I hope you're doing amazing,

It feels like a just sent my last email, but wow it's already been a whole month here in Spain. Wow it's hard to describe what has occurred in the past month, I'm afraid my heart may not survive another two years of this, but poco a poco is how it goes here! 

Ok let's start by getting some vocab out of the way here!

AREA- I was called to a mission (Spain Madrid, South), which is huge, and there's about 200 missionaries here. Within the mission there are zones, and within zones are districts and finally within districts are areas. An area is the place where just my companion and I are located.

TRANSFER- Every 6ish weeks they call us and tell us if we're being transfered. Typically you stay 2 or 3 transfers in a given area and spend 1 or 2 transfers with a given companion. 

WHITE WASHING- Typically with transfers, one companion leaves, one stays and shows the new one the area, the places, the people, and the friends. White washing is when two people are taken out and two new ones come in. Meaning yes, basically fresh start, no previous connections. 

AMIGOS-The people that are not currently members of the church, but that we are teaching, with an eventual hope to be baptized

CHARLITAS- Or lessons, but basically just us teaching them about the church and seeing if they would like to learn more.

COMPANION- You know 2 by 2. There's at least 2 of them (sometimes 3). I stick with them pretty much always. My comp is also my "trainer" because I have been here less than 12 weeks. 

I'm so sorry I don't want this to be long, but a lot has gone down. I arrived in Madrid about a month ago and the first thing they made us do was go talk to people in the subway (after a red-eye) Kinda mean, but it was a blast. We also spent the night in Madrid with some amazing people. The next day we found out our companions and the area we would be going to. 2 hours later, I was on a train to Cáceres with a stranger. Lots of Spanish speaking missions have lots of native speakers, so that's like full immersion, but here it's mostly gringos. Because of that, I speak a lot of English with my comp cause he kinda doesn't like Spanish. Kind of an L for me but it'll come poco a poco. 

We arrived and we were "white washing." This means neither of us know the area, and any of the people. Not only that, but the AC was broken and it was about 40 degrees in our piso. To make a fun situation even more spicy, my card didn't have money yet, so we were eating hot dogs for a good 4 days. All this said, you can see why the first couple weeks here were particularly difficult. I will not lie, it was perhaps the hardest couple weeks of my life. 

But you know, the great thing about rock bottom, it can only go up!!! The past weeks have been soooo much better. Of course I'm still adjusting to the quirks of missionary life and a new country, but seriously this is gonna be a blast. We met the members here and they are so amazing. Most the people we teach are from South America, so I get the pleasure of serving with the beautiful European architecture, with the people from Peru, Venezuela, Honduras, and Columbia. No but seriously our town is like Little Honduras. We are a little bit more busy now talking to our amigos and making connections. Of course the language is a challenge, but I understand the majority of what is said. Responding is the hard part - haha. The mission is just making lots and lots of friends. We're doing our best so far, and it makes everything more fun. 

So like what do I do all day? We start the day at 7:30, we get ready, eat breakfast, exercise until 9:30. We plan for the day, and typically "Contact" for 2 hours. Sorry another vocab word. Contacting is like the grind part. It means just talking to randos in the street and asking if they're interested. Depends on the mood, but it can be fun. Then typically we do an hour of language study, an hour of personal study (like scriptures/prepare discussions), and an hour of companion study. This looks like reviewing normas (I'm a greenie remember) and working to grow to be better together. We then typically have one or two discussions or charlitas with our friends in the afternoon. This number varies a TONNN with areas and missions. Some missions (mexico) teach like 8 a day. I'm in a relatively small town so it is what it is. We then typically spend some time in the night talking to a member of the church there or playing a game with them. My favorite part is definitely talking with our friends or the members there. I love making new friends. Every once in a while we will have conferences or trainings with other missionaries  which is such a blast. 

It's been really interesting to see how my life has changed in these past 3 months. 3 months ago, I was looked at as competent, intelligent and capable. Right now they look at me a bit like how you might look at a puppy trying to turn a doorknob. That said, the mission is all about growth. I'm working like a dog (no pun intended) to improve and, I know with time, I will again by competent and capable (give me a couple years)

This also would not have been possible without the guiding, supporting, and comforting hand of the Lord in my life. As I try to do His work, I know He will support me. Here are a few scriptures that have reminded me why I'm here and how I can keep going

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. 

4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand

Email me if you'd like! I'd love to hear what's going on back home, or if you have any questions about this mess we call a mission! 

TLDR: It was pretty hard, but things are looking up! 

Elder Dougall