"There's a Church Here in Parla?!"

This area of Parla is absolutely crazy. It feels like the Ellis Island of Spain as almost everyone we talk to has been here for very little time. For example, just this week we found 5 members of the church that had called out to us, surprised to see missionaries here in Spain. When we told them there was a church here as well, they were all the more surprised. For a random example, this last Sunday afternoon as we're walking by, we see the other missionaries teaching a lesson on a bench. As we pass, a member of the church visiting from Italy and from China says hi and introduces himself. Not 3 minutes later, a couple from Chile comes up to us and says they have been in Spain for 6 days. The friend of the missionaries, at this point convinced of foul play, is super excited to talk with these 3 random members, and the recently baptized Chilean couple shared their testimony of the importance of baptism. 

We have been teaching a friend named Xu Jing Chao. As we spoke to him through translator, he pulled out his Chinese Bible and told us he was actually Christian and had been working here in Spain for a few months! We have continued teaching him through missionaries in Boston and Taiwan that speak Chinese!

This last week we had a visit from Elder Gerard, the soon to be Area Seventy of Europe Central. Much of what he said was very inspired, so instead of writing it all, let me write a bullet list here. 

- Dont waste the privilege that it is to be serving in this incredible era

- Better than preach the message, become the message

- Do you let light enter and become a beacon of Him?

- The Lord wants us to be at peace and secure as we do His work

- Recognize your companions strengths; it is all too easy to recognize weakness

- God already trusts you! Now trust Him! 

- You would be more aggressive in your work if you knew the shortness of the duration of you mission

The benefit of the conference is that I also got to see many old friends from other zones that will be going to the other mission. 

This week, as we were sitting on a bench, a women and her daughter came up to us and asked if we had a church here in Parla. They weren't members, but the women's father had been before passing away. They came to church on Sunday and we are looking forward to continue teaching them!

This Sunday I also finished the Old Testament! I began the first of the year with the goal to finish it, and it has not been easy, but I’m grateful to have finished it, and look forward to reading now the New Testament. 

Let me share 2 scriptures that pretty well sum up the personal covenant relationship that the Old Testament defines and is expanded in later scripture.

"And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord"

"Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame"

Thank you for reading! Feel free to reach out and give me an update. If you know someone that wants to be on the email list let me know. If you are fed up by now, just email me "STOP" and I'll take you off.

Con mucho cariño,

Elder Dougall