Called to Madrid South

Wow it's great to be back in Cadiz! Sanlúcar is absolutely stunning - like how I imagine an Italian town in the movies. Frankly it is just a retirement town on the coast which makes the missisionary work quite difficult, but the views are amazing. My new companion Elder Schwember is from Chile which is a lot of fun. This last Wednesday, as we began contacting in the streets for the first time, a man named Manuel first stopped us and then invited us into his vacation home. He was visiting from Sevilla and was so impressed by our mission that we shared tortilla patata, jamon, y queso while we taught about the restoration. I always appreciate those willing to be kind. It goes a long way. I would like to share a verse that refers to the degree of glory we one day may inherit.  D&C 88 32 And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that wh...

This last Saturday we received transfer news and I will be leaving Parla to go to Sanlúcar in the Cádiz zone. Parla has been an incredible area and I will be sad to leave so soon. The rama of Parla feels like a family, there is so much diversity and desire to work that it makes for a wonderful church unit. I was able to witness the growth of this branch, but also the personal growth of many friends and in myself. It was incredible to watch as people moved in and began to take on assignments, strengthening and organizing the branch. There should be much growth in this upcoming months. On Sunday we were able to have the baptism of Brunna! She has been progressing for a long time and was extremely ready for it. It was a beautiful experience as we heard a talk in Portuguese as was the confirmation done in her native language. We also had a friend named Gloria there. She had been progressing and coming to church, but was waiting to feel a confirmation of the things she had been taught. In t...

This last week we enjoyed so many cool miracles and even that of a solar eclipse last Wednesday! We decided to do a last minute activity and we watched the eclipse with some friends. I'm sorry for no photos, but the best part may have been the drop in temperature. This last week actually we enjoyed some thunderstorms which also helped with the heat   This last Friday night we contacted a new reference named Pablo. After multiple attempts to contact him during the week finally on Friday we were able to talk with him. The conversation was fantastic in every sense of the word. He is a quite educated man who has now been through his fair share of trials. He said, if it were just for the news, he would have never talked with us, but that he had been so impressed by his coworker who was a member of the church, that he had to figure what made him different. We taught him the most fundamental principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and when we taught about baptism, he said he had always d...

This last week we had an activity in the church and it was a Plan of Salvation themed escape room! We had lots of friends and members as we moved from room to room each with a specific theme as we learned about the plan of God for us.  We are teaching a friend named Gloria who came to church for her own curiosity this last Sunday. We were able to meet in her home 2 times this week and she came to church again yesterday! She has been reading a lot of the Book of Mormon and is very nice to talk to. We hope to continue to answer her questions and set a baptismal date this upcoming week!  This last week we also were able to go to the temple! We had planned the trip a few months ago trying to get a few new members and youth there, and it was a big success!  I am continuing in my reading in the New Testament and this week I read these verses in 2 Corinthians: 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort...

As missionaries we typically teach one of four lessons. One regarding The Restoration, another The Plan of Salvation, another the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and another the commandments. It seems that each friend we teach has one lesson that really touches their heart and answers their questions. I remember teaching the Restoration to a friend in Jerez and watching her be moved by the truth that spoke to her heart. This last week it was very gratifying to watch the same thing while teaching a rather expressive friend about The Plan of Salvation. Often, as missionaries, we worry our friends don't fully understand or comprehend what we teach. This last week, we taught a friend named Andres about what happened before we were born, sharing a verse from the Old Testament: " Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. "  Jeremiah 1:5 He contemplated ...