Transfer 6 Week 1- Leganes

New Companion Sister Emily Jarman

Como Estaís?

Ojalá que todo esté bien, y que hayan tenido una buena semana. Bueno.. Para mi, esta semana ha pasado super rápido, con muchas sorpresas, y miedos. Pero aquí estamos. Estamos (pumped) para trabajar juntas, para ayudar a la gente de Madrid.. Mi compañera es hermana Emily Jarman, si queréis buscarla por redes sociales.

Okay now I will write in english...

LUNES:

Okay, so last P-Day, I took hermana Robertson to the airport because she went to the islands, Santa Cruz on Tenerife to be exact. Then I was comps with hermana Christensen, my old MTC comp. So we were companions until Tuesday, which is when we got our new companions. I'm my time with HNA Christensen, I got pooped on by a pigeon.  It was terrible, and I will never forget the disgust that I felt. Then we taught like 2 lessons in the street and found lost of cool gypsys to teach. 

MARTES:

So on Tuesday, we went to pavaones and had a training meeting which they basically just told us how important it is to be an example of exact obedience, and to work hard. Then we found out who were Gunna be our companions. So not only me but elder knaphus, elder simmonds, and hermana Christensen from my original district in the MTC were training also. So that was cool to see all of them. So after that happened we went back to leganes, but we kind of got a little lost like 2 times.. so..  But then we got home, and unpacked.

MIERCOLES:

So we went and passed by the abono place to get hermana jarman public transportation card, but we had to come back later so them we went to the Capilla and had District meeting with Elder holt as our new district leader.. It was a great district meeting, and we learned a lot. We set transfer goals, and then ate at dominoes.. Afterwards, we went and visited Elouisa, who just continues to be the cutest little spanish lady ever. Did I ever tell y'all that she has a long hair cat, from the street named Wanda...  How much better does it get. Then we did comp study and 12 weeks, and then language study... Then we just contacted. 

JUEVES:

So we had weekly planning, which was actually way fun. Okay so to start weekly planning we pray for everyone of the people that we teach individually. So clearly it is a long prayer... So I warned her to get ready. And bless her heart she fell asleep during the prayer. I remember those days. Then it snowed like crazy, like a freak blizzard, and so the lesson that we had scheduled cancels because of the weather. But we ended up making a bunch of calls, and contacting, and then weekly planning with the elders, aka "Leganès 101". Then more studying... 

VIERNES:

So we contacted to start the day off, and then went to LA fortuna, which is at the very edge of our area to visit a member named Arbolina or Maria de los arboles...  put that one in Google translate..  She made us rice and beans, and these Russian hamburgers. I don't really know what it was, but it was good. Then we had Denise planned, but she couldn't meet, so then we went to english class, and taught like 4 people. Then we just studied at the chapel, and helped the relief society decorate for a party they were going to have on Saturday. 

SABADO:

So we went and played sports, which was a blast, like normal, but it was freezing. Then we had correlacion with Alejandro, and he made us hot dogs. So then we had a lesson planned with Pamela who is a less active member who the elders are trying to give us, but then she failed on us. Then we went to the relief society party, and they asked us to judge the pioneer costumes. So...  We did that.. So all Saturday my companion was feeling really sick, so the  we left the party and went to the piso. Then the elders came and gave her a blessing, and then she and I went to bed...  Then she was just sick as a dog all day Sunday, so we didn't go to church.. But the members were just so sweet and a bunch of them called us to see how she was doing and everything. 

DOMINGO:

So my comp just stayed in bed all day, and I made some calls, and then clean a little. Then the elders passed by and brought us breakfast burritos.. They are so kind.. so then we just stayed in Piso all day, but at around 10 or so, my companion started to feel a little better.

LUNES:

So we went to our mission leaders house to help him paint his front room. So we did that for a few hours and then went to the mall, and ate at KFC, which it gross here, so I just got fries. Then we went bowling, and I only bowled a 93... so, disappointed. And now we're just writing you guys. 

I LOVE YOU ALL A TON, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Trainer



Dear Webster Family,


This letter is to inform you that your daughter, Sister Taylor Drew Webster, has been assigned to be a trainer. She has demonstrated her ability as an effective, obedient missionary.  As a trainer, Sister Webster will be responsible for teaching and training a new missionary. This is a 12 week program, which includes an additional hour of daily study, including language study. Both your daughter and the missionary she is training will be responsible to report their weekly progress to the President. Only the best and most dedicated missionaries are called as trainers. She will serve as a role model for her new companion, and will hold a special place in the heart and memory of that companion.


Thank you for sharing your daughter with us.  Sister Pack and I love her and pray for her continued success in this important calling.


Our best wishes to you,


President Kevin B. Pack


Spain Madrid Mission

Transfer 5 Week 2

Leganes Spain

Salut!

That's "Hello" in french.

Well.. This week has been  blur of craziness, Metros, trains, buses, and people.. So Being here in Madrid is much, much different than Leon. For example: We have a giant area, with Malls, and Costco, and the only way that we can get anywhere is by Metro, and train. In Leon we just walked everywhere.. There is a ton of people, always on the streets, which I'm not complaining about. The buildings are a lot taller, so you don't really see the sky very much, or the stars. There are hardly any spanish people here. Everyone is South american, or Arabic, or American. The spanish are few and far between. But, back in Leon it was opposite; There were only spanish people, and few South american, etc. Also, here there is a full blown ward of memebers, and a Stake, with it's own Capilla. Leon had  tiny branch of 20 memebers and was in a Bajo of a building.

So To be honest, I don't remeber everything that we did this week, but I knw that we taught a ton of lessons. Also when I got here, we really only had 1 investgator, So right now we are working on finding people to teach. The lords has really blessed us in our efforts to find, and we have found and taught like 5 new people which is awesome.

So this week I have been thinking about trials... Why, if we are doing good thing, do trials come? Why do we have to pass thru hard things? So this is the question that I have been asked most on my mission. So it is something that is hard to answer, but I was reading in The Book of Mormon, in Ether about the brother of jared and his pueblo. So I want to share it will Y'all:

5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.
6 And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.
7 And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.
8 And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were driven forth before the wind.
9 And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord.
10 And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water.
11 And thus they were driven forth, three hundred and forty and four days upon the water.
12 And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.

I think that verse 5 is the answer. It was my answer. The lord cuased a furious wind (trial) to blow so that we could be pushed to the Promised land (Heaven). Both physically, and spiritually.

Anyhow, I would love to hear your thoughts for why we have to have trials, and how we can use them to get to the promised land! Love you all very much, and I hope that you have a great week!

Transfer 5 Week 6
Leganes with Hermana Robertson

So much has happened.....

I'M TRAINING...

So I'm training a new missionary. So I won't meet her or know who it is until tomorrow, so I will spend the day with my MTC comp, HNA Christensen who is also training with me too! Okay so I guess that I will give you the DL on what we did this week, and all that jazz.

MARTES:

So we tried to pass by Denise but she was cutting someones hair so we sneakily passed by on the other side of the street so she couldn't see us. So then we went by Elouisa. She made us a traditional, legit, Spanish meal.  Basically shrimp with homemade mayonnaise, then bread, then macaroni with meat, then flan...  classic. It was good, but man I was so full. Like always. Then we called some people. Then we had a first lesson with Juan Carlos. Normally we pass by and have a Noche de Hogar, BUT this time we had an actual lesson. It was awesome. Then we ate something tasty but I don't remember what it was.

MIERCOLES:

So we had District meeting. Our last one. So as such, we went "all out" and hit up papa johns. It was pretty good, but still not like home. So after 4 pizzas and too much coke, we left and went to pass by Denise again because she is really really awesome, it's just that she is kind of hard to meet with. So we passed by and she was finally free to meet, so we talked about the plan of salvation, but mainly about why where here, in this life. So she really opened up, and we answered some other questions about stuff hat she was worried about too. It turned out to be a really good lesson. Then we went to getafe and passed by this reference that we got, named Tina, and finally found her at home. She was super sweet, but she totally thought that we were Jehovah's witnesses, but we told her that we weren't. Anyhow she is really old, so we told her that we would come back a different day. Okay so afterward we went and ate with the Garcia's who are this super great family in the ward. They made hamburgers... American style...  They were sooooooo ooo ooo ooo good. Then we ran home, like normal. 

JUEVES:

So we did weekly planning, then I took a nap. So after that we had a lesson with Rosi. So she is awesome!!! She wants to get baptized but she needs to get into this program that will let her live in a half house, and have more freedom, so were working on that right now. But she is doing really good. Then we taught my fave fam... David, yisena, and alejandro... They are the coolest.  So it was an awesome lesson and they invited us over again to eat on Tuesday, so were pretty pumped for that. Okay, then we visited Elsi who a member, and she fed us and the elders and we talked with her about temples.

VIERNES:

So we had heard about this super cool park, with a giant cristus statue, and all of this cool stuff so we contacted to that and met this super cool guy on the way. Anyhow, we got there and took a few pics an then contacted back home. So hen after medio dia we taught Ingrid (a Little girl from Columbia) English, and shared a scripture with the fam. Then we had English classes, and the a Noche de Hogar with the bishopric. It was super fun... 

SABADO:

Okay so we played sports, and I got a giant blister on my foot from the old trusty vans... Then we ran to an appointment with Teresa, where we learned how to cook some plate from Ecuador. I don't know what it is called, but it was really good. The elders and alejandro came to eat with us. Then we helped the friends of a member move from their hair salon to another hair salon. So that took up the whole evening, and then we went home, and got transfer calls. Oh, yeah... Then I got the call to train, a new missionary. Hermana Robertson is going to the island, santa cruz, which is on tenerife. So I helped her pack a little, and I clean the piso, and paced nervously. I am so nervous, and excited to train. I hope that I will help my comp feel good, and feel like she is serving the lord the best way possible. Also my MTC comp is training too, so we will both have babies. 

DOMINGO:

Not much happened. We visited Mirtha, nd then elouisa, and then mireyah. We ate 3 times in other words. The food was so good, but I was dying because i was soooo full. 

LUNES:

Now I am in barrio 3 with hma christensen (MTC comp) until tomorrow. So...

Well I love you guys and I hope that you have great weeks. Pray for me!!

Transfer 5 week 5 Leganes:

ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOHA!  (ALOHA)...

Well. That means hello and goodbye, right?

So this week was crazy. I swear I have never been so full before. IN MY LIFE! So the thing is, as missionaries the Lord blesses you with a bigger stomach or a greater ability to eat food of all types.

This can apply to food that is:

Gross that you don't want to eat, (liver); a large amount of food that you physically can't fit inside your body (anything from Ecuador or Bolivia); and the strength to run to appointments that your were late to even though you are so full that you can't walk.

So needless to say, I have seen some amazing works and wonders. But seriously, this week has been full of miracles and blessings, and fun, and laughs, and yes.... Lots of food.

LUNES:

So I won't bore you with the deets from P-Days because we basically do the same thing as always. Worry about writing y'all, and then go bowling. But I bet you won't guess what we did that night?  Ate.. With some members. Actually we had a Noche de Hogar with some members in the ward who are renting out a room to this guy named Juan Carlos. He is super cool and we are teaching him. But, he had an operation so he could dent come to the NDH, but next time..

MARTES:

Okay.. So we started off the day trying to meet with Ramon. He is awesome but his work schedule is never the same, and he has 2 little kids to take care of so it is hard. But we called him and he told us that basically he was going thru some hard stuff at the moment. He told us that he would call us back sometime during the week to figure out when or if we could meet. So we were like, "okay". Then after that we went to go pass by this lady named Tina. She was a reference from a member who lives in Madrid, Madrid. So we have passed by like 4 times and she is never home. So we ended up contacting and making calls until mediodía. Then we went back to the Piso. I Made a bomb salad, and a smoothie. After that took a 15 minute power nap and then we studied. So we then left and went to San Cristóbal, to contact a little before our lesson with Luis y Carolina. So right after we get there and are contacting, we get a text from Ramon. He texted us saying that he was moving right then from his Piso to Barrio 9. We were like, " okay, but..." So we were really bummed out because he is really awesome and really was willing and ready to change, but then he moved. So as we were super heartbroken, we continued to contact and talk with people. No kidding. Like as HNA Robertson sent the text to Ramon, and put the phone away, this man and his two kids walked up. SHE contacted them, and we got to know them. His name was David and he is spanish, and is married to this ecuatoriano lady named yiseña. He invited us to come over and meet with him and his family. He said that his wife had taken the lessons before with her family, and her brother got baptized. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!!! MIRACLES, MIRACLES, MIRACLES.  The Lord loves us so much. So then we were pumped and went into our lesson with Luis and Carolina. So we get there and walk in and then within 5 minutes Luis and Carolina start physically fighting.. It was crazy. The we're yelling and knocking stuff down, and hitting. So as this is happening we were talking with Carolinas dad, who seemed like he wasn't even hearing or seeing what we were. So he had this weird conversation with him about like making the most of your life, and Peruvian history, and food. Yeah, I don't know.. anyhow so we ended that convo and got out of dodge. Then we went home.

MIERCOLES:

So we got ready and all that jazz, then we went to District meeting. We had a really good district meeting about asking inspired questions, and teach people with the spirit to instead of just talking to them and expecting them to understand and accept what your telling them. It was cool, and I really learned a lot. So after DM we went to dominoes because they have this deal going. It's like, you pay 6.95 and get all you can eat pizza and all you can drink soda. So we did that and bought it as a group. It was sooooooo good. Although after we left I felt like I was slowly slipping into a coma. A food coma... So by the time that we had finished eating, it was time to go visit Elouisa. She is the best. So we went and and had consensus and popcorn with her. A change at last. Normally it's cake and hot chocolate so I was grateful. Then we were supposed to have a lesson with this new guy from new guinea but he failed us. So then we contacted until 8, when we met the Tenorios. They gave us a tortilla de patata sandwhich. It was super good. Then we talked about the obra misional. It was good. Then we went home.

JUEVES:

So we did weekly planning which was really good. A little long for my taste, but that is just the nature of the beast.. so then after that we did some carpeta and found some really great people to pass by. Then we went to visited Mariana, who is this super old little spanish lady. We chatted with her for awhile, and then she gave us some super good yogurt with granola. Then we passed by David and Yiseña, but they weren't home but the mom answered and told us to pass by another day a little later. So then we were supposed to have our first lesson with Roxanne who is the investigator of the elders but then we switch with them so now she is ours. She called and told her that her daughter had gotten into 2 car crashes and was in the hospital so she was going to go visit her. So we were like" no worries..." So then some more contacting, but it's okay because the weather this week has been super nice. Like 60-70s.. Then we went home, as normal.

VIERNES:

So we passed by Denise  (hair dresser), then Tina and neither of them we home. So then we made a lot of calls and then contacted a bunch. Then mediodía'ed  and napped. Then we went and visited Teresa de la Cruz, Who is a less active El meme be who can't come to church because she works. But she is super cool! She is going to teach us how to make some Ecuadorian plate from her Pais. I am super excited. Then we went and visited Isabel, who is this spanish lady who totally looks like Joan rivers... She is active but we went to chat with her and stuff. It was fun. She gave us some super good juice. So... after that we went to the plaza mayor in leganes, which is actually right behind our Piso. So we went there and met Rosi!!! She really wants to get baptized so she has completely kicked her smocking habit so that she can. It's crazy who awesome she is! She is a little weird though, but I guess that I am a little weird too...So we haven't extended a baptism date to her yet, but we're working on it. Then after her... More contacting...

SÁBADO:

So first off, we played futbol. Our team won. Well I should say that we destroyed.. It was the Americans against the Spanish.. After that we went in our normal sports clothes to Correlation with Alejandro. He made us some legit food from the coast of Ecuador. It was really....Good, but a little strange. But good. So after that we went to go pass by some people. So the first 2 people weren't home so then we decided to pass by our friend david's house again to see if they were home, and guess what?   They were!!! We had our first lesson with them and It was awesome! They are looking for the truth, and have met with us before. It was awesome. They were definitly the greastest miracle that we had this week. Then right after her we ran to our lesson with Roxanna. It was super spiritual. So were working on her as well. Then we went back and did comp study and then went to sleep. 

DOMINGO:

So on Sunday we went to church which was super fun. I sat by Elouisa who is just the cutest, most sassy thing. Then we studied afterward, and ate, and then went and saw . She is a cute spanish lady in our ward who makes amazing food. So we went and ate with her and her son. She made stuffed potatoes and jamon and cheese. Classic. Sorry about only writing about food. But like not that much.

Arbolina

Found a cool quote:

“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

- Joseph Smith

LOVE Y'ALL!!!! 

Transfer 5 Week 4- Leganes Spain

Hello all!

So I'm currently writing y'all from a Bowling alley, and I'm winning so I'm not sure how long this will be... But, I just wanted to give y'all a quick report on the week, and one things that I learned..

LUNES:

So last Monday, we basically just wrote emails, and had lunch with the elders from our district, and then at night, we had a Family home Evening with some members and an investigator named Juan Carlos.. We drank some pretty amazing Juice. They have the best juice here, let me tell ya. 

MARTES:

Okay so we had had the whole day filled up, but then in the morning, two of the appointments that we had set up failed, like normal. Then as a tender mercy we had a great lesson with an old Spanish lady named petra.. I mean, she is a member but she is feeling a little down lately. She made us some bomb Paella. Also she is an amazing artsit and her whole house is covered in paintings so she gave me a book mark for my scriptures that she painted.. It's way cool. Then after her we had 3 more failed appt's, but then another tender mercy. We visited a less active members.... I mean she is a little crazy, but super nice and we ended up teaching her, and her little son. It was way fun.

MIERCOLES:

So First off we had district meeting, then had some 2 dollar Kebap. It's like gyro's and falafel and stuff like that. So that was god, but then I got sick, like normal... Afterward we language studied and then went and taught  Elouisa, who is our recent convert. She is so sweet, and always without fail gives us Hot chocolate and little cakes. Also she sends us home with a bag of food, always with two apples and two bananas and pate. A classic pairing. So that was fun, and then we saw Denise who is our investigator who owns a hair salon. We taught her The plan of salvation, which she loved. So hopefully we will be able to meet with her real quick. Anyhow, that was pretty much it.

JUEVES:

So we went and taught this new girl named Dianara who just moved here from Ecuador. She was a reference from the hermans in Barrio 9. Her parents are taking the lessons in her country but she moved here before then. So her prents called her and told her that she had to meet with the missionaries. It was awesome. Then we did intercambios with Hermana Snyder and Hermana Warner. It was amazing and i was with HNa warner. I learned a ton from her. She is super cool.

VIERNES:

We were still on intercambios until after like 4. Then we had English classes, and a Noche de Hogar with the ward. We taught about the atonement and how we can use it. Then we just cleaned up after that and went home.

SABADO:

So while we were planning in the morning, the relief society Pres called us and asked us if we could go and help some one move in, so we went. Then we played sports like normal. It was a blast. Afterward we taught Elouisa again, because she get visited 2 times a week. The elders were supposed to visit her, but they couldn't so we went instead. then after her we taught Mireya, who is a member with 2 crazy Little boys! They were super cute, and really fun to play with. After the lesson, Her mom, Hilda made us some amazing hot chocolate. Then we just contacted the rest of the night.

DOMINGO:

So after church, we had consejo (ward council). It was good, then we went to the other side of our area, and had lunch with a member named Daudy and her mom, Linda who is our friend that were teaching. That was fun, and right after we went and saw Elsi! She is this super cute member from Ecuador. She is just the best. The after, we went and visited Mirtha, who made us some really good pizza. She is a super sweet lady, but just has a hard time going to church because of health.

This week I learned many things, and I had a lot of fun. I really love my new area, my companion, and the work that is going on here. Love y'all too! Hope that you all have great weeks.