The Promised Land!!!

Hi everyone!! I made it to Spain! This past week has probably been the busiest week of my life and I have lots to share, but I'll try to keep everything as short as I can!

On Tuesday morning at 3:45am I said goodbye to the MTC and all of my best friends!!! I'm gonna miss my district so much but I know that they are all going to do such amazing things out in the world!! We decided that since we had to leave so early in the morning, we were going to pull an all-nighter so that we were tired enough to sleep on the plane. Don't know if that was the best idea but it's ok!

Our first flight was to New York and then we had a second one from New York to Spain. The flights were fast because I took some melatonin and slept the entire time! We lost a whole night of sleep though because Spain is 8 hours ahead of Utah. We left New York around 7pm and got to Spain around 7am but the flight was only like 6ish hours. The time difference has been messing my brain up hahaha

When we got to Spain the first conversation we had was with a security guard and it went something like this...

"Where are you guys from?"

"Utah!"

"Ahh Utah! Mormons!!!"

^^^Even in Spain people know what's up

We waited at baggage claim for like 20 minutes until realizing that they stopped sending bags out. At this point we were missing 9 suitcases from our group & turns out they never made it out of New York! So our 9 bags (including one of mine) were lost for the day!

We met President and Hermana Eastland and they are SO awesome, we are so lucky!! Then we drove to the mission church. At this point I hadn't really slept in like 48 hours and I was trying with everything in me not to fall asleep right there. When we got there, president said "We're going to try and keep you guys awake until the night time to help with jet lag so we are going to go on a whole tour of Madrid!" It's safe to say that I slept REALLY good that night. 

The tour was actually really fun though! We got to see some cool things in the area, visit the Madrid temple, try hot chocolate and churros (which apparently is a big thing here), and we even did street contacting, on our first day here. It was kinda scary and all I could say at that point was "Hola! Tengo una pregunta. Usted cree en Jesucristo?" And then let another sister take over the rest hahaha. 

The next day we met our companions. I might be biased but I think I got THE BEST trainer in all of Spain. Hermana Robinson is the best and she is so good at what she does. I'm so excited to learn from her. She is such a good teacher and so patient with me. I am so so lucky!!!

Our zone is the Madrid West zone and our area is called Carabanchel which is basically right in the city. The missionaries call this area "The Promised Land" because apparently this area has so much good work. There's so many people from all over South America that live here and their hearts are so open to hearing the gospel. I've met some amazing people already and I'm so excited to teach everyone we can here!

Every single time anyone asks me where I'm from and I say Utah, they say "Ohhhh. The factory" hahaha it makes me laugh that that's what everyone thinks of when they think of Utah.

One thing about Spain is they try to be very clean with the things they use here. Which basically means no dryers, and no air conditioning. Yep! It's 100⁰ everyday here and our apartments have no AC. Definitely one of the hardest adjustments right now. We are constantly walking in the heat and when we get back to our apartment, there's no air conditioning. We have 4 fans that we prop up right next to each of our faces when we sleep and that's about as good as it's gonna get. It's gonna take some getting used to but it's okay!! I just need to power through these next couple of warm months!

Our ward is also so awesome! We had a couple ward activities already and church on Sunday went really good! I had to go up and bear my testimony during sacrament because I guess the new missionaries have to do that! It was scary, but I wrote it all down and just read the paper hahaha. I get nervous speaking in English, so speaking in Spanish to a whole congregation of Spanish speakers is a whole different kind of nervous.

We also love going to the church because it's one of the only buildings here with air conditioning. Bless up!!!

We've taught a couple of lessons this week and they were all super good! Lessons are hard for me because I know that there is so much that I have to say to these amazing people we are teaching, but I don't have the words in Spanish to say it. I just have to sit there and listen. All I can do is say the prayer and bear my testimony at the end. It can be frustrating, but it makes me so excited to learn Spanish so that I can understand and respond to our friends! Hermana Robinson does such a good job teaching. I love watching her give all she has and become so invested in each new friend. 

We got 2 people on date for baptism this week!!! Their names are Miryam and Maria Teresa. They both have a lot going on in their lives and I feel so much love for them already. 

Maria Teresa was going to get baptized at the end of September but during our lesson last night she basically said "Something is telling me that I need to get baptized sooner, I feel it so strongly. Can I get baptized next week?" Hermana Robinson was so happy!!! And I was too, once she translated the whole conversation to me after the lesson was over!!! The Spirit works in amazing ways and I've felt that so much already. Even though I can't understand what's going on or what people are saying yet, I can feel the presence of Heavenly Father all around me in the room and it's so so cool. We have a lesson with her every day this next week and she's getting baptized on Sunday yay!

I'm so excited to learn and grow here! There's so much more that I could share, but these were definitely the highlights!! Living in a new country is a big life adjustment and definitely something that I'm still getting used to, but it is so good for me. I love you all so much and I am praying for every single one of you. Thank you for all of your prayers to me, I feel them every day!!!

Photos!!!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QBqRnzJBCkan82Bb8

MTC Semana 6!

My last week here! In just a couple of days I leave Utah and fly to Spain. Eeeek I am feeling all of the emotions right now. Things are getting real!!!
Here's my LAST MTC update...

Español:

I'm finally starting to understand most of what my teachers are saying, but I'm pretty sure they are talking 100x slower than how people speak where I'm going. We started HSI on Tuesday which means that we are supposed to talk entirely in Spanish for the remainder of the MTC. It's been super hard! BUT we're doing our best. 

In one of our classes we have to do 1 push up for every word we say in english. If one person says 10 words, the entire class has to do 1 minute of wall sits. On Monday, I said 1 word in English and in a painful attempt to back myself up so I didn't have to do a push up, I said maybe 6 more words in English. Andddd I didn't stop there, I just kept trying to talk my way out of it. Ended up doing maybe 18 push ups that day and the entire class had to do wall sits. So I definitely shut my mouth after that experience hahaha

All jokes aside though, I know that I've come such a long way from the start of the MTC. Even though my Spanish is super broken and probably won't carry my super far in Spain, I can at least express how I feel most of the time using the words that I do know. I'm excited to get there and lock in on Español.

^^My district looks very happy with me if you can't tell!!!

District fast!

Our district decided to do a 24 hour fast together on Tuesday-Wednesday to help us as we prepare to head to the field. I won't lie, it was hard but I know that Heavenly Father sees our efforts and that we will be blessed for them. It was honestly really cool that we were able to do it together too!

My VISA:

I am officially a legal resident in Spain! On Wednesday, Hermana Swensen, Ence, Kiefer, and I were able to leave campus and go to UVU to pick up our visas. It was so fun. We met with a consulate who told us a little bit about Spain and some of the laws and then he gave us back our passports with our visas in them. It was kinda weird being back at UVU because it reminded me of college and all the friends I made. Memories definitely came flooding back! After we picked up our visas we celebrated with... COSTA VIDA. Not sure if that was allowed but the MTC food isn't cutting it anymore and the restaurant was right there at arms reach. (Seriously though, it's ON campus) + our (literal) empty stomachs needed it. No regrets, it was so good. Best meal for us to break our fast with!! This was such a fun little trip and a good break from missionary life for a sec.

Also saw an old friend (iykyk)... 

Room 217

My best friends! Wanted to document some memories from some of the best times. Yesterday, Hermana Kiefers mom sent some Chick-fil-a in a package for us. Thanks momma Kiefer!!!

Spiritual Thought:

1 Nephi 17 is one of my very favorite chapters. This is where the Lord commanded Nephi to build a boat and sail with his family to the promised land. Even in the face of adversity and rebellion from members of his own family, he knew that since the Lord asked this of him, he could do it...

50 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.

51 And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?

It was probably so hard for Nephi to stay strong in his faith when everyone around him doubted his abilities. But he KNEW that the power of God is REAL and if he is asked to do something, God will prepare a way for it to be done. This is so true! I think that we can all learn some super important lessons from Nephi but I love this one in particular because it is really just a reminder that the spirit is always with us. God is so powerful - if he asks something of us, it can be done. No matter who we are, anything is possible with God!

I appreciate all the support from you all!!! The emails, texts, and packages I've received have been so awesome. My heart is so filled and I feel so loved. Thank you thank you!

These past 6 weeks have been so good. The MTC has been such a fun experience. I have felt the spirit here in ways that I've never felt it before. I could not have asked for a better district or better teachers - these people have become some of my best best friends. I know that this is just a small portion of my mission, but it has had a HUGE impact on me.

Hasta luego, nos vemos en España!!!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QBqRnzJBCkan82Bb8

MTC Week 5!

Feels like just yesterday when I sent my last email. For real though, time moves so fast here. Less than 2 weeks and I'll be sending these from Spain! Nothing super crazy or exciting happened this week though unfortunately so here's some highlights...

I have officially been a missionary for a month. Which is honestly kinda crazy. Only 17 more of what I just did!

GOT MY VISA! That's honestly the biggest highlight of the week lol. We go to the consulate to pick it up on Wednesday and then it's kind of all up in the air when they're kicking us out of here. I'll keep you all posted...

For those of you who have been in the MTC you know what helping others lessons are. Basically, we have to sign up to teach random people lessons as if we were out on the field teaching, just to get some practice. Anyways, Hermana Swensen and I taught two lessons this week... in Spanish. We taught a guy named Jeremy about prayer and putting his trust in the Lord. We wrote an ENTIRE script out because I do not know enough Spanish to be able to speak a lesson into existence. Our first one went not so great but our second one went surprisingly well! Except for the fact that I asked him to read a scripture and as I gave my phone to him to read it I realized that it was still in English. Hahaha oops. Honestly we're pretty sure he's a member just acting as a nonmember, and I'm positive he speaks english. So hopefully he understood what we were trying to teach him! Hermana Swensen carried us through that though so props to her

Speaking Spanish every day in every class is really hard. Especially because half the time I don't know what I'm even saying or if I'm saying it right. It can honestly be really discouraging at times! We had a sub the other day in class, and she shared this scripture with us... 

D&C 100:6-8

6 For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.

7 But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things.

8 And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.

We pray every day for the gift of tongues. Sometimes thinking about how the Lord has the power to help his missionaries learn languages seems kind of impossible. But he can!!! I know that the Spirit speaks through us, and he WILL get his message across. If we put in the effort to learn the language, he will be there to help. I've felt stressed thinking about how in 2 weeks from now I'll be walking through Spain with only a couple Spanish phrases to my name. But the Lord will deliver!!! "Open your mouths, and they shall be filled."

I love and am praying for you all! Sorry this week was kindaaaa boring so this email is lame but things are about to get really interesting here soon!!!

MTC Week 4!!! 💒

Hi guys!!! I hope everyone's week was good!

Heres some fun things from my week:

My spanish is KINDA coming but not really. Weve been learning a lot faster being fully immersed in it by our teachers. I cant speak it super well yet but I can understand it better. Thats all my updates for that lol. 

My district has been brushing up on our volleyball skills! We've been playing every morning. A couple days ago one of the Hermana's got smacked right in the face by an Elder that clearly had some pre MTC volleyball experience and was definitely here to win. So it's safe to say that I think we're pretty good!! Our classic strippling warriors shirts say it all.

The sunset here is beautiful. Idk why im acting like I don't live 30 minutes from here but I promise it's not the same sunset from the one at home. Or maybe I just haven't been paying attention. Or maybe Heavenly Father is blessing his missionaries here especially. Whatever it be, we love coming outside after class is over and seeing the pink sky!

4th of July!!! My literal favorite holiday! My mom sent me a bunch of Fourth of July party stuff for my district so we went crazy. We were able to stay up later than normal (aka 11pm 😎) and watch fireworks too!! It was so much fun. Life actually felt really normal for the night. Also, I never thought I'd say that the 4th of July would be spiritual but it really was here. We all sang and laughed and partied. It was such a good time but I could also feel the spirit here being surrounded by a bunch of other missionaries. Unfortunately we couldn't hear the Jonas Brothers performing from across the street though rip. Happy Birthday America & God bless the USA!!! 🇺🇲

Spiritual thought:

I LOVE the devotionals here. On Sunday night the President of the MTC and his wife spoke to us and afterward we had a special musical performance by a group of 3 guys called Gentri. I don't know if any of you have heard of them before but it's definitely the first time I have. It was really good! One of the guys looks a little toooo familiar. I recognize him from a video we watch at the temple, iykyk...

That's actually not my spiritual thought though lol. On Tuesday night we had another devotional by Brother Sabin from the 70. The choir sang Battle Hymn of the Republic and wow the spirit was THERE. That song is so powerful and even though I probably ruined it a little bit by my voice hahaha, it was still so beautiful. The devotional was also amazing. Brother Sabin talked a little bit about Joy and finding happiness as a missionary. He explained that each new morning is a gift from God, and its important to see the good in the world and in everyone around us. 

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

It is crucial to love God and everyone at all times but especially as a missionary. I'm learning each day that my actions and words are so important when I'm wearing this tag. I represent Jesus Christ. It's important as missionaries to try and strive to love and speak as Jesus Christ would, and to always have joy, smile, and be a light to everyone around us. But not even just missionaries, all members. Because that's what's going to attract people to us and our church the most!!

I love you all so much! This email is a little bit rushed because I'm on my way to play more volleyball hahaha. The weeks are going quick here and I'm learning so much every day. Thanks for all the love and support from you guys!!!

Some more photos: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QBqRnzJBCkan82Bb8