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I know you are all on the edge of your seats waiting for an email from me so here I am and I have SO MUCH to tell you guys!!!

-last week we got transfer news and found out that both hermana Christiansen and I would be leaving Pamplona 🥹 our time there ended on a very beautiful note as our friend María got baptized the night before we left. She is 15 and has set the biggest example for the rest of her family to follow. I'm so proud of her for her bravery and perseverance and it's been so cool watching her grow over these past couple of months 🤍

Pamplona was such a bitter sweet goodbye. I don't feel like I got to spend enough time there but I am also so content with all that we've been able to accomplish these past 2 transfers. I met people there that have forever changed my life and will always have such a special place in my heart. That area is truly a little piece of heaven and I'm so lucky that I got to be God's servant there 🫶🏼

-ok so I left Pamplona and GUESS where I went??

I am now living on an island right off of the coast of Africa called the Canary Islands. I live in a city called Santa Cruz on the island of Tenerife and I truly feel like I am in an entirely different mission 🌴☀️

This place is beautiful and so blessed!! There is SO MUCH work to do here and I feel like I haven't stopped to catch by breath this whole week. God just keeps blessing us!!! There's so much change going on but it's so good for me. Let me tell you what's been happening lately:

-the weather is PERFECT here. I don't know how I got so lucky as to escape the heat of Madrid this summer but I think that God saw how much I suffered last year and decided not to put me through that again 😊

-my companion is hermana Ence and she is literally my BEST FRIEND!!! We were in the same MTC district so it's been sooo fun to be back together and see how much we have each grown this past year. We are a little less clueless and able to speak a little more spanish now hahaha. We are the STLs over the islands and she is so patient with me as I learn how to take on a new role. She's hardworking and loving and so amazing. Oh my I am so lucky. We literally manifested me coming to the islands and and being comps with her and I couldn't have asked for anything better. I'm SO excited to work with her this transfer!

-God is preparing so many people here in las islas canarias. We put 3 friends on date this week and have plans to put more on date so soon!! We've seen so many miracles in just a week! The other day we talked to a lady on the street who's daughter is a member in Peru and she's been looking for the missionaries here but couldn't find us, and suddenly there we were!!! Whatttt que milagro! 

- The other day hermana ence and I made baleadas. If you don't know what baleadas are you should go and try to find a place that sells them because they are literally my favorite food and I haven't been able to find them since the beginning of my mission so we decided to make them!!! They were sooo good. There's also a really popular drink that they only sell here in the islands called Clipper so we tried them all the other day and they were pretty good!!

I am currently in the sky on the way to Madrid to go to the temple!!! I haven't been to the temple in over 6 months so excited is an understatement. If you live by a temple please go for me!! And tomorrow we have MLC which I'm actually quite terrified about but all will be well in 48 short hours when it's all over 😁

Ok I think I got mostly everything!! I want to quickly share a scripture that every missionary knows and uses on a daily basis but it really is so powerful...

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

I love the part that says "that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." Because how comforting is that?? There is someone who knows exactly how we are feeling in any and every moment of pain, sadness, stress, heartbreak! Think about the most hurt you've ever felt and remember that Jesus Christ has felt it too. And he didn't HAVE to, he CHOSE to. He chose to just so that he could know how to comfort us "according to OUR infirmities" not our neighbors or friends or parents infirmities, ours. He knows how to comfort us in a way that no one else does because he's felt the exact same pain that we feel. That brings me so much comfort and peace and I hope that it brings you comfort too!

Well I love you guys!!! Time is moving fast and the amount of work there is to do is sin fin so I'm so excited to be here on this little island sharing the good news of the gospel. I hope you all have a good week! Les quiero muchísimo! ❤️‍🔥

-Hermana Anselmo

Un año ya??

It's true!! Tomorrow I hit one year as a missionary! Let me give a quick recap of this past year: hard work, laughter, patience, hating the Spanish language, dancing, diligence, heat stroke, stress, so much food, loving the Spanish language, meeting people from just about every country, rejection to no end, monsters, baptisms and everything else in between.

This year has easily been the most testing, hardest working, best year of my life. I have never learned so much about myself or the world around me. I have grown so much love in my heart for every person that I've met, even those who really tested my patience. I didn't even know that that was possible!! I've learned the importance of getting back up when you fall, loving everyone because you never know their situation, and trusting in the Lord in ALL THINGS. I've seen miracles upon miracles and felt the divine love that God has for each individual person. I've had times of heartbreak, stress, and sadness but it's all been worth it for the lives and hearts that I've been able to touch and the people that have absolutely touched mine. The mission has not been easy but it's truly been so rewarding and I have most definitely found God here in Spain! 🇪🇸🇪🇸

Now here's what I've been up to these past couple of weeks:

- Zone conference!! This was our last zone conference with President and Hermana Eastland! It was a really bittersweet day. So many goodbyes and lots of sadness but also so much joy and feeling the spirit. I got to see so many old friends and the day was filled with singing and laughter and love. President gave a training about expecting miracles and went through some examples of miracles that we see in the scriptures. He had us all write him an email about the miracles that we've seen here and it was so cool to be able to reflect on all of the ways that I've seen God's hand in my missionary work. I know everyone says it but I truly love my mission president's and I know that they are absolutely divinely chosen by God to individually lead and love each missionary!

- Christiansen and I probably drop $100 a week on fruit and monsters and we have to be split up before we go bankrupt

- I got to drink a REAL, AMERICAN diet coke after a whole year. Nunca he sido tan feliz frfr

- Went to catholic mass with our recent convert! It was pretty chill and kinda scary! I'm glad to be a member of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints!

- We are still teaching our Nigerian besties Queen, Blessing, Testimony, oh and a new African from Ghana named Mother came to church yesterday. Africans are such sweethearts but they are so hard to teach. I genuinely cannot tell if they are actually understanding what we are teaching or if they are just nodding their heads in agreement because of how much they love Jesus Christ, and anything that has to do with him is so beautiful amazing and true. I'm still figuring it all out hahaha

Here's a scripture that I read this week that filled me with so much joy!!!

15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. 

16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.

17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.

So anyways I just think that that's the most beautiful thing ever. I know without a doubt that we can find true peace, love, and happiness through God!

I hope you all know how much I miss and love and pray for you!! See you guys in a quick 6! Les quiero muchísimo! ❤️‍🔥

-Hermana Anselmita