The Vitoria Zone (with an unknown passer-by) poses on the chapel steps in Bilbao
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Falleras
After arriving in Valencia in the evening, we walked out to get light supper and ran into what appeared to be family event of some type, with the family members all in full traditional dress!
These $10,000 dresses never cease to amaze!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Miracle in Valencia
Missionaries in the Spain Barcelona Mission claim that investigators just fall out of the sky...
As we finished up interviews in Valencia on Friday, Sergio came over to the chapel and meet us. We had heard about him from some of the missionaries.
Elders Greenburg and Shields, both in the country just two weeks, were working together while their companions were out of town on mission business. In spite of their very limited Spanish and very limited experience, they were doing very well, but did miss the bus and found themselves standing at the bus stop for longer than they had planned. As they were waiting, a little disappointed that they had not planned properly, Sergio saw them and came running. He had met a member of the Church over the Internet, had been learning from her (she is in Trujillo, Peru!), and knew enough that he wanted to be baptized but didn't know where to find missionaries! So he was thrilled to see two elders standing at the bus stop!
When their companions returned, Elders Greenburg and Shields excitedly told them about their new contact. Although their Spanish was limited, they were pretty sure they had an appointment to teach Sergio and they were pretty sure he said he wanted to be baptized. They were right on both counts!
Sergio is currently studying at the University and, with two weeks in the Church, preparing for a mission. Every convert is a miracle!
As we finished up interviews in Valencia on Friday, Sergio came over to the chapel and meet us. We had heard about him from some of the missionaries.
Elders Greenburg and Shields, both in the country just two weeks, were working together while their companions were out of town on mission business. In spite of their very limited Spanish and very limited experience, they were doing very well, but did miss the bus and found themselves standing at the bus stop for longer than they had planned. As they were waiting, a little disappointed that they had not planned properly, Sergio saw them and came running. He had met a member of the Church over the Internet, had been learning from her (she is in Trujillo, Peru!), and knew enough that he wanted to be baptized but didn't know where to find missionaries! So he was thrilled to see two elders standing at the bus stop!
When their companions returned, Elders Greenburg and Shields excitedly told them about their new contact. Although their Spanish was limited, they were pretty sure they had an appointment to teach Sergio and they were pretty sure he said he wanted to be baptized. They were right on both counts!
Elders Nye, Ames, Shields and Montoya with Sergio in Valencia
Sergio is currently studying at the University and, with two weeks in the Church, preparing for a mission. Every convert is a miracle!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Interviews...
Monday morning we started a full week of interviews. Monday and Tuesday we interview missionaries from the Barcelona and Hospitalet Zones, then Tuesday evening we fly to Bilbao and spend Wednesday interviewing the Vitoria Zone, then fly that evening to Palma where we interview the Baleares Zone, then fly to Valencia and interview the Valencia Zone on Friday. Friday afternoon we take the Euromed back to Barcelona.
Interviews in Barcelona are conducted at the mission office, which means that missionaries are coming and going all day. Here are a few of those who passed by for interviews:
Interviews in Barcelona are conducted at the mission office, which means that missionaries are coming and going all day. Here are a few of those who passed by for interviews:
Hnas. Strickland and Bustamante await their turn
Elder Hunsaker in the office visiting with Elder Raban
Elder Ryser gives a "thumbs-up" to Elder Hadley
Barcelona Stake Conference
The Barcelona Stake conference was held on 23-24 October. Unfortunately, we still do not have an occupancy permit for the new stake center, so the Sunday meeting was held in a rented auditorium in Cornellá as in the past.
One of the highlights of the conference was the sustaining of 13 brethren to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. Among the 13 was Hno. Marcos from Mataró, a recent convert. Marcos had been chatting on line with a member of the Church and sent a email a couple of months ago to the mission asking if there were missionaries who could come to his home and teach him more!
One of the highlights of the conference was the sustaining of 13 brethren to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. Among the 13 was Hno. Marcos from Mataró, a recent convert. Marcos had been chatting on line with a member of the Church and sent a email a couple of months ago to the mission asking if there were missionaries who could come to his home and teach him more!
Marcos with the Elders Quorum President
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Singing for the Angels
Tuesday night was the last night in Barcelona for five great missionaries: Hnas. Oliphant and Merrell, and Elders Chavez, Pando and Hardcastle. In a tradition that dates back many years, we gathered at Plaza Catalunya to sing hymns, contact, and say goodbye. It was a windy and rainy night, but spirits were not dampened!
All but four of our hermanas were in the city for the evening. These were some of the angels singing for the angels!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
"Regular" Transfers
In between all of the "interim" transfers driven by visa delays, we still have our "regular" transfer every six weeks. Regular transfers were this week - except that they happened a week early due to travel schedules!
Arriving at the train station parking garage
Hauling the luggage to the garage...
Real life tetrus - Elder Southwick finding a place for two more suitcases!
Traveling through Barcelona from the train station to Montjuic
A great new group of missionaries on a windy morning at Montjuic!
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