Sweater Weather

Hello everyone, this one probably won't be too long, and may be mostly just some highlights and things to know about Spain. 

Highlights:

- All of our recent converts came to church

- We were able to give the sacrament to the same sister again

- I was with the other elders 3 days this week and could help in an english class

- Learning guitar (?)

Things to know (some of these are the same for anyone that's been anywhere in europe):

- Pedestrians have all the power and its safer to cross the street here than anywhere I've seen

- You won't know half the car brands here unless you watched Top Gear

- Lots of minis 🚗

- All the sidewalks are soft and smooth tiles, theres also no carpet anywhere

- Kebab is amazing but not what you think

- Dominos is 10x better (all you can eat for $8)

- In this part especially theres a lot of Muslims, which makes sense historically and geographically

- Valentino, a dialect of Catalan, is the first language on transportation

- Its not as weird to stop people on the street to talk

This was going to be lowlights, but i have to just write it normally. Jose got a new job and was super busy, so he couldn't get baptized yesterday. But its also kind of a highlight because he has more time this next week and came to church. He also saw the baptism in the other ward, and our districts on track to baptize every week. 

My trainers were out of town for a few days this week again, so I was with the other elders. We went to teach a lesson to some of their friends and I taught a bit of the Plan of Salvation. I was really worried that I would mess up since i don't have a much practice with the future and had to talk about super complex topics. In the lesson i had the feeling, almost hearing a voice, saying "there is nothing you can say that would make someone reject your message." I thought about that a lot and it makes so much sense. As long as you are following the Spirit, I truly believe there is nothing "wrong" you can say. No language barrier that cant be crossed. Of course, people always have the agency to deny a message, or hear what they want to hear, but at the end of the day we're really not the ones teaching. We are there just to bring the Spirit, the real Teacher and Bearer of truth. If the Spirit is present, it doesnt matter if we mess up words or day something wrong, since they will still be taught what they need.

When talking about this with one of the other missionaries there, he told me about "greenie power" where someone who doesn't know the language as much needs more help from the spirit. He also said that he was watching, and the times that their friends were smiling the most was when i was talking. I felt pretty good after that, even though my spanish really was NOT that good during the lesson.

2 of our friends denied a baptismal date, well more like a mom denied it for her daughter. Also kind of a highlight because I was able to bear my testimony about remembering my baptism and how important it was for my life. They then came to church by themselves for the first time this week, which was awesome.

For a spirtual thought:

My personal studies were filled with references to Christ's Atonement this week. I first read 1 Nephi 10:4, which stood out to me much more in Spanish for some reason. It reads: 

"4 Sí, seiscientos años después de la partida de mi padre de Jerusalén, el Señor Dios levantaría a un profeta entre los judíos: sí, un Mesías, o, en otras palabras, un Salvador del mundo."

I love the "un Salvador del mundo" - "A Savior of the world." Maybe its because its so much simpler in Spanish, or because the words flow better, but I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior, which word I feel has been used to lightly. That's probably why I like it Spanish so much more.

There was one personal study this week where I felt like listening to conference talks. The first was "Christ, the Redeemer" by Elder Carlos Amado, where he says that Christ had power over death during His ministry and brought many "back to life." He was the first, however, to not just "come back to life," but to resurrected and never die again. 

Theres a video about two brothers climbing, and how one was there to catch the other before he falls. Its called "Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet." We watched it for family home evening, but it was in Spanish. I also remember watching it a long time ago as well. Anyways, I rewatched it in English and would recommend everyone else watch it as well. What I would recommend more is listening to the full talk, and there's one part I love in particular. Its where Elder Holland says,

"This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that Jesus still stands triumphant over death, although He stands on wounded feet. This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that He still extends unending grace, although He extends it with pierced palms and scarred wrists." 

I dont know what else to say that would do this justice, but I love how the resurrected, perfect body of the Savior of the world still has scars and wounds. It shows what He did for us, the price He paid. This may sound odd, but I've thought a lot about if we will have scars on our resurrected bodies, too. It would be nice to see the things we learned and experienced on earth. I kind of hope we do, but no scar, burn, or mark will ever bring as strong a memory as the ones in our Lord's hands and feet. The very same that His disciples and the righteous Nephites felt, "that [they] may know that [He is] the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and ha[s] been slain for the sins of the world."

So maybe it was long after all, but I think that it was worth it. If you skipped all of that, I dont blame you, but at least go back to the spiritual thought. Love you all even if you don't; please reach out! 

- Elder Puzey