We spent our P-day (preparation day) doing laundry and getting ready for our trip. When we got to the church for piano lessons, four of my favorite people were there. They had just finished playing ping pong and were starting up a game of Scrabble. It's nice for them to relax a little on their P-day before they start their teaching at 7:00 p.m.
Elder Wiltbank, Hermana Irigoyen, Hermana Grover, Elder Bybee
Then we went to a Family Home Evening with some of the members. Some of our young adults had invited us. Sara gave the lesson, and she used the talk that Elder Larsen had taught on Friday night. It was nice to know that it had been meaningful enough to Sara that she wanted to share it that night. She has here mission call to Brazil and she leaves in October. She gave a great lesson and I could just imagine her teaching as a missionary.
Singing at Family Home Evening
I loved watching these two little ones play video games. They are adorable.
After the lesson, we had some delicious food.
Jonaton eating some of Gabriela's good cooking.
Gabriela and Josué
Incredibly delicious arepas.
Thank you Maria, Leo, and Gabriel for having us in your home.
Tuesday we finished packing, got ready for English classes and piano lessons, and we had the opportunity to visit Irenis' family. We had a very nice visit with them and we were glad that Gabriela woke up before we left. She is the cutest little thing.
After English class, Elder Larsen had a High Council meeting, so I got to visit with our four wonderful Las Palmas missionaries. I sat in on a short visit and blessing of one of the investigators of the Elders.
I love and admire these young people. They always have a smile on their faces and they face each day with such a positive attitude. They are an inspiration to me.
We flew out Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m., which made for a very short night's sleep. President Jackson picked us up at the airport and we had a late breakfast with the Jackson's. We always enjoy visiting with them. They are wonderful people who are giving their all to their calling to serve the Lord. It was while we were walking from the parking garage to the temple that I twisted my ankle. It hurt so bad when I was laying on the concrete that all I could think was that we would just have to go back home and miss our trip. I said a little prayer and the pain began to subside. It was definitely tender and I knew I had hurt it, but I was able to keep going. Every night I had to prop it up to sleep and actually had more swelling once we got back home on Monday. I am feeling very blessed.
We enjoyed being in the temple and then had dinner with President and Sister Lovell, who are serving as the president of the Missionary Training Center in Madrid. I forgot to take pictures. I had wanted a night shot of the Madrid Temple, so I posted one of the missionary's photos. It really is beautiful.
Elder McWhorter is now in Madrid and this is his view out of his apartment window.
President Jackson had told us that there was an extra mission car that we could drive to Vigo. As if his schedule is not busy enough, he had taken one of the cars to wash and vacuum it out for us. While washing the car, he realized for the first time that the bumper was taped on and the tape had started coming untaped. He tried to reapply the tape, but on his way home, it started hanging down and people were honking at him and pointing to the back of the car. He decided this would not be a good car for us to take, so he washed the other car. When we got outside to leave Thursday morning, President was checking the oil and he looked like the good father trying to have the car ready for his teenagers to do a road trip. So we get in the car, ready to go, and turned on the air conditioner. It stunk like something had died. It was terrible. We couldn't drive for hours with that smell. So, President Jackson retaped the car, gave us a roll of duct tape and a roll of packing tape, and sent us on our way.
The Tape Job
The office missionaries, Elder Ward and Elder Franklyn, had just gotten there
when all this was transpiring.
They posed for the picture,
but claimed they had no part in causing the damage.
And we were blessed again with no problems
for the entire trip.
Our first stop was the Coca Castle. It was built in 1453. The castle is amazing and the views were incredible.
The countryside was covered with sunflower fields.
Next we drove to Medina del Campo to see La Mota. It was first built as a fortress in the 12th century and in the 15th century alterations were made.
The further north we drove, the more trees there were, and the greener everything became. It was just so beautiful. These are photos I took while we were driving and they do not begin to show the beauty.
We arrived in Vigo Thursday in time to go to dinner with everyone, but the Jacksons.
The Larsens, The Sullivans, the waiter, Hermana Lopez, The Hunts, Hermana Chapelle, The Riggs
There was a beautiful park along one of the main roads where we walked from the hotel to the church.
Friday morning we met with the missionaries in the Vigo District They gave us a wonderful lesson.
They used President Jackson in an object lesson. President does 50 pushups every morning. Knowing that he had already done his pushups, they challenged him to increase his goal and to do 57 pushups. Because he had already done his pushups, he said he didn't think he could do 57 more. So, they told him he could have someone on his team to help him, and he chose Elder Beuden. President did 56 pushups before his muscle began to shake.
This is Elder Beuden helping him up for his last pushup. What determination!
Elder Johnson and Elder Beuden
It was so fun to see Elder Beuden again. He is doing a great job as the district leader.
Elder Echegaray and Elder Mayah
It was also good to see Elder Echegaray. He and Elder Mayah gave a powerful lesson. He is a good missionary with a strong testimony. Elder Mayah has an amazing story. He has only been a member of the church for about 1 1/2 years. He is from Camaroon. He has a difficult family situation, but he knows they will be blessed for his service. Because of his love for the Lord, he was willing to serve a mission so that he can share the same joy that he has found because of his Savior. He had a great spirit about him.
After the meeting, we enjoyed some very delicious Domino's Pizza.
That afternoon the Sullivan's drove with us to Santiago del Compostela to see the cathedral which was built in 1075.
An example of the amazing 3D tile work.
A highlight of our trip to the cathedral was visiting with these two women who are Sisters in the Catholic church. They both live in England and had such giving spirits. It was wonderful to hear about their work and the love they have for their Savior.
This was the view from our hotel window.
Friday morning, we had our second meeting. I really enjoyed President Jackson's talk. He shared some ideas from a talk that President Eyring gave, "Rise to Your Call, " which went along with a thought that Sister Sullivan shared on Thursday. She said that we can either "Sacrifice" or "Covenant" the time that we are spending here on our mission. Of course, we are all sacrificing because we have left our homes and families to be here. But, are we "Covenanting" this time and treating it as something sacred? I want to look back on our mission after two years and know that I gave it my all. I want to know that I was in tune with the Lord's spirit and that I was sensitive to His promptings. I truly want to be an instrument in the Lord's hands and be directed by Him as I serve the people here in the Canary Islands.
The Arjonas gave a presentation about working with the Young Single Adults. They are over the YSA for all of Spain.
The Arjonas
Then we had a very entertaining Talent Show.
Here are all the Elders singing "Besame Mucho" to their sweethearts.
Elder Larsen and I did a silly skit about Adam and Eve.
My favorite part was President Jackson playing the accordion. He is very good.
A man of many talents!
The Entire Group
The Arjonas,The Lopez,The Chapelles,The Jacksons,The Hunts,The Riggs,The Arnetts, The Sullivans
Here is Sister Jackson giving all of the ladies a priceless gift, chili powder and brown sugar.
Oh the things we cherish!
That afternoon, a group of us drove to the Island of La Toja. It is a little town right at the waters edge, known for its spas and a very unusual chapel. We enjoyed the chapel and the amazing views, unfortunately the spas were not part of our trip.
The Sea Shell Chapel
Just look at the size of this hydrangea.
As we sat on the water's edge, under the shade of the palm trees, we were able to enjoy the conversion story of these two wonderful people. They joined the church in southern Spain, in the late 70's and it is easy to see the Lord's hand in their conversion and throughout their lives. They are amazing people and we feel uplifted from having met them.
Elder and Hermana Lopez oversee the100+ apartments that the missionaries live in.
Sunday morning, we went to church in Vigo and then started our drive back to Madrid. We drove through Salamanca and saw the outside of its Cathedral.
Detailed artwork over the doors. Christ's birth and Christ's presentation at the temple.
As we were driving along the highway, we saw a sign for Avila. Elder Larsen, drawing on his memory from almost 40 years ago said, "It seems like there is a castle or something in Avila that we always wanted to go see, but were never able to. And just then, we saw this amazing view of the Walls of Avila. Construction of the walls began in 1090.
What a wonderful trip! We enjoyed some beautiful landscapes, some historic sites, met some amazing people, and were spiritually fed.
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