Mom,
50 people at the start of church? A little spoiled aren't we? Ha, ha. This last week it was a little better here. At 10:30, when it should start, there were like 15 people. Then at 10:50, when church actually started, there were like 25. Wahoo! The great thing about Spain is even when there is a 20% change in attendance, it means nothing. And actually, whenever we are waiting for investigators in the church or on interviews, I always just practice the piano. I can almost play, well I don't know what it is in English, Divine Light maybe? But the song I can play, both hands at normal speed, is Divina Luz in Spanish. And I am working on a couple others. But I am sure your piano playing skills are still way better than mine.
And as for a birthday package, well... hmmm. Give me a week. But I think I found a store with good deodorant, so hold off on that.
I am almost 100% sure I am not going back to USU. There is this one kid from Sweden that is going to BYU the semester that I am going to start up again, and he wants to be pals. If I just wasn't against going to BYU with every fiber in my body, I would really love to. So I am pretty much set on the U. However, the whole living at home thing isn't that appealing either. So we will see.
NEWS... We set two more dates on the 7 of March. Looks like baptisms will happen. We are going to try and set some with some South American single men. I don't know what it is but unless they have a family, nobody wants to commit to anything. It's also weird that at 40 years of age, a Spanish couple has their first baby and it is considered normal. What a great life.
Alright, well lots of knocking, lots of walking, lots of teaching. Not a whole lot new. 4 hours of contacting without a lesson is rough. We must have talked to like 100 people that night. Wahoo! Oh, funny story. After we finished personal study I stood up and being who I am, I had "I'm a Ballerina Barbie" stuck in my head. I stood up and made a little sun with my arms and danced a half circle and at the end I stepped wrong and my knee really hurt so I fell over. My companion laughed for like 7 minutes straight. Missions are fun. Stay Pretty
E D
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Birthday Baptisms (I hope)
Ok,
I am currently shopping for new glasses. President found our that I needed them and now I have an assignment to do it. Anyway, there is a lot happening in Toledo. Our piso is old and recently the first presidency sent a message to all the mission presidents about raising the standard of living for missionaries. Our piso didn't pass inspection so we were told to start looking for others. We found 2 really good ones and invited president to come see them and our old piso since he hadn't seen it before. He came and started talking about pisos, areas, and if the wards are supporting the missionaries. He is going to send missionaries to areas where there is support. And keep in mind, there were 120 missionaries here and now there are 80. In April we will only be 60. So some areas have to get cut. Anyway, President started asking us how the ward was doing, if there was a ward mission leader yet, how are the ward councils, is the ward willing to help etc. To put it short, we could use some more support. He decided, since we have quite a few investigators with baptismal potential, to wait one more transfer then pull the Elders out. So, Elder Read and I are going to be here till March 21 then this area gets closed. Kind of sad but it's what has to happen. So I will have successfully served here 7 and a half months in one area when I go.
So that is a little of what is happening here. Other than that I am finally going to see a baptism soon. On my birthday actually, we have a family planned. They are pretty solid and actually, I met them my very first day in the field. Finally almost 7 months of teaching them pays off. But they are so good. The wife just has the best testimony, and the husband is way solid, but little skeptical about committing himself. Then the 8 year old daughter is solid too. So good stuff.
Last week, at the museum of torture, I gained a little insight on some of our sayings in the world of today. Chastity belt definitely has a history and frankly it's a little disturbing. I took pictures that I will be sending home and I grabbed a bunch of fliers to send in letters with some pictures. But there is some cool stuff there. Special mention to the Judas Cradle, perhaps the most disturbing piece of torture there is. Gotta go do what I gotta do. Stay pretty.
E D
I am currently shopping for new glasses. President found our that I needed them and now I have an assignment to do it. Anyway, there is a lot happening in Toledo. Our piso is old and recently the first presidency sent a message to all the mission presidents about raising the standard of living for missionaries. Our piso didn't pass inspection so we were told to start looking for others. We found 2 really good ones and invited president to come see them and our old piso since he hadn't seen it before. He came and started talking about pisos, areas, and if the wards are supporting the missionaries. He is going to send missionaries to areas where there is support. And keep in mind, there were 120 missionaries here and now there are 80. In April we will only be 60. So some areas have to get cut. Anyway, President started asking us how the ward was doing, if there was a ward mission leader yet, how are the ward councils, is the ward willing to help etc. To put it short, we could use some more support. He decided, since we have quite a few investigators with baptismal potential, to wait one more transfer then pull the Elders out. So, Elder Read and I are going to be here till March 21 then this area gets closed. Kind of sad but it's what has to happen. So I will have successfully served here 7 and a half months in one area when I go.
So that is a little of what is happening here. Other than that I am finally going to see a baptism soon. On my birthday actually, we have a family planned. They are pretty solid and actually, I met them my very first day in the field. Finally almost 7 months of teaching them pays off. But they are so good. The wife just has the best testimony, and the husband is way solid, but little skeptical about committing himself. Then the 8 year old daughter is solid too. So good stuff.
Last week, at the museum of torture, I gained a little insight on some of our sayings in the world of today. Chastity belt definitely has a history and frankly it's a little disturbing. I took pictures that I will be sending home and I grabbed a bunch of fliers to send in letters with some pictures. But there is some cool stuff there. Special mention to the Judas Cradle, perhaps the most disturbing piece of torture there is. Gotta go do what I gotta do. Stay pretty.
E D
Sunday, January 10, 2010
At Last Life Goes Back to Normal
Hola,
I would first like to apologize for not telling you in advanced when I was going to be writing you. Our P day is today, Thursday, because yesterday was the biggest holiday in Spain, Dia de Los Reyers, or Kings' day. Had I heard of it before coming here? No, but really it's sweet. Spain has done something right! Here, on Christmas, they never gave gifts until about 20 years ago. Instead, you worshipped and spent time with family. Then the Kings, or Wise men, brought the gifts in January. It is pretty awesome, makes more sense, and keeps the real spirit of Christmas around a little more. But yeah, contacting yesterday was awesome needless to say. I am so excited for the holidays to be over, and this is probably the only time in my life when I will say that. But now we can actually have normal weeks again! Oh, but really quick, Spain has a way sweet tradition here of eating grapes on New Year's. I didn't know this but at 12 midnight everyone has 12 grapes and every 2 seconds you have to eat one. It's way fun. We went to bed at 11 and woke up at 11:50, in order to be obedient, to go downstairs to the members piso to eat the grapes. It's way fun to do with a lot of people because if someone laughs, everyone laughs and usually there is one person who chokes on the grapes. It's a good time. I am definitely bring back this tradition.
And glasses, I am going to check out today. I think I can get them for like 50 euros, or like 75 dollars. That good enough? But today I am going to take some sick pictures. We are going to the museum of torture, 2 other museums, and maybe the cathedral, well inside it. We'll see.
And we finally set baptismal dates with 2 of our investigators that we have been teaching since September 4. My birthday is the date, and really it is going to happen... Maybe... Keep your fingers crossed! Anyway not much else to report on.
Stay pretty M town.
And Kacey. Ha ha. I do appreciate loyal bloggers! (I told him about Kacey's comment where she said she could help him get rid of his lisp the people in Spain have in their speech. She is graduating as a speech pathologist.)
Elder Dunn
I would first like to apologize for not telling you in advanced when I was going to be writing you. Our P day is today, Thursday, because yesterday was the biggest holiday in Spain, Dia de Los Reyers, or Kings' day. Had I heard of it before coming here? No, but really it's sweet. Spain has done something right! Here, on Christmas, they never gave gifts until about 20 years ago. Instead, you worshipped and spent time with family. Then the Kings, or Wise men, brought the gifts in January. It is pretty awesome, makes more sense, and keeps the real spirit of Christmas around a little more. But yeah, contacting yesterday was awesome needless to say. I am so excited for the holidays to be over, and this is probably the only time in my life when I will say that. But now we can actually have normal weeks again! Oh, but really quick, Spain has a way sweet tradition here of eating grapes on New Year's. I didn't know this but at 12 midnight everyone has 12 grapes and every 2 seconds you have to eat one. It's way fun. We went to bed at 11 and woke up at 11:50, in order to be obedient, to go downstairs to the members piso to eat the grapes. It's way fun to do with a lot of people because if someone laughs, everyone laughs and usually there is one person who chokes on the grapes. It's a good time. I am definitely bring back this tradition.
And glasses, I am going to check out today. I think I can get them for like 50 euros, or like 75 dollars. That good enough? But today I am going to take some sick pictures. We are going to the museum of torture, 2 other museums, and maybe the cathedral, well inside it. We'll see.
And we finally set baptismal dates with 2 of our investigators that we have been teaching since September 4. My birthday is the date, and really it is going to happen... Maybe... Keep your fingers crossed! Anyway not much else to report on.
Stay pretty M town.
And Kacey. Ha ha. I do appreciate loyal bloggers! (I told him about Kacey's comment where she said she could help him get rid of his lisp the people in Spain have in their speech. She is graduating as a speech pathologist.)
Elder Dunn
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