The Longest Yar... eh, Week #49 July 2, 2018 SPAIN MADRID MISSION

Gotcha, hehe.

Well this week was pretty great, and it legit feels like it lasted a month so many things happened. We legitimately were all over the place and people were coming a going buts I'm going to try to make heads and tails of it. 

Monday was pretty good we had a picnic and everything and played volleyball that night we contacted and set up our week more or less.

Tuesday was pretty nuts, we had district meeting, in our apartment haha because they were officially clearing out the old church where we had planned to have it. After that we recorded a song we wrote for a friend of Elder May hehe (I'll try to attach it), and then went to dominos and had a grand old time. Then that afternoon we went and built some shelves, and then went to the Feria with some members. It was pretty awkward just walking around with a bunch of people partying all around us but the lights were cool. 

Wednesday was super weird. It was transfers, but seeing as I'm staying here in Algeciras I didn't go anywhere. Super sad, but also super awesome Elder Kärn our Swedish brother left for his house. He was a killer missionary, and musical genius. Elder May also left for the other side of the mission to Elche and after spending 5 months with him, he's now in the other mission so i won't see him haha. Elder Dunford spent the day with us and this is the second time I've spent transfer day with him in a trio lol. We went and taught jenny in the morning and she's doing super awesome. Then we ate lunch with her and some members. We passed by some people and taught some other members until Elder Dunfords comp got in. Studies and such got fit in there as well. 

Thursday was awesome we had weekly planning in the morning and then we went out to La Linea. We finally introduced Carmen to Dolores and Doloress granddaughter was there and turn out Carmens daughter goes to school with some of Doloress great grandchildren. Then we started talking about who's been baptized and whatnot because Dolores has a couple children who were baptized and it opened a bunch of doors for future teaching opportunities with her family and what baptism means and how it's done. It was quite extraodinary. 

Friday was a hoot, we took a bus up to Jerez for an exchange with the Zone Leaders (I'm district leader again) and it was awesome! Turns out Elder Wilson, one of the ZLs, is cousins with a childhood friend Valen Hellyer so we freaked out and insisted that there has to be a photo of us from when we all used to hang out haha. That night was killer we grinded and talked to a bunch of people, had a good lesson and got to use my height to repair some ceiling.

Saturdsy We had zone council in the morning  and then we caught a bus back to Algeciras. Got back in time to play some soccer with some teenagers and That was about it. 

Sunday was a miracle. After 20 years, and 4 months of consistent work Dolores made it to church! It was fast and testimony meeting and the spirit was super strong even though there weren't a lot of people there. She was the calmest I've ever seen her. Classes all went good, and the break the fast food was also great like usual. I made a ton of snickerdoodles and i still had dough left over so I pulled an Elder Chapple and just decided to eat it haha, who knew cookie dough and cream cheese tasted so good together. Then we did studies and grinded. 

Today we are once again traveling, on our way to Seville to meet our new mission president, President Bussey. 

This week I was studying in 2 Nephi 9 and the importance of an eternal perspective hit me. We have the answers to our questions if we really look for them. We know what our purpose on this earth is, or at least the resources to find out. When we agreed to come to this earth we came with a purpose, but part of the deal is that we would forget it, and then have to rediscover it. The challenge is to not get so focused on the physical objects of this world, and our selfish desires, so that we can find out what our true purpose is. What we have to do is focus on the things that are going to really matter in a 1000 years. 

I love all you, say your prayers, count your blessings, read your scriptures, be humble, and keep progressing! I hope you all have a great week!