So, the next phase begins in Zaragoza, Espana!

...whoa.haha

I´m not sure what else to say. I´m here finally and so it begins. I suppose you could say I´m rather culture-shocked at the moment...I think it´s more just shocked in general. haha It´s a lot to take in and it´s only day three, so I just smile and nod most of the time. ahahaha It has been the worst preparation day so far because we´ve had so much to do and I think we´ve walked a half marathon this morning. That part feels so good, much better than sitting all day, so I won´t complain.

So, let´s see, where to start. The train ride, my first ever, from Madrid to Zaragoza went well. It was scary doing it alone, but it all worked out. They were showing 'X-Men Origins' on the train, the same movie they were showing on my plane to Spain, so it made me laugh. Someone´s trying to tempt me, but I resisted both times...because watching the inside of my eyelids was so much better! :-) haha A senior couple and my trainer were waiting outside the station in Zaragoza-- "The Best Two Years" experience, thank heavens. My trainer is Hna Fuentes from Utah. She is amazing! She is going home in the next few months and very patient and a hard worker. I´m so excited. On our first bus ride she did a few contacts and I was so excited to be with a companion who wants to and knows how to work! The senior couple, the Churches, have been here for a month and are very sweet. They suprised me when we got to our piso...because Hna Preston (friend from Tucson Institute) is one of our roomies! It was FABULOUS to see a familiar, smiling face. Her companion is great too, Hna Walker. Hna Fuentes was training her, but now Hna Preston is finishing. Hna Walker´s been here just over a month. They are great to share a piso with. We are actually really lucky to have a new piso, a member in the branch bought it and we just started using it. It is very nice, no carpet though, which I kind of miss.

Pte and Hna Hinckley came from Barcelona and we had lunch together about 3 hours after I got off the train. They came to see me, since I´m like the only missionary who didn´t get to go to Barcelona first, but mostly they came because yesterday we had a branch conference. I love them! They are just as amazing as everyone says. And it feels like I am talking to the senior President Hinckley sometimes and it give me goosebumps. haha He tried calling Elder Dalton right there so we could talk, but the goober didn´t answer his phone. Oh well, there is some kind of tri-area conference the first week of December, so I´ll see him then and I cannot WAIT!!!!!!!!!!! Pte Hinckley had only the best things to say about Elder Dalton-- Mom and Dad--he is the excellent missionary we all thought he was anyway! But seriously, everyone I talk to has the highest praise for Elder Dalton and his work ethic, especially Hna Preston who has been here the same amount of time as him. I hope I don´t ruin everyone´s expectations and that I can live up to the kind of missionary he is.

So, this is the first time that Zaragoza has had 4 hermanas and we split the area. I am hopelessly lost whereever we go, but hopefully that will change sooner than later. haha We ride buses and walk everywhere. Most of this morning we spent getting me a bus pass and youth discount card and library card and all sorts of nonsense that is necessary but takes...for...ever...to...get...done.haha I´m supposed to do registration/resident stuff soon, but they are just starting a new system, so I´m not doing anything just yet. I did a bunch in Madrid before I left. We also had to juggle our schedule there because some high up government officials came to tour the CCM and we got to meet them and show them what we are doing in their country. They were really happy that we are "serving" here and not taking jobs, which I guess they have been confused about. The CCM President told us this will all make a big difference for future missionaries. Hopefully from now on it will be much easier to get visas. Oh, I got to spend 2 hours in downtown Madrid before I left and got some great pics! It was amazing! I hope I get to go back and go sightseeing some day. Maybe I can attach some pics today.

Sunday we had the conference and it was really spiritual. I understood all the talks! I´m just still two steps behind in actual conversations. ahaha There are 2 branches here and they are working hard to become wards, but there are no other cities around to make a stake with, but that´s what we work on everyday! Pte Hinckley promised us that if we pay our tithing and keep the Sabbath day holy we will find safety and protection from the financial and personal difficulties and crisis that we have. It was so powerful and I know that it is true. The key to getting what we want in life is SO simple if we just keep the commandments and live the gospel. There was a young single adult conference that night about missionary work--Pte Hinckley spoke again and we watched some of 'The District' with the young adults. There were about 10. Then Pte Hinckley had me come up, said I´d been there 2 days, and asked me what we do in the Spain Barcelona Mission. Well, I blanked and only remembered it in english, SO embarrassing."Bautizamos conversos dignos y sus familias"..."We baptize worthy converts and their families." Needless to say, I will never forget it again in either language :-) ahahaha

We had lunch/dinner (we just eat in the afternoon here) with a family in the ward, the Wolfharts. He is in the mission presidency. They were great. He is German, but speaks spanish and english, too. And his wife is from Spain, but also speaks english and german. I loved getting to know them. The people that you get to meet are so dynamic and amazing. I am so blessed. It made me feel like I was at home, just a little bit. haha

So, ya, I´m here. It´s crazy, but I am adjusting and doing it with a smile and laughing a lot--roll with the punches. I can´t wait to get to meet our investigators. I´ve just talked to them on the phone so far. One was going to be baptized next week, but missed church on Sunday. OH! I got to go to a baptism on Saturday! My first day, just like at Temple Square. It felt so good! I can´t wait to go to one every week! We can do it! I love you all tons and love reading your letters and emails, so keep them coming, eh? haha I have the 'bestest' family and friends in the whole world. Work hard in whatever you are doing, and tell me about it! Besitos and abrazos!

I don´t have anymore time to write people today, but hopefully next week will be a slower preparation day. Oh, I get to go into Barcelona tomorrow for training stuff, so that should be fun as well. I´m excited to see the city!

Con amor

Hermana Dalton

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eat tons of pumpkin pie and yams for me!

The pics are from Madrid and my first 2 days here. They are the Madrid temple, me outside of the temple, with the Hinckleys, my new companion Hna Fuentes, and the big downtown bank in Madrid where they celebrate New Year´s and eat 12 grapes (doce uvas) at midnight--one for each month and good luck. It was an incredible building. Um, I think that is all...

Shout outs:

Clecca-Thanks for the email! I´m glad you are getting a break! We all need those every now and then. I plan on taking a HUGE one is, oh, 16 months.ahaha Calissa sounds as funny as ever! I miss her cute voice and happiness so much! Ya, it´s been a year! Crazy, right? I can´t believe it! Enjoy...lots of pumpkin pie and yams for me!!!! And any other desserts!haha Have fun and thanks for the update, I love reading your emails. I can just hear you and Becca telling the stories and see your personalities between the lines.