Wheeeeweeeee! Hola a todos, it is SOOOOO hot here! Ask Elder Dalton--he came in to Barcey this morning for concilio and we spent a few hours together and melted.haha Apparently summer has actually NOW begun and everything before was just spring...not gonna lie, I am rather scared and not looking forward to the next few months weather-wise. I will NEVER take A/C for granted--I don´t think I actually did but, bueno, I will remember.haha Ok, miracle stories:
"My miracle story for this week happened on Friday. We went to a scheduled visit with a family that we had met once. They weren´t home. We didn´t feel like walking across our area to contact our back-up plan, so we decided to sit down outside of their piso for a minute to think and decide what to do.We talked for a minute or two and Vilma, the wife, walked up! She was with her member friend who we had never met before because she lives in a different ward. Her husband, José Luis, got home a few minutes later. We had a powerful first lesson with them, watching the Restoration video. Vilma was crying as we talked about it afterward and José Luis said, “It is clear now what I have to do. I have to find out if this is true like José Smith.” Because we paused and followed a subtle prompting, we walked into a member-present visit and taught in a way that the Spirit was able to teach and testify.
Fátima is the wife of a recently reactivated member. We met her through her brother, who was interested in finding a religion and learning more. She comes regularly to church and the previous missionaries didn´t even know that she wasn´t a member! She knows a lot about the church already and it is fun teaching her as she learns and grows. She prayed about a baptismal date and thinks that…Christmas and the end of the year would be a good time to start her“new life.” This obviously was not the timeline that we were thinking!haha But we feel that as we keep working with and teaching her, especially showing her the need she has in her life for the blessings of the Gospel right now, she will want to be baptized in July. All things in the Lord´s time. She told us in the first visit that she doesn´t understand keeping the Sabbath day holy and tithing, so we are going to focus on those things and especially the blessings we receive from them." Baby steps, or as they say here-poco a poco.
I can´t believe it is Pres. and Sister Hinckley´s last week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had one last zone conference and it was very...hmm what´s the best way to describe it? Spiritually intense and edifying for me. I just love the way they teach and testify. At one point, Pte Hinckley pointed at us and said with words that pierced my soul, "You can do this! You will have days when you think you can´t, when you feel that it is too hard or too much to go on. But you can do it! Like God told Moses, you also were chosen before this world began to be here at this time. You are among the noble and great ones." I will never forget these words, his finger pointing at me and the power of his testimony as the Spirit testified it was true. They are special. I will miss Hna Hinckley´s smiles and hugs. But it will be fun to take Hna Pace out proselyting with us this Friday and get to know her and Pte Pace. Heavenly Father would only choose the best for this time to usher in the segunda cosecha here in Europe and Spain. What an incredible time to be a missionary!
Hna Oslund is crazy and we are probably having too much fun. I love our piso of 4 and Hnas Eyre and Stephenson are so great. We had a super deep and intense conversation this week about personality colors and have been stuck on it since then--analyzing everyone and everything according to red, blue, yellow and white. I feel like I have/am learning so much that is insightful for me and that I need to apply in my life. Terribly fascinating. It has made for some interesting journal entries.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I remembered all on my ownsie, ask my comp. I wish I had something great to send...oops. But have fun on your Pinetop get-away! Chloe-how was girl´s camp?! please please PLEASE send those Boyce avenue "On My Way" lyrics in an email, porfavor. Caleb-I can´t wait to hear about V-Ball try-outs and college life in a quick minute-doesn´t time fly? I like the modifications on the family names, well done.
Hey, any fun updates on people in the ward or people I know? Friends? Relatives? Well, time to go sweat some more, so fun.haha But really...I love you all so much and thanks for the sacrifices you are making so that I can be here having this experience to change my life. It is an unrepayable gift (<- that may or may not be a real english word, unclear)
Love you!
Hna Clarissa Dalton
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
It´s been a long week, but we saw some great miracles! We had to speak in Church yesterday on the theme of Missionary Work. We prepared a lot and it went really well. I felt the Spirit very strongly and more than a few members commented on how our talks/testimonies touched their hearts. I think it was the first time that I have felt rather comfortable speaking from the pulpit in spanish. I felt guided by the Spirit and didn´t worry so much about what I was going to say next. The relationship between the Ward (leaders) and missionaries is improving bit by bit--I mean, they love us, of course, but as far as trusting us as teachers and respecting us as representatives as Christ.
"My miracle for this week is from the work of the members. My first week here we talked to the Elder´s Quorum President and set up a visit with him and his family. His wife is the MMJJ president and these are the first leadership callings they have had in the church. We offered to help him visit/teach people for the month of invitations and he set up a visit with us with the primary president´s family--especially her husband who has been less active and has not come to church for 10+ years. We didn´t really know what to teach, so we planned for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and asked the Spirit to guide us. It went really well and we started off a really good relationship with the family, especially the Dad. The conversation naturally turned to baptism and why he doesn´t come to church and we testified a lot with the Elder´s Quorum president and invited him mutliple times to church the next day. He had all the usual excuses…but I felt impressed to teach and testify about the 3 basic pillars of our testimony in Praying, Reading the Scriptures and Coming to Church. I was disappointed the next morning when the Mom and son came in, but not him. But after Sacrament, we went out into the foyer--and he was there!!! He came--white shirt, tie, smile and everything! SO many people talked to him and he told us in front of the SS president that he came because we invited him. I don´t think I´ve ever been so happy to see someone at church! It was a miracle! Their son is almost 10 and has not been baptized yet because they want the Dad to do it. Maybe this is the beginning for them!
Salvador Jesús, who has a fecha for the 30th, fired us all week--every visit and for Church. He is a Doctor and works a lot, but we don´t know what is going on and it is really hard to see him slipping away and not being able to do anything else about it. We have called, tried to pass by, had members call/talk to him, changed things to accomodate his schedule, etc. Oh albedrío."
I can´t believe that the Hinckley´s are leaving in like a week!!!!!!!! Ahhhh! I can´t imagine this mission without them. It will definitely be a change. But I am also excited for the Pace´s. We are in the segunda cosecha and Heavenly Father would only bring the best here to help it take off. The office called and we are taking Hna Pace out to teach and contact with us her FIRST day here.haha That should we interesting. I have no idea what we are going to do yet, but it will be something incredible to introduce her to Elfaro.
The stomach is doing better, the iron levels are not. It´s just so hard to get the iron I need here, even when I am taking a pill a day. But don´t worry, I´m getting creative. I´ll figure it out. The heat just sucks everything out of you. Yum. hahaha
So...Hna Oslund is obsessed with what you would call a panini...but they call them, are you ready for this?, bikinis here.ahahaha So we bought a bikini maker and I think she has them every meal. They make her so happy--how can you resist? So we are bikini-ing it up every day, but law-of-chastity-food style, don´t you worry :-) I´ll have to get a picture.
So what is going on with the Gardner´s? They are leaving/have left right? And what was that a couple of weeks ago about a reception for Jen Krauss or something? Summertime at home sounds so good, haha, such good memories. I can´t wait to hear about Caleb´s v-ball tourney as a coach and Chloe´s girl´s camp experience. Wahoo! Thanks for the updates and love. Every bit helps. Oh, there is a huge party here on the 23rd with lots of fireworks...I´m thinking about buying some and getting crazy. Ask for forgiveness instead of permission right?haha Just kidding...but seriously about the fireworks part. I´ll take some pics/videos.
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell everyone in the ward hi for me, I wanna hear how people are doing! Especially at the insititute, too. How are Chris and Patty? Megan McGee? Brian Nicodemus? Don´t Kendra Marcy and Garrett McGee get home soon? How´s Maggie adjusting?haha
Love,
Hna Clarissa Dalton
"My miracle for this week is from the work of the members. My first week here we talked to the Elder´s Quorum President and set up a visit with him and his family. His wife is the MMJJ president and these are the first leadership callings they have had in the church. We offered to help him visit/teach people for the month of invitations and he set up a visit with us with the primary president´s family--especially her husband who has been less active and has not come to church for 10+ years. We didn´t really know what to teach, so we planned for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and asked the Spirit to guide us. It went really well and we started off a really good relationship with the family, especially the Dad. The conversation naturally turned to baptism and why he doesn´t come to church and we testified a lot with the Elder´s Quorum president and invited him mutliple times to church the next day. He had all the usual excuses…but I felt impressed to teach and testify about the 3 basic pillars of our testimony in Praying, Reading the Scriptures and Coming to Church. I was disappointed the next morning when the Mom and son came in, but not him. But after Sacrament, we went out into the foyer--and he was there!!! He came--white shirt, tie, smile and everything! SO many people talked to him and he told us in front of the SS president that he came because we invited him. I don´t think I´ve ever been so happy to see someone at church! It was a miracle! Their son is almost 10 and has not been baptized yet because they want the Dad to do it. Maybe this is the beginning for them!
Salvador Jesús, who has a fecha for the 30th, fired us all week--every visit and for Church. He is a Doctor and works a lot, but we don´t know what is going on and it is really hard to see him slipping away and not being able to do anything else about it. We have called, tried to pass by, had members call/talk to him, changed things to accomodate his schedule, etc. Oh albedrío."
I can´t believe that the Hinckley´s are leaving in like a week!!!!!!!! Ahhhh! I can´t imagine this mission without them. It will definitely be a change. But I am also excited for the Pace´s. We are in the segunda cosecha and Heavenly Father would only bring the best here to help it take off. The office called and we are taking Hna Pace out to teach and contact with us her FIRST day here.haha That should we interesting. I have no idea what we are going to do yet, but it will be something incredible to introduce her to Elfaro.
The stomach is doing better, the iron levels are not. It´s just so hard to get the iron I need here, even when I am taking a pill a day. But don´t worry, I´m getting creative. I´ll figure it out. The heat just sucks everything out of you. Yum. hahaha
So...Hna Oslund is obsessed with what you would call a panini...but they call them, are you ready for this?, bikinis here.ahahaha So we bought a bikini maker and I think she has them every meal. They make her so happy--how can you resist? So we are bikini-ing it up every day, but law-of-chastity-food style, don´t you worry :-) I´ll have to get a picture.
So what is going on with the Gardner´s? They are leaving/have left right? And what was that a couple of weeks ago about a reception for Jen Krauss or something? Summertime at home sounds so good, haha, such good memories. I can´t wait to hear about Caleb´s v-ball tourney as a coach and Chloe´s girl´s camp experience. Wahoo! Thanks for the updates and love. Every bit helps. Oh, there is a huge party here on the 23rd with lots of fireworks...I´m thinking about buying some and getting crazy. Ask for forgiveness instead of permission right?haha Just kidding...but seriously about the fireworks part. I´ll take some pics/videos.
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell everyone in the ward hi for me, I wanna hear how people are doing! Especially at the insititute, too. How are Chris and Patty? Megan McGee? Brian Nicodemus? Don´t Kendra Marcy and Garrett McGee get home soon? How´s Maggie adjusting?haha
Love,
Hna Clarissa Dalton
Monday, June 11, 2012
"Our miracle story this week is Salvador Jesús. He was a street contact from Sant Jordi if I am not mistaken. He is from Sevilla. He is a doctor and loves to talk, which makes it very hard to teach him…but he wants to find the truth. After we watched the Restoration video and he talked for almost an hour, I had to cut him off with a baptismal invitation and he accepted! He came to church and our ward mission leader took him around to every class and it was great. He is coming to a noche de hogar with us tonight. He smokes, so we are going to teach the Word of Wisdom ASAP so he can be baptized on the 30th. I am so excited to help a Spaniard be baptized!!!
We were very blessed this week with Rubi´s baptism. There were lots of complications, of course, but it worked out and the JAS member that has helped us teach her was able to confirm her. I think this was a key moment for him as he prepares for his mission next year.
Menosactivos and recent converts who haven´t come to church just kept coming in during Sacrament Meeting! It was great! 2 CRs that only come sometimes brought a friend that they just met and we are going to start teaching him this week."
Enjoy the pics.
Love you all so much, Hermana Clarissa Dalton
We were very blessed this week with Rubi´s baptism. There were lots of complications, of course, but it worked out and the JAS member that has helped us teach her was able to confirm her. I think this was a key moment for him as he prepares for his mission next year.
Menosactivos and recent converts who haven´t come to church just kept coming in during Sacrament Meeting! It was great! 2 CRs that only come sometimes brought a friend that they just met and we are going to start teaching him this week."
Enjoy the pics.
Love you all so much, Hermana Clarissa Dalton
Monday, June 4, 2012
¡Hola a todos!
Miracle story: "What a week it has been! It still doesn´t quite seem real tobe here is Barcelona. There have been so many miracles this week-I don´t knowif I can choose just one…We were trying to find an address and I saw a young man and a little girl in a park. We passed them, but I felt like we should go back. So we did! His name is Jonathan. He is married and his daughter´s name is Ashley. He had some friends that were LDS in Ecuador and was really open to listen. He was excited when we gave him a Book of Mormon and said maybe this is finally the time for him to find the gospel. We went back to talk to him the next day and he had read some of the Book of Mormon! And shared it with his wife and she is excited to read and learn more, too! They had to go to the hospital and cancelled our appointment, but we will meet up with them this week. I am so excited and just feel so strongly about this family. I´m so thankful I followed the prompting that I had."
I feel like I´m in a dream here. It is so weird--but don´t get me wrong, I love it. It is just different. For starters, being back in a normal Spain-sized chapel was really weird yesterday.haha They actually had pews!!! It is 3 stories with the top floor being an indoor soccer court. I haven´t seen it yet, but don´t fret--you best believe I will spend some quality time up there. And we received 7 referrals from members and other missionaries this week! It´s the norm for around here and I LOVE IT!!!!haha So different...and the rest. Well, it´s hot. Real humid-never-stop-sweating-can´t-breathe hot. Thanks Missouri for the prep, but man alive, it´s not fun. Our piso is always sweltering and I love sleeping in my sweat, ya buddy,haha, but enough complaining; it is what it is and perhaps all the cleansing with give me really nice skin or something.
So with regards to the subject line--it was actually a bit cooler yesterday, but more humid. We were heading home and it started sprinkling before we got to the metro. When we got out of the metro, it was pouring. So we walked home in the rain...which was fine. You know me and rain--I loved it!-until all the dried sweat on my face/hair from the day ran into my eyes. So, yes, they watered and I was crying and couldn´t see and almost ran into a pole.ahahahahaha So funny. But we were soaked to the bone. I loved it! And the thunder storm all night was worth it. Oh, how I´ve missed the thunder--never heard it in SanSe--weird.
We have a baptism set for this Saturday! A lady named Rubi who is just great. She´s from Colombia and a couple from Colombia that the elders are teaching are also getting baptized, so we are doing it together--Colombian baptism!haha We are teaching a lot of great people and contacting referrals daily. There are a TON of recent converts here, so my goal is to work with and strengthen them. So much to do and I´m excited for it.
Well, we are going to eat and then head to the...ZOO!!!!!! with a bunch of other missionaries. Hna Oslund is so great and has visited Barcy before, so we will visit all the fun sights. We are planning a bike tour as well :-) She is one of a kind--full of fun and spunk and loud and bursting with personality. We are getting along great and she is reminding me not to become Hna Dalton robot--we know I need it.haha Unfortunately, it has been a rough week in that another hermana in our piso got an emergency transfer this morning. Not that she did anything wrong, just a situation that needed to be changed. So we are all missing her, especially Hna Oslund. But Hna Stephenson just got here--Hna Preston´s "hija" or daughter, trainee before she left. I´m so excited!
Well, I have some pics from after the rainstorm. Enjoy.
I love each of you so much. I stop and think about just how blessed I am and have always been and it makes me so happy. I guess some missionaries get "trunky" thinking about family and home, but it makes me work harder because I know what will always be waiting for me and it is worth it. I just have to do my best and focus on my responsibilities now. Heavenly Father will take care of the rest-He always does. So...I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!! Keep choosing the right and never forget who you are and why you are here.
-Hna Clarissa Dalton
Miracle story: "What a week it has been! It still doesn´t quite seem real tobe here is Barcelona. There have been so many miracles this week-I don´t knowif I can choose just one…We were trying to find an address and I saw a young man and a little girl in a park. We passed them, but I felt like we should go back. So we did! His name is Jonathan. He is married and his daughter´s name is Ashley. He had some friends that were LDS in Ecuador and was really open to listen. He was excited when we gave him a Book of Mormon and said maybe this is finally the time for him to find the gospel. We went back to talk to him the next day and he had read some of the Book of Mormon! And shared it with his wife and she is excited to read and learn more, too! They had to go to the hospital and cancelled our appointment, but we will meet up with them this week. I am so excited and just feel so strongly about this family. I´m so thankful I followed the prompting that I had."
I feel like I´m in a dream here. It is so weird--but don´t get me wrong, I love it. It is just different. For starters, being back in a normal Spain-sized chapel was really weird yesterday.haha They actually had pews!!! It is 3 stories with the top floor being an indoor soccer court. I haven´t seen it yet, but don´t fret--you best believe I will spend some quality time up there. And we received 7 referrals from members and other missionaries this week! It´s the norm for around here and I LOVE IT!!!!haha So different...and the rest. Well, it´s hot. Real humid-never-stop-sweating-can´t-breathe hot. Thanks Missouri for the prep, but man alive, it´s not fun. Our piso is always sweltering and I love sleeping in my sweat, ya buddy,haha, but enough complaining; it is what it is and perhaps all the cleansing with give me really nice skin or something.
So with regards to the subject line--it was actually a bit cooler yesterday, but more humid. We were heading home and it started sprinkling before we got to the metro. When we got out of the metro, it was pouring. So we walked home in the rain...which was fine. You know me and rain--I loved it!-until all the dried sweat on my face/hair from the day ran into my eyes. So, yes, they watered and I was crying and couldn´t see and almost ran into a pole.ahahahahaha So funny. But we were soaked to the bone. I loved it! And the thunder storm all night was worth it. Oh, how I´ve missed the thunder--never heard it in SanSe--weird.
We have a baptism set for this Saturday! A lady named Rubi who is just great. She´s from Colombia and a couple from Colombia that the elders are teaching are also getting baptized, so we are doing it together--Colombian baptism!haha We are teaching a lot of great people and contacting referrals daily. There are a TON of recent converts here, so my goal is to work with and strengthen them. So much to do and I´m excited for it.
Well, we are going to eat and then head to the...ZOO!!!!!! with a bunch of other missionaries. Hna Oslund is so great and has visited Barcy before, so we will visit all the fun sights. We are planning a bike tour as well :-) She is one of a kind--full of fun and spunk and loud and bursting with personality. We are getting along great and she is reminding me not to become Hna Dalton robot--we know I need it.haha Unfortunately, it has been a rough week in that another hermana in our piso got an emergency transfer this morning. Not that she did anything wrong, just a situation that needed to be changed. So we are all missing her, especially Hna Oslund. But Hna Stephenson just got here--Hna Preston´s "hija" or daughter, trainee before she left. I´m so excited!
Well, I have some pics from after the rainstorm. Enjoy.
I love each of you so much. I stop and think about just how blessed I am and have always been and it makes me so happy. I guess some missionaries get "trunky" thinking about family and home, but it makes me work harder because I know what will always be waiting for me and it is worth it. I just have to do my best and focus on my responsibilities now. Heavenly Father will take care of the rest-He always does. So...I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!! Keep choosing the right and never forget who you are and why you are here.
-Hna Clarissa Dalton
Sunday, June 3, 2012
SHOW ME SOME LOVE:
Clarissa Dalton
C/ Rambla Badal 64, 5º 1º
08014 Barcelona
España
but...we are trying to get approval to change pisos because this one is...well, less than satisfactory. So it may change this transfer anyway. I´ll keep you updated. Love you!
Hermana Clarissa (sweating my life out! (-:haha) Dalton
Clarissa Dalton
C/ Rambla Badal 64, 5º 1º
08014 Barcelona
España
but...we are trying to get approval to change pisos because this one is...well, less than satisfactory. So it may change this transfer anyway. I´ll keep you updated. Love you!
Hermana Clarissa (sweating my life out! (-:haha) Dalton
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)