La familia Dalton,
"We had a very interesting week--but a great interesting week! For some reason the english fast was very hard for me this time and I struggled a lot. I know how to say everything in my head, but it doesn´t come out my mouth. Common ailment among missionaries, I know. We had taught the combined lesson this week in church as well as a part of a special consejo de barrio Sunday evening. I was very frustrated with myself because I just want to be able to teach as efficiently and effectively as I feel like I can in english... but after lots of praying and reading in the Book of Mormon, I learned that right now in my life/mission is the time for learning. I am learning incredible things every day that I know are special gifts from my Heavenly Father. The teaching will come and once again, He is teaching me patience and to be grateful for the blessings that I am receiving instead of always wanting something else. I started the Book of Mormon again after Easter, but in english this time and 1 Nephi has come alive for me. I have always known the stories, but as I am reading them again, I can´t explain with words the difference. There is a hunger to learn more and I feel like I am learning to “feast” upon the scriptures on a different level than I ever have before. This is a blessing and a miracle that I need to be grateful for now. So I guess the miracle is the learning, and learning how to learn, especially by the Spirit."
So yeah, we were in Bilbao--well, I was in Bilbao. The other Hna Dalton and her trainee, Hna Robinson, have only been there a week and opened the area so basically we spent Friday visiting members--super bad idea. 5 member visits in one day?! Sure, if you wanna turn out like Aunt Marge from Harry Potter...before and after the button--popping magic.haha! It was a lot of food. Delicious, massive amounts of food. But Hna Dalton learned her lesson--this Hna Dalton already learned this lesson, but still had to participate. Love albedrío. :-) We had a great time together and learned a lot. It was during the english fast so that was fun, too. We visited an ex-missionary (I really dislike this term in spanish, it sounds so...final...they don´t use "RM") and another less active sister. I just don´t understand how people serve missions and then become less active, but I can´t escape this situation, so I guess I need to learn from it--I WILL NEVER BE LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, that´s a big promise that I am making to all of you, but now you can keep me honest and slap me five ways to Friday if you have to later in life. :-)
Today is my missionary birthday! Well, as close as you can get in a month with only 30 days. Wahoo! We are going to celebrate by eating at "Peggy Sue´s American Diner"...unsure about how american it is, but we shall see. Should be fun. Hna Maxwell told me that in 2 weeks I hit my halfway mark...yikes. Not sure how I feel about that...moving on!
We are teaching a lot and have some great investigators...just lots of people lacking the faith to take the final leap of faith into the pila...for now. That´ll change soon enough :-) Dalleli still has a fecha for the 12th of May, but because we were in Bilbao we have not been able to contact her for almost a week. She does not have a móvil (cell phone) so we have to catch her on the fijo. She did not show up for our prearranged meeting with the Bishop that she requested, or church on Sunday. But she did go to a JAS activity on Saturday. She was not able to work things out with her oldest sister, so we are still trying to help with that before her baptism. The bishop has some doubts that she just wants to get baptized to fix the family situation, but we will have to find out this week.
We had a special consejo de barrio yesterday and we came to impress with our "world-class informe de progreso" goal of the mission, typed up, with pictures and specific info and things to help. We´ve had them ready for a month, but it kept getting canceled. I am receiving the great blessing of learning how to work with the ward and how a ward is supposed to work. It is so eye-opening to be here where the church is so new and I am learning great lessons that I will use for the rest of my life, I´m sure.
I love Hermana Maxwell. We are just always happy. I admire that she laughs--a lot. It helps on rough days that I know we can laugh about something and smile. It´s the medicine to solve so many problems. She is a great missionary and person. We probably get along too well, but I am enjoying this time to it´s fullest!haha
Mom--I want to see pictures of these beautiful flowers! It got cold again here--really cold. Second winter. But it is sunny today so maybe, just maybe I´ll get to see the perfect SanSe weather people talk about. I miss RS activities and such. I never realized how important they are. We are teaching for one this week--a breakfast and then practical situations in which to share the gospel. Chloe-piñatas! I want to see this snitch! We want to make one here for 5 de mayo...we´ll see.
Yes! For Mother´s Day, the 13th--we will be in the locutorio here for Hna Maxwell at 4pm (8am there) and 4:45-5ish pm to start for me (8:45-9ish am to start for you). Does that work? What´s Connor doing? I will talk to him before then and figure it out. Let me know next week! Oh, and let me know the gmail username and password stuff again for me to log-in.
Love you!
-Hermana Dalton
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Buen día de Sant Jordi!!!!! Best day of my life!!!!!!!!! Yesterday, ok maybe exaggerating a little...but not a lot. It is a Catalunya holiday where girls give guys books and guys give girls flowers...I think girls get gypped, but what else is new. I´d totally take the book. But we give out Books of Mormon. They don´t celebrate it up here in País Vasque, but we had a mission goal of handing out 1,000 books on Monday. Miracles:
"My miracle story is a whole day of miracles!!! El día de Sant Jordi! It was full of miracles and tender mercies from my Heavenly Father. We had two great visits in the morning with investigators that were progressing, but still did not have baptismal dates. Our goal was to just talk with them and figure out what their doubts or problems were and invite them to be baptized. We spent lots of study time praying and preparing and ended up not even teaching the prepared lessons! But we were prepared to follow the Spirit and this is what made the difference. They are both now progressing towards baptism.
During personal study, I was impressed to study 1 Nephi 3 and write out the events of Nephi, Sam, Lemuel and Laman going back to get the plates. The first attempt didn´t work, their plans and second attempt didn´t either. Most people would have said they were justified in giving up, but the angel told them if they tried one more time they would have success. I couldn´t get this out of my head all day.
The ward members here wanted to help out with Sant Jordi, so we cleaned out our piso and the chapel of all Books of Mormon--half went to members who promised to give them to someone on the 23rd and the rest went with us to a plaza in the evening to hand out. Some ward members and the ward mission leader met us there and spent an hour talking to people and handing out books. Our Relief Society President had taken a book before to hand out and tried to give it to her son, but he refused. She came to the plaza to support us and told me about it. She has been trying for a long time to help him find the Gospel, but he has had zero interest. She told me that she was so impressed watching us missionaries talking to people and not being upset or frustrated when people were rude or didn´t want to talk to us. She grabbed a book out of my hand and walked up to a Spaniard women and started a conversation. The lady did not want to talk about religion and walked away. But the look on her face as our Relief Society walked back toward me was one that I will never forget--she found the courage to open her mouth and invite someone to change their life just like she had done not too long ago. Her husband came with her, but was in a bad mood and said he couldn´t help us. I felt impressed to tell him to read Alma 26:27. Right after they walked away, a man accepted a book from us, so I sent them a text telling them about it and to “tengan fe y sigan adelante” with the scripture Luke 1:37.
We were discouraged at 9:45pm when we were returning to piso because the majority of the ward members who said they would give out a Libro de Mormón did not and we had not reached our goal--we were 2 books away, but had given away every book we had. We received a dropped call and immediately after that a text. The call was from a member who forgot to give out a book when we called her 2 hours earlier, but just couldn´t sleep so she got up and found someone to give a Libro de Mormón to and then called us! The text was from our Relief Society President who said that coming to the Plaza and then our texts gave her the courage to try just one more time with her son...and this time he accepted a book!--1 Nephi 3 and going back to get the plates. What an incredible example of faith and the courage to act! Heavenly Father knows the desires of our hearts and will help me and guide us even when we can´t understand how. With these last two books, we reached our goal. But it wasn´t about the goal for me anymore. I will never forget el día de Sant Jordi and the miracles I was blessed to be a part of. I will give away a Book of Mormon to someone on April 23rd for the rest of my life."
Miracle stories are so good! Ok, here´s another:
"We are also working with the sister of a member and our most recent convert. She is going through some very difficult times, especially with her sister, who kicked her out of the house. She doesn´t have a job or money or anywhere to live. It is a very difficult and complicated situation. The Bishopric is helping her a lot. We finally found out where she is living and have been visiting her, but I feel so helpless because as missionaries we can´t do anything to help her physically and this is very hard for me to handle. She had a tentative fecha back in January, but never really had the desire to work towards baptism. Then she prayed about it in March and felt she received the answer that our church was true, but not the right church for her. We had some very spiritual visits with her this past week and she opened up about the pain and hurt she has from the actions of family members. We told her that Christ suffered not only for our sins, but for our pains and sicknesses as well and that through baptism we don´t have to carry around this pain anymore. This really touched her and she wants to be baptized on the 12th of May. The Spirit truly guides when we are willing to listen and follow."
Wow, Megan´s back and Caleb is almost done with high school and looking fly at Prom and Chloe´s rocking the v-ball court and April is almost over! Wonderful!haha It all makes me so happy! Hna Maxwell will go to Madrid this weekend to pick up her card so I will work in Bilbao with...Hna Dalton.haha Ya, the other one. We´ll have to tear it up as the Hermanas Dalton for a day y pico. Should be interesting. Hna Maxwell is great. We get along SO well, I don´t even know how we got so blessed to be companions. Enjoy it while you can, right? Before you get to the crazies.ahaha Joke....maybe.
Pics to come next week, I promise! Life is great and I am so happy and seeing miracles flowing from heaven every day--are you? If not, open your eyes because they are there. And when we notice them and give thanks, we receive more. So open those eyes of faith and behold the hand of God in YOUR life.
¡les quiero un MONTON!
-Hermana Dalton
PS Yes, it is rainy and cold again. No worries. We are good ol´ friends by now.
"My miracle story is a whole day of miracles!!! El día de Sant Jordi! It was full of miracles and tender mercies from my Heavenly Father. We had two great visits in the morning with investigators that were progressing, but still did not have baptismal dates. Our goal was to just talk with them and figure out what their doubts or problems were and invite them to be baptized. We spent lots of study time praying and preparing and ended up not even teaching the prepared lessons! But we were prepared to follow the Spirit and this is what made the difference. They are both now progressing towards baptism.
During personal study, I was impressed to study 1 Nephi 3 and write out the events of Nephi, Sam, Lemuel and Laman going back to get the plates. The first attempt didn´t work, their plans and second attempt didn´t either. Most people would have said they were justified in giving up, but the angel told them if they tried one more time they would have success. I couldn´t get this out of my head all day.
The ward members here wanted to help out with Sant Jordi, so we cleaned out our piso and the chapel of all Books of Mormon--half went to members who promised to give them to someone on the 23rd and the rest went with us to a plaza in the evening to hand out. Some ward members and the ward mission leader met us there and spent an hour talking to people and handing out books. Our Relief Society President had taken a book before to hand out and tried to give it to her son, but he refused. She came to the plaza to support us and told me about it. She has been trying for a long time to help him find the Gospel, but he has had zero interest. She told me that she was so impressed watching us missionaries talking to people and not being upset or frustrated when people were rude or didn´t want to talk to us. She grabbed a book out of my hand and walked up to a Spaniard women and started a conversation. The lady did not want to talk about religion and walked away. But the look on her face as our Relief Society walked back toward me was one that I will never forget--she found the courage to open her mouth and invite someone to change their life just like she had done not too long ago. Her husband came with her, but was in a bad mood and said he couldn´t help us. I felt impressed to tell him to read Alma 26:27. Right after they walked away, a man accepted a book from us, so I sent them a text telling them about it and to “tengan fe y sigan adelante” with the scripture Luke 1:37.
We were discouraged at 9:45pm when we were returning to piso because the majority of the ward members who said they would give out a Libro de Mormón did not and we had not reached our goal--we were 2 books away, but had given away every book we had. We received a dropped call and immediately after that a text. The call was from a member who forgot to give out a book when we called her 2 hours earlier, but just couldn´t sleep so she got up and found someone to give a Libro de Mormón to and then called us! The text was from our Relief Society President who said that coming to the Plaza and then our texts gave her the courage to try just one more time with her son...and this time he accepted a book!--1 Nephi 3 and going back to get the plates. What an incredible example of faith and the courage to act! Heavenly Father knows the desires of our hearts and will help me and guide us even when we can´t understand how. With these last two books, we reached our goal. But it wasn´t about the goal for me anymore. I will never forget el día de Sant Jordi and the miracles I was blessed to be a part of. I will give away a Book of Mormon to someone on April 23rd for the rest of my life."
Miracle stories are so good! Ok, here´s another:
"We are also working with the sister of a member and our most recent convert. She is going through some very difficult times, especially with her sister, who kicked her out of the house. She doesn´t have a job or money or anywhere to live. It is a very difficult and complicated situation. The Bishopric is helping her a lot. We finally found out where she is living and have been visiting her, but I feel so helpless because as missionaries we can´t do anything to help her physically and this is very hard for me to handle. She had a tentative fecha back in January, but never really had the desire to work towards baptism. Then she prayed about it in March and felt she received the answer that our church was true, but not the right church for her. We had some very spiritual visits with her this past week and she opened up about the pain and hurt she has from the actions of family members. We told her that Christ suffered not only for our sins, but for our pains and sicknesses as well and that through baptism we don´t have to carry around this pain anymore. This really touched her and she wants to be baptized on the 12th of May. The Spirit truly guides when we are willing to listen and follow."
Wow, Megan´s back and Caleb is almost done with high school and looking fly at Prom and Chloe´s rocking the v-ball court and April is almost over! Wonderful!haha It all makes me so happy! Hna Maxwell will go to Madrid this weekend to pick up her card so I will work in Bilbao with...Hna Dalton.haha Ya, the other one. We´ll have to tear it up as the Hermanas Dalton for a day y pico. Should be interesting. Hna Maxwell is great. We get along SO well, I don´t even know how we got so blessed to be companions. Enjoy it while you can, right? Before you get to the crazies.ahaha Joke....maybe.
Pics to come next week, I promise! Life is great and I am so happy and seeing miracles flowing from heaven every day--are you? If not, open your eyes because they are there. And when we notice them and give thanks, we receive more. So open those eyes of faith and behold the hand of God in YOUR life.
¡les quiero un MONTON!
-Hermana Dalton
PS Yes, it is rainy and cold again. No worries. We are good ol´ friends by now.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Miracle story, quite an obvious one this week:
"I am very excited to tell you about our miracle for the week--the baptism of Keisy!!! Her older sister is a member of the church and Keisy arrived here with another sister from Honduras the same day that Hermana Fuentes and I arrived in San Sebastián. Her sister invited us over the next day to meet them and we started teaching them. She is fifteen years old and always laughing or smiling. It was difficult to teach her in the beginning because she would get shy and just laugh. It took over a month for her to be able to pray out loud with us without laughing. The youth of the ward did a great job inviting her, especially to seminary. She changed her baptismal date more than once because of little things that got in the way until she was ready to make the decision for herself. She had not been reading in the Book of Mormon or keeping her commitments for a few weeks in March when we went over to teach her sister. She came in in the middle of the lesson and interrupted me while we were teaching to say ¨Quiero bautizarme.¨ She had done this before so I ignored her. (In hindsight, maybe not the best reaction...haha) But she persisted and we found out that she was serious this time! So to test if she was sincere, I may or may not have grilled her with the baptismal questions with our ward mission leader...ha...ha...She went to Mini-EFY the week before her baptism and I think this had a huge impact in her conversion. Satan really attacked her family this same week and this has been very difficult for them, but she told us that she knew it was Satan trying to stop her from being baptized.
She is going to Madrid with the youth this week to participate in baptisms for the dead!!! I think this is the best thing she could be doing right now and will solidify her testimony and help her other sister who has not decided to be baptized yet. We have helped her read the Book of Mormon and pray every day the week before her baptism and also this week after. She told us yesterday that she has felt a difference because school has been hard for her and she hates it, but she prayed yesterday in the morning for it to be better and then read her scriptures and her day was better! I could see a difference in her Sunday at church after her confirmation and told her so. It is so incredible to see the changes happening in someone else´s life as they come unto Christ. I will never forget these feelings and this time that I have been so blessed to be a part of. It doesn´t quite seem real yet."
Wow! What a week. To quote a Cartel song "the highest highs and lowest lows." First things first, the baptism was amazing. We were preparing all week to help things go smoothly and, of course, everything and their ugly step-sister went wrong...but it all came together!haha I wrote down all the miracles that happened so no worries. I won´t forget. We spent a good chunk of time assembling the ¨pila¨ or baptismal font that is like a kiddie pool on steroids. (See pics) I won´t take a real font for granted anymore, goodnight nurse! But we had some fun with it (See pics...but don´t tell the Bishop...) One of the speakers didn´t show up so Keisy asked Hna Maxwell to take her place...the tension and redness in her face waiting for her turn were rivaled only by the extreme relief as the speaker arrived just in time. Oh, priceless.
What a gift we as missionaries have--to see other´s change their lives. I have never felt joy like that before. No quote or saying does it justice. Indescribable.
But there is always the other side, right? With the most amazing, spiritual experiences come the hardest challenges, usually during/right after. So true. I don´t think I will EVER understand some things that happen in families. Having to see people you have come to love suffer is truly one of the hardest things that happens in this life, especially when you are helpless to help, physically. But these experiences drive you to your knees and that is where I found myself this week more than once. And the tiniest bit of understanding that I have gained into the Atonement of my Savior is a priceless gift that I would do well to not forget. One of the greatest lessons I think I am learning is one entwined with that of patience, hope and faith--learning to accept when you have done everything you possibly can, knowing that it is not nearly enough and then trusting in the Lord.
I love being a missionary. I love being here in Spain on a mission. I love learning and growing and changing. I love seeing others grow in the gospel. I love you all and knowing we will be together forever. And most of all, I love my Savior and Redeemer, The Only Begotten of the Father, Jesus Christ.
Love always,
Hermana Clarissa Dalton
Alma 7
"I am very excited to tell you about our miracle for the week--the baptism of Keisy!!! Her older sister is a member of the church and Keisy arrived here with another sister from Honduras the same day that Hermana Fuentes and I arrived in San Sebastián. Her sister invited us over the next day to meet them and we started teaching them. She is fifteen years old and always laughing or smiling. It was difficult to teach her in the beginning because she would get shy and just laugh. It took over a month for her to be able to pray out loud with us without laughing. The youth of the ward did a great job inviting her, especially to seminary. She changed her baptismal date more than once because of little things that got in the way until she was ready to make the decision for herself. She had not been reading in the Book of Mormon or keeping her commitments for a few weeks in March when we went over to teach her sister. She came in in the middle of the lesson and interrupted me while we were teaching to say ¨Quiero bautizarme.¨ She had done this before so I ignored her. (In hindsight, maybe not the best reaction...haha) But she persisted and we found out that she was serious this time! So to test if she was sincere, I may or may not have grilled her with the baptismal questions with our ward mission leader...ha...ha...She went to Mini-EFY the week before her baptism and I think this had a huge impact in her conversion. Satan really attacked her family this same week and this has been very difficult for them, but she told us that she knew it was Satan trying to stop her from being baptized.
She is going to Madrid with the youth this week to participate in baptisms for the dead!!! I think this is the best thing she could be doing right now and will solidify her testimony and help her other sister who has not decided to be baptized yet. We have helped her read the Book of Mormon and pray every day the week before her baptism and also this week after. She told us yesterday that she has felt a difference because school has been hard for her and she hates it, but she prayed yesterday in the morning for it to be better and then read her scriptures and her day was better! I could see a difference in her Sunday at church after her confirmation and told her so. It is so incredible to see the changes happening in someone else´s life as they come unto Christ. I will never forget these feelings and this time that I have been so blessed to be a part of. It doesn´t quite seem real yet."
Wow! What a week. To quote a Cartel song "the highest highs and lowest lows." First things first, the baptism was amazing. We were preparing all week to help things go smoothly and, of course, everything and their ugly step-sister went wrong...but it all came together!haha I wrote down all the miracles that happened so no worries. I won´t forget. We spent a good chunk of time assembling the ¨pila¨ or baptismal font that is like a kiddie pool on steroids. (See pics) I won´t take a real font for granted anymore, goodnight nurse! But we had some fun with it (See pics...but don´t tell the Bishop...) One of the speakers didn´t show up so Keisy asked Hna Maxwell to take her place...the tension and redness in her face waiting for her turn were rivaled only by the extreme relief as the speaker arrived just in time. Oh, priceless.
What a gift we as missionaries have--to see other´s change their lives. I have never felt joy like that before. No quote or saying does it justice. Indescribable.
But there is always the other side, right? With the most amazing, spiritual experiences come the hardest challenges, usually during/right after. So true. I don´t think I will EVER understand some things that happen in families. Having to see people you have come to love suffer is truly one of the hardest things that happens in this life, especially when you are helpless to help, physically. But these experiences drive you to your knees and that is where I found myself this week more than once. And the tiniest bit of understanding that I have gained into the Atonement of my Savior is a priceless gift that I would do well to not forget. One of the greatest lessons I think I am learning is one entwined with that of patience, hope and faith--learning to accept when you have done everything you possibly can, knowing that it is not nearly enough and then trusting in the Lord.
I love being a missionary. I love being here in Spain on a mission. I love learning and growing and changing. I love seeing others grow in the gospel. I love you all and knowing we will be together forever. And most of all, I love my Savior and Redeemer, The Only Begotten of the Father, Jesus Christ.
Love always,
Hermana Clarissa Dalton
Alma 7
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Whew what a week. I feel like I don´t even remember most of it...which is probably true. I´ve been pretty sick, con gripe. Nasty cold virus, you know the drill. I HATE being sick as a missionary! There´s all this...guilt attached to resting and sleeping and not being able to work and teach. Blah. It´s horrible. I spent most of the week feeling lost or confused or guilty--or all of them!haha But I´m better now, mostly. Miracle story:
"My miracle story for this week has been the help of the members with visits and referrals. We have passed around a calendar the past 2 weeks at church with specific times during the week that we need member help. For example, Wednesdays- 12:30-2 and 4:30-9:30. Then we have tried to set up this member help the day before or earlier. This has made an amazing difference!There´s no scrambling around hours or minutes before a visit! I´m trying to build the habit of writing down in my agenda which members to call for the next day and it is relieving lots of stress. Also, we had more than one member come talk to us with a referral this Sunday. I hope this means they trust us as missionaries and in our ability to teach, even if our languages skills are not amazing...yet. It feels good to work with the members more. I feel so much more comfortable in a visit with members present. This is a huge miracle that my Heavenly Father knows I need in my mission right now."
Today is a holiday here, as well, so we organized playing basketball with some members/investigators. Now I can hear you from here, ok. "I thought you were sick!" Yes...I was. And today I felt good enough to play...and it is the first time I´ve been able to play since the MTC...so...enough said. You know me. haha It felt wonderfully amazing and I need to play more.
Fabi did not get baptized this week :-( but we are going on helping her decide when she will be. I think the hardest thing to learn sometimes is that everything is on the Lord´s time. It´s between Him and His son/daughter and we just get the privilege to be a part of it. She will get baptized soon, when she is ready. We are preparing for Keisy´s baptism this Friday and everything looks great so far :-) I´m excited. Hopefully this will help her sister realize that she is ready too. haha We shall see what the Lord has planned.
Cregan-CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like everything went well and...fast. That´s nice. Way to go Megan, eh! Superwoman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!haha I can´t wait to hear about Mylea and what she´s like. Be sure that everyone in San Sebastián will know that I have a new niece this week!haha Thanks for the pics Mom!
Sounds like everything is just rolling along at home, that´s what I like to hear. Here as well. Things just keep going and I just try to keep up. I´m learning a ton and relearning even more it feels like.haha But that´s life, good ol´repetition. I have come to love Alma 7. I have read it every day this week. I just love it. I also finished the Book of Mormon in spanish this week! Woot Woot!haha On to the New Testament.I´m so excited!
We received a bunch of surprise referrals this week so that will be fun to track them down and start teaching. Hopefully I will be more "put together" and organized mentally next week when I write.haha I need a week of recovery.
Thanks for the love!
-Hermana Clarissa Dalton
"My miracle story for this week has been the help of the members with visits and referrals. We have passed around a calendar the past 2 weeks at church with specific times during the week that we need member help. For example, Wednesdays- 12:30-2 and 4:30-9:30. Then we have tried to set up this member help the day before or earlier. This has made an amazing difference!There´s no scrambling around hours or minutes before a visit! I´m trying to build the habit of writing down in my agenda which members to call for the next day and it is relieving lots of stress. Also, we had more than one member come talk to us with a referral this Sunday. I hope this means they trust us as missionaries and in our ability to teach, even if our languages skills are not amazing...yet. It feels good to work with the members more. I feel so much more comfortable in a visit with members present. This is a huge miracle that my Heavenly Father knows I need in my mission right now."
Today is a holiday here, as well, so we organized playing basketball with some members/investigators. Now I can hear you from here, ok. "I thought you were sick!" Yes...I was. And today I felt good enough to play...and it is the first time I´ve been able to play since the MTC...so...enough said. You know me. haha It felt wonderfully amazing and I need to play more.
Fabi did not get baptized this week :-( but we are going on helping her decide when she will be. I think the hardest thing to learn sometimes is that everything is on the Lord´s time. It´s between Him and His son/daughter and we just get the privilege to be a part of it. She will get baptized soon, when she is ready. We are preparing for Keisy´s baptism this Friday and everything looks great so far :-) I´m excited. Hopefully this will help her sister realize that she is ready too. haha We shall see what the Lord has planned.
Cregan-CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like everything went well and...fast. That´s nice. Way to go Megan, eh! Superwoman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!haha I can´t wait to hear about Mylea and what she´s like. Be sure that everyone in San Sebastián will know that I have a new niece this week!haha Thanks for the pics Mom!
Sounds like everything is just rolling along at home, that´s what I like to hear. Here as well. Things just keep going and I just try to keep up. I´m learning a ton and relearning even more it feels like.haha But that´s life, good ol´repetition. I have come to love Alma 7. I have read it every day this week. I just love it. I also finished the Book of Mormon in spanish this week! Woot Woot!haha On to the New Testament.I´m so excited!
We received a bunch of surprise referrals this week so that will be fun to track them down and start teaching. Hopefully I will be more "put together" and organized mentally next week when I write.haha I need a week of recovery.
Thanks for the love!
-Hermana Clarissa Dalton
Monday, April 2, 2012
Hola a todos,
Pues...esta semana fue el ayuno de inglés. Por tanto, voy a escribir toda mi carta en castellano, discúlpenme...jajajaja But really, we had an english fast this week in the mission that just ended last night. It really helped, most of the time. Except when I try to talk to our obispo who is from Uruguay and very...dry with his humor that I can´t understand in castellano yet and basically thinks I don´t understand anything. Very frustrating, but he is the kind of person that I LOVE winning over because so many people are scared of him. muahahaha I WILL earn his respect and friendship....I have no idea how, but it might involve brownies, service and other forms of alimentary bribes. haha I was reading in Ether and chapter 12 hit me. Always been a favorite...but now has even more special meaning. Verses 23-25, substituting "writing" for "speaking" and "hands" for "tongue." Yup, that about sums up where I´m at right now with the language. But the power verse we all know comes in v 27 and then the comfort in v 29. So we keep on keepin´on and some day I will own in spanish and give some people here a good tongue lashing...pun intended :-)
Hna Maxwell´s spanish is actually very good. She speaks really well, but I recognize the 'deer in the headlights' lost look when someone speaks back...Want to know a secret?...I may go to the bathroom EVERY visit just because it forces her to talk with people. ahahahahahahahaha And she thinks I just have an overactive bladder. Silly missionary, tricks are for Hna Dalton.
Well, I was going to share some stuff from conference, but Mom said it all so excellently I loved the talks by Elder Oaks, Pte Uchtdorf and of course, Elder Holland. So much I needed to hear. We haven´t been able to watch Sunday Afternoon yet, but we will sometime this week. It was definitely a conference to remember just because it was so unique to be a missionary. We were the ONLY people who came for the Young Women´s session! Not even the members or leaders, let alone the investigators we invited...But 6 investigators came for the general session Saturday night! (Saturday morning session for you). We almost had more investigators than members in the capilla! Heavenly Father´s watching out for us.
We are preparing for Fabi´s baptism Saturday. This is all new for me so I´m sure it will be a wild ride.ahaha It always is. And Keisy told us out of the blue she wants to be baptized, so that will be the 13th. I was so shocked and didn´t believe her--she is a little crazy. haha Typical teenager, but she´s determined this time, we think, so oh yeah! And hopefully Alfonso and Ximena the next week. WE BAPTIZE WEEKLY IN SPAIN!!!! Did I tell you that yet? Because we do.
Oh and on adifferent note, we had an investigator cry when we invited her to be baptized and say she heard a voice tell her she´d receive her answer about baptism tomorrow...we were so pumped and I was like "yes! It´s about time!"...but then she told us she did receive her answer and it was no. She knows the church is true and especially the Book of Mormon...but this isn´t the church for her...?!?!?!?!...What do you say to that, eh? I thought "whoa this isn´t how this is supposed to go..." But that´s life. Quite the experience. She just needs time, right?
Thanks for the emails and love. Us missionaries REALLY need it sometimes, eh. Can´t wait to talk to ya´ll next week! I´m sure everything will be different again then, too! Each week is like a month here, and a month like a year.
Much LOVE, Hmn Dalton
Ah, I forgot the miracle story:
"Oh the miracles to pick from this week. We see them daily!!! I think I´ll share one from last week that I forgot I wanted to tell you. During a lesson with our investigator, Fabi, I realized that I had been talking for awhile and my companion needed to say something. So I ended my thought and smiled at her. She laughed nervously and said she didn´t have anything to say. I really felt like she did, so I just smiled and waited...and waited...and waited. My companion just kept saying she didn´t have anything to say and it had to be like a minute of awkward silence. It popped in my head to have her invite our investigator to be baptized. She had a soft fecha before, but it had been like a month. I indicated for my companion to invite her. She didn´t want to because by now the awkwardness was palpable. But she did and to our surprise Fabi said yes! She will be baptized this week! It was such a testimony to me that it doesn´t really matter what we as the missionaries are feeling as long as we follow the Spirit. It was definitely something that I wouldn´t have thought to do on my own or even say but the Spirit knew and what a great experience for my companion to have her first week here. And for me!"
Just one of many, as usual. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pues...esta semana fue el ayuno de inglés. Por tanto, voy a escribir toda mi carta en castellano, discúlpenme...jajajaja But really, we had an english fast this week in the mission that just ended last night. It really helped, most of the time. Except when I try to talk to our obispo who is from Uruguay and very...dry with his humor that I can´t understand in castellano yet and basically thinks I don´t understand anything. Very frustrating, but he is the kind of person that I LOVE winning over because so many people are scared of him. muahahaha I WILL earn his respect and friendship....I have no idea how, but it might involve brownies, service and other forms of alimentary bribes. haha I was reading in Ether and chapter 12 hit me. Always been a favorite...but now has even more special meaning. Verses 23-25, substituting "writing" for "speaking" and "hands" for "tongue." Yup, that about sums up where I´m at right now with the language. But the power verse we all know comes in v 27 and then the comfort in v 29. So we keep on keepin´on and some day I will own in spanish and give some people here a good tongue lashing...pun intended :-)
Hna Maxwell´s spanish is actually very good. She speaks really well, but I recognize the 'deer in the headlights' lost look when someone speaks back...Want to know a secret?...I may go to the bathroom EVERY visit just because it forces her to talk with people. ahahahahahahahaha And she thinks I just have an overactive bladder. Silly missionary, tricks are for Hna Dalton.
Well, I was going to share some stuff from conference, but Mom said it all so excellently I loved the talks by Elder Oaks, Pte Uchtdorf and of course, Elder Holland. So much I needed to hear. We haven´t been able to watch Sunday Afternoon yet, but we will sometime this week. It was definitely a conference to remember just because it was so unique to be a missionary. We were the ONLY people who came for the Young Women´s session! Not even the members or leaders, let alone the investigators we invited...But 6 investigators came for the general session Saturday night! (Saturday morning session for you). We almost had more investigators than members in the capilla! Heavenly Father´s watching out for us.
We are preparing for Fabi´s baptism Saturday. This is all new for me so I´m sure it will be a wild ride.ahaha It always is. And Keisy told us out of the blue she wants to be baptized, so that will be the 13th. I was so shocked and didn´t believe her--she is a little crazy. haha Typical teenager, but she´s determined this time, we think, so oh yeah! And hopefully Alfonso and Ximena the next week. WE BAPTIZE WEEKLY IN SPAIN!!!! Did I tell you that yet? Because we do.
Oh and on adifferent note, we had an investigator cry when we invited her to be baptized and say she heard a voice tell her she´d receive her answer about baptism tomorrow...we were so pumped and I was like "yes! It´s about time!"...but then she told us she did receive her answer and it was no. She knows the church is true and especially the Book of Mormon...but this isn´t the church for her...?!?!?!?!...What do you say to that, eh? I thought "whoa this isn´t how this is supposed to go..." But that´s life. Quite the experience. She just needs time, right?
Thanks for the emails and love. Us missionaries REALLY need it sometimes, eh. Can´t wait to talk to ya´ll next week! I´m sure everything will be different again then, too! Each week is like a month here, and a month like a year.
Much LOVE, Hmn Dalton
Ah, I forgot the miracle story:
"Oh the miracles to pick from this week. We see them daily!!! I think I´ll share one from last week that I forgot I wanted to tell you. During a lesson with our investigator, Fabi, I realized that I had been talking for awhile and my companion needed to say something. So I ended my thought and smiled at her. She laughed nervously and said she didn´t have anything to say. I really felt like she did, so I just smiled and waited...and waited...and waited. My companion just kept saying she didn´t have anything to say and it had to be like a minute of awkward silence. It popped in my head to have her invite our investigator to be baptized. She had a soft fecha before, but it had been like a month. I indicated for my companion to invite her. She didn´t want to because by now the awkwardness was palpable. But she did and to our surprise Fabi said yes! She will be baptized this week! It was such a testimony to me that it doesn´t really matter what we as the missionaries are feeling as long as we follow the Spirit. It was definitely something that I wouldn´t have thought to do on my own or even say but the Spirit knew and what a great experience for my companion to have her first week here. And for me!"
Just one of many, as usual. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Yes, I am writing from Pamplona again. So crazy. We are only here for Preparation day and I´m dropping off Hna Maxwell here when I head into Barcelona for leadership training tomorrow. Train ride again with Elder Dalton--WAHOO!!!! Maybe we can teach again. I really love this city and it´s feel. It kind of has this unexplainable Tucson feel for me, no sé. But unfortunately, that means no pictures again because these...sketchy locutorio computers don´t like my camera. SORRY! Next week we should be in SanSebastian.
Miracle story: One of our miracles this week was through the help of the members. I am trying to find out how to have members help us with each visit and I am making a lot of mistakes, but Heavenly Father knows that we are doing everything we can, at least everything that we know how to do and He is blessing us for it. We had one member literally rearrange her schedule to help us after she already told us that she couldn´t and we were preparing to just go alone. She felt like she just needed to go and her help and testimony were crucial in helping the Spirit touch our investigator´s heart. A few days later we had a cita set up and a member in the ward ready to help…but we got fired (cancelled on by our investigator) 20 minutes before the cita. So we called to tell the member and she told us to just come over to her piso and teach her. We felt like this was the right thing to do and we ended up teaching 7 people! 3 of them were no tmembers and it was a very spiritual lesson. The 4 members present are willing to help us anytime that we need now. We have seen even more miracles of the Lord preparing ways for us to reach out to the people in San Sebastián and to reach our goals in ways that we have not expected. I have felt my Savior´s love for me so strong this week and am learning once again that it is not the "how" that is important in the Lord´s work, it is the "why."
I feel like I repeat the same things every week. Maybe I should learn faster and not be lame. I´ll add that to the to-do list.haha Well, training. It has been a week. I can´t remember working so hard, consistently for so long. There are no breaks until I faint into bed. But that will pass because I can feel myself slowly adjusting. We are really focusing on getting members to EVERY lesson with us, which is stressful for me because it means lots of phone time and using saldo-our phone $ allotment. Hopefully we don´t run out. But I like the responsibility and the pace. I just feel better. And Hna Maxwell is great with helping and already taking on responsibilities. I put her in charge of our english class and organizing member availability hours. 2 companions working as hard as they can really makes the difference.
We are also taking our trash out daily. Weird you say? I shall explain. We are obedient missionaries in el faro. But more than that, we are striving to be exactly obedient. We have been challenged by Pte Hinckley to do all the big things right...and then do all the little things right, too. We talked specifically about taking the trash out daily in our last training. We have been taking it out regularly, obviously we are clean ladies, but we decided to strive to take it out daily. So we do. We were also promised incredible blessings if we keep our piso clean daily. I can testify to you that we are seeing these blessings and miracles. It is NOT crazy! The Lord´s promises are sure and Pte Hinckley is his mouthpiece for this mission. And I will do whatever they ask us to do because I know WITHOUT A DOUBT that it is from the Lord and He is just providing opportunities to bless us. So bring on the miracles!
We helped 3 people decide to be baptized this week! They are preparing for the 7th--Fabi--and the 14th--Alfonso and Ximena. We met Alfonso and Ximena from english class and they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. We decided to invite investigators every lesson this week to be baptized and we are about to start experiencing the benefits of this. Well, I gotta run,as always,but I love being a missionary! Even if I am sick and so tired every day!haha This time is short and sacred and consecrated. My Heavenly Father sustains me. I just love teaching and seeing people understand how important this gospel is.
Spring break didn´t sound very springy energy-wise, haha, but sometimes that is good, too. I am SO pumped for General Conference. We talk about it and invite everyone. Bring questions, receive answers. Ya, it´s just that simple. Get it? Got it. Good. SO much to say, no time. Well, just feel all the love I am sending. Hugs and kisses all around!
Love, Hermana Clarissa Dalton
Thanks, Sis DeWitt, for your wonderful emails. They always uplift me and say what I need to hear. You are so sweet and I am praying for Bro. DeWitt as well.
Miracle story: One of our miracles this week was through the help of the members. I am trying to find out how to have members help us with each visit and I am making a lot of mistakes, but Heavenly Father knows that we are doing everything we can, at least everything that we know how to do and He is blessing us for it. We had one member literally rearrange her schedule to help us after she already told us that she couldn´t and we were preparing to just go alone. She felt like she just needed to go and her help and testimony were crucial in helping the Spirit touch our investigator´s heart. A few days later we had a cita set up and a member in the ward ready to help…but we got fired (cancelled on by our investigator) 20 minutes before the cita. So we called to tell the member and she told us to just come over to her piso and teach her. We felt like this was the right thing to do and we ended up teaching 7 people! 3 of them were no tmembers and it was a very spiritual lesson. The 4 members present are willing to help us anytime that we need now. We have seen even more miracles of the Lord preparing ways for us to reach out to the people in San Sebastián and to reach our goals in ways that we have not expected. I have felt my Savior´s love for me so strong this week and am learning once again that it is not the "how" that is important in the Lord´s work, it is the "why."
I feel like I repeat the same things every week. Maybe I should learn faster and not be lame. I´ll add that to the to-do list.haha Well, training. It has been a week. I can´t remember working so hard, consistently for so long. There are no breaks until I faint into bed. But that will pass because I can feel myself slowly adjusting. We are really focusing on getting members to EVERY lesson with us, which is stressful for me because it means lots of phone time and using saldo-our phone $ allotment. Hopefully we don´t run out. But I like the responsibility and the pace. I just feel better. And Hna Maxwell is great with helping and already taking on responsibilities. I put her in charge of our english class and organizing member availability hours. 2 companions working as hard as they can really makes the difference.
We are also taking our trash out daily. Weird you say? I shall explain. We are obedient missionaries in el faro. But more than that, we are striving to be exactly obedient. We have been challenged by Pte Hinckley to do all the big things right...and then do all the little things right, too. We talked specifically about taking the trash out daily in our last training. We have been taking it out regularly, obviously we are clean ladies, but we decided to strive to take it out daily. So we do. We were also promised incredible blessings if we keep our piso clean daily. I can testify to you that we are seeing these blessings and miracles. It is NOT crazy! The Lord´s promises are sure and Pte Hinckley is his mouthpiece for this mission. And I will do whatever they ask us to do because I know WITHOUT A DOUBT that it is from the Lord and He is just providing opportunities to bless us. So bring on the miracles!
We helped 3 people decide to be baptized this week! They are preparing for the 7th--Fabi--and the 14th--Alfonso and Ximena. We met Alfonso and Ximena from english class and they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. We decided to invite investigators every lesson this week to be baptized and we are about to start experiencing the benefits of this. Well, I gotta run,as always,but I love being a missionary! Even if I am sick and so tired every day!haha This time is short and sacred and consecrated. My Heavenly Father sustains me. I just love teaching and seeing people understand how important this gospel is.
Spring break didn´t sound very springy energy-wise, haha, but sometimes that is good, too. I am SO pumped for General Conference. We talk about it and invite everyone. Bring questions, receive answers. Ya, it´s just that simple. Get it? Got it. Good. SO much to say, no time. Well, just feel all the love I am sending. Hugs and kisses all around!
Love, Hermana Clarissa Dalton
Thanks, Sis DeWitt, for your wonderful emails. They always uplift me and say what I need to hear. You are so sweet and I am praying for Bro. DeWitt as well.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
OK, so today is the spanish Father´s Day--I didn´t know that until Elder Dalton told me the other day-and our locutorio is closed....so we are in the public library and the emails and feelings I´m having right now are just so close to the surface and well, tender, for lack of a better word, and I am crying like a baby. This just will not do!haha When did I turn into a watery basket-case?! Oh well, my testimony is growing a ton because it is getting watered frequently. Miracle stories:
"I have two miracle stories that I would like to share this week! First, on the train into Barcelona to pick up my new companion, I got to contact and teach a lesson with my brother!!! I cannot properly explain how much this meant to me. It has been a secret desire of my heart since arriving here in Spain and only my Heavenly Father knew. The man´s name was Alberto and he is a very active Christian. He wanted to talk to us about what we believe. With Elder Rhead, we taught the first and second lessons! His beliefs are very close to ours and he listened and liked what we had to say. I shared the first vision with him and we got a Book of Mormon for him when we got off the train. It was amazing to see my brother teach and how powerful his testimony is. It is a moment I will cherish forever.
Second, I have to tell you just how real the gift of tongues is in my mission and life right now. It was such an immediate switch that there is no room for doubt in my mind that it has nothing to do with me or my abilities. I am understanding almost everything that others say to me, translating for my companion and making phone calls all day long--this especially has been a weakness for me my whole mission/life. It is incredible to very literally feel the Spirit working through me and knowing that it is not me. I am living a miracle every day and that is the only way that I am able to be training and a senior companion right now."
How precious, right? I think I am seeing/have seen so many tender mercies and miracles this week because my Heavenly Father knows I need them. Ok, reality check. I promised to be 100% honest in my emails so,yes, I am training and I am a very young and inexperienced missionary who has recently become very aware of my lack of...well, everything missionary-wise, except for three things--Faith, Hope, Charity. And that is all that I need :-)
My new companion is Hermana Maxwell from Glendale, Utah. NO relation to Elder Maxwell. Yes, everyone asks.haha Her verbal spanish is great! She is already a wonderful missionary and we are working great together. As far as I can tell, she isn´t freaking out or frustrated with me and my bumbling around trying to "train" and be "senior companion." We are excited to work, work, WORK!!! Our area needs lots of work and we are going to do it together. In fact, I have already warned her that we are doing everything together because over the next 2 transfers we will get 42ish new missionaries and we are starting now to prepare her to train. Yee haw.
I am not exaggerating about the gift of tongues. It has been a sudden change and incredible to experience. I am talking on the phone all day and trying to take care of business. It is hard, frustrating and humbling, but most growing experiences are. The scriptures say, "and it came to pass" not "and it came to stay." I´m not going to lie; I have been close to tears since Friday, but no major or minor meltdowns yet, thanks to the gift of fervent and constant prayer. "Whom the Lord calls, He qualifies." I think I repeat these sayings to myself 100x a day.
I am happy and working hard, learning a ton and finding out what missionary work is REALLY like.haha Thank you for the prayers, I feel them daily and they keep me going.
Hug the Freeman´s and Sis DeWitt for me. Our Ward is so amazing. I had pics to send, but can´t until next week because we are at the library. Don´t worry, I have been a good trainer--I got pics with Hna Maxwell and treated her to napolitanas on the boardwalk today.haha Thanks for the family updates, Mom. They make me so happy and feel connected. Nothing but a mission would be worth missing what I am missing at home right now--and that doesn´t make me homesick, it makes me happy and work harder!
Much love and tender feelings--I am developing my tear ducts quite well here in Spain.
Hermana Clarissa Dalton
"I have two miracle stories that I would like to share this week! First, on the train into Barcelona to pick up my new companion, I got to contact and teach a lesson with my brother!!! I cannot properly explain how much this meant to me. It has been a secret desire of my heart since arriving here in Spain and only my Heavenly Father knew. The man´s name was Alberto and he is a very active Christian. He wanted to talk to us about what we believe. With Elder Rhead, we taught the first and second lessons! His beliefs are very close to ours and he listened and liked what we had to say. I shared the first vision with him and we got a Book of Mormon for him when we got off the train. It was amazing to see my brother teach and how powerful his testimony is. It is a moment I will cherish forever.
Second, I have to tell you just how real the gift of tongues is in my mission and life right now. It was such an immediate switch that there is no room for doubt in my mind that it has nothing to do with me or my abilities. I am understanding almost everything that others say to me, translating for my companion and making phone calls all day long--this especially has been a weakness for me my whole mission/life. It is incredible to very literally feel the Spirit working through me and knowing that it is not me. I am living a miracle every day and that is the only way that I am able to be training and a senior companion right now."
How precious, right? I think I am seeing/have seen so many tender mercies and miracles this week because my Heavenly Father knows I need them. Ok, reality check. I promised to be 100% honest in my emails so,yes, I am training and I am a very young and inexperienced missionary who has recently become very aware of my lack of...well, everything missionary-wise, except for three things--Faith, Hope, Charity. And that is all that I need :-)
My new companion is Hermana Maxwell from Glendale, Utah. NO relation to Elder Maxwell. Yes, everyone asks.haha Her verbal spanish is great! She is already a wonderful missionary and we are working great together. As far as I can tell, she isn´t freaking out or frustrated with me and my bumbling around trying to "train" and be "senior companion." We are excited to work, work, WORK!!! Our area needs lots of work and we are going to do it together. In fact, I have already warned her that we are doing everything together because over the next 2 transfers we will get 42ish new missionaries and we are starting now to prepare her to train. Yee haw.
I am not exaggerating about the gift of tongues. It has been a sudden change and incredible to experience. I am talking on the phone all day and trying to take care of business. It is hard, frustrating and humbling, but most growing experiences are. The scriptures say, "and it came to pass" not "and it came to stay." I´m not going to lie; I have been close to tears since Friday, but no major or minor meltdowns yet, thanks to the gift of fervent and constant prayer. "Whom the Lord calls, He qualifies." I think I repeat these sayings to myself 100x a day.
I am happy and working hard, learning a ton and finding out what missionary work is REALLY like.haha Thank you for the prayers, I feel them daily and they keep me going.
Hug the Freeman´s and Sis DeWitt for me. Our Ward is so amazing. I had pics to send, but can´t until next week because we are at the library. Don´t worry, I have been a good trainer--I got pics with Hna Maxwell and treated her to napolitanas on the boardwalk today.haha Thanks for the family updates, Mom. They make me so happy and feel connected. Nothing but a mission would be worth missing what I am missing at home right now--and that doesn´t make me homesick, it makes me happy and work harder!
Much love and tender feelings--I am developing my tear ducts quite well here in Spain.
Hermana Clarissa Dalton
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