Hello, hello,

Highest highs and lowest lows. Let´s focus on the highs.

"Miracle of yesterday--So we weren´t having the best day after Zone Conference because of my health issues. But we talked as friends and companions and got everything out in the open. Then we went to a visit and it was perhaps the best lesson of my mission to date. We taught a recent convert, her husband who has started listening to us and their friend, who told us before the lesson that her father in Africa passed away yesterday. And the lesson that we planned was ...the Plan of Salvation. We have been reading with them from the Book of Mormon and we decided instead of just teaching the plan, we would read 2 Nephi 2 and teach THEM, as we read and they were learning. The Spirit was so strong and we were able to testify to their specific needs and worries. My companion invited Tony to be baptized again and he said that this time, with us, it has been different and that this church has “won his heart.”We testified that it is the Spirit telling him it is true and he wants to get baptized in December. This is such a big miracle considering that a month ago he wouldn´t stay for our visits and wouldn´t listen. Heavenly Father has prepared his heart to open and accept the gospel at this time and it was through reading the Book of Mormon."

Obion´s husband Tony is going to be baptized!!!!!! And a member Carolina´s son and daughter, Walter and Narda, are also going to get baptized in December when their Dad gets back from Suiza. Miracles, miracles.

The multistake conference was the largest gathering of Saints here in Spain at one time, or so they have been telling us. We met in a convention center (looked like an airplane hanger) and was incredible. Elders Teixeira and Kearon were there and now we have the Cartagena Stake. It was such a unique experience and because of extenuating health issues on my part, we got to drive to the conference with the Pace´s :-))))) We went to Benidorm to check the piso before we give it to the Málaga Mission and we saw Gandía :-)-- answered prayers.

At the conference, Elder Fica (my buddy from up in Vitoria district) is serving in Gandía and introduced me to some people Connor will know :-)-- more answered prayers and tender mercies. I can´t remember their names because we just had time to talk for a minute before the conference started and I wasn´t feeling 100%, but I made sure that we got pics. And..Ximena maybe?...with the baby, she grabbed my arm as I was walking away and told me something I will never forget. Elder Monks and Dalton taught and baptized her. After Connor got transferred, she was going through a really rough patch in her life and stopped going to church and began to drift. She told me with tears in her eyes that she received a letter from Connor that changed her heart and helped her go back to church. She said it was because of him and his letter. I can´t think of a better example of a missionary being in tune with the Spirit and being the rock to help a new member with a shaky testimony to grasp the rod once again and now she is a faithful member and will always remember Elder Dalton :-) If that moment was the only reason I needed to serve here after Connor, it is enough for me.

 

The Málaga Pes. and his wife talked to me and we talked about Logan Bailey, he is doing really well. Elder Richard´s conf was amazing, the multistake conf was wonderful, the Zone conf the next day was my last and it was exactly what I needed-lots of things learned. I wish i had time to share but...life as a missionary.

Sorry I don´t have to time comment on your emails, just know that I cherish them.

Sending much love your way,

Hermana Clarissa Dalton

HEY!

"This week´s miracle is about the priesthood and the power of faith. The husband of Obion, our recent convert, had knee surgery this past week and Obion called us crying because Tony needed a lot of medication and they do not have the money to pay for it--they were not able to get him any of the prescriptions that he needed. We went to visit her the next day and had a lesson with them about faith. Tony has listened to us in the past, but wasn´t really interested in wanting to learn and change to accept the gospel in his life. We shared Alma 32 and talked about how to exercise faith. We told them that we would come back that night with the Elders if he wanted a priesthood blessing and we explained what it was. We stressed that it would be according to his faith. We invited them to pray and prepare. We went back with the Elders and the blessing was a sweet experience and then we went to work the rest of the week. We had a visit with Obispo to translate for Obion Saturday morning and she told us that "Tony now has faith." Then she told us that after we left that night, a Spaniard lady who lives on the same street came over randomly to see how they were and offered to give them the money that they needed to buy the prescription. It was an immediate answer to their prayers and the blessing according to their faith. We are working with the ward council and leaders to help them through this difficult time and it is amazing to see the Lord´s hand in the work through the members.

Laura´s baptism was stressful this week because we had to call so many people to get priesthood holders there, but it all worked out--as it always does with baptisms. And I realized how much I need and depend upon the priesthood, especially the Elders, which is interesting considering what we talked about in the Sister´s meeting with Sister Richards. Laura has changed so much since we started teaching her and I know it is because she is doing the right things and has the Holy Ghost to guide her. I also love seeing the changes it is making in her family."

Thanksgiving dinner was SO good with José and Yannina. They made potato and chicken tacos, chicken with mole (chocolate and chili) and dips--chipotle and guacamole-- and we drank zero-zero(ask Connor) with lemon fanta--they have an obsession--and sparkling cider..shots. ahahaha They are crazy and fun.

We just found out that Hna Goodman´s mini-mission companion has to go home tomorrow because of school stuff so we are going to be a trio again indefinitely...but they are reorganizing and making a new ward here, so I figure that the missionaries will shift, too. We may get more here. We´d love to move to the new ward, but we shall see when we travel to...ALICANTE for the multi-stake conference. It is not in our mission, but we have special permission to go! I´m really excited :-) Should be a fun day.

I have pics from Laura´s baptism, but I can´t send them because we are at a different locutorio. Sorry! Next week.

LOVE YOU ALL,

Hna Clarissa Dalton

Hey everybody,

"The miracle I want to share from this week was when we went to teach a friend that another investigator told us about. Her name is Violeta and she is from Poland. She lives in the other hermanas´ area so I wouldn´t have been able to meet her if we weren´t in a trio this week, which I am very grateful for. At the beginning of the visit it sounded like she was just interested in a way to practice and learn more english, but we really tried to listen to her and ask inspired questions. It was a very powerful visit and she understood why we were there and was very excited to read the Book of Mormon we left with her. It was very spiritually powerful for me to feel the Spirit guiding us to know how to connect with her and help her realize the things she is looking for in this life and the questions that she has.

Hna Oslund noticed that I was stressed out at church this week and asked the right questions to help me open up and recognize what was bothering me. Then she wrote me a letter thanking me for all that I do. It was exactly what I needed and changed the rest of my day. That´s why we have companions! Laura decided to be baptized this Friday and the Bishop told us that her father will be able to do it since it has been over a year since he has been coming back. We have seen a change in her attitude and desires this month and she is so excited to baptized now compared to a month ago when she wouldn´t talk to us if we mentioned baptism and refused to accept a plan of conversion calendar. Heavenly Father knows when His children are ready and I love being here when they decide and getting to see the difference in their eyes.

We had a good visit with Obion´s husband, Tony, this week. He is getting surgery on his leg, but we found out that at least one of the reasons he has not come to church is that they do not have the money to pay for metro for both of them so he let´s her have the money to go. I think that poco a poco he is coming around.

We were invited to a special ward council this Sunday to discuss a ward plan for next year. We were all surprised when the Bishopric passed out OUR ward mission plan ideas to everyone. They want to use it as the official plan for next year! They were all so excited and focused on missionary work. It made me so happy to see. The Relief Society President said that she wants to baptized 100 people in the ward this year--and she was serious about it! What incredible faith--I understand why the work is moving forward at such an increasing speed here in Spain."

Today is Hna Oslund´s birthday so we ran around Valencia and had some fun. We bought a yellow cake mix and milk chocolate frosting from the American store...it cost like 10 euro but hopefully it will be worth it. haha We are heading over to Laura´s for a Noche de hogar and birthday celebration. The members here are the best and are treating Hna Oslund so well for her birthday.

The mini-missionary came in Saturday. She is from Matorell and is Spaniard. Doesn´t speak a lick of english. I think Hna Goodman is having a rough time with the transition. It´s always hard, but it should be fun to get to know her.

I don´t think hermana trios are any easier than elder trios. To be honest, they might be worse considering how girls are--especially when there are 3! But we worked it out and I am glad to be back to a normal companion, less stressful for me.

Mom-ok. here´s what I´m thinking for Christmas. The most important thing for me is another roll of kinesio tape so that I can keep working almost pain-free. Could you send one and the receipt, please? Granola, more slip-on dress socks, instant oatmeal packs, drink mixes...I really need some good minty gum. No fruity, please. Well, maybe one fruity pack for Hna Oslund. And if you could put in tootsie rolls for Hna Oslund, that would be fantastically fabulous, too. Um, that´s all I can think of...I think anything else can wait a month until February, don´t you? haha Welp, gotta run, as always.

I´m glad to hear everyone is excited for Thanksgiving. We are too! Yannina and José are cooking a mexican thanksgiving for us on Saturday and I am SOOOO excited. She is from Mexico and he is a CR Spaniard. I LOVE them.

And I love all of you!

-Hna Clarissa Dalton

Wow, it´s been so crazy with transfers. I haven´t had a minute to breathe. We are losing 3 areas here in the south to the Málaga mission so we have some surprises...Hna Oslund and I are whitewashing again! In Mataró! They closed it down a fews transfers back and took the elders out. Sorry this isn´t longer, but we have to run to catch a train.

Love you! Bye!

-Hna Clarissa Dalton

　
Ok I feel bad-I´m still comps with Hna Oslund here in Valencia. No changes for us this transfer. Just thought I´d spice things up and see if anyone was paying attention. The other Dalton is opening up Mataró though because we are losing Benidorm. So it was kind of true...but Hna Oslund said I can´t lie like that...who knew she´d be keeping me in line!haha Hna Goodman is training a mini-missionary but she isn´t coming yet so we are a trio for now. Best trio ever!

"One of the many miracles we saw this week was with the friend of a part member family that we work with. She is over for lunch every week but has never really been interested in the gospel before now. But Hna Oslund has a special ability to open people up and make them instantly comfortable with us. There is just something in the eyes of a missionary that people notice and can´t deny-that they are drawn to. We connected with Maria and she came with the family to church on Sunday without us even inviting her! We met with just her personally and she is really searching to know and feel the truth. She told us all about her family and showed us pictures, she even took one of them out and gave it to us to keep :-) I am thankful everyday for the opportunity to be companions with Hna Oslund."

I am sad that Hna Maxwell has to go-I have learned so much from her and her example of Christ every day. El faro is an incredible mission because of the quality of missionaries here and their dedication to our Heavenly Father.

We are trying to teach Obion´s husband, but he is hard to get ahold of and to get to stay for a visit. I think that he is scared to change and give up coffee. We shall see..

A lesson on the Plan of Salvation went well with Collins-he seemed to understand it better. Poco a poco.

Laura´s cousin has a fecha for the begin of December so we are going to prepare her to be baptism with him, if she wants. She knows she needs to be baptized-but something is holding her back. We will find out tonight!

We found a snail in the street and carried him around with us. Hna Oslund got attached, but we named him Gary and used him in a lesson. I think it was a hit. bahahaha

Ah, this keyboard doesn´t work-so frustrating. I had a list for Christmas stuff Mom, but I left it in piso. Sorry. I´ll send you some ideas when we do the informe this week. I hope everything went well in Utah, well on the way back. Sounded pretty interesting getting there!

I feel so good every day and just love everything about being a missionary right now!

Love you,

Hna Clarissa Dalton

Happy Halloween and welcome to Nov!

It has been a hard week, but we are pushing through and I think as we continue to grow and work together, Hna Oslund and I will see lots of success here in Valencia.

One miracle story from this week is about Fanny, a woman we met on a bus to corelación meeting. She knew the missionaries is Bolivia. We met with her Tuesday night and it was a very powerful visit. The missionaries found her years ago at a difficult time in her life and she said it´s not by chance that we found her again. She wants to stop drinking coffee, but didn´t think it was possible, but now does and wants to do it. She really opened up to us as we listened and were able to teach and testify about the Plan of Salvation because she has never been able to accept the death of her father. At one point she was talking about how important what we do as missionaries is and she touched my chapa (badge, name tag). It was like an electric shock. Definitely one of those moments I won´t ever forget--just how much it meant to her and really means to me. Neat experience.

Even though we had some rough times this week, I feel like it was successful as I tried to understand and help my companion, and I realized that she is doing the same. I admire how she valued and used fast Sunday as a source of strength.

Obion has been in France, but we are meeting with her tonight and she went to the other ward for church yesterday. She sent the missionaries in France to teach her friends there :-)

Alex now has a triple and is preparing to receive the Priesthood. Collins does not believe that the Book of Mormon is different from any other religious book, but I feel like we are slowly understanding each other...very slowly.haha

Well, for Halloween we decided to have some fun...muahahahaha....and we dressed up as each other. We switched personalities, too. Not going to lie, it might have been my best piece of acting work yet, considering how different our personalities are--it was quite the gem of a day.

Today we traveled to a little city that has a castle with the Elders from Gandía--E´s Fica(who was in my district up north) and E. Buttcane (yes, that´s a real name). It was SO fun.

Connor, don´t worry. Life happens :-) I trust you. Career options, huh? I need to start thinking about that...but I don´t.  ahaha Although, I did decide that I am not going back to Mizzou--Clark, do you need to tell them that for me or do I need to do something?

Mom--way to go with the reactivation and visiting! You´ve always been good at that and I feel like so many people need it. El rescate, the rescue. That is Pte Monson´s theme huh?

Caleb-way to go and get things done with the mission papers/prep. That will help you so much--being active and getting everything done. Heavenly Father will bless you.

Oh man, my foot hurts after the hiking and nonsense today. But it feels so good to be active. Thanks for the love and emails!

MUAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Hna Clarissa Dalton

HEY!

I think we had the hardest, weirdest and most trying week of my mission so far--and I loved it! It didn´t matter how many things went wrong--and quite a few did!--we kept going and laughed almost the whole time and saw miracle after miracle. Obion was able to be baptized, even though almost everything was stacked against it. She told us after the baptism that she had to go to France for the weekend and wouldn´t be at church to receive the Holy Ghost. It was something she couldn´t or wouldn´t change. I invited her to pray that night about what Heavenly Father wanted her to do and then to make her decision. We didn´t hear from her for 3 days and I assumed she had left and we planned for her confirmation the next week. She called us Sunday morning while we were in consejo de barrio to tell us that she was coming to church. To see the smile on Hna Oslund´s face and her squeal of happiness was, oh, so worth it! We still had to scramble to find someone who could do it in English and inconvenienced the Elderes, but it all worked out and she left right after the Sacrament to go to France. That´s a miracle. That´s answered prayer. That´s faith. That´s why I´m here.

Now that Obion is baptized, we are going to focus on her husband, Tony. He wants to be baptized, but doesn´t want to stop drinking coffee and tea. There are lots of members in the ward that we are going to ask to help us teach him.

Alex is a CR and is preparing with us and the Bishop to receive the priesthood. The Bishop asked him to study some things, so we are focusing on that this week.

We have lots of families to visit from the Bishop and ward. One of our goals this week is to visit or contact all of them.

Another miracle from this week--Saturday was insane from an outside perspèctive, possibly the worst day, logistically, of the mission so far--but I loved it because of how it ended. We got fired on, emergency feminine supplies run to the store, late to teach  English class, missed the train to a far away pueblo to visit the Bishop, got there hours late and he had to leave for a meeting, got yelled at during a lesson from the dueño of an investigator and they proceded to yell at each other and we were the go between, got lost and had to ride a whole bus loop, then missed our stop, missed correlation with the ward mission leader...but here´s why--we talked to 2 families on the bus that we needed to meet. Fanny had the missionaries visit her family in Bolivia and begged us to come over and was incredible. Diana helped us with directions and wants us to come by, too. Sometimes all your carefully laid, yet narrowly-minded plans fall through so that you can do Heavenly Father´s will and plan. :-) Incredible!

Hna Oslund is great. One of the best friends I have found on the mission. She´s another miracle of my mission. That´s real.

Kind of scary about all the health issues in the ward back home. Tell Tricia that I´ve heard breaking a leg is the punishment for not writing a certain missionary. ahahahaha (or not? maybe too soon to joke? you can be the filter and decide...) I´ll pray for her and Emy. I´ve actually had the impression to write them both within the last few weeks. I should do that...

Mom, thanks for keeping me going :-) I love your emails. And Clecca, Haley singing is precious :-) everyone loved it. Ok, I have pics! Finally.

ENJOY!!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Hna Clarissa Dalton

Alma 37:34

D y C 24:8

Hey!

Fall is in the air! We had a nice rainstorm and it has been pleasantly chilly in the morning and night. However, I think AZ heat next summer might kill me. My body hasn´t been tolerating warm/hot/humid/ heat lately. My pisomates all jokingly tease me it is "menopausia" because they think I go through hot flashes.ahahaha And they call me the viejita o abuelita (old grandmother)...they are hilarious. I´m just slightly nervous it could be true ;-)> It is weird being so much "older" in the mission than everyone else here. Hna Oslund pointed out that I was the oldest in Zone Enfoque...awkward.

Welp, our miracle this week started with District Meeting where we set the goal to teach 20+ lessons this week. We were hitting this consistently in Hospitalet...but considering what we´ve seen here for the past 2 weeks plus all the member visits we are trying to get in, this was a challenging goal. But we were able to reach it! We tried to focus on teaching lessons at every opportunity--even on the metro when Obion, who is getting baptized this week, didn´t have time to stay after church. If you are willing to go the extra mile and do everything you can think of, Heavenly Father makes up the difference. It also helps to have a companion like Hna Oslund :-)

Obion is getting baptized Thursday. We are trying to plan everything ahead, but it is different than I am used to, especially as it will be in English. She is so ready and excited. Her husband wants to be baptized as well, but doesn´t want to keep any commitments or do anything. We are praying that her baptism will help him prepare himself. She also has lots of friends that we want to start teaching as well. We have to find baptismal clothes for her and make some goodies this week for the get-together afterward...hmmmm

Collins is a recent convert who doesn´t like us :-( He won´t meet with us and asked if Hna Maxwell can teach him again. We don´t know what to do, but are going to keep trying. His English is nearly impossible to understand (he´s from Africa) and I think this may be a contributing factor.

José is an incredible and strong CR (recent convert) who is now the 1st counselor in the HHJJ. I loved meeting with him and his wife.We are planning to work through him to help strengthen the youth.

We had a very powerful visit with a strong, but menosactiva (less active) member as well. I did not know she was not attending church--which is probably a good thing because it left the door open for me to listen to the Spirit and be more fuerte (firm). She feels very guilty because of the choices of her son and is punishing herself by keeping herself from taking the Sacrament and being worthy to go to the temple. We invited her to do some specific things and we shall see what happens...

I loved the miracle of the dedication of Alma the Younger in my reading this week. He gives up the judgment seat and everything to serve and teach and be a missionary. You can see the influence of his faith and diligence in his life, the miracles he brings about with his faith, the strength of his recent converts, the growth of the church and the lives of his sons and close associates (Amulek and Zeezrom). I want to be more like him.

This keyboard is driving me insane, half the keys don´t work unless you slam it...so fun...and my camera battery just died so no pics this week :-) sad day, we have some good ones. Welp, next week!

Interviews with Pte Pace were amazing. We talked about a lot of things and I have my marching orders. He gave me a blessing for my foot and it was so...sweet. I got the package with the tape Saturday, same day as the blessing and haven´t had any pains or problems since :-) And we went running this morning! IT FELT SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely a miracle!

So I´m happy. I´m NOT hurting. I might be going through menopause heehee. And I have the best companion and piso in the mission. What else could Hna Dalton ask for? Hmmmm, you can guess, but basically I´m doing grrrrrrrrrrrreat!

Love you,

Hna Clarissa Dalton