¡Bon Nadal!
Catalan for Merry Christmas.haha Connor likes to say this. It was AMAZING to see and talk to everyone for Christmas-quite possibly the best Christmas so far. It felt so good to see and just know that life goes on without me there. That sounds weird, but it is very comforting.haha There is always so much that I want to say or tell all of you, but I never have time.haha I try to email family and write letters to everyone else when I feel like I really need to tell you something, so hopefully it is often enough and what you need to hear.
It was sunny today so we did some sightseeing and I will attach a bunch of pictures so hold onto your hats ladies and gents because it is B-E-A-UTIFUL here!!!!!!
But first things first--I must tell you about last night. We had to take the "topo" train to a pueblo...missed our stop and had to run from the next one back to find the family´s teenage son and daughter who were waiting for us. Hna Fuentes was very stressed out, but I thought it was funny and laughed the whole time.ahahaha It was freezing, too! Colder than Zaragoza. I just kept thinking..."at least the next stop was only like a mile instead of the next pueblo...at least we are together and I´m not trying to figure this out alone...at least it´s not raining." I finally got her to laugh, too. The family is from Chile and they asked us last week if there is anything we don´t like...Hna Fuentes isn´t super crazy about fish and seafood...so naturally the ENTIRE first course was boiled shrimp (the kind you have to rip the head off, de-shell and then de-leg), not one but two different kinds of anchovies, mackerel and my personal favorite...a kind of jellied deer spread stuff for crackers.ahahaha But course two was not to be outdone by course one. It included...garganta--throat. Throat of something. I thought he said calves, but Hna Fuentes heard some kind of sea creature. But throats. It was very...different. Texture, taste, everything. I hope we never cross paths again, but I downed 2 of them and complimented the chef heavily. I have learned to just get to the postre--which is usually fruit, nuts and turron-chocolate. They also had this drink, I didn´t catch the name, but is was sweetened condensed milk, I think, with nata (cream) and coffee flavoring and spices...basically coffee for members.haha It was interesting. Turron will be the death of me, though. It is SOOOOO delicious. Bricks of different kinds of chocolates and chocolates with other things that put you into a sugar coma.
I do want to share with you something I learned from Pres Brown at Temple Square. The 5 Motivations for why we do what we do as missionaries and members of the Church:
1-The Virgin Birth
2-The Agony of Gethsemani
3-The Cruel Cross
4-The Empty Tomb
5-The Spring of 1820
IT´S ALL TRUE!!!!!!!
I have never had those 5 events put together in that way before and it is a lesson I will always remember. May we all always remember our true divine natures, our true purpose here on earth and the true reason for Christmas. I love you all!
-Hermana Dalton
OH! Mom-my package arrived today! The office Elders sent in on up to me with some other mail and it came this morning! THANK YOU FOR THE GRANOLA!!!!!!!!!!! I don´t know how you knew, but I have been craving it for WEEKS and never thought to ask for it!haha Everything else looked amazing! I am so excited!haha You are the best family EVER! MUAH!
These pictures are of the La Playa de La Concha-San Sebastian´s beach, and La Castilla de La Mota-the castle/fortress with the Statue of Christ overlooking the city and ocean on the other side...and no, I haven´t lost any of my personality-no worries!
SHOUT OUTS:
Rahmderson´s- Thank you for the updates! A letter is on it´s way!
Jury´s-you two crack me up. Thanks for making me smile halfway around the world. A letter´s coming!
Knudsen´s - Thank you so much for the Christmas card. It touched my heart and I wish you both the best holidays!
Aunt Marla-thank you for the family picture! It is so good to see everyone and everyone looks so good! Merry Christmas and I love you!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Here's Your Christmas Card!
I wish I could send you things for the Holidays like presents and a taste of the sweets and pastries here...but I just bgot my mission debit card this week and it only just started working, so I'm playing catch up replenishing my depleted cash fund and such. haha--the joys of a mission! So you'll just have to get by with my love, my prayers and my promise that I am not wasting my time or money while I'm here! Oh, and this picture, which is just so perfectly indescribable! ahaha The background is the Catholic Cathedral here in Zaragoza called Pilar. I just have to point out that the work "jumping" is strategically covering about 2 inches of my 'religion', if you know what I mean! ahaha Hna Fuentes didn't get so lucky with her grandma stockings. ahaha I'm (well, I was) singing in the choir here to help them out for the Christmas party, but I won't be around for that anymore, but I got to learn some Spanish carols and Christmas songs. I love "Los peces en el rio" and "Chiquirritiu" (no guarantees on the spelling!) You should look them up on youtube or something! The first is about fish in the river by where Christ was born or something. I love the line "beben y beben y vuelvena beber'--hahah--and the other is a tongue twister and I have no idea what it means yet! Just imagine me trying to keep up!
The Senior couple here, the Churches, made a big Thanksgiving dinner for our district. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie! The only thing missing was candied yams and pecan pie and ...tyme or however you spell the spice, Mom! And most importantly--my family, but it will make the time I have with you that much more special when I come back, right?!
Tengo mi familia canmigo cada dia en mi corazon. I say this to myself everyday and when I bore my testimony yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't have time or money to send a Christmas Card to everyone my self. A copy on email is the only thing I can give you for Christmas. I love you all! Merry Christmas! Hermana Dalton
The Senior couple here, the Churches, made a big Thanksgiving dinner for our district. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie! The only thing missing was candied yams and pecan pie and ...tyme or however you spell the spice, Mom! And most importantly--my family, but it will make the time I have with you that much more special when I come back, right?!
Tengo mi familia canmigo cada dia en mi corazon. I say this to myself everyday and when I bore my testimony yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't have time or money to send a Christmas Card to everyone my self. A copy on email is the only thing I can give you for Christmas. I love you all! Merry Christmas! Hermana Dalton
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
San Sebastian, here I come!
Ok, I´m apologizing now because I haven´t read your emails for this week yet. I´m just printing them out to read at home. It´s been a crazy traveling day and Hna Fuentes is really sick, so that makes everything...more fun. We arrived safely and without a hitch here in this b-e-a-utiful northern part of Spain. A member family was waiting for us and our massive amounts of luggage at the train station. They took us to our piso and then fed us until I was just about comatose, which has happened A LOT this week. Oh dear.
I can see the HUGE waves from our piso! I cannot describe to you all the incredible feelings of joy and excitement I have about being here. I don´t know why, but I have been giddy since learning we were coming here. I can´t wait to figure out why. There is simply no counterfeit or excuse for being where you are supposed to be and doing what you are supposed to be doing when you are supposed to me doing it. If you don´t feel that way,then find out how because you are missing out!!!!
Here´s a copy of my miracle story for the week that I sent in to Pres Hinckley: I was able to see a miracle this week while on intercambios with Hermana Preston so that she and her companion could get to know our investigators before we left. The appointment we were heading to fell through, so we were standing on the corner deciding what to do next. I never know what to do next in the mission, so I always choose to do the same thing--pray. We sat on a bench and said a quick prayer. While we were both collecting our thoughts, a man and woman walked by. The man made eye contact and smiled and we smiled in return. As soon as they walked by, we turned to stare at each other and immediately nodded. We jumped up and ran after them. It turns out that he was an inactive member from Ecuador and had not attended church for at least four years! He said he was done with the Church and nothing could change that. We smiled and testified the opposite. We were able to get both of their numbers and Hermanas Preston and Walker are going to visit them soon. They are neighbors. It wasn´t anything big or grand, but we both knew that we were guided and blessed for stopping, praying and asking for guidance. This is the second time this has happened to me. So I will keep choosing to pray!
I will read, write and respond next week. I promise! But time is up and we are paying a lot to be here because we are out of time and couldn´t use the library yet! Isn´t the mission fun?!?! Oh, yes it is! ¨Come what may, and love it!" I love you all. Thanks for strengthening my testimony every day. I am here because of YOU and this is the best Christmas present I could ever receive or give!
Muah!
-Hermana Clarissa Dalton
PS Here are some pics of us having way too much fun before I left Zaragoza with Hnas Preston and Walker, saying goodbye to a part member convert family and ward mission leader, seeing Connor, and the real life 'Walk through Bethlehem' in Zaragoza in front of the Pilar Cathedral.
I can see the HUGE waves from our piso! I cannot describe to you all the incredible feelings of joy and excitement I have about being here. I don´t know why, but I have been giddy since learning we were coming here. I can´t wait to figure out why. There is simply no counterfeit or excuse for being where you are supposed to be and doing what you are supposed to be doing when you are supposed to me doing it. If you don´t feel that way,then find out how because you are missing out!!!!
Here´s a copy of my miracle story for the week that I sent in to Pres Hinckley: I was able to see a miracle this week while on intercambios with Hermana Preston so that she and her companion could get to know our investigators before we left. The appointment we were heading to fell through, so we were standing on the corner deciding what to do next. I never know what to do next in the mission, so I always choose to do the same thing--pray. We sat on a bench and said a quick prayer. While we were both collecting our thoughts, a man and woman walked by. The man made eye contact and smiled and we smiled in return. As soon as they walked by, we turned to stare at each other and immediately nodded. We jumped up and ran after them. It turns out that he was an inactive member from Ecuador and had not attended church for at least four years! He said he was done with the Church and nothing could change that. We smiled and testified the opposite. We were able to get both of their numbers and Hermanas Preston and Walker are going to visit them soon. They are neighbors. It wasn´t anything big or grand, but we both knew that we were guided and blessed for stopping, praying and asking for guidance. This is the second time this has happened to me. So I will keep choosing to pray!
I will read, write and respond next week. I promise! But time is up and we are paying a lot to be here because we are out of time and couldn´t use the library yet! Isn´t the mission fun?!?! Oh, yes it is! ¨Come what may, and love it!" I love you all. Thanks for strengthening my testimony every day. I am here because of YOU and this is the best Christmas present I could ever receive or give!
Muah!
-Hermana Clarissa Dalton
PS Here are some pics of us having way too much fun before I left Zaragoza with Hnas Preston and Walker, saying goodbye to a part member convert family and ward mission leader, seeing Connor, and the real life 'Walk through Bethlehem' in Zaragoza in front of the Pilar Cathedral.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Transfers a week early!
Howdy! Monday, December 5, 2011
Ok, so first things first, which is actually two things that go together. Sorry, I haven´t given you an address, but we have transfers at the end of this week and we didn´t think we´d be staying, so I didn´t want to confuse you. Because of our mission goal of 450 baptisms this year, Pres. told us our transfers a week early to prep and make the minimal changes as smooth as possible. Yes, we were right and we are being transferred. I will be serving in San Sebastian in the Vitoria Zone! This is the part where I should be telling you where that is and other little missionary/geographical tidbits...but I have no idea. And my companion is very distracted with pictures of her new niece at the moment...so you´ll just have to hop on google and do the grunt work for me. Sorry. All I got out of her before the niece-picture-gushing began was "north" and "going to be very cold." Loverly.haha I´ll be buying more tights and leggings and such very soon. So...about the address-- I´m so sorry, but I don´t know what it will be until next week...hold on. I´m working some magic...maybe...nope. Sorry, just send it to the mission home and I´ll get it as soon as I can. Next week I´ll get you the piso address. And anyone--feel free to write to the mission address until I get the other one. I´m not picky! haha
One miracle story from this week was when we were trying to find a member´s piso to teach his roommate. The piso number he gave us was wrong, so we couldn´t get inside the building. We decided to pray and as soon as we were done, a lady came out and we were able to go inside. The piso number didn´t exist, so we tried the closest sounding one (the member´s from Ghana and has a very thick accent! haha) and no one answered. I heard people in the apartment next door and felt like we should knock on their door. My comp wasn´t so thrilled, but we rang the bell. A pregnant mother from Peru said that we should try the next planta (floor). We talked to her and she invited us back this week! We went upstairs and found the original piso that we were looking for and also have a lesson set up with him this week. We will find out why we needed to find both of them.
We have two investigators with baptismal dates this week--Alfonso and Enoch. Pray for them! Satan´s working on both of them really hard and they are getting confused about what they really want. I don´t know if Elder Dalton told you, but as of last week, we had 52 baptisms left to reach our goal...and there are 52 companionships in the mission :-) No way that´s a coincidence and that a mission goal is for every companionship to baptize every month. WE can do this. I´ve never felt so much weighing on my every decision, everyday, before. The mantle of a missionary is quite a responsibility and I got my first taste of just how important it is to act the part an all times and in all things and in all places. I am learning, slowly but surely, that everything really does come down to faith--the power to act. So I´m telling you now--we as a mission WILL meet this goal of 450 baptisms. And we as a companionship WILL do our part and help at least one person into the waters of baptism this month. This is something that I cannot do on my own. No way. Sometimes I don´t even know how we can do it, but that´s where the faith comes in. Like the father in the "Finding Faith in Christ" video, I feel like crying out "Help Thou my unbelief!" every day, multiple times a day, but the Lord will provide a way and I will just have to provide the work. Please pray for me. I need it--so much.
Speaking of things I need so much, I can hardly wait to see Elder Dalton this week! My feelings for my younger brother that I haven´t seen in 15 months, but somehow have been blessed with the privilege and tender mercy of serving with, are so tender that I am glad this is an email because I wouldn´t be able to say any of this without crying. I am so full of joy when I think about Friday and all it holds. haha My Heavenly Father knows me so perfectly. I will never doubt that in this life or the next.
Well, I didn´t get to say half of what I wanted, but that is the mission. I´ll say it all in my heart and the Spirit will have to do the talking to yours. I´m alive and well, cold and missing peanut butter and dryers. ahahaha! I will talk to you next week from San Sebastian!
I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!
-Hermana Dalton
Oh, put Clarissa or Clare Dalton on letters/packages please so the other Sister Dalton doesn´t get my mail. haha
Ok, so first things first, which is actually two things that go together. Sorry, I haven´t given you an address, but we have transfers at the end of this week and we didn´t think we´d be staying, so I didn´t want to confuse you. Because of our mission goal of 450 baptisms this year, Pres. told us our transfers a week early to prep and make the minimal changes as smooth as possible. Yes, we were right and we are being transferred. I will be serving in San Sebastian in the Vitoria Zone! This is the part where I should be telling you where that is and other little missionary/geographical tidbits...but I have no idea. And my companion is very distracted with pictures of her new niece at the moment...so you´ll just have to hop on google and do the grunt work for me. Sorry. All I got out of her before the niece-picture-gushing began was "north" and "going to be very cold." Loverly.haha I´ll be buying more tights and leggings and such very soon. So...about the address-- I´m so sorry, but I don´t know what it will be until next week...hold on. I´m working some magic...maybe...nope. Sorry, just send it to the mission home and I´ll get it as soon as I can. Next week I´ll get you the piso address. And anyone--feel free to write to the mission address until I get the other one. I´m not picky! haha
One miracle story from this week was when we were trying to find a member´s piso to teach his roommate. The piso number he gave us was wrong, so we couldn´t get inside the building. We decided to pray and as soon as we were done, a lady came out and we were able to go inside. The piso number didn´t exist, so we tried the closest sounding one (the member´s from Ghana and has a very thick accent! haha) and no one answered. I heard people in the apartment next door and felt like we should knock on their door. My comp wasn´t so thrilled, but we rang the bell. A pregnant mother from Peru said that we should try the next planta (floor). We talked to her and she invited us back this week! We went upstairs and found the original piso that we were looking for and also have a lesson set up with him this week. We will find out why we needed to find both of them.
We have two investigators with baptismal dates this week--Alfonso and Enoch. Pray for them! Satan´s working on both of them really hard and they are getting confused about what they really want. I don´t know if Elder Dalton told you, but as of last week, we had 52 baptisms left to reach our goal...and there are 52 companionships in the mission :-) No way that´s a coincidence and that a mission goal is for every companionship to baptize every month. WE can do this. I´ve never felt so much weighing on my every decision, everyday, before. The mantle of a missionary is quite a responsibility and I got my first taste of just how important it is to act the part an all times and in all things and in all places. I am learning, slowly but surely, that everything really does come down to faith--the power to act. So I´m telling you now--we as a mission WILL meet this goal of 450 baptisms. And we as a companionship WILL do our part and help at least one person into the waters of baptism this month. This is something that I cannot do on my own. No way. Sometimes I don´t even know how we can do it, but that´s where the faith comes in. Like the father in the "Finding Faith in Christ" video, I feel like crying out "Help Thou my unbelief!" every day, multiple times a day, but the Lord will provide a way and I will just have to provide the work. Please pray for me. I need it--so much.
Speaking of things I need so much, I can hardly wait to see Elder Dalton this week! My feelings for my younger brother that I haven´t seen in 15 months, but somehow have been blessed with the privilege and tender mercy of serving with, are so tender that I am glad this is an email because I wouldn´t be able to say any of this without crying. I am so full of joy when I think about Friday and all it holds. haha My Heavenly Father knows me so perfectly. I will never doubt that in this life or the next.
Well, I didn´t get to say half of what I wanted, but that is the mission. I´ll say it all in my heart and the Spirit will have to do the talking to yours. I´m alive and well, cold and missing peanut butter and dryers. ahahaha! I will talk to you next week from San Sebastian!
I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!
-Hermana Dalton
Oh, put Clarissa or Clare Dalton on letters/packages please so the other Sister Dalton doesn´t get my mail. haha
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving from Zaragoza, Spain!
Hola!
It´s been a chilly week here in Zaragoza. I need to buy some more tights and leggings!haha Thank you all so much for the emails. I have to admit I got a little misty-eyed more than once. I love how I can almost hear everyone´s voices and personalities through your words. Thanks for touching my heart and reminding me why I am here and why this work is so important--because NOTHING else in this world would be worth having to be this far away from you, my family.
It has been fun trying to get the routine down here. We actually went to Barcelona Tues/Wed for some training. I will never forget walking up out of the metro and seeing my first view of Barcelona...and then turning around and being quite literally directly underneath the Sagrada Familia. I can´t wait to work in Barcelona during my mission. The training was so wonderful. I love the Hinckley´s so much. I also got to see Hna Farrell again and those were some great hugs and laughs. Everyone had something to say about me FINALLY getting here and Elder Dalton. haha It is going to be fun getting used to this.
The work here is incredible. There are always people to teach and pass by. We have 3 investigators with baptismal dates for December that we are working towards. Work schedules and going to church seem to be the hardest and biggest hurdle--well, and coffee. ahaha I love teaching! I love being able to teach. I can´t say everything I want yet, but I can participate and follow along. I can´t imagine being completely lost. I get frustrated enough understand 80-90%. I just have to be diligent and keep using the language.
We are teaching a mother and daughter who called us! haha They were contacted over the summer, but didn´t have time. But the daughter is going through some hard times and depression. She is just starting to go back to school and begged her mom to call us. She has come to church and every activity we can invite her to during the week. She is very quiet, but I can´t wait to get her to open up. She is so sweet. I have a good feeling about them.
Well, lots of things are different, as you can imagine. You might enjoy these: the milk comes in cardboard cartons and not refrigerated. It also has a very unique, sweet after taste. You can´t touch fruit at the grocery store--they have disposable gloves for you. haha (learned this the awkward, hard way) Everything is up--pisos and pisos--no houses and the elevators are ridiculously teeny. haha
love you!
Hermana Dalton
Shout outs:
Clecca: You can do it Clark! One day at a time (or step, Jordin Sparks) just keep going and it will soon be Christmas. Thank you for the pictures! The girls are darling! So precious.
Caleb! LubLub! It is so good to hear from you! I know just what you are going through with the short story. ahaha Ask Mom about the Thanksgiving weekend I spent in the room writing that...oh, wait, that was every weekend in high school. ahaha Enjoy the work--it´s worth it. Breaking Dawn posters are everywhere here and my companion loves pointing out, "Hey! There you are!" haha I thought about you and everyone on Thanksgiving. I´m glad you went and played football. I can´t wait to play again!
Mom-thanks for the updates. I love your emails and positive spirit so much. It helps more than I can tell you. So for Christmas, I promised I´d tell you things I want/need: crest white strips, deodorant, dry ranch mix packets, drink mixes and any other dry cooking mixes you can fit in, haha, almond roca Dad!, Chloe--more flowers por favor--red, black white and colors!
It´s been a chilly week here in Zaragoza. I need to buy some more tights and leggings!haha Thank you all so much for the emails. I have to admit I got a little misty-eyed more than once. I love how I can almost hear everyone´s voices and personalities through your words. Thanks for touching my heart and reminding me why I am here and why this work is so important--because NOTHING else in this world would be worth having to be this far away from you, my family.
It has been fun trying to get the routine down here. We actually went to Barcelona Tues/Wed for some training. I will never forget walking up out of the metro and seeing my first view of Barcelona...and then turning around and being quite literally directly underneath the Sagrada Familia. I can´t wait to work in Barcelona during my mission. The training was so wonderful. I love the Hinckley´s so much. I also got to see Hna Farrell again and those were some great hugs and laughs. Everyone had something to say about me FINALLY getting here and Elder Dalton. haha It is going to be fun getting used to this.
The work here is incredible. There are always people to teach and pass by. We have 3 investigators with baptismal dates for December that we are working towards. Work schedules and going to church seem to be the hardest and biggest hurdle--well, and coffee. ahaha I love teaching! I love being able to teach. I can´t say everything I want yet, but I can participate and follow along. I can´t imagine being completely lost. I get frustrated enough understand 80-90%. I just have to be diligent and keep using the language.
We are teaching a mother and daughter who called us! haha They were contacted over the summer, but didn´t have time. But the daughter is going through some hard times and depression. She is just starting to go back to school and begged her mom to call us. She has come to church and every activity we can invite her to during the week. She is very quiet, but I can´t wait to get her to open up. She is so sweet. I have a good feeling about them.
Well, lots of things are different, as you can imagine. You might enjoy these: the milk comes in cardboard cartons and not refrigerated. It also has a very unique, sweet after taste. You can´t touch fruit at the grocery store--they have disposable gloves for you. haha (learned this the awkward, hard way) Everything is up--pisos and pisos--no houses and the elevators are ridiculously teeny. haha
love you!
Hermana Dalton
Shout outs:
Clecca: You can do it Clark! One day at a time (or step, Jordin Sparks) just keep going and it will soon be Christmas. Thank you for the pictures! The girls are darling! So precious.
Caleb! LubLub! It is so good to hear from you! I know just what you are going through with the short story. ahaha Ask Mom about the Thanksgiving weekend I spent in the room writing that...oh, wait, that was every weekend in high school. ahaha Enjoy the work--it´s worth it. Breaking Dawn posters are everywhere here and my companion loves pointing out, "Hey! There you are!" haha I thought about you and everyone on Thanksgiving. I´m glad you went and played football. I can´t wait to play again!
Mom-thanks for the updates. I love your emails and positive spirit so much. It helps more than I can tell you. So for Christmas, I promised I´d tell you things I want/need: crest white strips, deodorant, dry ranch mix packets, drink mixes and any other dry cooking mixes you can fit in, haha, almond roca Dad!, Chloe--more flowers por favor--red, black white and colors!
Monday, November 21, 2011
So, the next phase begins in Zaragoza, Espana!
...whoa.haha
I´m not sure what else to say. I´m here finally and so it begins. I suppose you could say I´m rather culture-shocked at the moment...I think it´s more just shocked in general. haha It´s a lot to take in and it´s only day three, so I just smile and nod most of the time. ahahaha It has been the worst preparation day so far because we´ve had so much to do and I think we´ve walked a half marathon this morning. That part feels so good, much better than sitting all day, so I won´t complain.
So, let´s see, where to start. The train ride, my first ever, from Madrid to Zaragoza went well. It was scary doing it alone, but it all worked out. They were showing 'X-Men Origins' on the train, the same movie they were showing on my plane to Spain, so it made me laugh. Someone´s trying to tempt me, but I resisted both times...because watching the inside of my eyelids was so much better! :-) haha A senior couple and my trainer were waiting outside the station in Zaragoza-- "The Best Two Years" experience, thank heavens. My trainer is Hna Fuentes from Utah. She is amazing! She is going home in the next few months and very patient and a hard worker. I´m so excited. On our first bus ride she did a few contacts and I was so excited to be with a companion who wants to and knows how to work! The senior couple, the Churches, have been here for a month and are very sweet. They suprised me when we got to our piso...because Hna Preston (friend from Tucson Institute) is one of our roomies! It was FABULOUS to see a familiar, smiling face. Her companion is great too, Hna Walker. Hna Fuentes was training her, but now Hna Preston is finishing. Hna Walker´s been here just over a month. They are great to share a piso with. We are actually really lucky to have a new piso, a member in the branch bought it and we just started using it. It is very nice, no carpet though, which I kind of miss.
Pte and Hna Hinckley came from Barcelona and we had lunch together about 3 hours after I got off the train. They came to see me, since I´m like the only missionary who didn´t get to go to Barcelona first, but mostly they came because yesterday we had a branch conference. I love them! They are just as amazing as everyone says. And it feels like I am talking to the senior President Hinckley sometimes and it give me goosebumps. haha He tried calling Elder Dalton right there so we could talk, but the goober didn´t answer his phone. Oh well, there is some kind of tri-area conference the first week of December, so I´ll see him then and I cannot WAIT!!!!!!!!!!! Pte Hinckley had only the best things to say about Elder Dalton-- Mom and Dad--he is the excellent missionary we all thought he was anyway! But seriously, everyone I talk to has the highest praise for Elder Dalton and his work ethic, especially Hna Preston who has been here the same amount of time as him. I hope I don´t ruin everyone´s expectations and that I can live up to the kind of missionary he is.
So, this is the first time that Zaragoza has had 4 hermanas and we split the area. I am hopelessly lost whereever we go, but hopefully that will change sooner than later. haha We ride buses and walk everywhere. Most of this morning we spent getting me a bus pass and youth discount card and library card and all sorts of nonsense that is necessary but takes...for...ever...to...get...done.haha I´m supposed to do registration/resident stuff soon, but they are just starting a new system, so I´m not doing anything just yet. I did a bunch in Madrid before I left. We also had to juggle our schedule there because some high up government officials came to tour the CCM and we got to meet them and show them what we are doing in their country. They were really happy that we are "serving" here and not taking jobs, which I guess they have been confused about. The CCM President told us this will all make a big difference for future missionaries. Hopefully from now on it will be much easier to get visas. Oh, I got to spend 2 hours in downtown Madrid before I left and got some great pics! It was amazing! I hope I get to go back and go sightseeing some day. Maybe I can attach some pics today.
Sunday we had the conference and it was really spiritual. I understood all the talks! I´m just still two steps behind in actual conversations. ahaha There are 2 branches here and they are working hard to become wards, but there are no other cities around to make a stake with, but that´s what we work on everyday! Pte Hinckley promised us that if we pay our tithing and keep the Sabbath day holy we will find safety and protection from the financial and personal difficulties and crisis that we have. It was so powerful and I know that it is true. The key to getting what we want in life is SO simple if we just keep the commandments and live the gospel. There was a young single adult conference that night about missionary work--Pte Hinckley spoke again and we watched some of 'The District' with the young adults. There were about 10. Then Pte Hinckley had me come up, said I´d been there 2 days, and asked me what we do in the Spain Barcelona Mission. Well, I blanked and only remembered it in english, SO embarrassing."Bautizamos conversos dignos y sus familias"..."We baptize worthy converts and their families." Needless to say, I will never forget it again in either language :-) ahahaha
We had lunch/dinner (we just eat in the afternoon here) with a family in the ward, the Wolfharts. He is in the mission presidency. They were great. He is German, but speaks spanish and english, too. And his wife is from Spain, but also speaks english and german. I loved getting to know them. The people that you get to meet are so dynamic and amazing. I am so blessed. It made me feel like I was at home, just a little bit. haha
So, ya, I´m here. It´s crazy, but I am adjusting and doing it with a smile and laughing a lot--roll with the punches. I can´t wait to get to meet our investigators. I´ve just talked to them on the phone so far. One was going to be baptized next week, but missed church on Sunday. OH! I got to go to a baptism on Saturday! My first day, just like at Temple Square. It felt so good! I can´t wait to go to one every week! We can do it! I love you all tons and love reading your letters and emails, so keep them coming, eh? haha I have the 'bestest' family and friends in the whole world. Work hard in whatever you are doing, and tell me about it! Besitos and abrazos!
I don´t have anymore time to write people today, but hopefully next week will be a slower preparation day. Oh, I get to go into Barcelona tomorrow for training stuff, so that should be fun as well. I´m excited to see the city!
Con amor
Hermana Dalton
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eat tons of pumpkin pie and yams for me!
The pics are from Madrid and my first 2 days here. They are the Madrid temple, me outside of the temple, with the Hinckleys, my new companion Hna Fuentes, and the big downtown bank in Madrid where they celebrate New Year´s and eat 12 grapes (doce uvas) at midnight--one for each month and good luck. It was an incredible building. Um, I think that is all...
Shout outs:
Clecca-Thanks for the email! I´m glad you are getting a break! We all need those every now and then. I plan on taking a HUGE one is, oh, 16 months.ahaha Calissa sounds as funny as ever! I miss her cute voice and happiness so much! Ya, it´s been a year! Crazy, right? I can´t believe it! Enjoy...lots of pumpkin pie and yams for me!!!! And any other desserts!haha Have fun and thanks for the update, I love reading your emails. I can just hear you and Becca telling the stories and see your personalities between the lines.
I´m not sure what else to say. I´m here finally and so it begins. I suppose you could say I´m rather culture-shocked at the moment...I think it´s more just shocked in general. haha It´s a lot to take in and it´s only day three, so I just smile and nod most of the time. ahahaha It has been the worst preparation day so far because we´ve had so much to do and I think we´ve walked a half marathon this morning. That part feels so good, much better than sitting all day, so I won´t complain.
So, let´s see, where to start. The train ride, my first ever, from Madrid to Zaragoza went well. It was scary doing it alone, but it all worked out. They were showing 'X-Men Origins' on the train, the same movie they were showing on my plane to Spain, so it made me laugh. Someone´s trying to tempt me, but I resisted both times...because watching the inside of my eyelids was so much better! :-) haha A senior couple and my trainer were waiting outside the station in Zaragoza-- "The Best Two Years" experience, thank heavens. My trainer is Hna Fuentes from Utah. She is amazing! She is going home in the next few months and very patient and a hard worker. I´m so excited. On our first bus ride she did a few contacts and I was so excited to be with a companion who wants to and knows how to work! The senior couple, the Churches, have been here for a month and are very sweet. They suprised me when we got to our piso...because Hna Preston (friend from Tucson Institute) is one of our roomies! It was FABULOUS to see a familiar, smiling face. Her companion is great too, Hna Walker. Hna Fuentes was training her, but now Hna Preston is finishing. Hna Walker´s been here just over a month. They are great to share a piso with. We are actually really lucky to have a new piso, a member in the branch bought it and we just started using it. It is very nice, no carpet though, which I kind of miss.
Pte and Hna Hinckley came from Barcelona and we had lunch together about 3 hours after I got off the train. They came to see me, since I´m like the only missionary who didn´t get to go to Barcelona first, but mostly they came because yesterday we had a branch conference. I love them! They are just as amazing as everyone says. And it feels like I am talking to the senior President Hinckley sometimes and it give me goosebumps. haha He tried calling Elder Dalton right there so we could talk, but the goober didn´t answer his phone. Oh well, there is some kind of tri-area conference the first week of December, so I´ll see him then and I cannot WAIT!!!!!!!!!!! Pte Hinckley had only the best things to say about Elder Dalton-- Mom and Dad--he is the excellent missionary we all thought he was anyway! But seriously, everyone I talk to has the highest praise for Elder Dalton and his work ethic, especially Hna Preston who has been here the same amount of time as him. I hope I don´t ruin everyone´s expectations and that I can live up to the kind of missionary he is.
So, this is the first time that Zaragoza has had 4 hermanas and we split the area. I am hopelessly lost whereever we go, but hopefully that will change sooner than later. haha We ride buses and walk everywhere. Most of this morning we spent getting me a bus pass and youth discount card and library card and all sorts of nonsense that is necessary but takes...for...ever...to...get...done.haha I´m supposed to do registration/resident stuff soon, but they are just starting a new system, so I´m not doing anything just yet. I did a bunch in Madrid before I left. We also had to juggle our schedule there because some high up government officials came to tour the CCM and we got to meet them and show them what we are doing in their country. They were really happy that we are "serving" here and not taking jobs, which I guess they have been confused about. The CCM President told us this will all make a big difference for future missionaries. Hopefully from now on it will be much easier to get visas. Oh, I got to spend 2 hours in downtown Madrid before I left and got some great pics! It was amazing! I hope I get to go back and go sightseeing some day. Maybe I can attach some pics today.
Sunday we had the conference and it was really spiritual. I understood all the talks! I´m just still two steps behind in actual conversations. ahaha There are 2 branches here and they are working hard to become wards, but there are no other cities around to make a stake with, but that´s what we work on everyday! Pte Hinckley promised us that if we pay our tithing and keep the Sabbath day holy we will find safety and protection from the financial and personal difficulties and crisis that we have. It was so powerful and I know that it is true. The key to getting what we want in life is SO simple if we just keep the commandments and live the gospel. There was a young single adult conference that night about missionary work--Pte Hinckley spoke again and we watched some of 'The District' with the young adults. There were about 10. Then Pte Hinckley had me come up, said I´d been there 2 days, and asked me what we do in the Spain Barcelona Mission. Well, I blanked and only remembered it in english, SO embarrassing."Bautizamos conversos dignos y sus familias"..."We baptize worthy converts and their families." Needless to say, I will never forget it again in either language :-) ahahaha
We had lunch/dinner (we just eat in the afternoon here) with a family in the ward, the Wolfharts. He is in the mission presidency. They were great. He is German, but speaks spanish and english, too. And his wife is from Spain, but also speaks english and german. I loved getting to know them. The people that you get to meet are so dynamic and amazing. I am so blessed. It made me feel like I was at home, just a little bit. haha
So, ya, I´m here. It´s crazy, but I am adjusting and doing it with a smile and laughing a lot--roll with the punches. I can´t wait to get to meet our investigators. I´ve just talked to them on the phone so far. One was going to be baptized next week, but missed church on Sunday. OH! I got to go to a baptism on Saturday! My first day, just like at Temple Square. It felt so good! I can´t wait to go to one every week! We can do it! I love you all tons and love reading your letters and emails, so keep them coming, eh? haha I have the 'bestest' family and friends in the whole world. Work hard in whatever you are doing, and tell me about it! Besitos and abrazos!
I don´t have anymore time to write people today, but hopefully next week will be a slower preparation day. Oh, I get to go into Barcelona tomorrow for training stuff, so that should be fun as well. I´m excited to see the city!
Con amor
Hermana Dalton
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eat tons of pumpkin pie and yams for me!
The pics are from Madrid and my first 2 days here. They are the Madrid temple, me outside of the temple, with the Hinckleys, my new companion Hna Fuentes, and the big downtown bank in Madrid where they celebrate New Year´s and eat 12 grapes (doce uvas) at midnight--one for each month and good luck. It was an incredible building. Um, I think that is all...
Shout outs:
Clecca-Thanks for the email! I´m glad you are getting a break! We all need those every now and then. I plan on taking a HUGE one is, oh, 16 months.ahaha Calissa sounds as funny as ever! I miss her cute voice and happiness so much! Ya, it´s been a year! Crazy, right? I can´t believe it! Enjoy...lots of pumpkin pie and yams for me!!!! And any other desserts!haha Have fun and thanks for the update, I love reading your emails. I can just hear you and Becca telling the stories and see your personalities between the lines.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Hola from CCM in Madrid!
Hola a todos,
Yes, way--it´s preparation day here so I get to write again...and more importantly you get to read again!!!!muahahaha We just went to the Madrid temple--it was amazing. The session was in spanish! We all had headsets in english if we wanted them, but I didn´t use mine. It was the best. Then we took pictures--President Earls says he will be emailing them out soon so you´ll get to see them. I have no idea what they look like so no judging. haha Yesterday we had interviews and I loved talking to Pres. Earls. What a great man. He had great advice I still need to write it down. He also told us, "We are going over to the temple at 7:30 in the morning so meet in la sala sacramental. But if you are here at 7:25, I´ll tell you things you didn´t know about the temple until it´s time to go." ahahaha He is so funny, but serious about being funny. It´s hard to explain. Needless to say, we were all there early and learned some new things.
We were supposed to go sight-seeing in downtown Madrid for the rest of the day, but I guess some bigshot Spanish consulate officials are coming to see the campus and why we as the Church and missionaries need visas for Spain, so we switched afternoon schedules with tomorrow--classes today and the rest of preparation day tomorrow. Not really sure what to expect with the tour and such, but we´ll just see and behave. haha
We have two teachers here--Hnas Suarez y Martinez. They are both from Spain and only speak a little bit of english. I love their accents! I´m going to do everything I can to pick it up! haha (And it is SO nice to finally have some feminine teaching power represented! Lemme tell you!) My companion for the week is Hna Gonzalez. I met her in the Provo CCM. She´s from Florida, but her parents are from Colombia and she´s bilingual. We get along really well. Unfortunately, she´s serving here in Madrid so I probably won´t get to see her again :-( The only other missionaries here are a district of 5 Portuguese speaking missionaries going to either Portugal or Cape Verde (2 Elders, 3 Sisters) Interestingly, they are all either from Portugal or Cape Verde, but not serving in their native country...ya, figure that one out. ahaha My comp speaks a little portuguese and the rest of us can understand quite a bit, but communicating with them is somewhere between interesting and frustrating. ahaha There is lots of smiling and hugging with besitos (between us sisters that is!) What else can you do right?
So, ya, I´m very excited for Zaragoza. My teacher told me it´s a great area and very beautiful, but that´s what everyone says about everywhere in Spain, so I think I´m safe whereever I end up in each transfer. haha Saturdays here the "whole" CCM (that´s in quotes because they only get somewhere between 1-30 missionaries here at a time) goes to a park downtown to proselyte. I´m kind of upset that I won´t be here to do that because I´m the first to leave and heading out Saturday morning, I believe--apparently someone in the mission wants the long-awaited Hermana Dalton. ahaha I´ll do my best not to shatter their high expectations within the first 5 minutes :-/ ahaha, but no guarantees.
No, Mom, I didn´t get the package before I left and they even brought the mail/packages early that day which hasn´t happened before. Sorry. I told my companions that they could take what they wanted and put the rest in the package I left for them to send to you. I´m sure they would love and use whatever you sent.
Well, I´m not sure what else to say since I just wrote you. haha I will definitely have tons to say next week right? haha I should get preparation day on Monday so talk to you otra vez in like 4 days. This is fun, we should do this every week! haha Thanksgiving plans sound great--eat TONS for me, especially the candied yams! haha I actually got sweet potatoes on one of the flights over here. That was a pleasant surprise. I haven´t heard anything about the holidays over here yet, but I´m sure someone will fill me in soon enough.
OH! I have a story. Slightly crude, Mom, my apologies, but it really happened exactly like I´ll tell it so just imagine experiencing it firsthand!...So we had our first gym time yesterday, but the "silly" Elders took all the balls and left for the park without us! We saw them walking down the side of the road from our window, so we went after them to get a basketball because I really wanted to play! (obviously!) Well, the directions we were given to the closest park were something like this, "And if you want to go play futbol or basketball, the portuguese missionaries can show you". Well, they were nowhere to be found, so we wandered for a little while, found a different park and then noticed that we didn´t have any time left so we started back. While waiting for a red light at a crosswalk, I happened to look to my right and see an old man looking a little sketchy close to the bushes. I did a double take and noticed that he was DEFINITELY going to the bathroom not 15 feet away from us, into the bushes right off the sidewalk of a main, BUSY street with people EVERYWHERE!!!! I gestured to my companion what was going on because the words weren´t coming yet and we both just kind of stared at each other for an awkward amount of time...Then we busted up laughing. I didn´t know what else to do. When we got back (and I reamed the Elders for leaving us AND taking all the balls!!!!) we swapped stories. They got to play futbol in a public stadium! One Elder said, "I played futbol in Spain in a stadium! Welcome to España!" I said, "I saw an old guy "watering" some bushes. Welcome to España!" :-) I´m sure you can picture me telling this story and the delivery :-) ahaha It was, well, a rather unforgettable experience. 'You´re not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.'
Oh, and we had some...interesting food for lunch yesterday. My comp called it "morsilla" I believe. It was basically--are you ready?--coagulated blood and rice shoved inside intestine. Sounds five star right? ahaha Apparently it´s a popular dish. Yes, I ate it. Yes, it tasted pretty good. Yes, I burped it up all day...Welcome to España! haha I´m sure it wasn´t our last encounter with each other. Gotta love the mission. But in general, the food here is like 100x better than Provo. It´s great and the yoghurt and pudding is to die for! The yoghurt tastes like you are actually eating the fruit! The coco (coconut) is my favorite. Someone mentioned chocolate-dipped churros downtown and I am going to be all over that tomorrow. I am SO excited. For every morsilla, there´s got to be at least 10 kinds of dessert foods I´ve never had right? Muahahaha Bring it on!
Well, hopefully next week I can finally start writing you about people that I meet instead of food. It will be great to start that part of the mission finally. haha Have a great weekend and I can´t wait to hear about it soon! I love you all more than I can express with words. You are always on my mind, in my heart and a part of my prayers. Les quiero!
Con amor,
Yes, way--it´s preparation day here so I get to write again...and more importantly you get to read again!!!!muahahaha We just went to the Madrid temple--it was amazing. The session was in spanish! We all had headsets in english if we wanted them, but I didn´t use mine. It was the best. Then we took pictures--President Earls says he will be emailing them out soon so you´ll get to see them. I have no idea what they look like so no judging. haha Yesterday we had interviews and I loved talking to Pres. Earls. What a great man. He had great advice I still need to write it down. He also told us, "We are going over to the temple at 7:30 in the morning so meet in la sala sacramental. But if you are here at 7:25, I´ll tell you things you didn´t know about the temple until it´s time to go." ahahaha He is so funny, but serious about being funny. It´s hard to explain. Needless to say, we were all there early and learned some new things.
We were supposed to go sight-seeing in downtown Madrid for the rest of the day, but I guess some bigshot Spanish consulate officials are coming to see the campus and why we as the Church and missionaries need visas for Spain, so we switched afternoon schedules with tomorrow--classes today and the rest of preparation day tomorrow. Not really sure what to expect with the tour and such, but we´ll just see and behave. haha
We have two teachers here--Hnas Suarez y Martinez. They are both from Spain and only speak a little bit of english. I love their accents! I´m going to do everything I can to pick it up! haha (And it is SO nice to finally have some feminine teaching power represented! Lemme tell you!) My companion for the week is Hna Gonzalez. I met her in the Provo CCM. She´s from Florida, but her parents are from Colombia and she´s bilingual. We get along really well. Unfortunately, she´s serving here in Madrid so I probably won´t get to see her again :-( The only other missionaries here are a district of 5 Portuguese speaking missionaries going to either Portugal or Cape Verde (2 Elders, 3 Sisters) Interestingly, they are all either from Portugal or Cape Verde, but not serving in their native country...ya, figure that one out. ahaha My comp speaks a little portuguese and the rest of us can understand quite a bit, but communicating with them is somewhere between interesting and frustrating. ahaha There is lots of smiling and hugging with besitos (between us sisters that is!) What else can you do right?
So, ya, I´m very excited for Zaragoza. My teacher told me it´s a great area and very beautiful, but that´s what everyone says about everywhere in Spain, so I think I´m safe whereever I end up in each transfer. haha Saturdays here the "whole" CCM (that´s in quotes because they only get somewhere between 1-30 missionaries here at a time) goes to a park downtown to proselyte. I´m kind of upset that I won´t be here to do that because I´m the first to leave and heading out Saturday morning, I believe--apparently someone in the mission wants the long-awaited Hermana Dalton. ahaha I´ll do my best not to shatter their high expectations within the first 5 minutes :-/ ahaha, but no guarantees.
No, Mom, I didn´t get the package before I left and they even brought the mail/packages early that day which hasn´t happened before. Sorry. I told my companions that they could take what they wanted and put the rest in the package I left for them to send to you. I´m sure they would love and use whatever you sent.
Well, I´m not sure what else to say since I just wrote you. haha I will definitely have tons to say next week right? haha I should get preparation day on Monday so talk to you otra vez in like 4 days. This is fun, we should do this every week! haha Thanksgiving plans sound great--eat TONS for me, especially the candied yams! haha I actually got sweet potatoes on one of the flights over here. That was a pleasant surprise. I haven´t heard anything about the holidays over here yet, but I´m sure someone will fill me in soon enough.
OH! I have a story. Slightly crude, Mom, my apologies, but it really happened exactly like I´ll tell it so just imagine experiencing it firsthand!...So we had our first gym time yesterday, but the "silly" Elders took all the balls and left for the park without us! We saw them walking down the side of the road from our window, so we went after them to get a basketball because I really wanted to play! (obviously!) Well, the directions we were given to the closest park were something like this, "And if you want to go play futbol or basketball, the portuguese missionaries can show you". Well, they were nowhere to be found, so we wandered for a little while, found a different park and then noticed that we didn´t have any time left so we started back. While waiting for a red light at a crosswalk, I happened to look to my right and see an old man looking a little sketchy close to the bushes. I did a double take and noticed that he was DEFINITELY going to the bathroom not 15 feet away from us, into the bushes right off the sidewalk of a main, BUSY street with people EVERYWHERE!!!! I gestured to my companion what was going on because the words weren´t coming yet and we both just kind of stared at each other for an awkward amount of time...Then we busted up laughing. I didn´t know what else to do. When we got back (and I reamed the Elders for leaving us AND taking all the balls!!!!) we swapped stories. They got to play futbol in a public stadium! One Elder said, "I played futbol in Spain in a stadium! Welcome to España!" I said, "I saw an old guy "watering" some bushes. Welcome to España!" :-) I´m sure you can picture me telling this story and the delivery :-) ahaha It was, well, a rather unforgettable experience. 'You´re not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.'
Oh, and we had some...interesting food for lunch yesterday. My comp called it "morsilla" I believe. It was basically--are you ready?--coagulated blood and rice shoved inside intestine. Sounds five star right? ahaha Apparently it´s a popular dish. Yes, I ate it. Yes, it tasted pretty good. Yes, I burped it up all day...Welcome to España! haha I´m sure it wasn´t our last encounter with each other. Gotta love the mission. But in general, the food here is like 100x better than Provo. It´s great and the yoghurt and pudding is to die for! The yoghurt tastes like you are actually eating the fruit! The coco (coconut) is my favorite. Someone mentioned chocolate-dipped churros downtown and I am going to be all over that tomorrow. I am SO excited. For every morsilla, there´s got to be at least 10 kinds of dessert foods I´ve never had right? Muahahaha Bring it on!
Well, hopefully next week I can finally start writing you about people that I meet instead of food. It will be great to start that part of the mission finally. haha Have a great weekend and I can´t wait to hear about it soon! I love you all more than I can express with words. You are always on my mind, in my heart and a part of my prayers. Les quiero!
Con amor,
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