December 28, 2015
Dearest family,
Wow it has just been the craziest of weeks.
Yet again I cannot believe that a whole week has gone by.
Tuesday we had a special zone conference in
Sevilla. We we all woke up early and traveled there. And at the train
station in Sevilla I was greeted by the happiest of reunions. I met up
with my old district in Malaga. Hermana Esplin and I just laughed and gave
each other the biggest hug you ever did see Elder Jenkins and Elder Adcock
filled me in on all the funny things Obispo Padilla had done and Elder Tenorio filled
me in on all the fun things Elder Adcock and Jenkins had done. I was
seriously just like a family reunion. Then we all headed to the stake
center and got to talk to more long lost friends. President got there with
the Ayudantes and there were even more hellos. I was just a pretty happy
camper. Then we had a talent show. Um Hermana Esplin started by singing
something and it was incredible. Elder Jenkins and Adcock also sang.
Seriously it was just super funny and full of laugher. It ended with a
handstand contest that president ended up joining in :)
Then we all walked to a nearby super market
and did a flash mob and sang Christmas carols. It was actually super fun
then we all went back to the chapel for the actual conference. We are
saying goodbye to some amazing missionaries this transfer and they all got
up to bear their testimonies. Elder Durrant is going home and he said
something that really impacted me, he said that there is no such thing as
someone who was born to be a missionary. There is no one who is just
naturally good at it. Some people just have more confidence. Not in
themselves but in the lord than others. That really struck me because I
have found myself talking about some of the best missionaries I have ever met,
like Elder Merrill Elder Johnson and Hermana Eyring, as just born to be
missionaries. But when Elder Durrant said that it made me realize we all
have the potential to be amazing missionaries, but some of us just don't
have the confidence in the lord to put everything out there. I want to be
that way :)
President also spoke on a subject that really
touched me. He talked to us about how just for this Christmas season we
should lay aside all our self-doubt. All of our criticism and just allow
ourselves to feel the love God has for each of us. It has been a problem
in our mission, this perfectionism. Where we all just feel too weak to do
everything right. Or just at we can never measure up. And president got up
and just shared his deep love and respect for each of us and pleaded with us
to accept the gift that we offer to others for ourselves. Let ourselves
feel his abiding love for each of us and allow it to make us better. It
was honestly something that I really needed.
Cute Hermana Anderson was in the states this
week for her son’s wedding and she brought us all back Spain Malaga
mission temple recommend holders they are amazing! After the conference we
all are food and loved it;)
Then all of the missionaries going to Cadiz
had about 4 hours before our train left. I asked the zone leaders in
Sevilla what we could do to help them out in their area, they told us to
just enjoy ourselves and see Sevilla. And Hermana Peters and I decided
that wasn't the best use of time;) so we did in fact enjoy ourselves and
went to some super touristy spots ... To contact;) we went to a place
called plaza de España. I told you guys on the call it is where they
filmed star wars it honestly took my breath away. So beautiful. We also
met some people from the states which was awesome!
One long train ride home, and night of sleep
later it was Wednesday :)
We literally did so much work on Wednesday
just because it was one of our only full days of work and we wanted to
make the most of the week. We finished the night with our cute
investigator iris. She is so ready to be baptized but is just still
holding out for a sure answer. We are working with her and she has been
having amazing experiences with prayer. So sorry that wasn't too
informative. But Wednesday was cool!
Turns out Christmas Eve no one really wants
to meet with the missionaries ;) but we went out and worked the morning
anyway ;) then we went home and did weekly planning. And that finished our
plans! Weird. So we made sugar cookies and hand cut them into fun
Christmas shapes :) then we met up with the Elders at the chapel and
watched joy to the world. It was so Christmassy! We just all felt the
spirit so strong. Then we spent Christmas Eve with some amazing members. I
know I already told mom and dad this story, but Christmas Eve we had to be
in bed at 11. So we ended up leaving the members home late. It was 10:50. We
were 15 minutes from home. But we HAD to get home on time. So we ran home
and made it to Pizo in 5 min. Yeah impressive ;) we ripped open our
Christmas PJs and were in bed panting at 11 on the dot. Christmas miracle.
Christmas morning president let us sleep in
an extra hour :) yay they we woke up and opened presents and made French
toast and frosted sugar cookies! We then headed to Cadiz and hung out with
the other missionaries there. We did a white elephant and all sorts of fun Christmas
things. Then I got to call all of you! I'm sorry it was crazy but it was
so good to see you all! I'm sorry we could t do it all together but it was
really nice to talk to you individually :)
Saturday was haha well a rough day ;) a lot of things didn't go according
to plan, but we endured to the end and worked ever minuet of the day :) let’s
just put it this way. We had 10 lessons planned and taught 3 and one of
the three was not planned ;) but we were doing a random door contact and
right before the door opens I look over and see Hermana Peters shove huge
thing of chocolate into her mouth. I died laughing and when the guy came
we were both bright red and Hermana Peters had a mouth full of chocolate.
This is why I love her.
Sunday was wonderful as usual. We talked with Maria and she wants to follow
through with her date for this Saturday. Which means first investigator baptism
here in the new chapel! We are super excited. But we might need to move it
back a week just for logistics :)
We taught our cute U after church. Hermana Peters
asked her what it meant to her that we had prophets today. She was so
funny and said “what do crokketas (super yummy food here) have to do with
anything?” I never realized that profetas and croketas
do sound similar :)
We finished the night with a noche de Hogar
with the jas. It was a super good time :) I love this ward!
I love you all so much. I am forever grateful
for this time I have in my mission. I am learning so much as a serve my
savior. I am not perfect at all. But every day I try to give my all :)
Enjoy the rest of the year!
Hermana Smalley
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