I'm pretty much a crocodile buff now

May 9, 2016

Well hey there again!

First off, big apology for the train wreck of a phone call -  It was so good to see all of you and just talk to you. Sometimes I forget that you guys are more than just a picture. I know that sounds silly, but it's just like two completely separate worlds. I didn't even know what to do with myself. Also Mom, I forgot to tell you! I did eat something weird - these little fish with their heads cut off that you eat everything but the tails like French fries. It was good except that I got poked in the mouth with a bunch of little fish ribs.


Alright this week was such a blur! I cannot even remember half of it! But yeah on Monday, we went to a crocodile park! It was just is huge park with tons of alligators and crocodiles. Fun fact, crocodiles open their mouths to control body temperature. So basically I'm pretty much a crocodile buff now. Just ask me. It was super fun then we headed to the mission home and ate. It was super fun to see so many friends from the mission. I honestly had forgotten how much I love being around other missionaries. The things you forget in a pueblo!

Consejo started and it was incredible, basically a big zone meeting but with President and better. But so many people were sick. Hermana Asay and I were both coughing like crazy, the ayudantes, President, Everyone! After the first block, Elder Jenkins told me he knew how to play Rock of ages on the piano. So Hermana Asay and I went over and sang and then all the sudden everyone was over there singing. It was super fun.

Also I mentioned this conversation I had with President, but we started talking a little bit about San Fernando. And honestly, since I have left there, I have been sadder and sadder that there were not any baptisms while I was there. Because I was in the area when we set the goal for the year, and I felt like we had fallen behind because I didn't work hard enough, or didn't do enough. But President told me that with the members we have there, and the missionaries that we have working there, there is no way we aren't baptizing because of lack of effort. We just need to trust in God's plan and love.

That night we had 12 Hermanas sleeping together - you can imagine the talking that went on. But I didn't feel too good so I just curled up on a bed and went to sleep. THe next morning we woke up early and ate breakfast and stared with consejo again. It was awesome!  It made me realize again just how much I have to learn. I hope that I can find the energy to make all of these changes. But I'm going to give it my best! I am always humbled by just how gently and lovingly that the Lord corrects us and helps us grow and change. It is wonderful how whenever we feel pride creeping into what we do and say, how we can just look at the big picture - the enormity of the work we have been called to do.  And remember how small we are, and how much we need our Father.

Then off we went to the office to pick up the things for our zones. We got there and had 12 boxes of things to bring back in the car. So we grabbed a bunch of boxes and some zone leaders to help us bring everything down to the car. We got in the elevator and headed down to the parking garage, but the elevator didn't take us all the way down
there were more stairs. So Elder Bates tried to use the key to send us down even more, but we ended up going back up to the first floor where there were a bunch of people waiting to use the elevator, so we got out and started walking up the stairs.  Then all the elders saw us dying, holding tons of boxes, and ran to help. Turns out the car wasn't in the parking garage at all!  And the poor elders where carrying boxes all over the place!  Yeah sorry for the long story that didn't make sense;) but it was funny!

Then we all ate together and got in the car and headed home. We sang lots of songs and had a grand old time. Elders Holman and Guispe are some of my favorites. When we got back to Murcia we headed over to our ward mission leaders ,R's, home to eat dinner with his family. R just turned in his mission papers and his family is the best and fed us super well!

Wednesday we heaved to one of our 9 pueblos to work. We got there and spent the morning contacting and talking in the streets. This area is so big it's kind of scaring me, but hey!  I'm putting things together. Then we went and ate with a recent RM V! She just got home from Madrid and is a rockstar! Her mom is less active and we got there and
she was like," Hermanas teach my mom about the Book of Mormon", it was such a good lesson.

That night we went to a different pueblo to teach our number one investigator U. He is awesome, he has a baptismal date and is progressing super well! He is from Africa and everytime I meet him, I love him a little more. He tells us all the time how he wants to learn everything super well so he can go back to his country and bring them the truth.

Then Thursday happened. Crazy! We weekly planned and then ran to an eating cita with J, a super cute old Spanish grandma. She asked us to help her by singing in a funeral on Friday and since Hermana Asay had to speak, we said sure!  She reminded us that we had to wear white shirts. Then we left running from her house to teach another less active member, all during medio dia. Then the real night started. We stopped a lady in the road who started the conversation telling us she didn't want anything. But as we explained more she took a Book of
Mormon and we have a cita with her! So awesome how the Lord works.

Friday morning we went to the chapel to play basketball and filmed an awesome movie for our taller during zone meeting. Then we had zone meeting! Yep, kinda lonely being the only Hermanas here, but we just mom all the elders.

For our taller we were talking about all the fundamentals to missionary work. So we filmed a video of Hermana Asay saying how much she wanted to win a game of basketball. But when she went to play it was obvious that she had no clue what she was doing. So then we did drills together and then at the end of it, she went and schooled all
the elders. Then we filmed another clip of the elders just sitting in the baptismal font talking about how much they wanted to baptize but how they didn't want to do anything else. We then talked about all training we have to do as missionaries so that in the end we can baptize. We talked about the best basketball players know they have to
practice the basics over and over. Then we ended saying, "everyone has the will to win, but few have the will to work to win, let's be among the few"  We thought we were pretty cool.

Then I did my first intercambios. That means that I was guiding another Hermana around our huge area (that I don't know) trying to help her the best I could, while trying not to panic that I was lost. It turned out just fine and it was super fun. That night I was with Hermana Giraldo. We had a super fun time and we didn't get too lost.

The next morning I was with Hermana Verdejo, and all our plans fell through but it was alright.  We contacted all morning together and I got to know her more and listen to her and just do my best to keep her excited about the mission.

Then the crazy night started. We went to the funeral and we ran into J and she said, "Hermanas you aren't wearing white!  Don't worry I brought you my clothes!" Then she walks out with these grandma clothes. Yeah those are the photos I sent home. But five minuets before the funeral started the bishop asked me to speak! So I threw something together it was super scary, but hey I did it and they loved it!

Then baptism, I already told you how Elder Blasi sang soprano with me and the members thought it was hilarious. We had some investigators come and it was awesome!

Sunday we were fasting and we had church, then we headed to the bus station to pick up Hermana Hojdholt - she was with us and we brought food for her and then ate at a park.

Then I talked with you lovelys!

Anyway I love you all so much! Today we played soccer with the elders - it was super fun:)

I love you all so much. I love the mission.

Hermana Smalley

They gave us each half a chicken!

May16, 2016

Dear family,

Wow this week has been such a blur! We have had so much to do, it has been crazy.

Tuesday we had our first district meeting together. It was awesome.  Elder Mitchell is still my district leader (woohoo!) going on 6 months now. But we had cute Hermana Holjholdt with us and we got to know the whole district a little better and we went out to eat.

Then we took Hermana Holjholdt to the bus station and got her with her bus and companion. Then we got to pick up the Hermanas from Cartagena for intercambios. So we had a crazy night of double plans. I was with Hermana Vigo that night she taught me so much. She is about to go home and I learned so much about how to explain things and love my investigators.

The next morning I was with Hermana Spangler. She is such a cutie and we saw such an awesome miracle. Hermana Asay and I have been fasting that we could find more people to teach and that we could find families. Well, Hermana Spangler and I were looking for an investigator and we walked in on an amazing family who listened to us and cried at the end.

That afternoon we ate with bishop and they gave us each a half a chicken! It was insane! That night we were actually together, me and Hermana Asay! There is something so special about being with your real companion.

Thursday night we had a ton of lessons - it was awesome!  We taught E by reading with her form the Book of Mormon and applying it to her. That book is so powerful! Then we taught R. He has had a pretty hard life and we basically told him that he needed to work with us for 1 month and see if his life didn't turn around and he agreed, so here we go!

Friday we spent all day on the bus because… wait for it… we went to Malaga! That night we got there and I worked

with Hermana Hansen.  We were right by my old area and I got to see some old friends - I loved it!!

Then that night we put together a quartet because all four of us could sing - it was super fun. Then I worked with Hermana Rowlley that morning, and then back on the bus. We got home super tried but with two hours of the day left to work, so we went and saw U.

Sunday was wonderful.

Today we went hiking to a mini Christ statue that there is here in Murcia like the one in Rio.

Man family. I am so sorry for the super lame letter.  I just have zero time. I love you all so much!

Also, today I did a quick missionary inventory of myself. I realized that if I want to keep improving as a missionary I need to make sure I am keeping goals for myself. I love this mission so much and I love my Savior and all he is helping me to become.

Hermana Smalley

This area has proved to be a refiner's fire...

May 2, 2016

Dearest family,

Wow what a week. I cannot even believe all at has happened. I need to tell you I'm in the car right now on the way to Malaga for consejo, so I'm not sure how coherent this letter will be but I'll give it a whirl.

I'm not sure if I told you last week but we spontaneously decided to go to Cadiz last p-day with the Elders and we explored a cathedral there. It was designed to mimic an ocean wave and it was super pretty. We spent probably a little too much time down in the crypt. But hey we had fun.

Then began the craziness. We ran to M’s house and said goodbye to their sweet family.  Then we went to the Bishop's home. When we got there

the Bishop was so funny!  He asked me if I had told our mission president I wanted to get transferred.  After I assured him I did not say that, he threw his hands up and told me he just didn't understand -  I was here working hard, why did he have to go and ruin everything?  Man. I love that man. Then we went to T and S’s  for the last time. More goodbyes. Man. Transfers are hard.

Tuesday was the craziest day. We started by playing basketball and then we headed to Cadiz for our very last district meeting.  It was funny just because my district leader, elder Mitchell, is still my district leader!  So we didn't say too many goodbyes but the rest of the district was super hard. They are all gonna work miracles there in Cadiz.  Then began the craziest afternoon of my mission!  Normally when we work half day we can get 4 or 5 lessons in, if we are lucky. Well, we taught 7 that day!  We started by eating with P and A and P one last time. Then we went to the park and met with G. Wow!  That was a tough one! That man is just so special!  I hope that he can continue down this path. We were both really sad to say goodbye, but I hope I can come back some day.  After, we went to the church and met up with J and V and taught lesson two. We had a really great discussion about the Atonement.  Again teaching with V taught me something. J asked a question about the Atonement and I jumped in to try and answer it myself, but Victor suggested that we look in the scriptures for the answer and it was just so much better that way! Sometimes I get so caught up in saying what I have to say that I forget that the words of the prophets have been teaching these principles for years. Even the Savior himself taught using the scriptures, I think I should follow his lead no?

Saying goodbye to those two investigators was the hardest part of leaving. I just see so much potential and progress in them both. But I need to trust in the Lord and in his plan and just be grateful that I could help them start this journey.

After we went to say goodbye to M A and E. They are so sweet and bought me my own Parker pen. I don't know how it is in other missions, but in this mission, the Parker is a huge deal! Someone special, normally your trainer gets you one, but I never got one until they bought me one. It was super special. They took me in like one of their own children. I'm so grateful for the time I got to spend with them.

Then we ran to M's home to say goodbye to M and M.  Man! M started crying and I almost lost it. But I know that the Lord has amazing things in store for that family!  Then we ran to the church and met I for the last time.  But when we got there I was a mess. The doctors had just told her some awful news and we did all we could to try and comfort her and help her feel the Spirit. That was also a tough goodbye.

To finish the night we ran to D's house. That was also a really hard goodbye. We have just worked

so hard together and seen so many miracles and so much progression. It didn't even hit me until we said the closing prayer that I was really leaving. I almost lost it right there, but I didn't. Then we ran home and met up with Hermana Brown and Briggs. They spent the night in our piso. I finished packing and basically moped around piso because I didn't want to leave.

The next morning I watched my last sunrise and then we walked to the train station. I was traveling with Elders Meredith and Child. We made it to Sevilla and met up with some other missionaries and then got ona bus to Murcia.  I got to talk a lot to Elder Rex and Elder Meredith on an 8 hour bus ride across south of Spain. Elder Meredith and I both were a little down from leaving San Fernando but we tried to keep each others spirits up.

Then we made it to Murcia!  I met my awesome new companion Hermana Asay! I am so excited to work with her. She is seriously one of the hardest workers I have ever met. I also met L, she is a super cute member here from Mexico visiting her boyfriend. She is so cute!  Then off we went to teach P- she is super sweet and reading the Book of Mormon. It was all kind of a blur, but it was fun.

Then we weekly planning meeting Thursday morning. That night we taught all day in the streets. Hermana Asay is really teaching me how to teach people in the streets rather than just contacting. Then we had correlation.  Our ward mission leader is an 18 year old convert. He is awesome! We had a really great correlation and then when home and slept.

Friday is just a huge blur of teaching in the streets and catching trains and running around. Hermana Asay thinks it's pretty funny how blown away I am by the size of this place. It is a whole lot bigger than San Fernando but there is so much to learn and so many adventures! It is funny because I've spent almost my whole mission in big cities, but just these past couple months in a small, small town so I feel like I'm Dorothy leaving Kansas for the first time!

Sunday I got to meet the new ward. They are all super sweet and I can't wait to work with all of them!  During gospel principles I realized that the ward in San Fernando would have just started I started looking at some pictures being all sad and then Elder Mitchell air dropped me this note: he saw me looking at the pictures and said:

He's right. I've been missing San Fern a lot!  But hey.  Moving onward and upward.  I really love Hermana Asay and Murcia is really growing on me.  Last night we had a huge adventure trying to go see our investigator who lives in a pueblo outside of the city. We got stranded on the side of the highway with our ward mission leader but we had a party.

The Hermanas that we take care of are actually not in Murcia. They are in Cartagena. I'm super excited to get to know them and love them.  But we are the only Hermanas in our whole zone!  That’s a change. Hermana Asay and I have started only speaking in Spanish to each other. So sorry at this email is probably horrendous but it is helping my Spanish so so much!

Every morning we meet at the chapel and play soccer or basketball. Slowly the soccer skills are coming back:).

This morning Elders Quispe and Holman picked us up from our apartment and we are in the car driving to consejo. They are some awesome elders and we have had such a fun time!  Singing church songs and talking all while I tried to write this email!

I know that in my previous letters I have tried to express the deep gratitude that I feel for the chance I have had to serve in San Fernando, but I guess it is one of those things that words just can't seem to express. But I will forever be grateful for the time I have spent there. I didn't think that leaving an area could be harder than it was to leave Malaga.  I seriously think that was harder than leaving my family.  But I have been proved wrong yet again.

This area has proved to be a refiner’s fire for me, much more than I like to admit to.  I passed through some trying times here, maybe to others that would seem silly, but to me, they shaped me, molded me, and taught me so much more than I could have ever learned only receiving success.  Making this area, San Fernando in a way, holy ground for me.  The members here have taught me the commitment of a lifetime that being a member is, my investigators have taught me the importance of having complete faith in the Lord, and my companions have taught me how to smile through just about anything.  The Lord specifically has tried my commitment to diligence and obedience daily, and through that, I learned just how important they are. I know I am still not perfect, but I will leave here a much more humble and trusting servant of the Lord than the missionary I was when I came here.

It breaks my heart to be leaving this area just as the work has picked up, we recently found two investigators that I know will become stalwart members of this church. We have also worked with two other investigators since I have been here, who have made so much progress they seem to be leaving us in the dust. Saying goodbye to them, broke my heart. But I also know Hermanas Cole and Villamar will take great care of them and guide them down the path to baptism and the temple.

Alright before you think that I am just super depressed and hate everything, I really do love Murcia!  On my first couple days here I learned so much that it made me want to run back to San Fernando and do it over again! But Hermana Asay is teaching me so much and Murcia is beautiful.

Oh and skype. We will be skyping at 5:30 our time 9:30 your time. We hope we can do a google hangout so if you could get that all set up then tell me what I need to do to set that all up, that's would be stellar. But we can keep skype as a backup. Just a heads up. President has been super clear that this call should last no longer than 40 min :) so yeah.

I love you all so much!

Love Hermana Smalley  

He would need a bullet proof vest...

Dearest family,

Maybe I should just start with the song Hermana Cole and I made up to the tune of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from Lion King:

I can feel what's happening, what? We don't know what he'll do. Who?

We'll get the call and here's the bottom line the crew is down to two.

Oh. The San Fernando sunrise. Male JAS everywhere. And with all these

potential baptisms. Disasters in the air.

CAN YOU FEEL THE TRANSFERS NEAR! Time is growing thin. Our

companionship was in perfect harmony, we were preaching as a team.

And if he says you have to go, it can be assumed. Proselyting days in

San ferns a memory. In short our time is through.

Haha, alright excessive I know, you do not need to include that in the blog, but these transfers have seriously been the hardest yet. I didn't think it could get harder than leaving Malaga. But apparently yes. Yes it does. That being said I refuse to make the same mistake I made when I came here. I don't want to waste time missing my old area and have that keep me from loving my new area. It's all one grand adventure.

Oh yeah!  I guess I can tell you what's happening. I'm heading off to Murcia to be a sister training leader with Hermana Asay. I am actually really excited to learn from her and really hoping I can be a help to the sisters over there. I am going to miss San Fernando terribly.  Especially with all the progress we have been making. Not to mention leaving my sweet Hermana Cole. But she will do amazing things here.

With all of that out of the way I can tell you about our week shall I?

Monday we had Hermana Merrill with us all day and we went to Cadiz to play soccer. Monday we ended up sprinting to make the train back to San Fernando, we made it. Then Hermana Cole was finally K-baptized (she had her first kebab, a really popular Turkish food here) then off we went to work. I don't know if I told you last week but D sprained his ankle so we picked up some foot shaped candies for him and brought him a scripture to cheer him up. After that we went and visited T and tried to give her some love. I don't know if you happen to remember what happened with Hermana Sanchez on Friday?  But literally the same thing happened. Hermana Merrill just barely missed her last train to Jerez. So here we were, and we couldn't call D because he was broken. So we called V -  he got on the phone and I told him I had a huge favor to ask, and he said "well sister I don't know what you need but I promise that if it is within my power I will do it"  Pause. What an incredible answer!  I really hope that one day when I get home anyone who calls me and needs help can hear a similar response.  I have learned out here just how much service blesses our own soul as much as those we serve. I have often thought at what point does happy service to others become a burden? When have you given too much? When do you start expecting more for yourself?  I'll tell you.  That happens when you let it. The natural man will always tell us to look out for ourselves and turn inward.  But how beautiful is it that no matter what we can always choose to be happy about serving and receive so much joy from it.

Anyways back to the story we explained the situation and V agreed to make the 40 min drive there

and back to bring Hermana Merrill home.  He found a lady friend to come with us and off we went. During the trip we got to talk to his friend E, who is probably the coolest lady I have ever met. She is from Germany and spent 10 years of her life traveling around the world.  Yeah. She hitchhiked from New York to LA and has spent her life working in some of the poorest of the poor places. She casually mentioned how she worked with mother Teresa in India like it was no big deal. Yeah the coolest lady I have ever met.

Tuesday morning we had district meeting. It was awesome!  We talked about how to set up baptismal programs we all got super pumped about it. After Hermana Cole and I went and walked around Cadiz a little bit, the Hermanas told us there was an American store so off we went, with my new map reading skills. We found it. It was closed for mediodia. Not very American. But we had a blast just walking around in the rain. We made it home in time for studies and then out we went again to work. We met with Javi a new young investigator in the church with V.  J is literally incredible and he has already made a ton of friends in the church and is reading the Book of Mormon on his own. It was awesome to have V there who shared his own conversion story and what it can be like to get to know the church. It makes me so sad to leave right when J is progressing so much, but I know he will be well taken care of.

Wednesday afternoon we taught English classes. They are really picking up.  We have a lot of students now and it is a wonderful way to get people to come inside of the church and get to know us. Then we had a noche de Hogar with the JAS, turns out my last one.  (Sorry. I forgot my agenda today so I'm just trying to go from memory and it is killing me just a bit.)

Friday morning we met with G and C. It was such a good lesson. I cannot really explain how much I just adore G. He normally gives me a headache, but he really wants to know, and I just get how he thinks. We talked to him about all that he was reading and learning and he told us that he is feeling like he is floating, even though that sounds childish, that's how he feels. He says that he feels that God is drawing closer to him and he really wants to become part of our church. My favorite moment was right after that when I looked at C and his jaw was just hanging open! It was a pretty incredible moment to have this very well educated man trying to explain how the Spirit was working with him. G was more than unhappy to hear the transfer news, but I have no doubt that Hermana Cole will get that man in the font.  I will be forever grateful for the chance I had to begin teaching him. It can be interesting - we end up drawing on the board making diagrams, etcetera,  but in the end, he always gets it. The change I have seen in him in the last month is incredible!  The Spirit really can work wonders. Then we went over to say hello to M's mother, and got to teach her really quickly. It was such a beautiful morning to be a missionary!

Friday night was a rough night, I won't lie. We got a message from a well meaning member on some things we could do to improve missionary work in the ward.  It sent me into a pretty bad spiral just because I was so frustrated.  Couldn't they see we were trying with all our hearts to do those things? Couldn't they see the progress this area had made in these past few months? It wasn't until later, I realized that yes, they did, and they were so excited seeing the changes they wanted to keep moving forward. But things just went downhill that night until finally I called the elders and asked for a blessing. It was the most perfect thing in that moment. The priesthood is so real.  When I got to the chapel I received an email from Joel that completely changed my attitude. He reminded me of the beauty that comes from.

Saturday morning we got the call. President and I had a nice long talk. He told me he was worried he would need to bring a bullet proof vest to his meeting here on Thursday because he was transferring me.  Saturday night we had a huge barbecue here at the church. We had so many investigators come and just had the best night!  Our ward came together like champions to welcome them all.

Sunday I had to say goodbye to the ward. Ugh. In consejo, Bishop made me feel really uncomfortable but he thanked me for all the work I had done here and told me he was really going to miss me here. Then I said a goodbye talk. I talked about how when I played water polo my coaches biggest complaint was that we sat back and watched the game rather than playing it. Meaning we were in the pool suited up in position willing and ready to play, IF someone gave us that opportunity. How often do we do the same in missionary work? We are ready and willing to play if someone gives us that chance, but I believe that in this final quarter of the game, God needs playmakers. We need to create those opportunities to share the gospel. J also came to church which was the best present ever!

After church we took some pictures with these incredible people. Then ran off to eat one last time with B, S, L, and D. We told stories and laughed and had a great time. We had to eat on the fly because we needed to get to Cadiz for a baptism. So midway through dessert we got a call from V to come downstairs.  Down we went, and in the car on a road trip with C and V again. We got to the baptism with minutes to spare and practiced our song really quickly right before it started. We performed ‘Come Thou Fount”, and to describe it in C’s' words,  “fatal Hermanas fatal!"  So yeah. After I got to meet with President M one last time. Ugh. I love that man. He shook my hand and told me that we was going to give President Anderson a talking to for taking me away, but that he would continue praying for me and that it had been an honor. I literally almost melted.

I just don't think these incredible people ever can or will know the impact they have had on my life. They have forever changed me, they have taught me what being a member of this church really means, and the commitment it brings.  And somehow, they thank me for what I did? I did nothing!  Often I messed up where other missionaries might have thrived. But somehow the Lord trusted me to work here for this small time.

That night we went by to see R one last time before I left. We had a really good conversation about

faith. Halfway through the lesson V came home from teaching with the elders and it was a little interesting shift, but hey!  At the end of the lesson we invited R to ask V about his conversion and really have a good conversation about it, and in one of the funniest moments of my mission R said, "He won't tell me about it! I have all this curiosity about it but he doesn't want to talk about it with me!"  Hermana Cole and I both turned wide eyed to V who was equally shocked and said, "WWWHHHHAAAATTTT!?"  She threw him under the bus hard core.

I know I have said it so much, but the words just don't seem to suffice. I am so grateful for my mission. It is the best decision I have ever made. It is the hottest refiner's fire, and yet the most joyful adventure. If you can, go. If you go, stay. And when you come home, keep that fire.

I love you all so much!

Hermana Smalley

The week they didn't let us sleep

April 18, 2016

Dear family,

Wow!  Where do I even start with this week... It's crazy how quickly things are passing. Seriously it seems the more I don't want time to go so quickly, the quicker it passes.

Tuesday morning we woke up early, you will see that this is a pattern, and met the elders at the chapel to play some football.

So I can officially say that water polo has payed off for me! I finally was able to nail the perfect spiral something that before water polo was a joke. But hey, life goals. After that we headed to Cadiz again for district meeting I gave a taller (lesson) on how to use the lessons to help prepare people for baptism.  Seems obvious right? But sometimes we get so caught up in just teaching the lessons that we forget there is a purpose behind it. Then we went to Jerez for intercambios [campanion exchanges]. I realized that is why the week went by so quickly. intercambios steal all the time from the week.

So we got there starving, and the cute Hermanas gave us some food. But Hermana Cole and I looked at each other and laughed because we were still starving.  After eating the poor Hermanas out of house and home we were finally full. I had a super fun night working with Hermana Merrill. She has been my SHE for the majority of my mission, so I love her to pieces. We got back to piso before the other Hermanas and the other Hermanas had the keys.  Well, we had 3 doors in the way of us and bed. I managed to get us past the first 2 doors, but the actual piso door was credit card proof.  So there we were standing outside the door and I turned to Hermana Merrill and asked her if she had been on the roof. She hadn't, so up 12 floors we went. We get there and the doors are locked, but there was a window open. Out we climbed. And we had a party in the rain on the roof. I love Hermana Merrill.

The next morning we got up really early, to go to play soccer with the elders. It was pretty fun but we were all kinda

half asleep. Then I worked the morning with Hermana Watson. I love Hermana Watson, even though I don't know her that well, I was able to just talk to her and tell her how I've been feeling. I honestly recently have just hit a wall, a huge burnout wall.  I honestly don't think I have ever felt this tired mentally, emotionally, and physically. I was expressing my concerns to her and she just pointed out how my love for the work hadn't changed.  The efforts I was giving hadn’t either, it was just my attitude. It has been hard on me just because my whole mission I have never really lacked animo. But I'm coming up a little dry recently. But I will keep going because frankly, it's not about me. Nothing about this mission is about me.

This week I had a pretty interesting experience with one of our investigators. We have been working with him to be baptized at the end of this month and it has been a journey, but things are looking up. We were teaching him again on the importance of real sincere prayer. He is looking for more purpose and direction in his life, and we have testified again and again how the gospel can bring that. But this particular night, we were teaching how prayer can do that. I was explaining to him that there is no better way to start the day than telling your Heavenly Father what you hope to accomplish that day and then at the end, asking His help to accomplish it. Then I told him that at the end of the day there is no better way to end the day than to tell God, ‘well, this is what actually happened today, this is how I saw your hand, and thank you for your help. I will be better tomorrow’. That that is how we can find purpose in every day, that is how we can from a relationship with Him.  The most interesting experience  was the Spirit prompted me to share that with him.  I felt the gentle reprimand come into my heart that was coming from my own lips!  I realized that I had been panicking because the days seemed to be slipping away, and feeling as if I was
losing direction.  And because of that I pulled more into myself, relying on what I know to do. And my own prayers had been slipping.  I know that through prayer we can make every day count, every hour of this precious time can matter if we include Him because it is His work after all.

I am so grateful for a Father who is willing to correct me and help me be better, and at the same time,help these people whom I love progress and move forward.

Wednesday I sat down with our American friend S. He helped me finally figure out this whole nightmare that has been customs fighting. He helped me work it all out and then we headed downstairs for a noche de Hogar. All the JAS came and we played basketball.  Alright, here is the sad part. Basketball in Spain is.... Sad. No such thing as traveling or bringing it back out when playing half court. It was actually so so fun though, all of us just went crazy. Hermana Cole almost killed V, and C kept giving me the ball for outside water polo shots. Most importantly our investigator J had a really good time.

Thursday we woke up early and played basketball again with the elders then had a pretty great weekly planning session. That night we had a noche de Hogar with another member.  We went with the message, but turned out she had the message planned, so we got to just be there and be with them and love them.  After we finally got to teach M again!  He basically told us that his life is going nowhere and that if we told him he needed Jesus, he would believe us. So we told him he needed Jesus.

Then we went to the train station to pick up the Hermanas from Cadiz and they stayed with us that night. Hermana Anderson had to get on the morning train, so we got up at 5 and walked her there. And we got to keep cute Hermana Sanchez with us all day.  

We met with G again in the morning. He had kept all his commitments and told us he was feeling a lot of peace about it. Our bishop was there with us in that lesson. Compared to the last lesson, he has changed completely. At the end of the lesson Bishop told me he was going to call president and tell him not to transfer me because he needed me here.  It made me feel pretty good.  Also made me want to die, because everyone knows that I'm leaving.  I hope not.  

Anyway, that night was super interesting. So we were supposed to put Hermana Sanchez on a train back to Cadiz and when we got to the train station the machine ate her card!  So she missed the train. We made a phone call to D. He told us not to worry that he would be there asap with a car. He was already in Cadiz at institute, but he dropped everything and showed up with some other JAS and brought us to the train station to pick up the other Hermanas then brought them to their apartment. Everyone was settled then D and friends looked in the back seat and saw us sitting there and said, “What do we do with them?”  Answer,  At 11 pm you had two very lost Hermanas sitting in the chapel in Cadiz for a quick car change and D gave us dinner then drove us home. Shout out to the best ward mission leader ever!   It was the very first time that Hermana Cole had been late getting home, but we both collapsed dead in bed.

Saturday, the elders wanted to wake up early, but we shut that down pretty quickly.   We had a lesson with Iris at the chapel.  We had E come with us and it was a really powerful lesson.  But during the lesson we see a bunch of our JAS walk past the window laughing and making faces at us and then V walked by with D cradled in his arms. They walked past again and distracted E, and I, twice from what I was saying.  I called D later and yelled at him, just a little, about it and he said, “Hermana, wait, wait, wait!  I sprained my ankle and couldn't walk.”  I felt pretty sheepish later.  Poor D, can't walk for a week.  Anyway, we finally got to teach R again without V being there, and really just have a heart to heart.  It was nice - she is such an incredible lady! I really could talk to her all day.

Sunday taking the sacrament, as always, was a highlight. Sunday night, literally no one was home. Or on the street. I think they were all having a party together somewhere and we just weren't invited, but we
kept going and working and made it through the night. We love this work and somehow, we kept smiles on our faces the whole night.

This morning we woke up early to pick up Hermana Merrill from the train station. She came with us and we played soccer in Cadiz. It was super fun!

I love you all so much :)

Love Hermana Smalley