The miracle of the mission is that we can change every day

June 13, 2016

Dearest family,

Alright what a fantastic week here in Spain so let me tell you. We went to consejo and it was absolutely incredible! The preparation that we had to do was exactly what Hermana Smalley needed. We read about being truly good without guile, and beware of pride. Man they both were things that I needed to learn about.

Anywho, we actually got to consejo and ate some awesome food and then got down to it. I love the spirit in those meetings. Elder Quispe said something that really hit me, that each of us were in that room for a reason, and each of us had something to contribute. That we shouldn't feel shy about it. I realized that so often we are too timid with our thoughts and feelings in our callings. We specifically were called to be there, so what we feel should be heard, within reason of course. Later that night I sat and talked with Elder Jenkins (shout out to Elder Jenkins who is probably reading this from Hermana Brown”s iPad) and Elder Adcock and a bunch of friends from the mission. Consejo is something special!

Then the next morning president gave an incredible taller [workshop] about being worthy and about going back to the roots. He talked to those of us who feel like we have hit a wall, me, how going back to the root or Christ can help us find that drive. That often when we are reaching out too much, we are the "branches taking strength unto themselves" and we cannot keep that up on our own. Also Elder Alexander said something I love "the miracle of the mission is that we can change every day." What a blessing.

Also to explain the title, I found out that my favorite shoes, the ones I love and I have worn almost every day of my mission, are illegal! I can't wear them! Ugh! I felt so so so so dumb. Anyway, so I
switched shoes to some that hurt my feet and they are called my baptism shoes because now we know what has been stopping the baptisms!

Then we had intercambios that night. I was with Hermana Hansen, I got attacked by a puppy licking my feet - I was so tickled I was dying! We also fed a baby bird. Needless to say, I learned a lot about missionary work. The next morning with Hermana Clark was so much fun. I adore her. She taught me so much about just loving people.

We actually woke up early and played basketball with the other missionaries there in Malaga. So so much fun.

Then we got on the bus and drove the 7 hours back to Murica! Yay. When we got home we headed right to R’s house for dinner. I love that family so so much.

Thursday we had 2 eating citas. It was crazy! But we had one of the best lesson 1s that I have had my entire mission the Spirit was so strong and she kept saying this is what I have been looking for.

Friday we had zone meeting. It was awesome. We have a zone of 15 elders and the topic I spoke on was pornography. I have never been more scared to give a taller in my life. Just imagine one little
Hermana talking to all elders. But it turned out really well. I talked to them about what it meant to them that they held the priesthood. Then I told him what it meant to me. I talked to them about the day
when they would get married and have a wife that would depend on them for her access to the Priesthood and how they better never do anything to deprive her of the priesthood in her home. I talked about a lot of other stuff but that's the main point. After Elder Stevens came up to me and told me, " you made me realize my future wife is depending on me. I never want to sin again. "  So I think it turned out well.

Saturday was a crazy day of cleaning the church and running around with the elders for baptismal interviews but it was super fun. Then that night I couldn't sleep to well because I knew that Spencer was going through the temple. But I did have my own special experience half a world away I felt very close to all of you. Also that night I felt this new surge of energy to give everything I have and give all I
am to this work it was something amazing to think that as my little brother was covenanting to give all just as I felt a renewed devotion to give my all.
But as always seems to happen right as we feel a new devotion to work harder Satan comes and hits us hard. Sunday was a very hard day for me to be frank. I realized that for a while now I have been really down and tired but I pick myself up and say, "no worries I will be better tomorrow!" Or " I can fix it!"  But how many times did I say I in those phrases? Yesterday my sweet companion made me sit down and really talk. Then we taught the lessons we had planned then she pointed out
that we can not do everything on our own. We prayed as a companionship and then called Elders Mitchell and Andrus for a blessing. It was what I needed. I finally have realized that I cannot make it better. I alone will not be able to move on. But with the Lord slowly but surely tomorrow will be better than today.

Anyway with the blessing and a loving companion, everything turned out well. I love this work. I love this Gospel and I am so grateful for the Priesthood.

Also random fact. Mom. Elder Mitchell's homecoming will be in 5 weeks in Ogden. He's been my district leader for 5 transfers now so you both are more than welcome to go if you want. I'm sure he will have plenty of crazy stories to share.

Sorry for the short email. We had to help a member his morning so our p day got cut in half. Love you all!

Love Hermana Smalley

I just asked her, who was Christ if there was no sin?

June 6, 2016

Dear family,

Wow what a week we have had here, just another crazy one here in Murica! Well... kinda in Murica. Also yet again I am in the car on the way to Malaga, so I am sorry if this email is a little scattered, but just know that we are jamming out to hymns through the south of Spain again!

So I already told you that we went to the chapel Monday morning and played basketball for one last time as our old district. It was funny because Elder Garcia was like, " Well goodbye Hermana Smalley!  Everyone else ,we will see you tomorrow!" But it was a super fun game. Then we headed to the bus station and I hopped on the bus to Malaga. When I got on the bus, I met up with Elder Rojas and Elder Rivero! It was such a fun bus ride. Elder Rivero and I talked about old times and just had a grand old time. When I got to Malaga, I met up with Hermana Martin and guess what!? I got to work in my old area in Malaga! It was seriously the best present of my life!

Hermana Martin didn't make plans that night and just asked me where I wanted to go. So we headed straight to see A. When we got there it was a little late ,but she opened her door and just screamed and gave me the biggest hug.  Right when I left she had told me she was pregnant but now she is so big! She looks so good and is doing so well. It was probably the best thing I could have asked for. After we had to head home and I got to walk the normal path by baptism hill. As we were walking past my favorite ice cream place I saw two people sitting in white shirts sitting eating ice cream. As we got closer I saw that it was Elder Reid and Elder West sitting down. As we walked up Elder Reid said, "Busted, give him a break!  It's his last night in the mission!  Hermana Smalley, what are you doing here?"  We laughed and then we bought some ice cream and walked home together. Elder West and I took a picture together and he promised to show it to Grandma and Grandpa on Sunday, so I hope you saw it.

Then I slept in my old piso, I woke up super super confused. But then we headed to the train station. Hermana Martin trusted me when I told her we could take the bus. But the bus took longer than expected so we got there with 10 min to spare.  We got her to her platform and put all her suitcases on the train, then the bus driver told her it wasn't her bus and he sent us across the bus station (5 min to departure) and we put all of her stuff on the next bus.  But then that bus driver refused to let her on. We ran to the help office (time of departure) it's closed!  I grab some random worker and demanded to know her bus. Well he sent us back to the first one. I got there and the bus driver was freaking out telling us it wasn't her bus. Then I freaked out and told him she needed to go to Granada and she was going to get on that bus. I managed to convince him and she got on. That left one very out of
breath Hermana Smalley all alone.

So I headed into the train station, still feeling weird from being all alone, and ran into our President Anderson and the ayudantes waiting for the new missionaries to come in from the CCM!  So I got to crash that party. Everyone was a little confused as to why I was there, but hey, it was fun. Then I met up with HERMANA BROWN and ELDER REEDER and HERMANA ROLLINS And we hopped on the train to nearby Fuengirola. When I got there we had a Cadiz district reunion because all the trainers were there and just had a grand old time.

It was so fun to be back with my group and just have fun together and mess around again. Of course we went and bought ice cream:)  Anyway, a day of pictures and Taco Bell adventures later ,we dropped Hermana Brown off, and I was yet again companionless.  But to put it in Elder Reeders words, "No problem! We have one big guy and two brown guys. Your safe Hermana Smalley."  So we stayed at the train station until the SHES from Malaga 3 came to pick me up. I stayed with them that night working in Malaga 3. It was funny because rewind 8 months I went to the same exact homes but with Hermana Estes. But I got to see some old friends and we had a really good time.

Then the next morning we woke up and got on the bus to go back to Murica. On the bus ride home we saw Hermana Asay on her way to Malaga. When I got back to the train station, I met up with my new sweet companion Hermana Gale.  I stepped of the bus and then all the sudden SHE responsibilities came back and there were 20 elders asking me where they needed to go and what to do. So we got that all sorted out and then it hit me that I hadn't slept in 3 days. (Craziness with transfers ext) but I was running on about 6 hours total. And I just about died.

Elder Mitchell walked up to me and asked how tired I was on a scale of 1 to 10 I told him -3 he laughed and I went and got a Powerade. Then we worked the rest of the night and saw some awesome miracles. We got to teach K, who has been loving what she has read in the Book of Mormon, and is really just the cutest young mom. We also saw a miracle when we taught R. He was an investigator who had gotten lost in the area book and he told us he was really interested to learn more but he had lost contact with the missionaries.

Thursday we had weekly planning and then we walked to Carrefour with the elders and bought some much needed food and that night we headed to Alcantarilla and managed to not get lost so  yeah!

On Friday we got to teach M. And during the lesson he said, "I am sorry Hermanas here is the food then I have to go soon. I have water polo practice. I died right there on the spot! We had an awesome conversation which ended in him inviting me to practice. I went. No joke! I told him I couldn't and he told me he would play for both of us.

Saturday was a day of miracles. We got to work with our members all day and we taught a lot of awesome lessons! We taught one really stong lesson to an investigator who has been a little lax on his goals recently. When we walked out, R and Hermana Gale both said they didn't wanna mess with me and tell me they didn't fulfill a goal! Then we headed to another investigator - as we taught the plan of salvation she told us she didn't believe in sin or Satan. I didn't quite know what to say, but I felt like I should just ask her who Christ was if there was no sin. It opened up a perfect opportunity to testify of Him as our Savior, the reality of sin, the reality of Satan and that beautiful glorious truth that Christ can save us if we rely on him.

Sunday we had a conference for all of Europe which was awesome! Then we did numbers and ate lunch at the chapel with the elders. Also we saw so many miracles that night!

We taught a future and as we were teaching him a lady walks up and just starts listening. Feeling a little uncomfortable, we asked who she was. She told us she was a member and she didn't believe that he was actually meeting with us so she came to see. Turns out she is a less active, so we asked her to bear her testimony to her friend. As she did, another member walks up and tells our investigator he needs to be baptized. It was the strangest coolest thing. Turns out the random man we had contacted a week earlier, was the boyfriend of this member!  We invited him to be baptized and he accepted. But he lives in the elders area so we had to change it.

Also we set a goal to do 5 burpies per lesson that we didn't ask for references. Well 6 lessons later we were doing 30 burpies. We had to go do the numbers at the chapel. But our mission president asked us to be out of the chapel by 10. Well the zone leaders were late on their numbers, so we locked ourselves outside and sat waiting. So we decided to do some of our burpies. Then our bishop walks up. We died of embarrassment!  But we had a good laugh at the silliness of the situation.

Anyway the mission is one grand adventure. I love it and this wonderful chance I have to serve and see some wonderful changes in me!

Love Hermana Smalley

We sat down and had a classic pity party

May 30, 2016

Dearest family,

Man what a week it has been!  I guess I can just tell you right off the bat about transfers. They are taking Hermana Asay away from me! I mean I guess we knew the whole time at there was no way on earth that we would stay together, but we can dream right? She is headed to Malaga to be a SHE over there. And I am staying here in Murcia with cute Hermana Gale. She is awesome! I am so excited, she is just what I need and just what Murcia needs.

Anyway so last Monday, back when we were sick;) we have a super great district leader.  This whole time Hermana Asay was sick nothing sounded good to her except smoothies. So we bought everything we needed for smoothies and then found out our blender didn't work!  I thought Hermana Asay was going to cry, so we called district leader
Mitchell and they promised they would make smoothies on p day. So that's how we finished our day of rest.  I also learned cutting a mango is harder than it looks, much harder!  When we went out to work, all our citas (appointments) failed us, but we gave it some heart and did our very best.

Tuesday morning we went out to work and taught one cita, to be honest, it was the worst lesson I have ever taught! We both just could not focus -  it just did not go well.  After the lesson we went back to piso so my companion could rest and I got some more personal study. Then for the afternoon we had another cita in a pueblo, so we went and honestly, another not so great.  After that, Hermana Asay wanted to keep working even though she was dying. Then I realized, she was doing exactly to herself what I did to myself in San Fernando. I pointed that out to her and we had a nice long chat with her and basically commanded her to go home and rest so she could get better so that's what we did. When we talked to Elder Mitchell about it later he said, "WHAT!? Hermana SMALLEY convinced you to go home?" He then ranted about how stubborn I was in San Fernando about not going home. But here's what I have learned, I am perfectly willing to push my own body, but when it is my companion, Different story! You protect your companion.  So we went home and rested. 

Then Wednesday we stayed in all day to rest so my poor companion could finally get better. So yeah not much to report there. Towards the end of the day Hermana Asay wanted to go outside to get some air, so we decided to walk to the chapel. That took a lot more effort than I expected. So we kinda died there and we both just broke down a little bit. We sat down on the floor and basically had a classic pity party. We both felt awful, I had caught what she had, and felt so bad for not working and we both were laughing/crying at the silliness of the whole situation. Well to make it even worse right in the middle of said pity party Elder Mitchell and Elder Garcia walked in. My oh my!  That was a low of my life. But they took one look at us and ran for the door. That got us laughing and we managed to
pull ourselves together and go home. Haha -  super funny!  You probably had to be there, but feel free to not include this embarrassing story in the blog.  (But of course, I had too!)

Thursday I turned one year old in the mission. What the heck! That literally seems impossible. But here we are.

What an adventure it has been! That morning we weekly planned and then did a small evaluation of our lives. We both decided we were not acting like ourselves and that the Lord helps those who help themselves. Feeling sorry for yourself never really gets you anywhere but sad, so we went out and worked. I seriously love Hermana Asay. We are both just super similar and get along super well! We had an eating cita during mediodia with a returned missionary.  She invited some friends and it was awesome! Then we went out and taught some new people and finished the night with correlation. It was super fun because halfway through, the ayudantes and ayudantas got there and I also got to see my first bishop from the mission! I didn't think that he would remember me because I was only in Alicante 6 weeks, but he looked at me and said, " I could never forget that smile!"  It made my day. But then poor Hermana Asay died. She tried so hard all day but just wasn't doing super well. Roberto and the elders wanted to get me a cake for my year mark, but I just took my companion home. That night Hermana Hansen and Rowley stayed with us and we had a fun time singing and laughing ext.

The next morning we had zone conference. We woke up early and played soccer with the elders, but it wasn't super fun just because we were both still feeling under the weather but hey. Then we went with a big suitcase to the market and bought fruit and just filled the whole suitcase. We got some weird looks but it worked. Then we went to the conference. It was so good!  They played that clip from Facing the Giants where the coach makes Brock do the dead crawl the whole field.  I loved when he said, where am I? I have to be at the 30. And the coach just said forget the 30! You promised your best!  Just give me your best! I love that. Sometimes we get so caught up in the markers that the world gives us for our success, but we forget that we just need to worry about giving our personal best to our Father in Heaven. Not being content with just doing well, but really giving my all despite the results.

We also talked a lot about why we served missions. I feel like mine is a story, too long to really get into right now, but it really got me thinking. Hermana Andersen also made the point that we were here because we Covenanted to give our all. We also Covenanted to be obedient to all the commands of the Lord. So that means mission rules.
And when it comes down to it, I Covenanted to keep these rules, a covenant between me and God, so why on earth would I not do it?!

Also funny part of the conference, the mission nurse stood up and talked to all of the missionaries about how if they are sick, they need to call her and not wait a month. Hermana Asay turned bright red as everyone turned and looked at us. Then we also talked about setting goals. We put our health goal as "don't die"!  Well, there was a whole taller about how we can't make goals that aren't specific and that we cannot control. So we all laughed a little bit about that.

Saturday we worked all day! It was a miracle. We started playing some great basketball to finish out our time as a district. Then we taught a great lesson to the boyfriend of a member. At the end, the member said, " alright so we will see you at 2 right?" We were super confused, but turns out, I was scheduling citas while I was sick that I forgot about. So we went and ate with them. Then we had stake conference that night. It was so good. The stake president talked about how he didn't understand why people left the church and how it is our responsibility to help them stay. Then we finished the night talking to U. It was a rough goodbye for Hermana Asay.

I wanna tell you really quick about the faith of U. He lives in a pueblo really far from the church and on Sunday he comes walking or riding his bike. We are still working on getting him a ride. But last week he got hit by a car on the way to church. After people told him to go to the hospital and he said, "No I'm going to church!"  And he still came.
He is wonderful!

Sunday morning we had stake conference again. One of my favorite talks started by talking about the reality of Christ - the truth of his physical existence and that of our Father and Mother in Heaven, that they are real palpable beings. Then he simply said, "Brothers and Sisters, knowing that, how can we not pay our tithing? Knowing that, how can we not live the law of chastity? I loved that. We know of their reality. So how can we not do as they ask?

Sunday afternoon we worked and then met up with Elder Mitchell and Garcia to go to familia S to eat. It was pretty rough. They always do this to say goodbye to missionaries - they invite all of us over, and we get permission from President and then they give us huge plates of food and we do a testimony meeting. It was super sweet and
really fun.

Today we woke up and played soccer one last time then headed to the train station and helped some Hermanas get on their way and then Hermana Gale came back to the church with us. We then played probably the best basketball game of my life with everyone. It was super fun! Then we went back to the train station because wait for it... I have to go to Malaga to do residency. So I'm actually on the bus right now headed there. Saying goodbye early to Hermana Asay was not fun! But hey, I'll be seeing her soon.

Anyway that was my week! I love you all so much

Hermana Smalley

Where has this transfer gone

May 23, 2016

Dear family,

Like the title says I cannot believe that we are in the last week of this transfer! Where has the time gone? Just to start off I wanted to quickly share an experience that I had this last week. Recently I have been feeling a little lost, a little not like myself. I'm not really sure how to explain it. Like everything that has been important to me my whole mission was starting to slip, like I was leveling out a little bit. The closest thing I can compare it to is mid-swim season, right before December, where you just stop caring. Times don't matter, practice doesn't matter, nothing can motivate you. Obviously I can point out that in missionary work EVERYTHING matters and time is too short to go through that phase. Once I realized what was happening…I had my mid-mission crisis and didn't quite know what to do. 

So I got down on my knees. I poured out my heart to my Heavenly Father. Simple right? Funny how such a simple act can bring such a dramatic change. Just like President Hinckely, I promised to give my all, to focus even more and renew my devotion to this work. I also asked for the help I would need to do so. I then got off my knees and did an analysis of my work and then made 4 goals and plans for those goals to help me improve. It has been amazing how the Lord can take what we have, our simple offering of simply trying, and He enables us to make so much more of ourselves that we can on our own. Now please don't confuse my meaning… I still have SO much to improve and often I fall into the same traps. But that's all right, as long as I am giving my effort, the Lord can work with that. I am enough, and I know each of you are enough for the work the Lord has called you to do as long as you truly give him you. *drops mic

With that, I'm gonna tell you about another amazing week serving the Lord here in Spain. Last week, like I said, for p-day we went hiking. I walked away with the worst farmers tan! Then I made the mistake of wearing an even shorter sleeve shirt out to work that night. People contacted us just to tell us how sunburnt I was. But hey!  We use any excuse to talk to people. That night we ate with a member family from Brazil. They are the coolest people ever!  They have traveled the world
as a family and are the strongest members you have ever met. We are so lucky to have hem here in Murcia. They really are such a strength to the ward. We ended up getting there late for dinner. Around 9:15, cute L was telling us how weird it was to be eating so late. I then realized that it was weird to be eating so late! But hey, when the sun never goes down.. You forget.

The next morning we had District meeting. It was awesome. Elder Meredith started by talking about his favorite subject, miracles. He is a firm believer that every moment we have on this mission is a miracle, I agree. He talked about how it is a miracle when someone takes a card, when you get a lesson, when we get out of bed… Everything! He talked about how noticing the miracles invites even more. And how
it is our responsibility to work for them. Elder Mitchell then talked about how our goals can help us bring about miracles. Loved it! Then we all got together and made breakfast burritos for lunch.

Then we went out to teach some people! Ugh!  It was pretty funny – that night we had two lessons where we showed up, our member showed up, and the investigator did not. But hey, we keep telling ourselves we did everything we could do. We did have a great lesson with P.  We talked about the Book of Mormon and I got to testify to her of the truth of those words. It was so powerful because I realized at first I wasn't looking at her I was just looking at the book, but then I got
to raise my head and look her in the eyes and tell her that is book was written for her - That it would bless her life by drawing her closer to her Savior. Something that never gets old for me is the
light in people's eyes when they suddenly get it. It clicks and they understand. Man I love the mission!

The next morning we were fasting, zone goal fast once a week, and we headed out to Alcantaria to work. We started by teaching R also about the Book of Mormon and then headed out and worked with some menos activas that live there. It was fun to get to know them a little better. It's sad that I have been here a month now but with all the craziness, I'm still trying to get to know the  members. Then we went to an eating cita and treated ourselves to ice cream. I don't know if I have told you but the ice cream here is INCREDIBLE. Seriously. So good. I'm not sure I'll make it without it. There are Heladarias that make all the ice cream by hand and oh my! I'm making myself hungry!

That night was a little interesting. I should say that all transfer my companion and I have been a little sick. My

allergies have been killing me, BTW, apparently I have allergies... But my eyes have been
bugging me so bad I had to resort to wearing my glasses more. (Also I think the prescription might be a little old on them, what would be my options to getting some here? But not a big deal at all) But what is worse is my poor amazing, hard working companion! For the past month she has just been working super hard but she has been so sick, and Wednesday night it started killing her just a little. So we were
waiting at the chapel for E to go with us to a lesson and my companion looked so sick., I was wondering how on earth we were going to make the walk all the way across town to our lesson when E
walks in and says, “Hermanas! I brought my car! Where to?” MIRACLES HAPPEN! We got to go teach an awesome first lesson to D. D is Spanish, and he understood everything perfectly the first lesson. Well not perfectly or he would be baptized;) but he understood it all and told us he would need to confirm everything through prayer but that it sounded good. Yeah, that's rare. People almost never understand all of lesson one.

Then we headed to R’s house and ate with them. They are seriously like my second family - I love them all so much and they take such good care of us.

Thursday morning my companion died. I'm only slightly overstating that. Her body just rebelled, so we took it easy

that morning and tried to get her feeling better. Then that night we went out and got to teach two new incredible investigators. One of them is M, he is from Italy and he contacted us. That morning I braided Hermana Asay’s hair, and as we were walking down the street he yelled, “Hey! I like your braids!” So we went and taught him. After that I told Hermana Asay I was going to braid her hair every day!

Friday morning we did weekly planning and then we had intercambios with Hermana Gale and Hermana Holdjholt. I was with Hermana Holdjholt and we had such a good time. We got to teach an investigator about the Book of Mormon by reading the first chapter with them and talking about how they too need to pray with heart to know if it was true and that God will give them an answer. It was a little iffy getting to the house of the investigator because I didn't have the address, but MIRACLE!  We made it!  We got to teach a few lessons on the street and then we went to U with the bishop’s wife. It was super funny!  We were waiting for her at the bus stop and the bishop calls and asks, "Hermanas is my lovely wife with you?" We told him, “No” and he said, "Hermanas you lost my wife! What have you done!?"  Don't worry!  We found her and had an awesome lesson with U. He is so special and trying so
hard to be ready for his baptism.

So Saturday morning was an adventure. We almost didn't do intercambios because Hermana Asay was so sick. But we ended up doing it, and she just died Saturday morning. So Hermana Holdjholt and I ran to the chapel that morning and played soccer while the other two stayed in. Then before it was time to work, we called the elders for a blessing.

Favorite moment of this week:
Me, "Hermana Asay the elders want to give you a blessing at 11"
Hrm A, "NO! We are on intercambios tell them later!"
Sweet cute Danish Hermana Holdjholt, "Hermana Asay, I am learning from you.  Are you teaching me to reject the priesthood?"

Needless to say, we all busted up laughing because of that sass that came out of that cute Hermana! Then we went to the chapel so she could get a blessing. Then Hermana Gale and I went out and taught N.  And clever N told us how she had been feeling a lot of peace since we had been coming and we got to testify that that was the Spirit and how it would increase after baptism. I love being a missionary!  Hermana Gale and I then got to talk about the day we worked together in Malaga. She told me how I had her running all over the place and how she thought I was crazy at first, but as the night went on she saw that there was a method to my madness. I have heard that from so many people, I'm starting to wonder if I should be worried;)

Then everything changed. Hermana Asay finally called the mission nurse, who sent us to the doctor. So instead of sending the Hermanas alone to Cartagena we went with them! When we got there, Elder Holman, Elder Fife and elder Guisepe picked us up and drove us to "la manga."  So la manga is the big peninsula Where all the rich foreigners live. I'm not even kidding. It was like entering a whole new world with huge homes you only see in movies, I just can't even imagine being that wealthy! Anyway the purpose of our visit was to see S. He's a member from America, who is a doctor, who lives over there. So he ordered Hermana Asay about every drug in the world and then we headed home. It was a super long trip but really fun:)

Then we had a noche de Hogar with A. She invited so many friends! It was perfect!  Unfortunately, all of the members we invited failed us, so it was us, and a lot of investigators, but we aren't complaining. We shared a message about following the Savior and it was super fun even though both of us were media muerta.

Sunday we went to church for sacrament meeting, but at the end of the meeting my cute companion looked like death, so we ended up going home. More study time and lots of service opportunities. The Elders have been taking good care of us. This is the first time that my companion has been sick and I have been fine, not my favorite because I'm not sure quite what to do with myself, but I've been able to study a lot.

With that time I have been looking into some Catholic beliefs, because I live in a Catholic country and I like to be

able to level with people and understand where they are coming from. It has amazed me just how confused I get as I try to understand, especially their take on the Godhead. It has made me so grateful for modern prophets and for clear, simple doctrine that doesn't give me a headache. I hope that didn't come out snooty. Not how I meant it.

Today we took it easy. Aka, we went and I got my first haircut in Spain and then went and watched for 20 min as the rest of the zone played soccer. Elder Meredith took pity on me and we threw a football around for a little bit. But then we headed back to piso so my companion could rest. Also Mom, you should know, while I was getting my hair cut, "sitting on the dock of the bay" started playing and it made me smile;)

I love you all so much and I know I say it a lot but I love this work! I am so excited for Spencer! I cannot wait to be joined by someone so incredible on the front lines of this great work!

Hermana Smalley