Part Four: Will it Ever End?

After spending most of the year in Barcelona, President assigned me to the south of the mission. It was paradise. Alicante.

My companion was Hermana Bambrough and we had so much fun together.
We found old parts of town that were adobe buildings and small walkways--no cars allowed.
If you recognize this picture, that's because this is the one I sent to all of my friends. It's the only one I liked and wanted them to have. (Alright, I confess--I was hoping they could find someone for me to date when I got back! Some guy at BYU would walk by the fridge and ask about me.)

I experienced the real meaning of tropical storms and had to purchase an umbrella that understood as well (I miss that umbrella).
I ate paella. I don't know if you really want to know WHAT that piece of meat is. So, I just won't tell you. This paella was made by a woman who had some disabilities. A very nice woman, but a little crazy. She fell asleep during our eating appointments at the church building. One time, she had a made a flan as a dessert and it was pretty gross. She wanted us to take home the leftovers. She fell asleep and we convinced the elders to flush the remainder down the toilet. Then we had to unclog the toilet. It was a great way to spend an hour.

I did crazy things in order to keep the men away from me. It was insane what Spaniard men will do to get your attention. Especially if you have blond hair.
I played basketball with the young women and had a blast doing it. (It also helped that they made me look like a REALLY good player.)I visited pueblos that were in my area and that included getting slightly closer to the beach.And I met Leslie.Leslie was thirteen years old when she was baptized and had just had a baby a couple of weeks before. It was weird to teach her when she was pregnant because I felt like I should be teaching someone my own age or older. Not someone so young. We grew so close. Her baptism day was such a great day. Her family was there with her and everything went perfectly.

After three months, President sent Hermana Bambrough away and gave me Hermana Estrada. A native companion helped improve my Spanish from mediocre to at least decent.We spent some time on exchanges with the sister missionaries from Elche. Hermana Hernandez came over and we learned to make paella from the Relief Society.President told me that my time in Alicante was coming to an end, so I quickly learned to appreciate every moment that came.
Mariela was baptized the Sunday after I left the area. She was from Cuba and the elders had found and taught her husband a few years before. She had decided it was time to be baptized. She was amazing and I was so blessed to visit with her.
The eight of us missionaries in the city had so much fun together. We met up to do contacts in the park, and afterwards would enjoy a nice pizza meal. I think it was the only time the elders didn't eat cereal.Patricia was wonderful. Every Sunday night, after we had our numbers for the week, my companion and I, without fail, would go to Patricia's apartment and watch the sunset. We would talk and eat ice cream and just have fun. I never felt more at home. And I never wanted to leave. It was such a peaceful feeling being at her house.Alicante felt that way to me. Although I had been in Barcelona and loved it, Alicante was laid back and is a favorite spot in Spain. I need to go back. I want to go back. But I was destined for opportunities in other cities.

Part Three: It Continues

After a month in a trio, President returned me to Barcelona. With Hermana Ballif.

We experienced the great things in Barcelona.

The Mona de Pascua (Easter Mona), a cake served at Easter time.I spent a lot of time admiring the Damm Beer Factory that was over three blocks from the apartment. Yes. That's REALLY the name of it.
And President promised that this transfer would be my last in Barcelona. He, or rather the Lord, had other plans for me. So I had to say goodbye to some of my favorite people.

Jessica, Susana, Joel were amazing members. Jessica wasn't a member, but was Joel's sister-in-law and diligently came every week to church. She was unable to be baptized because she wasn't married, but she still remained strong and learned.
When I arrived in Barcelona, Joel was just starting to reactivate himself, with the help of the missionaries. At the time of this picture, he and Susana had gone to the temple and were sealed together and he was serving in two callings simultaneously--Ward Executive Secretary and Ward Mission Leader.

Marcela and her daughter were from Mexico. She made the best food ever. I loved visiting her. She was a returned missionary and definitely helped me to have more confidence in my abilities.
And then, transfer calls came. I was training. And it was back to L'Hospitalet. I was assigned to Hermana Whitford.

The office elders didn't have enough room in the van to transport us, so they took us and our suitcases to the metro and sent us on our way with the promise that our district leader would meet us at our metro stop. Funny thing was--the elders never showed. So, being the trooper that I am, I showed her the way to get out as we lugged our suitcases up the escalator. At the top, I tripped and fell, just as the elders arrived. I'm sure I was a site to see.

That night, we went to Plaza Catalunya, as we always did on transfer night. The missionaries gather there to sing and say goodbye to those missionaries who are leaving the mission. Hermana Whitford got to meet my trainer, and I was able to say goodbye to Hermana Olson.
And thus began my adventure with the polynesian. With her, I learned the greatness of Hawaiian pizza and the Hoki Lau. I learned to "chill" and take my time. I needn't rush to every appointment. And I learned to laugh a lot. And often.
We discovered Parc Guell, as I had only been there once previously.We had a Hawaiian night with the ward and with the help of her parents decorated the cultural hall to perfection.
We went to Montserrat and stood (well, I kneeled) on the top of the Steps of Life.
We went to the Olympic stadium.
We met Elder Oaks (which I don't have a very good picture of....).

And I tried to remain positive throughout all of it. Succeeding only somewhat. We had amazing experiences as well. One day, we were teaching Monica and in the middle of our lesson, she asked about the Book of Mormon and whether or not the Bible ever teachings about the Book of Mormon. Into my mind came a scripture in Ezekiel. I immediately showed her the scripture and explained its meaning to her. She had tears in her eyes as she looked at me. You see, Monica had read that exact chapter the night before in her personal scripture study. But she did not understand it. She had prayed to God for understanding. And the next day was our lesson, when I explained it clearly to her.

After three months, President decided to send me down the coast to the south of the mission. And I was definitely in for a new experience.

Five Year Have Come And Gone.... Part Two

It's amazing what things you learn in such a short time.

In my first two transfers, we had General Conference and Thanksgiving.

Hermanas Ashby, Britt, Goulding, Me, Olson

In the midst of all of that, I was lucky enough to find the best friend a girl could have as a missionary. A bosom friend. Hermana Ashby. She was a transfer behind me and it felt so nice to have someone to talk to who understood me. We immediately became friends.

Even when our trainers turned all Franco on us.

The craziest time Ashby and I had was when both of our senior companions were six on January 6th--Kings' Day (Dia de los Reyes). We decided that we would go out and do the work. I was in my third transfer, Ashby was in her second. We got to one appointment and were talking to this one woman. She began talking and I had no idea what she said. She started laughing. So that's what I did. Ashby looked at me and was laughing too. Afterwards, we realized that neither of us had a clue what the investigator said--we just laughed because she did.

I experienced such things as my first and only FC Barça football game in the second largest soccer stadium in the world--Camp Nou.December brought not only Christmas, but a new companion. Hermana Shaw.


We discovered new areas--including the beach in Barcelona.

(Yes. That's as close as I got to the beach. I wish it had been closer.)

Hermana Shaw was sick most of our transfer, and was finally sent home in January. Two weeks before my birthday, I received a new companion. It was a dark time for me. She was also very sick. We spent the next two weeks in the piso. And my mission president gave me a birthday present:

An emergency transfer to L'Hospitalet. A suburb of Barcelona. I was stationed (I like that... ha ha) there with Hermanas Price (the tall one) and Thomas.

They indulged me on my birthday, returning with me to Barcelona to attend various birthday celebrations.

Michelle (a new member I taught) is giving me my birthday card.

We attempted to make sugar cookies but failed in following the recipe...
We made a cake instead. It made us a little hyper for the next week. I don't recommend it.

The members in L'Hospitalet taught us how to make Tortillas de Patata and even flip it using the frying pan and the plate. (Ask me to do it... I'm a pro!)
I sucked flan and didn't choke.

Yes... I was in the ghetto. Or at least the place where they spell out the city name in graffiti.

In March of 2005, I returned to Barcelona. But that's a story for tomorrow.

Five Years Have Come And Gone... Part One

You're going to have to forgive me. The next couple of days will be filled with multiple posts. I'm going to be doing some reminiscing. And of course, that means lots of pictures. I hope you're not too bored. I just need this one indulgence.

On July 14, 2004, I took a scary step.

I hugged Jamie. I hugged Eric. I hugged Mom. I hugged Dad. Then I walked across the cultural hall floor (that's what it felt like) and did not look back. I knew that if I looked by, I would cry. And then suddenly, I felt very lost.

I was a missionary.

I spent the first three weeks of my mission feeling constantly tired and wantubg to go home. I had a headache from trying to remember any Spanish that was taught to me and not mix it up with the French that seemed to be coming instinctively. I memorized everything. My teachers told me that I shouldn't.

Then I got shipped to Madrid.

The Spanish was different. There was nothing comforting about that MTC. I no longer had the option to run home if things got bad. I was in it for the long hall.

The day came, 6 weeks later, when I got my plane ticket and was sent to discover what all of my learning and experiences had prepared me for. I was very unsure. In fact, I KNEW I was not ready.

(Me... with Hermana Leonhardt and Hermana Florindo. I may look happy....)

President and Hermana Watson, and the two Assistants met us at the airport. We drove directly to Montjuïc, a mountain that overlooks the city of Barcelona. President gave us a speech and then called us each over individually for an interview. I was scared. I was nervous. I really wanted to go home.

President and Hermana Watson... and me

We went back and had lunch. I could barely eat. We laughed. And joked. And then had another meeting. I don't remember what was said. But then we were ushered downstairs to the office and into President's office. He then gave each of us our new assignments, as well as our new companions.

I was to stay in Barcelona. My companion was Hermana Olson.This is the view from my first piso. The sunrise.

And that's where I will stop... for this round.

July the 4th

It was a fun weekend. I don't really think I can elaborate more. It was nice to have a break from work. Two more weeks and I'll have the reunion. Woo! So I'll just leave you with the only pictures I took this weekend. Yikes! I need to get better at that.

I know you have them...

Okay, friends and family (well, mostly friends because my family has already been informed of this), here's the deal:

We're looking for Family Home Evening Experiences for the Church Magazines. Your most memorable experience. We're running out and I've been recruited to collect as many as I can. Just send them to me at my e-mail--if you don't know my e-mail leave a comment and I'll get in touch with you. Your favorite Family Home Evening. The writing doesn't have to be perfect, just send it over and if we like it (and we're not perfect), we will probably purchase it from you. Yay!

So, send them on over. They should be short--250 words maximum.

Thank you!

June is Bustin' Out All Over!

You can see it in the trees
You can smell it in the breeze
Look around! Look around! Look around!
June is bustin' out all over
All over the meadow and the hill!

~From Carousel

I can't believe that June is already disappearing into the sunset! That's crazy!

Well, June has brought some exciting times. I started volunteering at the Salt Lake City Public Library every other Saturday for four hours. It's not terribly exciting. I just shelf books and make sure they look straight and clean up the magazines--but it's an opportunity to grow and learn. And if it gets me a good recommendation for grad school, then it's worth it.

I also got to tour the brand new Church History Library. It's amazing and made me totally jealous that I don't work there. I also got to meet one of the women in charge of one of the areas in the library and she's willing to let me come over and be a volunteer there after work. I probably won't start that until later in July or even August.

Last weekend my friend, Annie, and her sister, Carla, called me to go see Hello Dolly! at the Hale Centre Theatre on Saturday night. It was a lot of fun. We watched people singing and dancing. It was definitely worth seeing the show. Plus, it was the first time in a long time that I had seen a play without knowing the songs or the storyline.

This past week (in keeping with the theme of musicals), my friends invited me to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the local theater. One of my friend's boyfriend was in the play in the part of Simeon. We went out to dinner before at a Chinese restaurant:

Then went to the play. Here's us with the sign we made for Steve. I hope he liked it.

And to start July off right, I'll be going home to San Diego for a 5-day vacation (only taking 2 days off of work!). Halleujah! I hope to enjoy that vacation. I feel like I need it already. And then two weeks after that, I will be off to the family reunion.

Cheers!