Week 76 - THE LAST POST!

This will be my last email home?

I feel so confused.

It feels just like every other big change/move in my life....I've accepted it as a fact of what is happening and now it's just doing everything that needs to be done. AKA pack my bags! I'm a terrible suitcase packer.

It's been a weird feeling though.

For example, on friday we had a "zone meeting" which was basically a big zone district meeting. Anyway, Elder Hatch was announcing the next zone conference, a general authority that is coming, etc....all kinds of cool things....all after I am gone. It was the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me.

And my personal not favorite was actually like last week. As you may or may not know, our ward mission leader served his mission in st. george. One of his old mission comps that is recently returned from the mission came to visit him for a while here. He is from North Carolina. So, we were going with them to drop some of our investigators off at a ward activity. Anyway, we ended up in the back of Dani's car with this kid. He started asking me what i was going to do when I go home and asked me what school I go to. When i said BYU-I he got all excited and was like, "no way! me too! that's awesome!" giving me high fives and asking me about it....meanwhile in my head I am thinking, "GET ME OUT OF HERE!" haha i was still two weeks and two baptisms away from going home. And that was making everything wayyyy too real.

In other news, we had GREAT things happen this week :)

First of all, I have been having a blast with Hna Roderick.

Also, we have an investigator right now named Lenin (yes, that's his name. but, hna roderick and I just call him Lenni because we like it more) he is from Ecuador and the elders found him (bless their hearts) on Dia de Diamante.

I love lenni! He is a doctor, but without a job and he is so fun to teach. He is like ULTRA smart. Usually we have to explain scriptures to people and really teach what it is saying. Not with Lenni, we give him a chapter to read and he comes back with a full summary and deep, meditated thoughts. haha he is the best.

Actually, it makes me laugh because he reminds me of Monk. I wish mom could meet him. haha He is seriously so so so smart and a little bit OCD. He gets stressed about things that don't need stress. For an example of one of his Monk-isms, when we taught him the Plan of Salvation I used the little dibujos to teach it. (I don't know how you would say that in english...you know the little earth and the spirit world and you have a sun and a moon and star for the reinos) Anyway, as we teach that lesson I usually just lay out all of the pieces on the table so it will make sense. But when we taught it to lenni, I would put the piece down and then he would move the pieces so they were all in one perfectly straight line just barely overlapping each other. It didn't make any sense set up that way...but for some reason he wanted it that way. haha little things like that. Lenni=monk

So we have been teaching him for about a month...but his baptism is set for this saturday. So, I basically had just come to terms with the fact that I would miss his baptism and that it was fine. This past saturday, the elders had a baptism and Lenni came....and  even brought a friend! :) The baptism was sooo beautiful. I loved it. I will miss that. Anyway, after the ordinance I was talking to lenni's "friend" and she told me that she was baptized in this church when she was 16! She is a member! But she was only active for like 4 years after. I guess Lenni told her that he was getting baptized so she took the opportunity to come back. And she felt the Spirit in the baptism. She also told me yesterday that her kids want to go to church. Hna Roderick is going to baptize the whole family.

But here is the best part, after the baptism, our bishop heard (he has been out of town) that Lenni is getting baptized on the 25th and was like, Hermana, we are going to the beach that day! Apparently there is a huge ward beach party this saturday. So I said, that's FINE bishop, we'll just baptize him tuesday! :) and whabam. that is what we are going to do. I can't think of a better way to spend my last night as a missionary :) We pulled Lenni and his friend, Estefania, aside, asked/told lenni that we are changing the day. Both of them cried, he went around the room and told each of us why he is grateful for us and then Estefania agreed to come to church and keep coming. Miracles my friends, miracles.

It all just worked out well. The Lord is amazing.

Being a missionary is my favorite thing.

I had no idea how much I would love it and how much I would learn.

But I feel SO grateful for the experiences that the Lord has given me. I hope that I have done all that He expected of me.

And I hope that I can carry all of these things over into real life. I understand more now what my place will be in the church and in the mission work as a member....more of what the Lord expects and more of the blessings that come from obedience.

It is good to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It's just so stinkin true!

Um, I'll show you a picture of Lenni when I get home...but this picture is from the baptism on Saturday. The woman who got baptized has two little girls. So, Elder Shaver organized a musical number with the two of us the lady's daughter and 3 other little 7/8 year old girls in the ward we sang Grande Eres Tu and he played the piano. It was cute :) so that is our little choir and the photo is of me and the other little girl. Her name is Viki and she is soooooo cute. She was following me around everywhere in the baptism and at church yesterday. I asked her if she wanted to go home with me and she said yes :)

probably the rule that I am the worst at keeping.....is loving on all the niños.

ok, this email is REALLY long. haha sorry.

Listen, I can't believe this is real but I am excited to see you guys! I love you!!!

ole.

  

con muchísimo amor y besicos,

Hermana Ross

Week 75

hey hey!!

I wonder if trey is speaking the same day as matt. hmm...I would have liked to see that! :) I need to go to the cheyenne ridge ward too. It is going to be complicated juggling two wards! haha but that's ok.

dad, if it makes you feel any better, I can't wait to hang out with you :) and you aren't even my boss! well, kind of. but not really. you know what I mean.

does maria jose look so cute getting baptized? :) it was such a sweet baptism. A tinge of bitter sweet because Rosa couldn't get baptized with her...but it was a happy occasion. She is such a good girl. And she is getting baptized at such a good age (13) so she is with the YW and can learn to make good choices now. better choices than the ones her parents have made. And she knows it. I love her so much!

But, it was a pretty big bummer about Rosa. She was soooo sad. We we saw her she just hugged me and cried. She wants to get baptized so badly. We spent a lot of time this past week doing all we can to make it work out...giving the Lord lots of reasons to help Rosa. But, unfortunately....it just can't happen yet. But it will. She told me it will. She said she is going to come to church every sunday anyway and keep reading and praying everyday...until she can change her life. She has already done so much...and I am so pround of her! She is a champion.

It will be hard to say bye to them.

ummm...something crazy that happened in the baptism- we had everything planned out and good but halfway through the talks during the baptism service I look around and realize that there are only two men there.

The man baptizing her and a member of the bishopric. We didn't have two testigos. I guess I should have planned that part out....but it has never been a problem before. I wasn't expecting all of the women in the ward to come and leave their melchesidek priesthood holding husbands at home! So, I was sitting there like...ok, we have the rest of this talk and the musical number to find another priesthood holder.

awesome. The spirit told me to call the elders. I felt rude because i was in the front row and got up right in the middle of the talk...but I figured I'd be obedient. So I called them...and bless their souls they answered my call even though they were in the middle of a lesson, ended their lesson and sprinted to the church. The church is true folks.

People love talking to us about our basketball team. haha about how huge they are. spain is pretty new at the basketball thing. they are soccer people :)

Today for p-day we went around the touristy pretty part of Granada with the elders...and hiked up to the Alahambra. It was so fun...so beautiful! I love the Alahambra. The elders are really good at reminding me that I only have one more p-day left. haha isn't that weird? I mean, has time gone by fast for you guys? Because I think about it and I feel like I am in the twilight zone or something. it is so not real. but I am excited to go swimming. ha. not gunna lie. And

112 degrees won't be a huge surprise...because it is that hot here too! In fact, the only reason Julio hasn't got baptized yet is because it's so hot outside that he won't leave the house. sheesh. haha Trying to get him to go to church this week I told him that we would turn the air on in the church to arctic temperatures. but he still didn't come.

madre mia.

Vicente's mom came to church yesterday!!! :) we'll just slowly baptize the whole family. they other day his mom told us that Vicente's dad really wants to meet us! Which is a huge step because just a couple months ago, he didn't even want us in his house. The gospel blesses families. I think they have noticed the drastic change in their son....so they are really warming up to the church :) his mom LOVED church yesterday! She is like best friends with the whole relief society already. It's so good.

So, today starts my last full week. I just want to work SO hard. and I want to do my best. I wonder and I hope that I have done all that the Lord has expected of me. I really hope so. I just can't help but realize how much I still fall short. But I love being here. And I feel so grateful for this time. The Lord has blessed me so much!

Being a missionary is the best.

um....ya está.

well fam bam....I love you! have a fun camping trip!

con amor,

hermana ross

Week 74

Our new mission blog is:  thespainmalagamission.blogspot.com

HELLO

i know the time is coming quick when I get emails about coming home. haha
but, life is good in granada.

Remember how Vicente was baptized last weekend? And remember how it has changed his life completely? Well, it's the best. But after his baptism he was too scared to bear his testimony. However, yesterday, he got up to bear his testimony. in front of the whole ward. The fact that he got out of his shyness enough to do it...is earth shattering. I about peed my pants. The ward LOVED it. haha everyone was like shaking his hand and saying stuff to him when he went to sit down afterwards. And bishop was sooo excited. Good stuff. Everyone keeps telling us how much of a change they have seen in his face. The gospel changes lives! I love it!!!

Last week we went with the elders to see the cathedral here. It was cool...but we mainly went because we heard that the tombs of the Catholic Kings are there....but we got jipped. It was still neat and huge though. Although....once you've seen one cathedral....you've basically seen them all. haha that's just the honest truth. Today, the elders are gone for a zone leader concilio so Hna Roderick and I are just doing a p-day out on the town :) haha we even have a picnic :)

In other news, Elder Shaver gave me the music on the new efy cd. I have never been so happy about efy music before in my entire life. hahaha

Also, I feel really excited to go to the temple again.

So, we had some REALLY cool things happen this past week...and this week is going to be crazy busy. Which is good. But, we have been teaching a woman named Rosa (from Ecuador and in the picture of just me and hna roderick) and her daughter Maria Jose. They went to the baptism last weekend and have been coming to church...and are SO ready/willing to get baptized. They are so cute. Also, Rosa has two littler kids as well. But, Rosa can't get baptized until she leaves her living situation....that is, she lives in the same piso as the father of her two youngest children. BUT, they aren't married. Actually, they aren't even "together" or happy being in the same room with each other...but they do it "for the kids" In order for her to get baptized, she would need to change something. And she wants to get baptized so badly. So, we sat down, told her what's up...and told her to pray about it. After that cita, the two of us have fasted twice. And yesterday she told us that she is getting baptized saturday before Maria Jose goes to Ecuador :) so, this week we will be moving her and her 3 children to a different home and the two of them will get baptized saturday! :) I am praying that all goes well. I love Rosa. She is so great....and this is going to be hard. But it will be worth it.

One more thing cool that happened this week was with our investigator Leni. The elders found him on Dia de Diamante. He is from Ecuador too (i mainly hang out with the ecuatorian peeps these days) and is a doctor. But, he doesn't have a job and can't find one....he spends alll day everyday searching. It's really sad. But, it is humbling and he needs God. Anyway, the man is so poor that he doesn't even money to buy food for himself. The other day, (during our fast for Rosa- miracles seem to multiply on each other) we were doing a few contacts before our cita with Leni. Towards the end, we talked to a guy from Pakistan. He was really nice and when we told him that we don't think that all pakistanis are bad people, he thought we were really nice too :) haha anyway, he is muslim but we got his address anyway. As we were saying bye he said, "Look, I was going to give this to a friend...but now it is for you." and he hands us a bag of food (it was a kebab  -look it up- with fries and a drink) haha it was REALLY random. but nice...but also we were fasting. So we laughed about it...But after like 5 steps of walking away from him we both said, LENI! and happily went to Leni's house to give him the dinner the Lord provided for him through a very nice man from Pakistan :)

Welp. have fun at Andrew's wedding! Tell him I love him! Also, I am praying for you guys dad! I hope all goes well with that too.

I love you family!!!
You're the best!
ole.
con amor,

Hermana Ross

Week 73

Hey family!

It has been a SUPER happy weekend!!! :)

Don't you just love seeing that many people in white?

We had a joint baptism and baptized 6 people! Ok, the elders actually did all of the baptizing...but still. It was SO AWESOME!! we were in heaven.

We even got Vicente to cut his hair for it! haha (our convert...in our cita on friday Hermana Roderick was like, "vicente, what will it take for you to cut your hair for your baptism?" haha eventually we convinced him to do it...and he looked way better!) Really though...it was great. There was a minute or so when I felt like I was in the temple or something because it was just baptism after baptism. It was a good feeling.

And it was cool too because yesterday in church we had 6 confirmations to do! It almost took up the entire meeting....but bishop got up to speak and was like, I wish we only had time to do confirmations every week! The ward is super excited about it. We have an eating cita every single day of the week this week. haha It got us pretty pumped too!!

The spirit was sooo strong in the baptism. All 6 of them were so happy.

I am happy too.

So, yesterday...we didn't really have many citas. And by not many... I mean none. We were a little tired by the end of the day. So, as Hermana Roderick was turning in our numbers for the week over the phone, I went through making a plan for where we could go for the last hour and a half of the night. I made a list of people we've met in the street...and that we could pass by their house...starting with two people we met the other night. The man's name is Elder (go figure) and the woman, Dora. We just met them contacting in the street. They just live in the same piso but aren't family or dating or anything. So anyway, we get there and Dora was home! Hallelujah! So we started teaching her...and about halfway through, Elder gets home and sits in the lesson. We started talking to him and testifying...etc.

He told us that a month ago he had a dream that he would meet us. And that in his dream, it happened exactly the way it did 3 days ago.

Except that in his dream there was one more person. Incredible. So, obviously I took the opportunity to invite him to be baptized.

I just walked home last night in complete awe and reverence. I remember so specifically when we met them and the events that led up to getting us to that exact spot at that time...and getting us to his house last night. I am just amazed. And so grateful. Not only was it a HUGE blessing and miracle for us....but Heavenly Father knows His children. He knows who is ready and He leads us to them.

Being a missionary is the best.

Our mission has a goal to baptize 70 people in august. It is going to take lots of miracles! But I'm excited.

also, recently my investigator from Ciudad Real just got baptized...after over a year!! :)

ummm...on another note, this is a picture of me with the little tiny cleaning trucks that go around the city and are really funny.

AND, last week we made homemade corn dogs with the elders...and elder hatch had REAL american barbeque sauce. IT ROCKED MY WORLD. For the last year and some months I have been eating the kind of barbeque sauce that they sell in mercadona (our grocery store) and it has been totally fine....I thought it was normal. Until last monday. I had completely forgotten what I was missing (although it is probably better that way) we did the side by side taste test. Not even close.

Thanks heavens for americans and their barbequing skills.

I love you family!!! you are the best!

have a good week!

con muchisimo muchisimo amor,

Hermana Ross

Week 72

Welp. I officially have one month left on my misson.

but it sounds like everyone is well aware. haha

so vicente didn't get baptized this past weekend because he is getting baptized with 5 other people this saturday! haha it is going to be a GREAT baptism. The other five are people the elders are teaching. We are so excited! In fact, today we are going to the church to make corndogs with the elders and plan the baptism...and the musical number (WHY?? I think I've been to like one baptism that I didn't have to sing in. haha) But for real, it is going to be an amazing baptism.

Speaking of baptisms, we should have some next weekend too. If all goes well. You see, we are teaching some of my favoritest people ever. And, by the looks of the pictures I am sending you, you are probably going to think they look like a bunch of crazies. and well....that's because they are! hahaha words cannot describe. So, let me tell you about them. There is a recent convert in our ward named Manu. He is LOVING being a member of the church and takes his usher calling very very seriously :) and is preparing himself for the melchesidek priesthood (i used to know how to spell that....but spanish confuses me.) and he is doing sooo good! (he is not in the picture) So, about a month or so ago Manu called us to tell us that he wants us to teach his parents. They are older and his dad is really sick. Essentially, he told us that he wants us to baptize his dad before he dies. ha. really though. Manu's parents are the two old people in the picture, the girl is Isabel their daughter (she is mentally handicapped) and the boy is their grandson (we gave him a book of mormon this week and he has been reading it every day :))

The dad's name is Julio, he is 79 and has just about every sickness you can think of. But he is HILARIOUS!! He makes me laugh so hard. Please notice the giant tatoo of christ on the cross that he has tattooed to his chest. Along with a tattoo of a woman he met when he was in the marines. haha oh, and he's never wearing a shirt.

but, in his defense, it is extremely hot outside.

The mom's name is Carmela and she has pink hair. She married julio when she was 16 and had 11 children.

(just so you know, they aren't spaniard spanards....they are Gitanos...it's like a different kind of spanish people...they have ancestors that usually come from Romania or somewhere but their family has been in spain for a really long time. so they are considered spanish....just gitanos)

Every time we talk to Julio he talks about how he just wants to get to the gate of heaven and have "padre celestial" (heavenly father) let him in and say that he has been faithful. But, with as much as this man talks about dying....I don't think he is going to be dying very soon. haha he's funny. Anyway, when we go over, we teach them and then he tells us a bible story or two. But his bible stories make me pee my pants because they are only half way true. Usually the basic plot is right....he just puts a Julio spin on it. I wish it translated well. But one of my favorites (and his because he has told it to us about 4 times) is when he tells us about the resurrection of Jesus. He tells the story and then when Mary sees Jesus he says, "Magdalena. Eres Magnifica. ¡no me toques!" hahahahahha ohhhh....I wish I could act it out for you! (translation: Magdelen (also means cupcake in spanish). You are magnificent. Don't touch me!") I mean....it's basically what he said to her. hahahaha

But they are preparing to get baptized. Carmela has come to church with Isabel twice already and loves it. (even though they live booty far away) The problem is that Julio has been to sick to leave the house. We fasted for him on saturday....but he still couldn't come yesterday. We are praying for him so much. They love it when we come over. I love it too. They are soooo great! Crazy, but great. I always leave the citas with them so so happy.

It is funny how the mission brings you to meet and love people that....you would never expect!

It's the best. We are praying that they can get baptized this transfer. And I love them!!

Maybe I'll take a video of Julio and show it to you when I'm home. Typing just doesn't do it justice.

  

Um, that's about it. All is well in Granada. Loving life....living it up.

I love you!!!!

con amor, 

Hermana Ross

Week 71

hola paco.

so, this weekend had enough happen to fill a novel.

But, I'll start with Dia de Diamante. Remember how I told you it is our mission's all out attack at finding and working until we drop? Well, it was a blast! We did splits with some of the women in the ward....some of them were braver than others...haha but they are champions for going out to the street with us. And I seriously had soooo much fun going out with them. But I'm not going to lie, I was DOG tired when we got home at night. It was a good kind of dog tired. The "giving everything to the Lord" type tired. The type when I finally got into bed, I had a smile on my face. It's good to be a missionary in Spain.

The incredible part about Dia de Diamante is always what happens afterwards. Saturday morning, the next day, our zone leaders called to tell us that a bolivian girl that had a baptismal date for the next week just moved here on friday. She had been living in a different city and was meeting with the missionaries. On the phone elder shaver said, "She can meet with you in a half hour and wants to get baptized. Are you busy?" uhhh....for that I'm not busy! haha

Since then, we feel like miracles have been falling from heaven. All for one day of pushing ourselves to the limit.

The Lord is incredible.

One of our other huge miracles from this weekend is Vicente. We met Vicente about a month ago on the street. He struggles with depression....but he loves the Book of Mormon and has come to church every sunday since we met him. But for the past couple weeks he's beeen struggling with something much bigger. Like, scary kind of bigger. But on saturday, we met with him in the church right after teaching the bolivian girl :) and by the hand of the Lord, the elders happened to be there too. So, they gave Vicente a priesthood blessing. In the blessing, he was promised proteccion from evil and a million other good blessings that he needs. Then when we saw him yesterday in the capilla, he looked like a different person! For real. His face changed. He had light in his eyes...and he was smiling a lot :) The members even noticed it without knowing about what was going on. On of the sisters in the ward asked us about him. She was like, that boy you are teaching...he looked different today. Of course he looked different! The gospel and the power of the priesthood is changing and saving his life! It's incredible. He is getting baptized this weekend, When I get home I explain more of this story.

But, I feel like I have seen a lot of miracles in my mission from priesthood blessings. I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood and for the men who hold and exercise it. 

All weekend we have had miracles and blessings. I feel like ever since friday the smile has hardly left my face.

I love you family!

Have a good batman marathon! haha that's probably not the thing I'll be up to when I get home...but frozen yogurt with my nephews does sound fun :)

Sorry, I always tell you that so much happens and then it is my shortest email.

it's fine.

LOVE YOU!!!

hna ross

Week 70

 helloooo family!

I'm glad you had a good 4th of july!
I did too :)
but...mine didn't include fireworks.
we did get to use a grill though! haha that was pretty exciting.
We had a party for the young single adults+whoever else wanted to come and it was so fun!! the american family in our ward let us use their grill in the church while they went to the beach. So, we made hamburgers and hotdogs and played american games. And we made chocolate chip cookies and brownies. Pretty sure the spaniards felt way out of their element with the food...but it was delicious :) also, we played football and basketball so we got to wear shorts! woohoo! Actually, it kinda felt like p-day for a couple hours. haha it was so weird.
Our ward mission leader's name is Dani. He got off his mission last september and served in the provo mission. (i think it is provo...he was in sourthern utah a lot...like st george and stuff) he had an american flag from his mish and a couple state flags...so of course we hung all of them up and sang the national anthem for everyone. But we sang it terribly...haha. like, really terribly. Why is that song so high?
Anyway, rather than wearing something american I wore my spain world cup jersey :) pretty sure I got a couple brownie points with the members for that. haha I am in spain after all! But, this picture is of me in my spain shirt and dani dressed up like a cowboy. haha culture clash!

Thursday was zone conference. So, we finally met President Deere! and his whole family. they have a 16 year old daughter and 13 year old son that are here too. kinda crazy. They are really young mission presidents but super great! They've got lots of energy and are going to be awesome for the mission. They also have an older son that just got back from his misison and one that is like 9 months out.
It was also my last zone conference. Pretty sad. But I loved every second of it. Like I told you, I had to give my last testimony. It was basically just an opportunity to get in front of a third of my mission and cry. haha No, it was good. It was just kind of a weird experience to get in front of all of those missionaries. A lot of them were either elders that came out at the same time as me...and a lot of them are older than me in the mission. Elders that I've served with my whole mission and asked for advice because they have more experience...and now I'm peacin out! weird. I envy their extra six months. soooo much.
But cool things are happening this week!!!
So, I don't know if I told you, but in april we had something called "dia de Diamante" aka Diamond Day. We all fasted the day before and the entire mission spent the whole day street contacting and tracting. No lessons or anything...just finding. It was amazing the first time we did it...so many miracles. Now we are doing it again! and I'm SO excited! so we will fast from wed to thrusday and then friday is our day. But this time we've set super huge goals. I about peed my pants when elder shaver told me the goals. They are: 3,000 futures this friday, 200 baptismal dates and 70 baptisms in august. I'm so pumped!!!
Last dia de diamante, Hermana Nelson and I saw so many miracles and blessings afterwards....and I know the Lord will bless us again.

That's about it I think.
I love you!!!

con amor,

Hermana Ross

Week 69

ok...LOVE the news about trajan pili!! haha! sick.

most of the time I just don't think about/try not to think about how little time I have left.
most of the time, it isn't real.

but sometimes it hits me...and it just breaks my heart.
it's going to be so hard to leave.
I'm at the point where it seems to be all anyone talks about to me. also, this week will most likely be my last zone conference. which means I will have to give my "last" testimony. or at least, in the mission.
on the one hand, I think about how it means I am so close to being able to see and be with you guys again...I do miss you and I am really excited for that.
but I love this SO MUCH

something that I have realized recently (I think this realization has come from being with young missionaries the past few months) is that I really am an abuela in the mission. (abuela=grandma) Often, the mission is compared to life. As if we were living an entire life smashed into 18 months-2 years. We are born into the mission...have a trainer...eventually train and just slowly get the hang of things until the mission is all you know or remember. Anyway, I'm in the abuela stage. It's like the time has given me a perspective of things (I'm speaking only of missionary work...not of all life things) like, I don't worry about things that I have just learned aren't important...and I truly feel the weight of the things that are important. Things that I don't think I really understood before...or things that I took for granted. Like, the worth of EVERY soul. Or the reason behind the rules. What it means to let the spirit be in charge and to just let go of myself.

I'm going to miss this.

But, the really really good thing...is that I still have some time :) and i'm so grateful for it. I plan on living it up.
and baptizing people :)

Have I told you recently about how much I love spain?
Well, we won the Euro cup last night...WHOOHOO!!! :) haha it wasn't very condusive to missionary work, but the Lord blessed us anyway. But, we heard screams and noise makers with every goal like last week...but this time, WAY more! haha they went buck wild crazy. and as I've told you before, spain is WAY good at going buck wild kruck party crazy. hahaha luckily we were at home when the game ended. but we heard enough :) and saw some videos from the kids in our ward today. out of control. but I love it.

This week we are having a 4th of july party for our ward :) it started out as a young single adult party...because there are a bunch of american students here studying. But, yesterday when the bishop announced in sacrament meeting, he invited the whole ward. ha. hna roderick looked at each other like...."uh oh. we are going to need a few more watermelons." haha it's going to be fun though.

I cut my hair again today. shorter. it's just getting so hot outside! and it isn't like the heat in vegas where I can just going swimming or go into the air conditioning...there is no escape! So, I just cut my hair shorter and shorter...and don't worry about it! haha

One of our investigators right now, is Vicente. He is spanish and we met him in the street. He is so great! He has come to church the last two sundays...and this week he showed up in a white dress shirt and slacks :) We'll find him tie. He has pretty severe depression though. He has for 10 years...after an accident that he had. His parents have him going to psychologits and stuff. So, sometimes I worry because I want to make sure people are getting baptized for the right reasons...but it has been good to see the change in him. He really does look happier! I think the gospel is finally giving him something to live for. The first time he came to church we asked him how it went and he said, "good...everyone was really excited all the time...and I got a little excited too....." haha :) it was cute. and then this week he learned about the temple and loved it.

The gospel of Jesus Christ changes people.
It's so cool.

I love you family!!!!
Thank you for your love and support. Have a good week!
ole.

con amor,

Hermana Ross

Week 68

 

Madre mia.
Natalie is cupcake master! haha i love it!
Also, Happy birthday curtis!

Well, it was another wonderful week to be a missionary.
for real.
it's the best.

As you may or may not know, the Euro cup is happening right now.....and spain is all in a tizzy because they want to win so bad. haha there is nothing more important that football. But I'm excited because today I bought a spain flag so I can hang it from our balcony like all of the spaniards do. Every game night, the streets are totally empty and literally EVERYONE is watching the game. And we always know when we make a goal because the city basically erupts with cheers and crazines. haha campeones!!!

ok so this time I'm sending lots of pictures.

We've just had investigators and baptismal dates falling out of the sky these past few days. The Lord is incredible.
Also, we started up english classes here this week. It's so fun! I've taught english classes every week in my other areas...so we started it again here, and I had forgotten how much I love it! I love hearing them speak english :) it's cute.

So we are in the last two weeks of this transfer. President Clegg leaves on friday and the new president comes in...crazy! So he'll make the next transfers. But I'm pretty sure the two of us will definitely stay together.

ok....so I'm realllllyyyy sorry but I just spent too much time trying to fight with this computer to let me send photos I don't know what is wrong with it.

Anyway, finally got some!

The one with us holding toast is because we are teaching the son of one of our members and the first time we went he told us that he had cookies for us. And then at the end of the lesson...he brought out toast! haha totally dry with nothing on it. And a glass of sprite. haha I love it. It reminded me of nacho libre. Now he gives us each a piece of toast every time we go. so I snuck a photo :)

The other photos are of our trip to the alhambra. This is me in Charles V's palace :)

lame email. sorry.

Love you!!!!

hermana Ross

p.s. hey...have you heard anything about drew fisher on his mission?

Address:
c/ Ziries 1, 2A
18002 Granada
Spain

Week 67

Fun fact #1- Granada means Pomegranete. So, in Granada, there are little pomegranete details all over the city. On fountains, street tiles and light poles...etc. It's like the theme of the city :)

Fun fact #2- yesterday was father's day! I had no idea until yesterday when the american students said something...here father's day was in march. happy father's day!! I love you dad!!!!

So, some weeks I feel like there really just isn't a whole lot to say other than, hey, life is good...and I love you.

But then, there are weeks like this one where EVERYTHING happened. So where do I even begin?

Fun fact #3- we met an italian man the other day and had a conversation with him. He was speaking italian and I was speaking spanish. And we could totally understand each other...it was the weirdest thing. But really cool :) I've done that before with portuguese people....but italian is really close to spanish too.

On thursday we had the a big zone conference to say goodbye to President and Hermana Clegg. It was the saddest thing everrrrr. I cried a lot. But that was to be expected. They both spoke to us....we watched some videos and we went through all of the traditions that they have for the missionaries when they send them home. Like, hna clegg is making a quilt and has af the missionaries sign a square...and we wrote a little letter to them and to the new presidents. Also, we each had like two minutes alone with the two of them to say bye. Who would have thought that I could love two people so much that aren't even my family....and definitely wouldn't have even met otherwise. I'm going to miss listening to and learning from President! It was sooo hard to say bye. But they told me they will be seeing me soon. That part seems even harder though. Time is going fast.

Some of Presidents last words to us were, "we are leaving spain but we aren't done yet. We will waste and wear out our lives in the service of God because that's just who we are."

Today we went to the Alhambra!!! :) It was so cool. The four of us went and we spent all day there. It is ginormous and there is so much to see! This computer is being weird so I don't know if I'll be able to send pictures of is this week. But it was really beautiful. And so full of history :) It was cool because it was like half Arabic art and culture and then half spanish with a little bit of the renassaince. It was pretty much the greatest thing! I'll send pìctures next time. Mom asked me if Hermana Roderick likes sightseeing and stufff. She does :) she wants to see all of the pretty things just as much as I do. We had soooooo much fun today!

This week we had sooo many ups and downs in the work. But all of the downs are swallowed up in the joy of the miracles. We found a spanish girl miraculously this week. The elders had given us a future....and set up a cita with them. We got to it kinda late and they weren't home (and turned out to be wrong) but when they weren't home we just decided to knock all the doors in the building and so from there, the first door we knocked was this girl. Her dad had just died and she told us that she is angry at God...but let us in :) And at that point... we were struggling. Not finding anything or anyone. But, the Lord pushes us to see our faith...and then answers all of our prayers. The girl's name is Leticia and she is soooo great! I'm excited about her.

So that is all I have time for. Sorry it's lame to have no pictures. But...if you go to the blog, you can see our zone conference! :)
ALSO, important fact. my zip code is actually 18005. NOT 18002. Pretty sure everything will get here fine either way bc hna roderick has gotten some letters....just so you know.

I love you family!!! Especially my favorite dad in the whoooooollleee world!!! :)
Being a missionary is the best.

amen.

Con amor, 

Hermanica Ross