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