Hello :)

okay family, so we are having a two day zone conference up here in bilbao so today and tomorrow. we have hermanas staying in our piso and its been a good day. But i just got on to let you know that i am going to to have preperation day on wed. so just letting you all know that i am great but not to worry, you will hear from me on wed! 

love you all so so much! xoxo

Hermana Hair

February 3, 2014

Buenas! 

Alrighty, so this week has been pretty good. The best day, however, was yesterday! Sundays are kind of different on the mission becuase they feel like just any other day. We go to church, have mediodia (one our for lunch and one hour for language study) then go out and work! So we didnt really have any planned citas for Sunday afternoon but we felt really prompted that we should go to a part in our area that we just found out existed earlier this week. Apparently down in the metro instead of taking the escalators out there is a small turn that is a small train like box that takes you up the hill underground and we end up on top of a MOUNTAIN! We felt like we were in a whole new world. New ground, new faces, a fresh start:) We were having really good vibes about this place too , the only downside is that it is pretty far away from the church, but we didnt let that stop us. We decided to go all the way UP and see where it took us, contacting a few people on the way. We started getting up higher and when we look around it looks like we are Ireland! there are the cutest little houses with green all over and vegtable gardens and then we look to the other side and there is the ocean! It was a beautiful view. We Knocked a few houses and found some very nice people who reject us with a smile. We kept going up and found yet another little group of apartments. and this we said, is where we are working tonight. We decided to try knocking and MIRACLE the first door was open, so we walk in and my bright idea is to play the guessing game, which is where before they open the door you throw out a description of who you think is going to answer. Its funny when your right and even funnier when your way wrong. Well I have never had this game go so well yet so wrong as it did on sunday. H. Gillette had never played this game before so I started, I said, "Grandma, blue eyes and glasses" and i was right! the next one H. Gillette says "pink" and the lady had a pink robe on. the next one I whisper "man. chubs" and maybe it was because we were amazed at how well we were doing that it caught us off guard when, once again, we got it dead on. I dont know why it was so funny but right when he opened the door and we saw him, we both were trying so hard to choke back our giggles. It was tough, it was the best one yet. He was on the phone and didnt pay much attention to us but we managed to give him a card because im sure he didnt understand a thing we were trying to say behind all our random laughing.- now that i type this story it sounds like we were laughing at him but we really werent , it was just a funny end to our game. But the night continutes!

We invite an old man to be baptized who forgot to put in his dentures and was super embarrased about it but still sang to us an old spanish song. He said me da igual.. which means whatever, but i think he wasnt completely there. Then we meet this old lady who lets us in her apt, She tells us all about how she loves the mormons, gives us juice and some shoes... so we gave her a book of mormon She also started to guess our age, she thought H. Gillette was 19 and she though i was 31???????????????!!!!!!! this mission thing is aging me i guess.. haha.(I did find a white hair this morning) . So to sum it all up... we had a pretty interesting day.  I love the random people we meet. Every person impacts my life. I know Im where im supposed to be and im doing what im supposed to be doing. I love the song, "I´ll go where you want me to go". Especially that last sentence that says, "Ill be what you want me to be" I want to be the missionary the Lord knows I can be and I have 9 months to do it! gross... 

I have reached my peak, the humb of the mish.... is this for real? Well all i ask the lord is to help me make these last 9 months even better than my first 9. And i have loved every minute of these past 9 months so i Know these last 9 will be fantastic! Sorry mom, but I dont want to go home... :( I feel like the time has gone by too fast. 

I really hope everyone is doing great! You are all always in my prayers. Keep up the great work you are all doing every day to be examples of Christ. and "be who HE wants you to be!"

Les Queiro Mucho Mucho Mucho! 

-Hermana Hair

Here are a couple pictures of my ninth month. One is where I am super bummed that its my 9 months and the other is that im happy that I still have at least 9 more months ahead of me. Its a weird place to be. where i have enough time to look back on my mission but still lots of time to look forward to. 

So on saturday we went up for stake conference in Vitoria and we were on a bus for an hour and ten minutes and we go over this mountain and on the top there is snow!!!! It looked just like utah. I loved it.

 

January 27, 2014

My broken umbrella and 3 layers of jackets!

Kaixo!! (Hola in Bask)

I have been here for just about two months in Las Arenas and I still am amazed at how beutiful it is here. If any of you are ever planning on coming to Spain Las arenas might just be a must. This little bask part of Spain is gorgeous, even in the rain and spontaneous wind storms! It has been raining a lot more this week and both mine and my compañeras umbrellas broke in the wind. It was actually very funny . Good thing there are lots of  chinos around (chinese owned little random stores- kinda like a dollar store.. but they literally have everything you could ever imagine that you might randomly need) because the word around is that buying an expensive umbrella does no good in this wind, so might as well buy cheaper ones. either way you know its going to break so.... chinos here we come :) 

Portugalete (a part of our area)

The miracle of this week started when we decided to go visit a member's chucheria (a candy store) we were there talking to him and then without us even asking for references he started telling us about a member he sees and talks to that stopped coming to church almost five years ago. He said that he wanted to see if we could go visit here, he gave us here name and phone number and that was that. we called the elders, because she lives in their area , and asked if they had met with her already but they didnt even know her. We asked the senior couple if they knew anyhing about her and they didnt either so we went ahead called her up and set up a visit. - as hermanas we are kinda free to go out of area and visit single ladies because the elders cant go in without another man with them so its easier for us to visit inactive ladies even in their area- We get there and Imara is the sweetest  33 year old lady from Honduras. She tells us her story and how elders a long time ago came and tried to visit her but she wanted nothing with the church but she was very surprised to see that we called her becuase she has been having the strongest feeling to go back to church but she didnt know where to start. She said we had came at the perfect time and it was just what she needed. this all happened on tuesday AND THEN on Sunday she came to church, just as she said she was going to do. The first sunday back to church is HUGE for Less actives but she was there with a smile and all, she was loved by all the members who knew here and she said that she felt like she was coming back to her family. She gave us a big hug before leaving church and said ill be expecting you this tuesday as well. Milagro?? creo que si. :) I know it was nothing WE as missionaries did that made her come to church, it is always the Lord, he knows his children and he knows exacly what they need. I know that the member who gave us the reference was inspired to think of her and to have enough love for her to want to send us to her. I thanked the member on sunday for listening to the promptings of the spirit and giving us her information, He seemed a bit surprised but though about it and smiled. Not all of our actions have to have a huge spiritual prompting but just a small thought that comes to our mind, if its good, is always from God. My dear loved ones, follow every prompting you have, even if its just a small phone call that you feel you need to make to a neighbor, family member, or friend, Believe me, they probably need it, The lord uses us as his tools but if we dont place ourselves in his toolbox we will loose the opportunity to make a difference. Live worthy to be able to hear the whispers and promptings of the spirit then do it. That member did it, and I am so grateful he did. 

The rest of the week was great as well. We are struggling a little because we had to drop some of our investigators so we are working on finding, finding, finding. I love all the very interesting people we have the oportunity to talk to on the street. Hermana Gillette has the wonderful habit of praying for the ones who are very rude after they leave, so we just stop and pray. She apologizes to God and asks him to forgive them for rejecting Him. She is a wonderful example and missionary. 

I LOVE YOU ALL SO SO SO SO MUCH!!! Always remember that! 

Un abrazo grande, 

Hermana Hair

Making empanadas at a members home! (h. rackam from bilbao is also with us in this picture, we were in a trio for this day)

January 20, 2014‏

Hello everyone! We had a pretty good week here in Las Arenas. We have had a lot more lessons, almost doubled our average number of lessons, because we have been talking to more people on the streets and teaching and testifying at every moment possible and praying with them right there on the streets. I know that its not the most effect way of doing missionary work. the best way is through member references.. but its a bit hard to get this little branch rolling on that boat but poco a poco (little by little). However i do know that by opening our mouths and testifying to everyone that we are being obedient and that maybe we wont see the miracles through the people we contact but that soon enought the miracles will come. God always keeps his promises if we are obedient and do our part. 

A miracle we had this week was that we found ortilia through a reference from the elders (someone they contacted )  of almost 3 months ago. She had left to her country, Peru, and the hermanas that were here before were never able to get in contact with her. we found the number called her up and she let us over and has been reading and praying AND CAME TO CHURCH!! it was even her birthday on sunday but she still came to church! on the first visit she told us she would never be baptized and if our purpose was to baptize her that we wouldnt be able to . but i told her that we are here to teach the people this message but what i know is that when people KNOW that this is true that they have the DESIRE to be baptized and that it is their choice. She thought about that and has still let us visit. The ladies in the ward were SO nice to her and I know she had a great time. I know the gospel can touch anyones heart and that the holy ghost can testify to them that this is the true church. I hope we can get her progressing towards baptism but more importantly i hope she can feel our love and Gods love through what we teach her. I will keep you updated. 

Its been getting colder up here. yesterday and today have been super rainy and windy. i am currently typing with gloves on because my fingers are so cold ha. Ive been told february is the coldest up here. I guess i will find out. There are definetly less people outside when the weather is like this. But i love this work!! rain, sun, wind, cold, hot, it doesnt matter. I love this and I would do it anywhere and anytime. I couldnt be having a better experience than being here on my mission helping the Lord and being an instrument in his hands. I love Him SO much with all my heart! and i love all of you! take care and keep warm! 

love, Hermana Hair

January 13, 2014

Okay not our best picture. but here we are!!

SO much to talk about. Well this week has by far been better than the past few weeks. I had no idea how much the holidays would really affect missionary work here. and to be honest it really puts you in a slump mood. But this week we are finally getting out of the holidays and its been wonderful! Hermana Gillette is amazing!! i absolutely love her! She is from utah, currently from Park City . She is blonde and beautiful and has a super testimony and spirit. She has been out for about 5 months and is a contacting machine and has gotten my spirits back up about this area and after the holidays slump. We are pretty much almost the same person... We have a similiar past and can really relate in a lot of different ways. We have just clicked from day one. We have laughed just as hard as we have been working (which is hard). We have seen SO many miracles in the six days we have been together, its incredible. I dont even know where to start or how to explain it all. They have been small miracles but a lot of them. Weve had full days of visits and we found 7 new people to teach last week!  Every step we take is basically a miracle. The lord really knows exactly where we need to be, he leads us there and then places the people in our path. There is a wonderful lady from Colombia that we talked to and her name is GLORIA! just like you mom! and she wants to hear our message and we have a visit with her this week. 

The funny thing is that the first thing i told Hermana Gillete as she got off the train and i took one of her bags was "Hermana we are going to make a GOOD team". I could feel it from the moment we said Hi, I know we are going to do great together because... we already are! 

Well I hope everyone is doing great as well! keep warm! 

love you all!! 

Hermana Hair

Here are some pictures of our little piso! its basically like ikea, its so pretty:)

So its a bit late but here is my 8 month picture. This was super early monday morning (6 am ) at the train station when we dropped of hermana Swenson. 

January 7, 2014

HAPPY 2014 EVERYONE!!! I hope everyone had a great new years! the tradition here in Spain is to eat 12 grapes at midnight  (1 grape a second).so the elders here and h. swenson and I after eating at a brazilian members home ate the twelve grapes outside our piso at like 10:50 pm because we had to be in psio by 11 pm that night. We are so spaniard now ;) But this family from Brazil is amazing! they seriously went all out and made a huge FEAST for us, i will send picutres next time because right now I am in Bilbao with the bilbao hermanas because my companion left yesterday morning!!! We had transfers this week and h. swenson is now in barcelona and my new companion is H. Gillete! I havent met her yet because her train gets in tonight at like 10. (its a six hour train ride from barcelona to up here) but i hear she is super sweet, blonde, super skinny and that she has the heaviest suitcases in the mission! She has been out for the same time as my last two comps but i am super excited to meet her. a bit nervous becuase well... its always a bit weird when you change comps becuause you get so used to your old one but I am hoping to see many miracles this next transfer with her. 

Oh so yesterday was el dia de los reyes magos, Three kings day! and its huge here. almost bigger than christmas day. everyone in the family gets three presents, one from each king. they had a big parade in every city sunday night where the kings throw candies. So yesterday I was half the day in las arenas and half the day in Bilbao, Most of the day yesterday i was with the elders and the herreros (the senior couple) because hna swenson left at six in the morning my compa for the day was hna herrero. and really all that we did yesterday was eat! We went from member to member and they feed us all so much food. i really did not want to eat anything all day today. They have this specail cake thing called a roscon and every house gave it to us (a super spaniard desert for this holiday) and i feel really gross now. ha. but it was nice to spend the day with the missionaries and members.

We did see small miracles this past week, we found some great potential investigators.. but for some reason they are all busy till the end of january... ummm. yeah. but we are going to keep finding , keep working and I know that if we are obey with exactness and love that the lord blesses us and really uses us as instruments in his hands. Love you all so much! make this year wonderful! I will send my 8 months picture next time. 

a small challange we have been given members is to find a scripture as a family and make it your theme for 2014. write it out and hang it somewhere you see it everyday. memorize it and live it and you will see that throughout this year it will help you in ways you never imagined. . I invite you all to try it as well. and i would love to hear about your scripture that you choose for your family. 

Take care!! muchos besitos y abrazos de España

love, Hermana Hair

December 30, 2013

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Christmas! Mine was great! especially since i got to see and talk to my family. So there are five cute sisters who all work in the primary and well , they were our christmas! One of them, hermana blanca made a christmas dinner for us 4 missionaries at the church on the 24th. then while in the middle of dinner hna, faye and hna Jenny come in with a stocking and small gift for each one of us! We were not expecting that and it really filled my heart with gratitude and love. We finished the 24th making sugar cookies and frosting at the church to hand out to members the next day. (which kind of didnt end up happening). so the 25th hna swenson opened all her gifts. (my family package is still in madrid customs) and we had our studies, got ready then met up with the elders to go over to hna Jennys house (pictures in other email). we played basketball - not as easy when your wearing a skirt but still doable.. ha.- Then after we ate and shared a message we walked back down to las arenas because we were in a pueblo , the elders went to email and we went back to our piso for language study (a very awkward time of the day for me b/c i dont study spanish or engish, which most natives are told they need to learn enlgish on their mission. since i know both languages i kind of use that time to write in my journal, clean or read) After that study time we went over to hna Elenas house where hna swenson and i were supposed to use her comuters to call our families. long story short, there were some problems with the internet and we ended up running to a locotorio to call. It all ended well. then afterwards we went back to hna elenas house, talkd with her , shared a message and then went back to las arenas... and i know it doesnt sound like much but that was our christmas day and it was a very nice day. Our REAL christmas though was when we played secret santa for this very cute family who comes every sunday to church but she cant be baptized b/c she isnt married and her husband is in africa working/studying right now. But she has 3 kids. and lives with her mother in law too. So hna Swensons family sent her 150$ to buy someone christmas and really that is where i found my christmas too. buying gifts and then wrapping them all. carrying them in a big bag, getting on the wrong bus because it was raining and we didnt want the gifts to get wet, contacting a lady on the way, the bus taking us out of our area , then getting on another bus and finding another really nice lady to talk to. then rushing to Paulas house (the family) ringing every one of her neighbors door to try and let them get us into the building, finally getting in. then walking up four flights of stairs just to go running back downstairs, gifts still in hand, because we heard one of the boys open the door then running into the mother, paula, who was coming in from outsde. Caught red handed...... haha so it turned out not to be so secret but man was it worth the trouble. the gratitude and tears that came from that womans eyes are unforgetable. I felt prompted to let her know that this was the christmas spirit of christ that led us to her after we had prayfully thought of someone to use this money on. she was so happy that she said she is going to sleep tonight with a smile on her face and then wake up with hurting cheeks from smiling all night. she is a doll. I am so grateful that i have many many many ways to serve the people here in spain. The most important of course being that I have the opportunity to share with them the gospel, but really, to me , any act of service just screams out our purpose. I am here to serve. to let the lord use me as an instrument in his hands in any way possible. I love being here. I love all the opportunities i have to serve and I especially love all of you , who support me and love me while I am her. I hope you all continue to have a beautiful Christmas Season and that you can make this next year especially special. Happy new years!!! 

Love, Hermana Hair

Christmas Day

This wonderful family invited us over christmas day to eat and hang out a little. We went and played basketball and jumped roped haha. it was so fun and nice to feel like doing a little family get together and to play outside while we waited for dinner to be ready. This familys oldest son is out on a mission so the mom, Jenny, says how much she hopes people are taking care of her on over there so the least she could do was take care of us! how sweet is she. she is a very strong and fun member . I am so grateful for her love. (they are from bolivia.) 

San Sebastian

So last week on preperation day we went to San sebastian! I cant remember if I told you all about this or not or if i sent pictures or not but here are some beautiful pictures of this little place called la concha , its where the ocean comes in and wow its beautiful . the picture of all of us consists of elders and hermans from san sebastian, bilbao, and las arenas.