February 13, 2012

Hola,

Today is Elder Barney's birthday!  We had pancakes this morning as part of the celebration!  (We found a pancake mix in the store here - who would have thought?)  This week we had some visitors.  Elder Rodriguez, Elder Hatch and Elder Hamilton all stayed at least one night with us this week.  They came exchanges and for residency work.  That took a lot of time out of normal missionary work because we had to travel to Ciudad Real a lot to take care of that stuff, but it turned out all right.  Elder Hamilton will be back this week to finish his stuff.


A while ago, we needed some new maps of the city, so we went to the office of tourism started talking to us in English.  She gave us the maps and told us about how she needed to improve her English and practice for a tour that she was preparing for.  So, she offered to give us a couple of tours - one about the history, in general, of the Puertollano area (in Spanish), and the other about the famous book "Don Quijote."  So we went and learned a whole bunch about Puertollano and about "Don Quijote" (in English).  The people used to make bread that lasted 15 days without getting hard or going bad!


Besides that, my testimony grew this week of what Elder Fagersten in Arizona shared last week - the enabling power of the grace of Jesus Christ.  I studied that talk this week and it really helped me a lot.  I am grateful that the Savior lives and loves us.  I am grateful that Heavenly Father's plan is perfect.  I am grateful that the grace of Jesus Christ is sufficient for each of us to change, to practice, to improve, and to be cleansed from all unrighteousness.  The whole and complete truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth, and we have it in its fulness.  It was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith.  The Book of Mormon contains it, the true word of God, the fulness of His gospel.  Prayer is the key that will unlock the door to that knowledge, and all that comes with it - the promises, the blessings, the trials, the tests, the peace, the happiness, and the infinite and eternal love of our Heavenly Father, and his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.  I am grateful to have the opportunity to share this truth each and every day.


Love,
Elder Fagersten in Spain