Zaragoza

I am now in the incredible city of Zaragoza.  I'm with Elder Matherus, from Gilbert, Arizona. He already knows the language pretty well and knows how to work.  I came at the perfect time; they had a party named La Fiesta del Pilar.

Spanish bagpipes and Greek dancing?

   Also we have two baptismal dates for this Saturday and they are the most golden investigators I have ever seen but their story is crazy.  They had been homeless for about 3 months when a member felt like he should go talk to them.  He talked to them and invited them to stay in his house and come to church with him... this was one month ago.  Their names are Islamil and Ana.  They are so happy now and they have an amazing amount of hope.

Here's what Nick wrote to our Herrscher neighbors. A nice summary of his mission so far:

   "Everything here in Spain is great.  I have already been in 5 cities and I have only been gone a year! The mission is exciting and so fun. I love talking to so many people and learning another language.  I have been very blessed and have been with 4 native companions who have all really helped me with the language.  We had to go through a bit of a change and I am actually in the Barcelona mission now.

  I want to share with you my testimony of missionary work. It is the greatest joy that a person can have in this world. It brings the most blessings and really brings the best out of a person when we share the gospel.  I have been changed immensely and already know I will not be coming back the same person (hope you accept me into the neighborhood all the same haha).

  Alma 26:16  We can not find a greater joy it is only through joining the lord in his work
   Matthew 11:28-30  This is not so much a sacrifice as it is a blessing.  Always trust in the lord and learn from his example and you will be lightened of your load
   3 Nephi 18:19-21  Prayer is what brings miracles.  If we do not ask, we will not recieve.

I miss you and hope for the best for all of you.  And please also pray for our mission we are trying to baptize 400 people before the end of December and we need all the prayers we can get."

Last entries from Bilbao

For p day we decided to go bowling and it was really fun and luckily free but it took forever to get out there and then even longer to get back which made us get home extremely late. So we figured we were going to miss our visits.  We were praying to find a way to have the visits and when we get back to our apartment we call the visit to tell them we wont make it.  She tells us that she has two friends that have come to hear our message. When we hear that we get dressed in five minutes and are out the door.  We ran the entire way but it was completely worth it. We had a visit with two of her friends and one actually started crying in the visit. After that we were already late and so we go running to the next visit which is a fair distance away.  We get there about half an hour late but somehow that is when they were just walking in the door.  We had an incredible visit and could give his wife a blessing to help her back.  He told us that is just what they needed in this moment.  I know the lord helped us make it to these visits and help these people.

About conference, I really liked President Uchtdorfs talk about simplifying life and focusing on the four relationships that really matter: God, family , fellowman, and yourself.  There was a big focus on gratitude in this conference as well which I have already seen makes everyone happier.