Well I´m here and safe. Everything is going great! Spain is awesome. I have no idea where to start....
Well, I´m in Lorca and my trainer is Elder Trenton Oldroyd, a fellow Toro. Went half way around the world, and the first companion I get lives on Gilbert and McKellips. It is such a small world. There is so much to tell that there is no way I could write it all down, but I´ll try my best.
So I spent 2 days in Málaga, at the Mission home one night, and at the Castillo´s the next (they are JR and Tracy´s friends, also from Mesa). Spent a couple hours in Malaga doing missionary work with an Elder Brown who has since left Spain. We taught a Muslim and invited him to church, Elder Brown made me teach the whole first lesson in Spanish to a member, and I felt bad for her. And then I got my first real taste of Spanish (real Spanish) food. Chicken, tortilla, and pasta. It was delicious!
After that I took a bus and then a train to Lorca. While on the train, I got to talking to this guy about the church. He started asking about the Godhead and such, and I was able to answer his questions. Then I invited him to pray and he said he couldn´t pray to a God that let good and bad things happen. He had a BoM at home, and I asked him if he would read 2 Nefi 2:11. He said he would. (This conversation lasted for about 15-20 minutes, but that is basically the shortened version of all that I said/understood). But it was a testimony to me, that God will help me communicate if I will just open my mouth.
In Lorca, I´ve been tracting (we call it touching doors or Tocar las puertas), helped in a primary program, helped teach an English class to a bunch of little kids, was the chorister in church on Sunday, and bore my testimony during fast and testimony meeting. I just love being able to feel the spirit in 2 different languages.
I´ve helped teach two lessons thus far here in Lorca, both of them to less active members. And there are two languages that you have to learn here: Spanish and Black Man English. I think the latter is harder. There are so many people from all over the world here. Lots of people from Nigeria and Ghana, people from all over South America, Slovakia, tourists from all over Europe. You name it. There´s even someone from NY City here.
Our piso (apartment) is awesome. We have 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and a front room. It´s way bigger than I thought it would be. But showers are kept to under 5 minutes thanks to the ¨hot water heater¨. But anyway that is just about it. The food is great, we´ve got to cook for ourselves for the most part, but every once in a while people will give us food. The guy at the grocery store gave us a free loaf of bread the other day.
Life is good! Thank you all so much for everything! Love you all, and am praying for all of you!
Elder Garrett B Turley
1st day in Spain!!!
nice view
Garrett and his Comp.
In front of the towns church building
