Well, this weeks been kind of crazy. I´m not sure where to start.
First off my address is:
Elder Turley
C/ 6 de Junio Nº44, 3ºB
Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real 13300
España
I left Cartagena the best I could. It was a surprise for everyone there. I was only there for 3 months and usually misionaries stay in the same area for 4 1/2 to 6 months. It was rather funny because everyone in the ward was talking about how they didn´t want Hermana Birnbaumer or Elder Ellsworth to leave, and then all three of us ended up leaving. It was pretty sad leaving. I had gained a huge love for the members and people there in Cartagena, it was a very spiritual time for me in the mission, and then I left some of my favorite missionaries and probably will not see them again. Some I might not ever see again, and others it will simply be untill after the mission. Sad nonetheless. But the Lord needs me in Valdepeñas and so here I am in Valdepeñas.
How is Valdepeñas you might ask? Well, it´s fairly small, but it´s awesome. Very well known for it´s wine, and it smells like wine all the time. Right now is harvest time, so everyone is working in the vineyards. It´s kind of like Snowflake where everyone works in the papermill. The weather is great. Aparently it got cool right when I got here. I absolutely love the weather right now. There was a huge thunderstorm the other day (it really wasn´t that big, but it was the biggest thunderstorm I´ve since the last monsoon I was in). It was realy cool. They say that sometimes it snows here in the winter so I´m excited for that and not excited at the same time.
The members here are great.
On sunday, all of the men were working so only women came to church. It was an interesting experience, but one that strengthed a lot my testimony of the strength of women and how much they really do keep this work and church moving along. We watched 17 miracles for
sunday school and young womens and I noticed how many of those miracles were manifest through women and their faith, and it strengthened my testimony more. It was a very spiritual day. I also gave a talk, and, well, I liked the talk a lot, but it didn´t seem like to many people liked it. Afterward the branch president´s wife came up to me and told me that I speak really well, and that I almost don´t have an accent, so I´m pretty happy about that. I´m going to become a seminary teacher! Ha! I´m so excited. It will only be once a week, but I´m super excited to do so.
We started reading the Book of Mormon as a mission today. The goal is to finish it by Christmas, 100 days. I´m excited to do so, and look forward to the spirit of unity that is brought about by doing things as a mission as we are very spread apart.
Other than that not much to report. We are working with a colombian family (there are a ton of colombians here) named Andres y Karen, and their 2 kids Sofia (5) and Santi (1). They fed us arroz con pollo (rice and chicken) and it was great! Then we talked about why we are here as missionaries and read 2 Nefi 2:8 and talked about eternal families. They want to live together forever, and so we are going to talk to them about how we do that.
We are also working with a less active 17 yr old named Daniel. He´s from Romania and is pretty shy, and I think a little embarresed to share his thoughts on the gospel even with us. We are going to start reading the Book of Mormon with him from the beginning, as he has said he can´t do it by himself. He´s a good guy and hopefully we can start talking with his twin brother Denis (?) who used to come to church a couple years ago.
We are working hard. I have really felt a huge sense of urgency as this might be my last area that I am going to work in. It´s crazy how fast time flies by.
Love you all, and good luck with school and whatnot.
Page, good luck with the prep for the mish. Hermana Ancalle from my district says hi, she´s from Peru (but I don´t think you´ll be anywhere near her pueblo, I don´t remember what it´s called but it´s far away from Lima).
Mom, when Page get´s set apart, you might want to write down some of the blessings and things that are said in that prayer/blessing. It´s something that I notice several people have that I don´t and it would just be nice to have things like that in the mission.
Well, have yourselves a great week!
Love,
Elder Garrett B Turley
