May 3rd

Time is FLYING by! I cannot believe its already May and that we are going to skype for the 2nd and last time on Sunday. Weird. This week was nuts, but full of miracles.

On Tuesday, we went to go see P.., but he had to go so we invited him and his sons to the missionary noche de hogar that we do every Wednesday and set up another cita. So Wednesday, we get a call saying that P... can´t come, but his sons really wanted to and that they were coming on their own, but didn´t know the way. Before we had ever even taught his sons, they came on their own to FHE! Then, we had a really great lesson with them on Saturday about the book of Mormon and two of his sons accepted baptismal dates! D... is 15 and was studying for 3 years to be a catholic priest, but finally convinced his dad to pull him out because its not what he wanted. He is such a special boy and really spiritual (and knows the bible really well... PRESSURE!) He was really interested in our message and rallied his whole family to come to church on Sunday. J... is 14 and we haven´t gotten a chance to teach him yet cause he´s always with his novia and G... is 11 and he´s a quiet, interesting kid. I really think that the boys will be the key to getting P... excited again. He´s been really picking at us lately, like he told us that we don´t demand authority because we are too young and not serious enough. I got kinda sassy and told him that we may be young and not know much, but that we were called by a prophet of God and given authority by His priesthood to preach... oops.

This week, our mission did what we call Consecration Week. We all tried our hardest all week to be as obedient and dedicated to this work as we can and everybody saw miracles as a result. I really loved it and it was cool all working together to be our best. Obedience always brings blessings and miracles. I really enjoy doing big goals as a mission so we all focus on something!

We went to Valdepeñas this week for exchanges, but if you have a chance, go ahead and look up on the map how far it is from Sevilla to Valdepeñas. The answer is FAR. It takes a little over 4 hours to get there by train and there are only 2 trains that go between Sevilla to Valdepeñas, one in the morning and one at night. So because of this, we have to both go and do splits in their area, which kinda stinks for them! And it costs 35€ per ticket, one way to get there, so usually the mission buys our tickets, but the mission credit card wasn´t working last week, so we had to buy our own! And then, you can´t buy tickets that go out of Andalucía at our train station, you have to buy them online or in Seville. so we had to get up early Thursday morning and take a train to Seville and we RAN to buy our tickets to catch the train that left at 830. It was nuts. And stressful. But we did it and it was a fun intercambio al final!

Random things

Am.. didn´t come to church again this week:( she woke up sick on Sunday morning and called us to tell us she couldn´t. BUT she is determined to come next week, so that's good! Haha yeah like you could probably tell, I was a little frustrated with P... this week. He straight up told us that he is comfortable being taught by both us and the Jehovah's witnesses and that he doesn´t want to choose and leave this comfort zone. I was like, Pablo, you have to take a step into the dark at some point, you can´t keep one foot in each room, you have to pick! But we´ll see... I love that you´ve been studying that even members should be committing to things. Its so true though! I think that often times, members get comfortable in their way of living the gospel and don´t take that step out and COMMIT to acting and inviting others. Its really not that scary, the worst part is starting the conversation

 My piso is a little ghetto but it works and its in a great location, right in the centro, by the train station and only like 7 minute walk from the church. Its just a little dirty from missionaries using it for YEARS. The work is going, we are seeing some frustrations, but enough miracles to make it worth it:) You can TAKE some of the sun we are seeing here. Its already HOT. Its getting up to 35 here (that's like 90ish in Fahrenheit) and I am dying. this summer will be HOT. I miss the temple.

All the pisos here have gorgeous flowers cascading down and the roses are in bloom and I keep thinking, mom would be in heaven here! Its beautiful.

 we went to the park of Maria Luisa in Seville last week which was BEAUTIFUL and we took lots of pictures. and on Friday, we are doing a big zone pday and we are all going to the feria of Seville. its going to be a lot of fun! LOTS of flamenco.

My scripture for you is D&C 31:3.

love you alll!! have a great week!
hyermana foolsom (i don´t even know my own name.... awk)