An African Christmas

Hola!!

I hope all of you enjoyed your Christmas! It was a nice and warm Christmas here off of Africa. Not complaining though. My favorite part of Christmas had to be skyping my beautiful family. Wow what a treat that was. 6 months down, and there just as beautiful as they were when I left them at the airport. 

A Fofana Christmas

The islands have been good to me, my trio is now dissolved. My cute companion Hermana Thunborg went home yesterday. Its crazy to me that the mission actually ends! What?! But she was a great example to me of finishing strong, what a beast that girl is. I miss here but its nice to be back in a duo otra vez. Now its just me and my cute columbian Hermana Rojas. Its a lot more quieter in the house though because I still dont know alot of spanish, and her not a lot of english. But we get along just fine!

Feels good doesn't it?

My favorite part of the holidays was seeing a beautiful Christmas miracle. There is a family we are teaching called Fofana. They are very poor, and they have two cute kids Mossa and Duoa. They are so precious! The members just love them, as much as we do. Knowing that they didnt have much a few members brought toys for the kids, and we wrapped them up to give to Fofana for Christmas. One member even gave them a tree and ornaments to have in there home! The look on those two kids face was priceless. OH SERVICE! Warms my heart. There is no pricetag for helping good people. I love the mission. Its been good to me. 

Look at that smile :)

I hope you all enjoy your new year! New year to grow closer to the Lord. Thats the great thing about this gospel, that we always know through the Atonement of Christ we have a new start. Just like the new year, NEW BEGINNINGS! I dont know if any of this makes any sense. I hope it does. I miss you all and Ill see your lovely faces real soon. Got to go catch the Guagua (bus). Adios!!

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Vision of White

Hola!

One week down, and I feel like Im adjusting ok. The busses are called WaWa´s here, and you can hear about 10 different languages at any given moment, its a weird world here. Its odd being on an island, we cant drink the water here (even though we are surronded by it) I dont know how to explain its, but its this feeling of being just you and this small (ish) land. I dont know its just amazin! The people here do not have the Madrid accent so I am doing my best to keep my lisp and raspy voice. It made me feel good cause yesterday we ate at a members house from Spain and she could tell I had been living in Madrid! So thats good! 

I dont know how to explain it but I just have these desires to work here that I didnt have in Alcobendas. I mean dont get me wrong I worked and loved the people in Alcobendas, but here I jsut have this dream, this vision. I want a temple here someday. I want a temple on the island of Tennerifee, and I want to do everything I can to help make that happen. In our part of the island its just my companions and I, and a set of elders. Not a lot of hands, but a lot of heart. So we are going to work, pray, fast as much as we can to do what the Lord wants for this area.

Ive loved being here, I love my companions. Ive LOVED having a native. She´s from Colombia and I feel like we are soul sisters she is a fire cracker! I cant wait to work with these girls. The members here are amazing too the LOVE to feed the missionaries, so I know I never have to worry about starving. 

CHRISTMAS is around the corner, even though the weather doesnt look like it, but I could not be any more excited to skype my family. We have a calender hanging up and when we talk about it we have huge smiles on our faces! OH IM SO EXCITED! Have a great Christmas and remember that God loves you and that He has already given you the best gift you could have asked for His son!

Mucho MUCHO AMOR! FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Hermana Shurtz

Its pretty legit being in my trainers area.

Us eating at a members house!

Islands for the Holidays

Hola!

Well quick little email before I fly out. Yup you read it right, FLY OUT! I got the call Saturday night. I'm heading to the Canary Islands for the winter! My new area is called Los Cristianos. So all the winter cloths got left behind baby! I'm heading to an area where sandals are normal, and there isn't even a hint of a sweater to be found! Just like home. I couldn't be more excited. I am going to miss the people of Alcobendas so much, they have shaped me, and made me a better person. But, I knew my time here was up. I love the memories I have made here, and I know someday I'll come back here and make some more. God bless Alcobendas. Ready or not Islands here I come.

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz (the islander)

Until we meet again Patricia!

My new adventure awaits here in Los Cristianos.

My New Stomping Grounds.  Its going to be a rough job, but someones got to do it!

Saying goodbye to Eusebio.

Many Things to be Grateful For

Hola!

This week was jam packed! We went to the temple on Thursday which is always a lovely experience, I love having a temple in my mission. I feel so blessed. Then during medio dia that day, I cooked, and cooked and cooked some more! I cooked my grandmas famous rolls (and if you´ve never had them then I am very sorry!) 

Grandma Shurtz's rolls rising

They were a hit!!

On Turkey day I finished cooking and prayed they turned out, then we were so lucky and went to our mission presidents house and ate dinner with them, a few of their friends who had flown in to see Spain, and a few other missionaries. Well everyone claimed the rolls were a success! So hey, maybe I can cook. But let me tell you what, contacting after turkey and stuffing is not easy!

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Mission Presidents House

Full Hearts and Bellys
 

Segovilla......pretty awesome

Always time for making contacts and a little singing

Today we went to Segovilla for PDay, Andres the angel, drove us so we could get there and still have a PDay! Poor guy had to hang out with 4 girls all day, shopping, taking selfies, and shopping some more. What a good sport! Segovilla is beautiful and full of so much history. I love that about Spain, well Europe in general.

This Saturday night I will find out if I am being transferred to another area, I have been praying the past week that I am not. Because I do NOT want to leave. But I am in Gods hands and whatever he wants for me, I know is best. 

Christmas season is here and I can feel the buzzing! Boy am I excited! I love everything about the Christmas season, and with my mind 24/7 on the Savior I know it is going to be even better! If you haven't seen the new video the church has come out with called He is the Gift I strongly suggest you stop reading this terrible blog post and see it! It is amazing! God is real, he is the best gift we could ever have been given. I love you all.

Hermana Shurtz

How many members does it take to convert one spanish man?

Hola!

The answer to my title, is 8. Let me explain: In my ward the office elders, and the APs are in my area. Elder Bohnne, one of the office elder tore a muscle in his knee and had to have surgery last week. But because he is such a bomb missionary! He ¨contacts¨ in front of the church when they dont have lessons. They set up a little chair for him and try to flag down people to listen to them. Its inspiring to watch. One night, my companion and I were watching them contact while we waited for an investigador to arrive. While we waited they stopped an old spanish man, like normal this sweet old man starts splirtting out the 1000 reasons why there couldnt be a god, quite forcefully. They spoke to him calmly but firmly, and one of the members at the church went out to join them. Anyway, after 5 minutes or so our investigador fired us so we went out to contact. We arrived back at the church 40 minutes later. Guess who was outside the church still talking to this old spaniard? 8 members (including the two elders) trying to resolve his doubts. This time around, the sweet spaniard wasnt shouting but nodding his head listening. It was amazing to see his heart soften, and although he said he wouldnt come to church, I know we planted a very good seed! 

This week has been very good for me, because Im learning to stop comparing my growth to those other missionaries around me. My spanish, my charity, my listening abilities, my everything. Because when you do compare you are just so darn miserable? Your so consummed with your faults that you cant focus on the work. Know how to fix it? Prayer. I have decided to give a reporting every night to my Heavenly Father of what I did that day, and see what he thinks of my progress. That has made all the world of the difference. 

This thursday is thanksgiving, and if you were worried about my el dia de acción de gracias, dont! Because a plus of serving in Alcobendas is the mission president lives in my area, and that saint and his wife has invited all of the missionaries in my area to have dinner at his house!!! Miracles my friends. Miracles. I am stoked. 

I have alot to be grateful for, the gospel, my Savior, my family, my friends, my health, this mission. So so so much! I cant even begin to write all the many things I have to be grateful for. All the good things in my life have to do with the goodness of our Heavenly Father, because he loves us! How blessed we are. I hope you all enjoy your thanksgiving!

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Jam'on !

Us singing at the Vera's house!

Pics from Bustar Viejo

Jamming Out in the Rain

Hola!! 

This week was a busy week! I love working with Hermana Fuller because even though she leaves pretty soon that isnt stopping her from giving her all to the field here in Alcobendas. She is so creative and has so many ideas to help the people here in this ward. We worked everyday to use our time to our advantage. However, as my Uncle Scott told me before I left that you need to work hard and play hard. Which we did.

On Tuesday we went over to the Vera familys house to eat, along with some other missionaries. When we finished Andres brought out his guitar and we had a cool jam session singing hymns, christmas music. It brought back so many memories being at my aunts house for Christmas Eve singing and dancing. One of my highlights of the week. 

I am currently teaching an Asian right now. Didnt think I would be teaching an Asian in Spain, but hey throw him in with my Ecuadorians, Peruvians, Romanians, etc. Its a blast. He speaks 10 languages, he makes me laugh so hard because he is so smart he wants to fight on every doctrine. I am so grateful for my world religion course I took before my mission. When he speaks spanish it reminds me of one of those old chinese english action films. He is funny, I love the man! 

Oh funny story! My companion and I were walking by this bar one day and this man yelled at us "Preachers why dont you preach to me?" So you know what my companion did, she started preaching. He thought she was an angel from heaven, but me. Me, he didnt enjoy. However he did like flicking my nose, the first time I was surprised the second time it happended I felt like snapping his finger. However my companion seemed to get to him, and he said he would come to church, so lets wait and see! 

All in all my life here is good. I cant believe I´ve been out here as long as I have. It seems like only yesterday I received my call. But such is life. I am grateful for my time I have and to work in the Lords vineyard. I know this work is so important! I love my Savior. I miss you all and pray that you are all doing well.

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Many Are Called but Few Answer

Hola from Alcobendas!

Life here in Alcobendas is cold as normal. Another week down under my belt. It blows my mind that I´ve been out in the mission field for 3 months. It feels like yesterday that I entered the MTC. But that just is life, things keep moving on. This week went by so fast. However quick funny story for you....I may or may not have fallen on my face twice in one day this week. Yup, Im a clutz. That hasnt stopped being a part of me, even with my chappa on. The first time I was trying to do this fancy kick switch move to side step this old spanish lady (because let me tell you what, it is impossible to walk around old spanish people in groups) anyway I should have known better then to try to be clever because SMACK. My whole body hit the pavement. One thing I love about Spaniards is they look back, see if it affects them, if it doesnt they just keep walking on. Which is exactly what that old lady did. But its fine, I laughed it off. Then later that night, I just fell out of no where. My companion and I are pretty positive a witch put a spell on us. But hey la vida!

This week we had a Area Book party (the area book is where we right about our investigadors, past investigadors, and so forth) so there are old investigadors in this book from 2002. Its amazing to see how God prepares people, because we decided to call some of the old investigadors from missionaries in the past. Now they have this desire to learn that they didnt have in the past!! We´ve seen miracles through working in the Area book, and for that I am grateful. 

Wellington my convert is doing amazing! He blessed the sacrament on Sunday. I may have teared up like a proud mamma when I heard him! Also on Sunday was the Primary Program, which was so cute to see!! Even in Spain the primary programs are adorable. 

Life here is good. I feel blessed to be in Alcobendas helping the ward progress here. I love my companion, and I love my Savior. Currently I am in 3 Nefi in El Libro de Mormon, where JesuCristo is talking, and the spirit and the power in this chapters are my favorite. I have really learned to love and rely on the scriptures and the counsel they give us. I love to think of the BoM as a letter mas o menos, (more or less) for us in these latter days from God. I know this is his church, I know that we are so blessed when we help in this work, in whatever shape we can. I love my Savior. I love you all.

Have a great week, please know I think about you every day.

Con Amor, 

Hermana Shurtz

Happy Birthday Gunner!

Babysitting For a Week

Hola!

On Monday we got a surprise call from President Jackson asking us if we had one extra bed in our home. No, this time it wasnt an Iranian trying to move in with us it was Hermana Cansado. She actually finished her mission almost two weeks ago, but she was waiting a whole week for her parents to come and pick her up so they could tour Spain together. So she crashed the week with my companion and I. What a blast that was! Small world, but Hermana Cansado half trained Hermana Fuller, so it was a reunion party! 

Awesome week with these two!!

I loved working in a trio, the dynamic was amazing. I learned so much from the two of them this week. Its amazing to see that even though Hermana Cansado was technically done she still put her shoulder to the wheel and worked hard. I hope at the end of my mission I can be just like them.

This week went by so fast but so much happened this week. We were constantly on the streets contacting, meeting people from all over the country! I love that, just talking to people (well listening really, my speaking isnt quite there yet). Another blessing this week is to witness to many priesthood blessings. Many of our investigadors right now have been struggling with one thing or another and we felt impressed that we needed to offer them a blessing. So we had members help us out, and I love knowing that these men have the power of God! That these blessings are words sent from God. I know I am not putting it into the correct words how Im feeling, but its just so nice to know that we have the stamp of approval from the big man upstairs. 

Also I´ve been fed alot this week.... Thats a serious blessing from heaven! I had spanish food, venezualen food, brazilian, you name it, I ate it! My stomach isnt happy with me, but my taste buds are! Oh well, just a few more crunches in the morning and its all worth it. 

I know that this is the only true church of God. I am so grateful to be here in Spain and to teach the importance of the Priesthood in our lives. I feel so blessed to be in this church. God is so good. He knows us better then we could ever know ourselves. I am so blessed.

I love you all and miss you.

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Sandwiches on "P" day with my new Comp, Hermana Fuller from Murray
First week together was great!

Going to miss these two angels.  They moved back to Chile this week.  Loved
this family so much.

I´m a Real Missionary Now!

Greetings from Alcobendas!!

Well transfers have come and gone, and I have remained in Alcobendas but my sweet trainer Hermana Bennett has left to Vigo!!! The most north area of our mission. She was so excited! I am so excited for her, granted I am so sad to see her go and I already miss our laughing attack that we had together but I know she is just going to kick Satan´s butt up there in the north. She is such a bomb missionary that taught me so much. I love missions, because all though its so hard to say goodbye you just make so many life long friends! And you know whats so amazing about this gospel we know that there really is never Goodbyes. Because we know that death, seperation, is NEVER the end.

Last hug goodbye

Hello Hermana Fulller

However, when one leaves another always comes in! My new companion is Hermana Fuller. She is amazing! She trained Hermana Seegmiller, my very good friend in the CCM. When we got done with transfer calls Hermana Seegmiller just called me screaming with excitment. Its crazy because Hermana Fuller only has about two months left in the mission. Its amazing to see the beginning and the end of the mission. But I know we are going to work so hard together and Im SO excited. 

A cool story for the week. We have a menos activo (less active) that we visit all the time, unfortunatly she has diabetes. One night she was not feeling good and we asked her about her disease and she explained it to us, and then she pricked her finger to show us how it worked. Then she asked us if we wanted to try it! Of course we did. (Dont you worry it was all sanitary). It was so legit, but my heart broke for her and the millions of other people who have this disease. The things you learn on the mission. 

I am so excited to hit the ground running this transfer. I am no longer the "trainee" I am no longer the "newbie" albeit I still feel like I have ZERO clue what I am doing. But everyone tells me that this time is where you grow the most and Im so excited to just be molded and guilded by my heavenly father. He is such a loving dad! I love the mission, I love getting to know all these AMAZING people!

One cool thing of serving in Alcobendas is this is the central of the mission so every transfer we get some of the sisters who are about to come home stay with us one night before they leave. Last night we had Hermana Money stay with us, and she actually served in Alcobedas not that long ago. It was so fun to stay up all night and just talk to her, and pick her brain. Everyone tells me the mission goes by so fast, some days I believe it and others I dont. But seeing the beginning (me), the middle (my trainer), and the end (hermana Money). I know that missions are life changing!!! I love this gospel. I know it is so true!!! 

I LOVE you all SOOOO Much.

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Last District meeting all together

We teach english class to a cute boy in our ward!

Im a Survivor, Im Goin Make It!

HOOOOOLLLLAAA!!!

I SURVIVED the dreaded WEEK 11!!!!! Unfortunatly my streak of NOT crying did come to a halting end on Wednesday, but hey 11 weeks in the field and not breaking down? Id say Im a champ. It was so funny I went into the bathroom in our capilla (church building) and just cried. Then I literally talked myself, told myself to put on my big girl pants and get back to work. Which I did. 

This week was hard. I didnt know what I was doing, what I was suppose to say, where I was suppose to go. But you wanna know what I learned? Im not suppose to know. Im suppose to just rely 1000% on the Lord. Which if you know me, learning to rely on people isnt exactly my forte. However luckily God is patient with us and will help us learn. I remember thinking alot this week "What am I doing here?" However, we have a very wise and loving God and he knew that this week would be hard for me so he gave me multiple times to strengthen my soul.

On Wednesday we WENT TO THE TEMPLE! We had to be there at 730 and we were waiting for the elders to show up to pick us up, and closer and closer 730 approached and we were so scared we would miss our session. When they arrived we had little over 10 minutes to make it, it takes 20 minutes to drive to the temple. I shouted commands to the sisters running with me when we spotted their car. "Go! Go! Go!!!" Elder Anderson, the drivier, I dont know how he did it but we made it in time! The session was in spanish and a sweet tender mercy from God is that I understood it completly. Hallelujah. There is nothing so beautiful and edifying as the temple, I dont care if you are sitting outside on the grounds or sitting in the celestial room there is just a spirit that just feeds you. A buffett of goodness if you will.

On Thursday the office elders gave me a blessing. I swore I would never be the sister who asked for blessings, and it really was so humbling to ask. I dont know why I was so hesitant to do it but, I was. How grateful I am to have asked for one! I needed that more then I think I knew. I was promised that I am exactly where I need to be. God loves me and he is really only a prayer away. How grateful I am for the priesthood power and to know such great young men that are able to give me a blessing! 

Yesterday was fast sunday. I love fast sundays on the mission. The people in spain to a very unique thing where couples come up together to bare their testimonies. Could you imagine if we did that in the states? Especially in the Singles Wards!!! Ha, the question would be every month who they going to chose? That would be a great DTR. Ha! Sorry weird tangent. Anyway, after chuch we went to a menos activos (less actives) home and had our own testimony meeting. It was SO powerful. Everyone bore their testimony and the spirit was tangible. I felt so previledged to be there. 

Ive been reading in Alma this past week in my personal studies, in it the wars are starting and Moroni builds forts up around the cities that are weakest. I´ve been thinking alot about that especially this week. God definatly helps build us up when He knows we are at our weakest. He has built me up in a time Satan could have easily gotten to me. We are never alone. He is always there for us to prepare us for when the storms come. God is so good! 

Please know I love you all with all my heart. I miss you all and cant wait to give you all a big bear hug. I miss hugs..... Please hug yourselves for me. (If that sounds odd Im sorry.) Know someone loves you in Heaven and in Spain. (God, and me) Alright im pretty sure this email made 0 sense. Los siento. MUCHO AMOR!

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Perfect pic to explain my week

I MADE FRY SAUCE

Being Pushed Out of the Nest

Hola! 

Primero huge shout out to my Epic Adventurer I got your letter this week! Highlight!!!!! (Dont you worry I wont spill to much on the interwebs)

This week was a week of miracles. Mostly because my companion is an amazing missionary. She went back and checked her old agenda and called a bunch of people and we went and had a few lessons with some of them. One was a women named Beatrice, she brought along with her, her pregnant daughter. Im not kidding you this girl was PERFECT! She didnt believe in infant baptism (check), nor in memorized prayers (check), that there should be only one true church (check). I loved teaching her because she just asked questions, she just had this thirst to know! It was amazing to see in her. Unfortunatly she couldnt come to church this past sunday but I know once she comes in she will feel the spirt. I love seeing Gods hand preparing people to hear His message. 

Our menos activo (less active) and I mean LESS active. He hasnt been to church in years CAME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY. I can not explain the joy. It was raining when we found out he was coming and I literally danced with my para agua (my umbrella) it was the best feeling I dont even know how to explain it! I just feel like things are looking up. Our investigadors are progressing, our menos activos testimonies are stronger. Things are just coming along, and I love it. 

Which is good, because this week is going to be alittle rough..... In the mission we have what is called 12 weeks. Its a program to help missionaries become missionaries and this week... is pretty much letter loose week. So my trainer is enjoying taking the back seat while I take the reins. Im learning to rely on my Savior for EVERYTHING! Independence isnt even a real thing. Its good, you either sink or swim, and Im a swimmer. Life is good here. I feel so blessed. I miss everyone so much but it amazes me how quickly time passes and I honestly love my mission.

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

went to Sol today just to eat Subway!!

Fixed our light all on my own

Pulled our WINTER CLOTHES!

its been raining non stop

P.S.  I(kara's mom) just had to share the story she told me in my letter today. It is so Kara

 Quick funny story that I know will make you laugh, make sure to tell daddy! One night my companion and I had like 5 minutes to get home so we walked passed this somewhat sketchy ally and out of the corner of my eye I saw a man running towards us. I felt him grab my bag and without thinking I turned around and socked him right in the chest. As I was going in for a second swing I saw the face and it was Andres! Our member friend who comes with us all the times for lessons. Luckily I didnt swing. Haha but I socked him really hard in the chest. I felt so bad but he laughed and said he was so proud of me. He bragged about me to everyone in the ward... so now everyone knows not to sneak up on me. I learned that it is fine to defend yourself. So just so you know that your baby girl is fine (and no I havent had any other experiences like that) my area is super safe. I havent felt worried once. I miss you like crazy mom and I knew this story would make you laugh/be proud. LOVE YOu!

Selective Obedience Brings Selective Blessings

Hola! 

Did anyone else just die during General Conference this weekend? I remember last conference all snuggled up in my pj´s watching it with my family, enjoying the sweet smell and taste of sticky buns. Now, six months later the scene was very much different. First off, it was NOT in english (PS shout out to the seventy who spoke in spanish!) Next I was on a very hard church plastic chair, and thirdly and mostly sadly there was NO sticky buns. But the spirit was the same. I needed that, to be fed by the living waters was exactly what I needed. 

I remember the Sunday Morning conference (8 at night for us) the prophet got up to speak. I remember getting chills and thinking "This is a prophet. Like Lehi, Moses, Noah, Adam. He is telling us what God wants to share with us. Why is this chapel not filled with  people?" The spirit was so strong and I got such a strong witness that we have a living prophet called of God to lead and guide this church. How blessed are we? I loved conference, especially the talk given the Elder Holland. What a beast. That man could make the Grinch cry. All this week my companion and I looked SO forward to Conference, on Saturday morning we woke up like it was christmas! It did not disapoint. What a joy it was, how healing it was to my soul. 

This week was a little rough. We have this family, this beautiful family that I love with ALL my heart. They are from Ecuador, and they were SO prepared. We met with just the mom this week and we left with her and her family the Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet to read so we could talk about baptism the next lesson. Before we started she said to us "before we begin there is something I need to tell you, my family and I have been praying long and have discussed alot and we´ve decided NOT to be baptized." Neither my companion or I were expecting that. At. All. My heart broke, I started praying SOOOO hard. My companion was a pro and handled it perfectly. She saved the meeting, and although we dont see a baptism date anywhere in sight they havent completely turned us away for ever. Poco a poco. Little by little. Pero esta bien. 

God is with us. I know that he is working right beside us. I know we are not alone is this work. I love my Savior I have felt His love for me every minute of every day, even when he chastizes me. I could not be more grateful to be here. This church is so true! Satan can bring all of his forces but the Savior has already won. We are on the winning side!!! Be good, cherish the words of the prophet and the apostles. 

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Dreams Come True

Hola!!

Since I received my mission call I have been dreaming of seeing Toledo, Spain. That wish was granted this very day. We woke up at 540 to hit a train to get to another train to be there at 9. It was so fabulous. It was so FOGGY, and cold and just FABULOUS. I felt like I was in some backwoods Middle Ages time and knights would pop out at any corner. Unfortunatly all the museams are closed on mondays but we walked around the narrow streets and just enjoyed the view. I love toledo. I cant wait to go back someday!

My lovely day in Toledo

Fog rolling in

Toledo was just an end to a fabulous week, on Monday night we find out one of our hardest investigadors wants to be BAPTIZED! We got to work on a few things first, but its a step, a huge one at that. On Thursday I was able to go on intercombios with Hermana Sneilson in Torrejon which is just gorgous! I learned so much from her and had such a great time. On Saturday we had ¨Actividades Naciones¨ Or Activities of Nations... my english is gone. Anyway the missionaries all did the Cotton eye joe dance! It was so great! We watched so many dances from people from all over the world, from Chilie, to Venuzela, to El Salvador the ¨States¨ and Spain. It was such a good time! Sunday was fabulous, we went to Pavones where the temple is and watched a musical concert with all the missionaries in Madrid and their investigadors. One of the married missionaries the Sullivans, are leaving and they wanted to share their musical talent one last time before they left (they were in MOTAB) for 8 or so years! It was amazing... and then today. I cant not begin to say how blessed I feel. Sure there were hard moments, but overall I feel so blessed! So so so blessed. I know God is looking out for my family, my investigadors, my friends, and me. What else could I ask for? I love this gospel. I know its true with all my soul. I love you all.

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Isn't it amazing?

What a view

Rain Rain NEVER Go Away

Hola!!!

I dont know if I could say this enough. I LOVE rain. So to have it rain ALOT this week definatly made this week celestial in my book. I´ve had multiple bench lessons get interrupted due to rain. However there is one experience I will cheriesh forever! One day we were out walking and our lesson fell through, so we were out contacting. We noticed there were a few dark clouds but we didnt think anything of it. When out of nowhere it starts pouring rain. I mean within seconds it went from sunny to just pouring. My companion and I were soaked. We didnt have a para agua (umbrella), with no lesson, so we stood under a building trying to figure out what we were going to do. We called Andres, a member that we are friends with and ran to his house in the pouring rain to get an umbrella from him. When we walked in we were laughing so hard. It was such a cliche missionary story. When Andres saw us he wouldnt let us leave until the rain stopped. So we sat down sopping wet, and taught his menos activo sister a lesson. That moment definatly goes in my book as amazing. I´ve been warned that situation is very common here in Madrid, that it could just start pouring with no warning. So we´ve learned we have our para agua with us siempre (always). 

So many amazing things happened this week! On Tuesday was my trainer, Hermana Bennett´s birthday, and the people just spoiled her rotten! One investigador, Araisa, from Dominican Republic really went all out. We told her on Monday that it was going to be my companions birthday the following day, and then when we had a lesson with her Thursday we showed up to her piso with it decorated with ballons and cake! Her and her husband starting singing to us and dancing, their ADORABLE four year old ran out and we had a jolly old time! It was so great to see the love they have for us and to be honest we´ve only met with them a few times. But they´ve taken us in like we are their own blood. I didnt expect to love these people as much as I do, and to have them love me and my companion as much as they do. Their outpour of love is such a blessing! I love my job. I find myself saying that alot. I love my job. 

I love my mission. I go to bed exhausted but I wake up excited to start a new day with a new chance to get to know new people and hear their stories. Thats my favorite. Getting to know people, and seeing them change through the influence of the spirit in their lives. Do we know how lucky we are that we are blessed to have the Spirit with us constantly? As members of the church we are promised to have a member of the Godhead with us constantly if we live worthy of that gift. I love this gospel, I love my Savior. He loves us so much. I feel him every day. I miss you all and I cant wait to hug you all and tell you all these amazing/crazy/ funny experiences in person. 

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Got me some Spain "Horchada"

Hermana Bennett's Birthday Breakfast....No I didn't make it.

Looky what we found!

Legit fishy crackers and real ranch dressing from the "Taste of America" store

Hermana Seegmiller and I