Look Out Madrid, Here I Come!!

Hola!

Well. It´s the last P day here en el CCM. I´m filled with mixed emotions. I´m excited to hit the ground running and go and baptize all of Spain, but at the same time i´m so scared to leave all these wonderful people i´ve learned to know and love behind.  The main emotion i feel about 99% of the time is gratitude. I can´t handle how blessed I feel. To be aqui en este ciudad, is more then I could have planned for myself. On Fridays for example we do "service" for an hour. Last week we cleaned bird poop off the temple steps, and surprisingly i was smiling. I kept asking people "Is this what you had planned for yourself a year ago, cause i sure didn´t." What a blessing this CCM has been, I´ve loved my teachers and their help in becoming the best person I can be here.

The language has been such a blessing and a curse. This past week has been rough, because we just got a whole bunch of spanish speakers en el CCM, and one sister who I was assigned at the park with let me know on several occasions that my Spanish is terrible. But, that's ok. My pride has been knocked down a few pegs which is great. Heaven knows I needed a good slap in the face. One experience at the park last Saturday I would love to share; 

There was a man by the name of Juan and boy was he MEAN. He made fun of my Spanish, and ridiculed God. But after my companion began testifying, and me trying to testify I saw his countenance change. He went from being the meanest man I´ve ever met, to a decent fellow. I know that this gospel touches not only hearts, but deep in our souls.We all knew the truth once before, and sometimes our spirits hear a familiar sound and our hearts change. 

I love this gospel. I´m so excited to MEET MY TRAINER! This past week one of my teachers that served in Madrid was trying to tell me all these horror stories about his mission, and honestly it got me so pumped! I love this church, and i can´t wait to share that message with my brothers and sister. I love my savior, I have felt his

grace everyday in the CCM. I know I have made lifelong friends here. I can´t wait to go on this adventure

with my savior, he has not left my side once. 

I miss you all, and love you! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz 

Outside the Prado Museum with my Companion, Hermana Shake

Heading Bowling with these lovely ladies!!

The Beautiful Madrid Temple

Side note by the editor, AKA dad CCM is an abbreviation of Centro de Capacitacion Misional.  Basically Missionary Training Center but in Spanish.  For those that were wondering.