If You're Going To Run With the Bulls, It Helps To Be a Little Crazy

Hola!

What a week. First off can I just say how much God loves me. Let me demonstrate how...I really wanted to see Running of the Bulls while in Spain, because frankly that was all I knew of it. But, I found out the big area where they do it was not in my Mission. However! Once I arrived to my area Alcobendas, and Sanse I noticed alot of Bull signs and people started talking about some big festival. Come to find out Sanse was BUILT for running of the bulls and it starts this week. On Saturday we got the A OK from Mission President that we can WATCH the running on Tuesday....HOW SPOILED AM I? There are only two cities of all of Spain that do this, and my first area happens to be one of them? Now I´m not saying that this is some Godly intervened plan, but I still think he let me have a pass because he knew I´ve had a few hard weeks. How blessed am I? So ya... no big deal but I´m going to go see some old men run with bulls tomorrow.

The streets of Sanse.  Going to be crazy around here.

The bulls will be running through here.

Alright, back to spiritual matters. On Tuesday I had my first intercombios with Hermana Christian, or my grandma (she trained my trainer). Everyone says we are the same person, and we kinda are. We had such a blast together I went up to her area in Azuqueca. We taught 3 people (all spoke english and  that itself was a miracle). One lady, Agatha was the most prepared lady I´ve ever met in my life. She was from Nigeria and she wanted to be baptized right then and there. It was such an honor to be there and to learn from these people and Hermana Christian. She actually leaves in 4 weeks, so it was great to get some wisdom from her. The capilla (chapel) in Azuqueca is GORGEOUS. Hands down the best chapel i´ve ever seen in my life. The people of España know how to do it. 

On Saturday I had the honor to see my first convert, Wellington, be baptized. Wow. What an amazing experience that was. My companion and I were worried all day that he would bail on us because we couldn´t get ahold of him (come to find out he was playing futbal all day). However he did show up! We all drove to the Obispo´s house (bishop) and we baptized him in the bishops pool. I felt like such a proud momma seeing him get in that water. I wish I could explain that moment. The breeze, the green trees in the background, the smell of chlorine, the smile on his and my face. Angelic. Just angelic. It makes all the no´s, all the snide glances so worth it.

First Baptism at the bishops pool.  What an amazing day!

I love being on a mission. I see God shaping me to be a better missionary, mother, wife, and daughter of God everyday. It´s been such a blessing reading my scriptures in Spanish because it´s forcing me to slow down and contemplate each word. How blessed are we to know this gospel. To live it every day. A scripture that has pierced my soul this week is Abraham 2:12. I know this church is true. I know that our Savior lives, he is a hands on God. I love the people of Spain. 

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Wellington and Andres

Happy thoughts

Hola! Greetings from Alcobendas!

What a week. I can´t believe I will have two weeks down as of tomorrow. I wish I could describe a mission, but words do not do them justice. They are hard physically, spiritually, mentally. They challenge your faith every single moment of the day. But that SPIRIT oh that SWEET SPIRIT that never leaves your side. It´s so beautiful. When we get ¨fired¨ or when people don´t show up to appointments (which let me tell you is SO often) I get annoyed for maybe a second but then put on a smile and head on my way. I can see the Lord crafting me, molding me, purifying me, everyday. I used to be such a pessimist, and some days I still am. But I smile, even when its 100 degrees outside, my feet are covered in quarter sized blisters, and we are getting yelled at. I am still smiling. It´s amazing. I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is His work, and I am never alone. Because if this wasn't, I would have packed my bags within the first 24 hours. 

Every night my trainer, Hermana Bennett, who is a saint by the way. We write down some happy things that happened over the week. These have been such a blessing, because it´s nice at the end of the day to see God´s hand in the day. Because He is there every step of the way. One huge happy thought is that we have a baptism this Saturday! This amazing young man from Ecuador, named Wellington. He is so prepared, I feel so honored to teach him.

Another is today I got to go back to the CCM and see President Lovell and his wife and a few of my old teachers, oh man. It was really heartbreaking, that place was home. But it´s cool because Alcobendas is slowly becoming my home. 

What´s super Guay! Is that the running of the bulls is next week and Sanse the city I live in was BUILT for running of the bulls. God does listen to prayers people because I wanted to see it so BAD! So the whole streets are filled with posters, and the streets are getting blocked off, it´s super guay! I can´t wait to see it. I promise I won´t actually run with the bulls..... maybe.

What I love about Spain is there are people from EVERYWHERE here, I have met people from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Morocco, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Bolivia. You name it, I´ve met someone from there. I´ve taught Muslims, Hindu, Atheist, Catholics, you name it. It´s so diverse I love it. I´ve met GYPSIES! I love that about Spain.

My testimony has grown so much here. I know this church is true. I wouldn´t want to be anywhere else then here proclaiming the gospel.

Quick challenge: A sister did this and I´m stealing the idea. If you would like I would love for you to send me copies of your favorite talk, highlighting your favorite part and why. Just a challenge, more of a selfish one at that but hey! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

First Meal at a Members Home.  Don't know what it was, but I ate it.

My Trainer: Hermana Bennett & I on my first "P" day.

Segundo!  The coolest Mission Leader in the World!

Alcobendas! My First Area!

Hola!

It´s not even been a full week and yet I feel like I´ve been here for 9 months. My feet definatly look like they´ve gone through the ringer. The best way to describe Alcobendas is like walking up the hill near my house, on legos 24/7. Pero, esta bien. Because my calves have NEVER looked better. My first day (Tuesday) we went straight out and went contacting, which was hard because I was sad because I had just said goodbye to all my loved ones en el CCM, and I was nervous and in a new area. However, I just put my shoulder to the wheel. 

On Wednesday, everyone we had lessons with "fired" us, which means they cancelled, so it was contacting, after contacting. At one point just as I was about to loose it, we ran into a sweet angel from heaven. Zuli, she sat on the bench with us for an hour and a half and listened to our message. It was beautiful, I cried and told her how grateful i was for her. She believed anything we told her, without question. It was amazing. She was such a tender mercy from mi Padre Celestial. 

My trainer, Hermana Bennett from Mapleton, is amazing. She is really helping me out, because if it wasn't for her I know for a fact I would sit on a bench for a couple hours. Just kidding...maybe. Missions are hard, in ways I did not expect them to be. However my trainer is way proud of me because I haven´t cried yet. So that´s good! We have a sweet investigator named Wellington who has a baptismal date for the 23 of agosto. So I´m so excited for that! We went to a baptism on Saturday for a man named Alan, he was a different set of sisters investigator. 

I LOVE my district, and mi barrio. The office and AP elders are in my ward, and they are so funny, there is this one elder Sanchez who is from Spain who kills me, he will take my spanish fan and fan himself with it all the time! They´ve made me feel at home which is so nice. Also the people in mi barrio are amazing, my mission president said "The ward of Alcobendas are not only an example to the mission, but to the world." Its so true because, they ALWAYS are willing to help with lessons. Sometimes they´ll even go contacting with us. They blow me away.

Life as a missionary is so hard, but it´s so worth it. Me amo mi Salvador. Yo se que esta iglesia es verdadero. I know I am here for a reason. I miss you all, and you are always en mi prayers. 

Con Amor, 

Hermana Shurtz

Ready to get to work, Love President and Sister Jackson

Last days in the CCM

Well. This is it. My last day en el CCM. Tomorrow I get assigned to my companion, and my first area. On Sunday I was able to meet my Mission President for the first time, what an amazing man. I love his wife, she reminds me of Aunt Steph. I can tell that I am going to love them, and I pray they will love me. I am super sad to leave my CCM family. That´s what we´ve become a family. However I am so excited to go out and actually make a difference in real peoples lives. The language isn´t there but I have faith. I know my Savior lives He has shown me so much love in such short 6 weeks.

I know that this is His gospel. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. There is no where else I´d rather be. I say this in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Selfies in the Hermanas Room

Playing in the park with Elder Daniels and Petterson

Last days.....so sad

The "Hermanas" with the best Teacher ever Hermana Delgado.

Sitting in the VIP section at the Madrid REAL Stadium

Out on the town

"The Pit" 

Saturday at the park

Singing up a storm

My district and I