Hermana Shurtz: A Sister in Zion: 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