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