Final Countdown

Hola!

This past week was the last week in the field with my cute little compie Hermana Davis. Its so weird being with people right as they are about to go home, she is my second one and it seems to be the same cycle over and over again. You freak out, you laugh, you cry, your happy, sad. It´s just a ball of emotions. But I´m so grateful I got to serve with hermana Davis. I actually got to see her and her family reunite this morning. It was so neat to see after 18 months the joy the parents and missionary feel to be back together again. 

Transfers was Saturday night and we got the news... Davis was leaving (claro). Whiting left to go serve in Alcorcon. I am staying with Hermana Edmunds! I was also called as Sister Training Leader for my Zone... great. As a Sister Training Leader I´m like the "leader" of all the hermana´s in my zone..... I did NOT want this calling. I actually joked with my Mission President when he told me and said "I´m sorry President pigs aren´t flying yet." But I accepted it, and we´ll just have to see how it goes. 

Things are going good here. Working hard. Playing hard. I got a new compie and I´m excited to see what these new six weeks brings me. I love you all and miss you like crazy!

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Pigeon English

Hola!

Serving in Azuquca is a little piece of Africa. I had to fly back to the Peninsula to find my sweet africans again. Every single one of the people we are teaching right now are from Nigeria. There they speak like 1000 languages. One of them is Pigeon English. The funniest english I´ve ever heard in my life. Im loving learning how to talk like that, it´s helping me become black! 

This last week was full of goodbyes. We had a Zone Conference of all the areas of Madrid together on Friday. It was packed with a bunch of people I love for the last time. I hugged my trainer goodbye, high fived all my buddies. It´s sad to say goodbye to all these people. You also realize how old in the mission you are. Time is just flying by. 

We also had a baptism on Saturday of a members son on saturday. That baptism was beautiful! The spirit was so strong. The parents planned the baptism very well, they invited little children to participate in the program. They prayed, talked, and sang! Oh I love kids they have the sweetest spirit about them. The kid bore his testimony after he was baptized and received the gift of the holy ghost and said "I know I felt how Jesus felt when I was baptized!" It was so sweet. The parents also had invited alot of nonmember friends to the baptism, and the bishop at the end invited all who werent members to take a book of mormon on their way out! 3 people walked away with a book of mormon! It was amazing! 

I miss you all. I´m so grateful for all your support for me! I think about you, and pray I honor your love and respect. Have a great week! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

A Day in Spain History

Hola!

This past week was quite the adventure. On Thursday for the first time since we´ve had the Canary Islands in our mission, ALL the Spain Madrid Missionaries were in one place at the same time! What a joy that was to have ALL my good friends that I´ve made in the last 10 months in the same room. I was able to say goodbye to many of them one last time before they went home. It was such a great reunion filled with the spirit and love for one another. 

The reason for our grand reunion was because Elder Dykes, of the area presidency, and Elder Allen of the missionary department, came to give us an orientation on how to use Ipads on the mission. The meeting was powerful, full of personal revelation, laughs, and testimonies. Ironically we didnt end up receieving our Ipads at the end of the day, they didn´t arrive so we´ll still have to wait a little bit longer for them to arrive. 

The pollen here has taken quite a toll on me, to the point that I was running a high fever. I asked the elders to give me a blessing and I´ve been feeling alot better. I´m so grateful that we have the priesthood power and that there are worthy young men who can give blessings whenever there is a need. 

Also a great highlight was I got to skype my lovely family for the last time! That was such a treat. I´ve missed them so much. It´s crazy to me that is the last time I see their faces until I´m back in st. geezy. I also got to see my cute little grandparents for the first time in over a year!

All in all this week has been a good one, full of reunion! I hope you guys are all doing well. I miss you and love you all.

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Spring Is Blooming

Hola!

Really the only thing is I want to say God is so good. This week we were able to go to the temple and after 5 months of not being able to see it. It felt like coming home. Not only that, but today in Sol I ran into one of my best friends in the whole world from Alcobendas. I bawled my eyes out seeing him. Even though we arent allowed, he gave me the biggest hug! It´s just amazing to see that these relationships we build is for eternities. I´ve gained such a bigger family here. I feel so blessed.

I still feel blessed even though my allergies have been killing me! My eyes and nose have never been redder. There is a reason I am only in Spain for one spring. My poor body couldnt handle more then one spring season. 

God is so good to us, and blesses us more then we deserve. 

I miss you all! Have a great mothers day!

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz