Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam!

Hola!

Wow it is hot! Its gotten to about 100+ degrees here. Growing up in
St. George im used to that heat, but normally im not walking around
trying to preach the gospel. Come sunburn and terrible tan lines, the
gospel has to be preached.

This weeks been pretty normal nothing to brag about. We do have this
new investigador that we are teaching, her name is Claudia she is from
Colombia. I dont know what it is but i just keep seeming to find all
the columbians. Our first lesson with her was great she said at the
end "well you got me convinced what do i need to do now?" She was
going to come to church on Sunday but do to some family issues she
wasnt able to make it.

This week we also got to participate in a ward activity in Torrejon.
The missionaries there decided to coordinate a huge mission splits
with members. So the majority of the missionaries in our zone came
over Saturday morning and went on splits with members to go contact.
The members were so excited to go hit the streets and preach the
gospel. The girl i was paired up with was a cute 23 year old spaniard.
She is working on her papers and hopes to serve in Japan. We had some
really good conversations with people, and some not so good
conversations. It was good to be able to show her the full spectrum of
the mission life.

Before we did the activity one girl spoke who had just returned from
her mission, she said "Everyone knows who Jesus Christ is, but the
majority dont know who God is and our relationship to Him." That
really impacted me alot, and the two old spanish men that we talked to
proved that statement. We tried to invite them to pray, and they both
refused due to they didnt believe that God answers or even listens our
prayers. Im so grateful that we know the truth, what hope fills our
souls knowing that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us!

Life here is good, im grateful for my mission and the experiences i am
having. I miss you all! Big hugs and a big kiss!

Con amor,
Hermana Shurtz

Cumpleaños Feliz!

Hola!

One year down. Wow. I´ve officially been out of the states a year. I´ve been away from Wendys Lemonade, Peanut butter, real deodorant, air conditioning, and cold milk for a year! But you know what I´ve gained in this past year? Kebab! (Joke!) I´ve gained a bigger family, a love and confidence in myself, the ability to speak spanish, and a greater love and testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. 

I´ve reflected alot on my year in Spain this past week, and wonder "have I done any good?" I start to rationalize all the wrongs I did, blurring out all the good. I start to question my motives and find myself doubting whether I´ve followed the spirit. Satan´s been playing mind games with me, but you know what the Prince of Peace always wins. While in this turmoil of questions and doubts over the little I felt I had did. I talked to an old less active (now active) member in my first area. I felt such a love for him sweep over me! I remember how hard my comp and I worked to help him in anyway we could. Now, with all our work, prayers, love, and with the miraculous power of the Lord, this man is active in the church. I thought to myself "The Savior himself couldn´t convert the Pharisses. Why do you think you alone will change the world?" But I did help find a lost sheep, and I have rejoiced over the prodigal son returning! How could I then call my last year in Spain a failure? I cant. 

I may not have had a Parly P. Pratt statistical rate of baptisms, but I have seen miracles of my own. I have been a part of the converstion process in a few peoples lives. I have been trusted with the responsibility to help the downtrodden. I couldn´t be more grateful. 

I´ve decided that the mission is when we really magnify our baptismal covenant. It teaches us in Mosiah 18 "to mourn with those that mourn, comfot those in need of comfort..." That´s my job 24/7. You can´t be a good missionary, or discipule of Christ if you dont feel what they feel, or at least attempt to! Why else would the Savior take upon himself the sins of the world, the afflictions, temptations, pains, everything! Physically. He could have just watched a movie that explained it, had the Holy Ghost teach Him. But He knew, that the best way to succor His sheep, was to walk along in their path. Walk infront of them to know what would be the best route, to say with all sincerity "i know how you feel! I´m here to help you, use me!" 

I´ve been really greatful to this last year. I´ve had hard times, I wont lie. The refiners fire is real. But it´s been a year of good tidings. How can you be upset when your preaching the happiest news given to the world? 

For example, a beautiful miracle I was able to witness. Was yesterday at church Richard, our investigador from Nigeria asked me if we could talk for a moment. I said of course! He asked me if it would be ok if he paid tithing, even though he wasn´t a member! What faith. What an example! I tried not to cry as he really wanted to participate in the gospel of Jesus Christ in anyway he could. We talked to the bishop and we were happy to inform Richard that although he wasn´t obligated under covenant to do so, he could pay if he felt he needed to. He said "I want to follow the ways of the Lord." What a simple and powerful testimony! I wish I had more faith like him. 

On a lighter note. Today as a PDay activity, we went to an AMUSEMENT Park! We went to the Warner Brothers amusement park with like 20 other missionaries! It was SO MUCH FUN! Although we didn´t get to spend as much time as I would like as a normal human being, it still was alot of fun and gave me so much more reasons to come back to Madrid and party it up in the amusement park as a normal human being. See in the mission, you need to work hard and play hard! 

What a blessing this adventure has been to me. I am even more grateful I stil get to be a part of this crazy roller coaster ride for a while longer. But just like anyother roller coster ride, we wait years to get on it, and quickly it´s over and done with. But oh is the short ride worth it! 

I´m grateful for your love and support, I miss you all! I¨ll see you sooner then you know.

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Modern missionaries

Hola!

Well this past week was the long awaited week we had been hopping for
IPADS!! I went Tuesday morning to alcobendas to meet with the other
leaders in the mission. They do this leadership council once a month,
and I was super thrilled to be a part of president Jackson and hermana
jacksons last one. The meeting was so spiritual and it was such an
honor because president and hermana Jackson really were just speaking
directly to us. In the end we got to have our iPads a day early to
show the others in our zone how to use them. It was better then
Christmas Day for these missionaries! We screamed and giggled like
five year old girls as we set them up. I've never seen so many
missionaries so excited. But what's been amazing is seeing these tools
being used I have shown so many videos in lessons, I've been able to
find a scripture faster to answer somebody's question, I've been
reading so many talks! But really the main teacher isn't the iPad it's
still the spirit, the iPad is just there to help others feel the
spirit.

I also was able to do intercombios this past week with hermana
Valencia from Chicago. She's a cute girl serving in alcala. It was fun
being with her helping her, and her helping me. I'm learning a lot
with this new leadership position. Especially to keep being myself
when the normal urge would be to change, obviously I want to be better
and fix the areas that need work but I shouldn't change what makes me
me, just out of fear of looking good. I don't know if that makes
sense.

My thoughts and prayers have been with the Perez family all week. I
pray that they find peace in these hard times. I know that the plan of
salvation is real, that we will all be resurrected due to the grace
and love of our savior Jesus Christ. He loves us, and he can give us
the peace we need to move forward. I love you and miss you all.

Con amor
Hermana Shurtz

Hitting the Streets

Hola!

Here in Azuqueca we are hitting not only a draught temperally, but spiritually as well. Right now we are in desperate hitting the streets, finding mode. I don´t know how but everyone at one time dropped us. So we´ve been doing what all good missionaries do, contacting. My feet have the marks to show it. It´s been hard with the heat hitting in full swing but the game of salvation never was meant to be easy. 

During our District Meeting on Wednesday we talked alot about obedience and what that meant. We talked about being a consecrated missionary. While we were talking a thought hit me "We become consecrated when we are consentreted on Christ." That really hit me. Have my thoughts been on Christ? Have I really been thinking about Him 24/7. Honestly no. I´ve been trying to focus more my thoughts and actions on what the Savior would do, then what Ms. Shurtz would like to do. Because although Ms. Shurtz is a fun girl and all. The Savior has the way to eternal life. 

I know my Savior lives. His greatest gift He gave was Himself. He never once acted for His own gain, but under the will of the Father. I am amazed at the humility and self control He has. I wish to follow His example and swallow up my will to the Father´s. I am grateful for this gospel, I am grateful for the Atonement and that we can repent of all our sins, big and small. I love my Elder Brother Jesus Christ. I am forever grateful to Him.

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

May Flowers are No More!

Hola!

Can I tell you how excited I am that May is finally over! The allergy season has been killing me. But luckily the pollen isn´t thick in the air anymore so my nose and I are very happy! This week has been a week of finding. Unfortunatly all our investigadors at one point just dropped us, so we´ve been hitting the street nonstop for the last week. It´s been an interesting experience makes me feel like a true blue missionary. One day we got caught in the rain without umbrellas and I felt so pumped because I looked, and felt like a real missionary! It was awesome.

The only big thing that happened this week was our investigador Alvaro, he´s 13 had a date to be baptized this last sunday. Although he had all the desires in the world to do it, if you dont complete your part it wont work. So even though he wouldnt read, pray, or meet with us he still expected to be baptized this sunday. People kill me. The hard part was telling his father, whose a member. He was really pumped to have his son get baptized and was super disapointed when he found out it wasn´t going to happen. 

Funny story for the week: This week I was cooking breaded chicken for my comp and I for lunch. I was cooking and I got hungry so I wanted to rush it... so I really didn´t check to see if the chicken was cooked all the way. It looked white on the outside so I figured it was fine. We started eating it and the chicken was pretty dang pink..Ha! But because we were hungry we still ate it (I think my comp at it because she felt bad for me.) But we regretted that decision. We got so sick. Ha! We slept it off, and we felt fine after that. 

Things are going good here. It´s weird to realize that I´m in June... getting up on the year mark. Yuck. I finally am about to be "old" in the mission. When did that happen? I still feel like I´m the newbie running around. But with this last week, I´ve realized I´m not. I can actually understand people!! What! Instead of asking people what their saying, my comp is asking me what people are saying. It amazes me how much things have progressed! 

I am so grateful for my mission! I have learned more about myself and my Savior in a way I know I couldn´t have. I wouldn´t trade my mission for the world! I know my Savior lives. He loves us! The Atonement is real. 

I miss you and love you all! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Last time seeing my trainer in Spain

Toni!! When I saw my best friend

Live Photo of me and my comp emailing at the church