I've Run Out of Good Titles.

me and my old comp with some other Hermana's

Hola!

My "write weekly email time" got cut a bit short this week due to
helping my comp PACK! Boo got the call and is heading to Pavones. I am
going to be with Hermana Vasas who has to be one of the funniest
people I've met. We've received many comments that we will by far be
the funniest companionship in the mission, and with two hours together
I can testify to that.

This week was a week of goodbyes. It was weird being on the other side
of the veil, because I remember how hard it was to leave my first
area. But it's always good for a change! That I've been so grateful
for, change. You really need it to grow and evolve as a person.

Funny story for the week: my comp and I were about to enter the metro
to head to an appointment, but the metro was PACKED full. My comp said
that we should wait for the next one, but me with my Shurtz pride
ignored her. I entered the metro thinking shed jump in too.... Wrong
o. The doors started closing, and I was on one side while she on the
other. My heart stopped "I can't be without my comp" we both started
hitting the door button frantically! I was able to get the door to
stop and then I started pulling the doors to create more space. My
comp said I looked like hulk, ha! I was able to slide through (I don't
know how!) and stay with her. Luckily the doors didn't shut while I
was sliding out because when they shut they shut. Miracles exist.
Lesson learned? Trust your comp.

It's been a good week. I love my savior and I am so grateful for the
love He offers every single one of us.

Con amor,
Hermana Shurtz

package from home

Do I Stay or Do I Go?

Hola!

Five weeks now under my belt here in the big city. The weathers been a
bit bipolar, one minute it's rainy and windy then later it's hotter
then a July afternoon. So I don't know what's Madrid's deal but I hope
it figures out its mood changes quickly.

This week was the second week before the transfer ends and my comp has
been going cuckoo for coco puffs wondering where she is going. I've
been giving her a hard time saying that she's going to stay one more
here with me. She's been here almost six months now and girls ready to
open up her wings and fly from the nest. We'll find out here this
Saturday what's going to go down. Everyone has been giving ME a hard
time that I might train.... I don't think it's very funny pero bueno.

We had two really cool moments where we saw God using us as
instruments in His hands. One was we started looking through the area
book for old investigators to call and I saw a name from a less active
that hasn't been visited in months, I felt the need to call her. On
Tuesday we met and come to find out she had been praying to come back
to church and didn't know how, later that day we called her. Miracles!
Then secondly, I decided to call a less active to help us with a
lesson. Turns out the same time we had a lesson was the same moment he
had planned to go hang out with some people that aren't the best
influences for him. He told us he knew God was looking out for him.
GOD IS SO GOOD!

My comp and I are doing great, working hard, and having a ton of fun!
I miss you all! Have a great week! Watch the Mormon message Lift,
makes me bawl every time!

Con Amor,
Hermana Shurtz

My comp was sick one day so I decided to snap a photo while she was sleeping

*insert crafty title*

Hola! 

Once again another great week here in Cuatro Caminos! No complaints on this side of the world. The weather is cooling down, I'm actually able to wear a sweater! The people stop and listen, but then they give you the famous Spanish wave of the finger and walk away. I'm finally understanding the metro here! Things are going great! 

One awesome thing that happened this week was we were able to help an investigator move out of her house. She has been meeting with missionaries for the last 7+ months and due to work she had to move up to A Coruña. So we went over and helped her pack, and then bring the packages to the mail office. It was nice to show her how much we really care for her by taking time and helping her out. We then said our goodbyes and she thanked us for always being so charitable. I feel that we should always try to leave people with a good impression, if it's a contact on a street, an investigator, member, you name it. So that they can always remember the good that we did when they think of the church. That's my personal goal at least. 

Funny story for the week: We were eating at a less active families home this week. They are from the Dominican Republic, and it's always a party! We met one of the sons for the first time, who just so happens to be a professional dancer. We were talking and he told me he knew English. I asked him to say what he knew in English and to my surprise said "do you want to kiss?" I busted out laughing so hard. I don't know if the poor guy was hitting on me, but I think my loud laughter scared him away because he didn't talk to me in English or Spanish after that. 

I was told once that the mission is the MTC for life. I have to agree with that 100% I firmly believe that my mission has prepared me more for my future then anything else I could have done with my life. I have learned more about myself, who I really am, my goals, my weaknesses, my strengths. I have learned how to live with others (11 comps, all with very different pet peeves, strengths and weaknesses.) I have learned the importance of open and honest communication. I've learned about compromise. Learning when to speak, and when to keep your mouth shut (I still got a lot to improve on that point, but I'm a lot better then before!) I've learned how to cook, finance, clean, etc. There is so much that I've gained in these last 15 months that I wouldn't trade for the world. 

Most importantly though I've learned the importance of the gospel. Not only to know it, but to live it. I've seen the difference in those who live the gospel and those who don't. I know that the gospel is the plan of happiness. I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have and for the principals that I've been taught so that I can live a happier, fuller life. I've gained something in these last 15 months that I know can never be taken away, a firm love for my Savior and His atoning sacrifice for me. 

Im grateful for the age change, because I know that if it hadn't had happened I wouldn't have had this beautiful experience. I am grateful for the mercy of my Savior who calls young kids to go out and preach His word. It's amazing the trust He puts in us. I'm grateful for my family who has supported me since I felt the need to serve. I'm grateful for being so richly blessed. I am amazed truly at the love Jesus offers me, and for every single one of us. 

I miss you all. Big hug coming your way! 

Con amor,

Hermana Shurtz

baseball game

Miming is Not Sign Languag

Hola!

I have a strong testimony of the harder you work the faster the week
goes by. My time has flown here in B5. I feel like I've only been here
a few days but in fact it'll almost be a month! What?! I'm loving it
though.

This week was a pretty incredible week, full of repentance, miracles,
laughs, and a few tears. It started of fun with a good game of
American Baseball. We played on this run down field, with some
members, investigators, less actives, misionareis, you name it. While
we were playing a kid stopped and watched. I went over to go talk to
him, he's from Cuba and hasn't seen anyone play baseball since he left
his country. It was a great door opener for a missionary moment, I
explained who we were and that he was invited to come and play. He
said he couldn't at that moment, but we exchanged numbers and we'll
see what happens in the future.

On Tuesday we met with a less active who had her heart shut to
missionaries before. But due to a good friend, who had served there
previous, telling her how awesome I am we were able to get an
appointment with her. We hit it off immediately, and she confessed
that she wanted to come back to church! My comp and I were pretty
stoked. Later that night we helped another less active family move.
Nothing like service to warm the hearts of those who are alittle cold
to the church

Wednesday was a good day. We were able to say goodbye to an
investigator of ours who is moving to Las Vegas this week. He took us
to a book store (he knows me so well!) then we had a lesson in Taco
Bell. Best part? The cashier in Taco Bell, his mom is a member, and
because he saw that we are missionaries he gave us a discount. Yup.
Turns out that Utah missionaries aren't the only ones who get hook
ups! What goes around comes back around 

Thursday was awesome! We had our Zone Conference, and we were combined
with the East Zone, which just so happens to be my old zone. So it was
a big old reunion for me! I was able to say hi to old friends, hear
ward gossip, hear how old investigators are doing. It's honestly the
best part about zone conferences. That, and the recharge that you
feel. I loved the messages that President Pack, and Hermana Pack
shared. They really explained the importance of being a well rounded
missionary. To use ALL the tools we have to bring EVERYONE to come
unto Christ. Not just baptize, baptize, and baptize.

Also we were able to watch MEET THE MORMONS! Finally. I was so pumped
to watch it. It was in Spanish which made it even better. Secret?
Seeing the missionary story made EVERYONE trunky. Nothing like a good
old "goodbye" scene that makes you have a flashback to your own.

Later on Thursday. we met with an investigator named Fransisco. He's
Spanish, and he's deaf. He has a baptismal date for next month. He's
great! Teaching him is so fascinating, we write on the iPads and he
writes us back. He has been teaching me signs and I'm surprised at how
fast I'm picking it up. The gift of tongues (or signs) is real!

Friday was a very powerful day for me. My comp and I had a good sit
down, open conversation, about how we could be better as missionaries.
She was very open, and honest with me, and I with her. I realized I
had been blind to many of the things I had been doing wrong. She
helped me see that I had not been a well rounded missionary. My
focuses although good, was not where God wanted me to spend all my
time and energy. I had been neglecting a huge part of the missionary
experience, contacting. I had my priorities out of line, and although
my heart was in a good place I needed a reminder of my missionary
purpose. For that I'm super grateful for my companion who could help
me again focus on what we need to be doing as missionaries.

Sunday was a day full of miracles. We had a girl and her mother come
to church, mother isn't a member but would like to be. We ran into
some old investigators we had been praying to see again. We had a less
active run up to us asking to meet. It was just moment after moment
where you could see Gods hand orchestrating all of these little
moments together. Placing us and them in the right moment at the right
time.

Last night my comp was feeling a bit down so I decided to cheer her
up. We put on some music and used my deodorant, and hairspray as
microphones and danced and sang in our room like maniacs. Made her
feel a bit better. Work hard, play hard.

I know that my Savior lives. He loves us so much. He wants us to be
happy, and He knows the best way to be happy is through His gospel.
Repentance is a beautiful gift, and when we align our will with His
things go better. I'm forever grateful for my mission, I would not be
the person I am without it. I pray I can continue to repent, and grow
to become the daughter He knows I can be. I love you all. I can't wait
to give ya a big old hug!

Con amor,
Hermana Shurtz