You Can Call Me Queen Bee

Hola!

What an incredible week here in B5! It was packed full of unsurprised
tender mercies from the Lord.

On Tuesday we went to go visit our deaf investigators art exhibit and
he surprised us by taking us to he roof which allows you to see ALL of
Madrid. I felt like I was in some posh music video, there was people
sprawled out drinking wine. It was LEGIT. What was the best was
Fransisco surprised us by showing us one of his paintings that was
inspired by The First Vision. It was a grove of trees! How precious.


Then... I may have done something a smidge ridiculous. I liberally
told my companion that I "knew" how to cut hair... When in reality I
haven't done it in years and I've only done it twice... So we bought
some cheap scissors... And I prayed and hoped for the best.

Well.. One snap to soon and instead of cutting off the trims I ended
up cutting off about six inches off her hair. I saw the hair drop and
said "oh no. Oh no. I just did something very bad." Surprisingly she
didn't get mad. Well. Not to mad.

We had to have an Hermana in barrio 1 help us out. Sister respects to you!

On church Sunday we have to translate for Fransisco and it's
incredible how much we've learned. The gift of tongues is real!

I am currently hanging out with all my loved ones on the mission! So
that's a good p day in my book.

I love the Lord and I'm loving my mission!

Con amor,
Hermana Shurtz

Coughin´ the Lungs Away

Hola!

Due to the bipolar weather that is going down with Madrid my body decided to have a meltdown and shutdown for a whole week. So unfortunately I had to take a few "sick days" on the Lords Vineyard. 

One thing I love though about being sick here in Spain is that everyone here feels they have the right, no need, to tell you how to cure yourself. On sunday here was the recommendations I was given..

"Squirt two lemons in your nose and your cured!"

 

"Boil some milk then pour two spoonfuls of honey in and your all good!"

"Get some lemon juice, heat it up then put some honey!"

"Wear a scarf and that bug will go away!"

Literally kills me. I love that whenever I have been ill on the mission they feel the need to give me all this voodoo home remedies to cure me. Love it. I will say though that my spanish rasp has never been more spot on this week! Moment of silence to the Madrid smoker voice accent. Love it. 

This week we were able to go to the temple. Even though I was sick there was NO way I was going to miss the chance to go. I love being in the temple it just recharges you. Gives you a big old boost to be better! After the temple we had a district meeting, and I apparently was delirious (or so my comp says....  I don't really remember it that well). Apparently I had them dying laughing though. So that´s good right. 

Overall a really good week. I love my companion and I´m grateful for the chance to serve here with her. Have a great week! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

P.S. The rain in spain DOES fall mainly on the plains. 

My district

"Menos Activo Fan!"

Hola!

Another wonderfully wet week here in Cuatro Caminos! My companion and
I are killing it here! The weather decided to go mad crazy and rain
all the time, but I'm still wearing my nasty sandals with summer
pride!

Segovia was pretty much awesome!

This week my comp and I were able to have interviews with President.
It was my last interview in the field and it was amazing! He really
gave me good advice on how to finish strong, and what I should do when
I get home. I explained that in my mission I've always felt like I've
been the less active activist and he said "we are a team, and we all
have a role to play so your role has not been any different or less
important then those who have baptized." That made me feel really
good!

Tender mercy this week I always collect bibles in every church I've
served in. But this church I haven't been able to find one. Then
miracle during zone conference I got up and when I came back there was
this bible sitting on top of my backpack? I have no idea how it got
there, miracles exist.

We are currently waiting in dunkin doughnuts waiting for a bus to take
us to Segovia! So excited to go!

I miss you all have a great week.
Con amor,
Hermana Shurtz

Hitting up Segovia this week for "P" day!

Did You Just Become My Best Friend?

Hola!

Another AMAZIN week here in the heart of Spain. I have had such a
blast this week with my new comp. We put two and two together really
quickly and agreed that we are soul mates. We have the same sense of
humor, the same interests, and the same favorite shows. I literally
love her. Within the first day my stomach was sore from laughing so
hard.

This week has been jam packed! What with conference this week we tried
getting everyone to come to the church to hear the words of the modern
prophets. Our biggest concern was how we were going to help our deaf
investigator Fransisco understand it. We racked our brains, prayed
really hard, but it seemed like we couldn't do anything:there was no
Spanish sign language option, no subtitles... Nothing. Then we found
out he understands American Sign Language and we had him watch the
conference on my iPad while we watched in English. So amazing!

Amazing blessing with this conference, is we as missionaries went to
the stake center in Pavones and there I was able to see a TON of old
friends from ALL my old wards that I've served in, including the
islands! It was such a blessing to me. It's amazing. I was thinking
that this is what heaven is going to be like when we see old friends
and embrace one another. It's just beautiful.

Weird moment that happened this week: Vasas and I were at the church
making calls when a random man showed up to try to convince us that
the bishop had given him permission to live there. Uh? So I told him
that he couldn't enter while we were there. We then called EVERYONE
but no one answered. The level of awkward was high. Finally we got a
hold of the bishop and told the man he was mistaken and then he left.
That isn't the best part... Later in correlation our 2nd counselor
chewed out the elders saying that they should drop anything and defend
the "honor" of the hermanas if anything like that ever happens again.
My comp and I relished in it. But it was funny cause one of the elders
told me later "Hermana you are the last person I would be worried
about. I would call you if I got into some trouble." What up!


I have to say I LOVED conference. It was such a powerful experience
for me. My comp and I really were hoping for some Holland Cry to
Repentance. We were not disappointed. I loved the spirit I felt.
Especially when we would sing the intermediate hymn together, it hit
me that all the saints around the world was singing in one voice, one
prayer, with one heart towards the Lord. Gave me chills. Our dear
President Monson is a holy man. My prayers go out to him, we all sat
in reverent silence as he gave his powerful testimony. I do love the
man.

The church is so true. I pray we do as Erying said and put into
practice the things the spirit told us we needed to change. I am
grateful for living apostles on the earth and that the work will keep
going forth until the King of Kings comes to reins. I'm grateful for
the Love my Heavenly Father has shown me to send me such an amazing
companion. God really is so good to us.

I miss you all.

Con amor,
Hermana Shurtz