Abraham 2:12

Hola!

Almost 100 emails down under my belt, and I can´t believe I´m adding one and final one to that countdown. Last words you´re getting from me with my lovely name tag still on. To say this is unreal is an understatement. 

This transfer has been really interesting because we´ve had activities every week making the weeks fly by. I think that was a hidden tender mercy from my Savior because He knew that if I every paused to look at the calendar I would have a mental breakdown. 

This last week was full of lasts: Last Intercombio, Last Zone Conference, and last Thanksgiving in Spain. Made me really try to enjoy every moment. On my calendar it says "Live up every moment." I really tried to apply that advice. 

In Zone Conference I along with the other 3 missionaries going home in my Zone, were invited to give our last testimonies as part of the conference. I was really surprised, and nervous to do it. Before we went up we sand the hymn "Divina Luz" or "Lead Kindly Light" which has become my mission hymn. I was filled with peace and was grateful to my Heavenly Father for His small acts of kindness and love. I bore my testimony, but to me it was still so unreal! I pleaded that the missionaries continue to love the people, truly sincerely love them. That is the only way to do this work. Our mission president said "If you aren´t doing the work with love, you´rent doing the Lords work." I believe that so strongly! 

It´s been hard to realize that now I have to leave behind something that I´ve given my whole heart too for the last 18 months, the people, places, culture, everything. It´s been hard to realize that life will just keep going on without you. I know that sounds egoistic, but it´s hard to realize that you´re just an ant in the colony. I just feel peace knowing that I contributed at least a little to the work. I ran across a quote that said "What we do in this life echoes in the eternities." That brought me a lot of peace knowing that even though it may seem small, my thread will help weave a beautiful tapestry here in Spain. 

I will say we had a FANTASTIC thanksgiving here in Spain. There was 5 american families that combined together to make this special for everyone. My companion and I went over to a members house and helped her cook which made me remember the times of cooking in my grandma´s kitchen with my family.  The food was so good I could´t be more grateful. 

As I reflect over these last 18 months I am filled with such gratitude. The people I have been blessed to meet, the growing, the learning, the ups and downs, the sights, smells, tastes, the Spirit, everything. There is no way I could have imagined when I opened my call on the 6th of February almost 2 years ago that I would have lived through all this. The Lords had has guided me and shaped me to be a better person. He´s allowed me to help others feel the love that Christ has for them. 

I think more then anything He´s allowed me to learn from them. I´ve learned so much from the people I have been blessed to meet, charity, service, dedication, humility, loyalty. The people of Spain have a place in my heart that will never be erased. I´m forever a Real Madrid fan! I´m forever a believer in Jamon Serrano. I´m a believer that every meal should be accompanied with a loaf of baguette bread. I´m covered to using a fan during the summer. I´m in love with the Spanish people. The way they can´t walk and talk at the same time. I´m in love with their daily naps. I´m in love with the old man and their sweaters! I LOVE SPAIN! The thought of leaving them, here behind brings tears to my eyes. However I know that I´ll be back here someday, I touched the Madrid Bears foot. That´s a promise made, and a promise I will keep. 

I will say to anyone that is thinking about going on a mission to DO IT! I will never regret serving a mission. This has been the biggest blessing for my life, and the life of my family. I have grown stronger in my testimony of the gospel, and have grown to emulate just a bit more my Savior. I´ve seen His hand daily. I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon that I could never deny. I know that this is the true church of God. I know that God loves us. I know that Jesus is our Savior and the plan is perfect. We just have to do our part. I believed all this 18 months before, but now defending these very beliefs help me to KNOW it. Know it with every fiber of my being. Just as I know the sun will raise daily, i know that the Son of God rose on the third day. That we all will rise one day. For that knowledge alone I´m grateful for my mission. 

Well. Nothing more to do now then to keep pushing hard. Keep sharing the gospel. Keep shining the Light of Christ that radiates from us. 

Thank you. Thank you for all your support in these last 18 months. It´s been such a help to me in ways you´ll never know! I can´t wait to see you all! BIG HUG IS COMING TO YOU IN JUST A LITTLE OVER A WEEK! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

PS (right now my comp is playing "I´ll be home for Christmas..." She´s got a sick sense of humor.) 

PPS I LOVE YOU ALL!

But Like Did They Have Bodies?

Hola!

Another incredible week here in B5 ( I can´t find a good adjective to describe how amazing this week was, one day we will be able to express really how we feel!) I´ve been struggling with going home this last week. It´s been a tornado of feelings of excitement, fear, nerves, anxiety, happiness, shock. All rolled up in a nasty spanish tortilla! Yesterday after church I asked the elders Harris and Miller to give me a blessing to help me feel some peace. From the moment their hands left my head I´ve felt a lot better. God is so good and I´m so grateful for the priesthood that we have and that there are good men out there who are willing and worthy to give blessings. 

We´ve still been pushing it with less actives around here. Javi, from Peru is our main concentration. We have been reading with him the Book of Mormon every time we meet with him. We´ve seen SUCH an incredible change in Javi! He´s come to church for all three meetings a month in a row now. That hasn´t happened in almost 8 months. He seems happier and his testimony is stronger. It´s incredible to see the power the Book of Mormon has to change people´s lives. 

We were also blessed to have a member of the 70 Elder Christenson come to meet with us on Thursday. It was a whole day long event. In the morning he met with us, just the missionaries. Then later in the night there was a big 5 stake fireside where we were invited to stay and bring investigators, and less actives. I really loved the message Christenson gave. He went on a five minute spill for those about to go home saying that we should remember all the wonderful things we´ve learned on the mission and that we should carry it throughout the rest of our lives. That really helped me a lot (seeing how i´ll be going home...) 

There was a pretty funny moment because he opened it up for questions and one elder asked if Peter James and John had physical bodies when they gave the priesthood to Joseph. We then went on a 40 minute spill about how angels are always with us... I thought it was pretty funny. Miscommunications always kill me. 

I was also SO blessed to have a reunion with EVERYONE from my old areas at the fireside. I legit saw at least 1 person from all my areas (including the islands) I was also able to see the MTC President and his wife which was such a blessing for me because I adore the man. One point a member from Azuqueca surprised me by bringing food for me, somehow she found out I was going to be at the fireside so she brought food over for me just in case I needed some. SO SWEET! 

The food situation at our piso has been a bit... interesting. We´ve been pretty low on money so our creativity has been pushed as to what we can eat with 5 ingredients. I will say I am no longer a picky eater. I´ve eaten some pretty weird crap. 

I just wanted to say that I feel very safe here. I know there is some horrible things going on around the world right now, but I´ve never felt scared, or nervous once for my life. I have felt the prayers of the members around the world always with me! I am grateful for the protecting hand of the Lord. Our prayers have been for the people of France. We are so blessed to know that we are with the Prince of Peace and that the battle has already been won. 

I love you all. I miss you so much. Have a great Thanksgiving. Our plans is to eat with all the american families here in B5! I´m pretty excited, might even make some famous shurtz rolls....!

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Saying Goodbye to the White House

Hola!

So this week was action packed! We had to go to Pavones a ton this week due to our turn at the temple session, and us going for Choir Practice. A 70 is coming this thursday and he requested a choir performance. So my comp signed us up  to be a part of it... fabulous. So we were able to go several times which was a huge blessing for me. I love being at the temple square it just fills me with such memories! 

It was hard though because it was my last temple session here in the madrid temple. The beginning of "finals" as a missionary. It hit me really really hard, but as I sat in the celestial room (bawling) I was able to find some peace. I have loved my time here. I love the time I have left here. I wouldn´t trade it for the world. What filled me with peace is this isn´t the end, my chapter as a "full time missionary" maybe closing, but just like the never ending mirrors life goes on for an eternity. These memories, these friendships, these miracles, these growing pains, will stay with me and those that have been affected forever. So even though I wont be able to wear this chapa doesnt mean I wont be able to keep sharing the light of christ.

I´m grateful for the Lord. He really hasn´t left my side this week. I´ve been filled with His love and I´m hopeful that I can continue to share that love with others. 

Have a great week. I miss you all.

Con Amor,

Hermana Shurtz

Final Countdown

Contemplating outside of the Pavones or the temple metro stop

Hola!

Greetings from the Big Apple here in Europe. Where all the cool OG's
chill. I'm loving being here more and more everyday. Today was the
start of my very last transfer. One left. I had a friend my last
agenda for me... It's covered in marriage quotes. She wants me to get
pumped for my new "adventure" in life...

My comp and I are together another one! I am so happy that she is
going to "kill me" I literally am obsessed with this girl. I don't
think she could talk bad bout a single person. I joke around and say
that I could say Hitler was a bad guy and shed say "I really like his
mustache though." Angel from God this one.

On Thursday we had a meeting with the other missionaries in our zone
about talking to everyone. I really enjoyed it because they didn't go
with the same "contact!" spill. This time it was help members! Which
I'm always down with. It was a testimony builder to me because I fell
like is new president and I share the same philosophy.

I shared an example of a cute Filipino girl in our ward who said that
she's never had missionaries visit her family, her mom explained it
this way "missionaries only visit people who need it." That broke my
heart. Everyone needs a lift me up from the missionaries. So our goal
this transfer is to visit the unvisited. We want to help everyone feel
the love our savior has for them.

I hope you are all doing well. I miss you and love you a ton!

Con amor,
Hermana Shurtz

Visiting Old Friends

Hola!

I am sitting here in the house of the cabanas from Azuqueca. My comp
was a champ and has followed me around as I went to visit some good
friends. I have been on cloud nine being here knowing that the
feelings of friendship that we gain here will always be with us.

This week was really good! I'm sorry I can't write this week. I love
and miss you all.

Con amor,
Hermana Shurtz