April 3, 2017 ~ Transfer 6 Week 2

Hi all!

This week we had quite a few curve balls thrown our way. Tuesday morning we received a call from the office elders saying that two missionaries would be here in Madrid in our area for the day to receive a patriarchal blessing and that was all they knew. We didn't have what time the actually event would happen but we just knew they would be here. Little did we know that they would spend Tuesday through Thursday with us haha =) We did a couple intercambios (exchanges) and I learned quite a bit from the elders. One of them is from my same group in the MTC and it was really good to see him.

This week in the work was a little tough. 

We set up a ton of lessons and many of them fell through, more than usual. But we learned to manage with two extra missionaries who were ready to work and we learned how to better find new people to teach. We also got to do some service which is quite unusual! We had a 2 moves that we helped with in one day, one was super easy and all it was was moving luggage a couple metro stops down. We finished easily in an hour. The other move was quite intense. 

We definitely were needed for that one because no one else really showed up. We had a total for 4 people (including me and my companion) moving a family of 6 out of the 4th floor of an apartment building with no elevator. Imagine taking a fridge down four flights of stairs and minimal space to turn...it was quite the challenge. The funniest part is that the fridge didn't fit the new home (because they moved in with other family members who already have the kitchen stuffed with appliances, kitchens here are small) and that they may not be staying in that new home for very long. Haha =) The struggle is real. We will probably help again the second time but we are definitely recruiting others.

Funny moments: 

I need to explain some background for this to make any sense. 

So this past week we had General Conference which I explained a little bit in last week's letter but it's a meeting that we have every 6 months and we have the opportunity to listen to the counsel of our modern day prophet and the apostles. In the US normally it can be watched live because the time zones aren't as different. Over here in Spain we watch the sessions on Saturday and Sunday. So Saturday at 11am was the General women's meeting, 6pm was the Saturday morning and that was it. On Sunday at 11am is the Priesthood meeting which is directed for male members of the Church, then at 2pm is Saturday Afternoon, 6pm is Sunday Morning. We don't watch the Sunday Afternoon session at all because live it is showing at 10pm here. I hope that's not confusing but that's the background. Funny part about it is that we didn't know what we were watching when and so we invited a mom and here two twin girls to come to the Priesthood session thinking it was the Saturday afternoon session haha =) oops. It all worked out though.

So to simplify:

Saturday:

11am - women's general meeting

6pm - Saturday morning session

Sunday:

11am-  Priesthood 

2pm: Saturday afternoon

6pm: Sunday morning)

This week was a great week of growing. 

I really loved listening to conference and had quite a few of my questions (both unwritten questions of my heart and written questions) answered. I know Heavenly Father speaks to us through a living day prophet as He had spoken in days of old. I know that what Amos 3:7 says (from the old Testament) is true: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." 

We still receive revelation today because our Heavenly Father still loves us and wants to guide us to the best possible lives we can have. He is "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."(Hebrews 13:8) and He will continue to guide us as those of old if we turn to him in prayer and ask for His help. I know He answers prayers. 

Next week I will try to have some quotes from conference!

Have a great week!

Elder Openshaw