Hola from Almeria! [Letter 35, Almeria]

HELLO!!!
I am writing this from a small locotorio just out side of my building in ALMERÏA. yep I arrived last wednesday after a 4 hour  bus ride which was only suppose to be 2 and a half. Crazy. anyway this place is different from anywhere I have EVER lived. It is a big city.  It is kind of like living in downtown Salt Lake but a lot dirtier. Working here is great. There aren´t a ton of people in the streets but when we talk to them generally they stop and listen even if they don´t want anything. The members here are amazing. They are so nice and really want to help with the missionary work. Our ward mission leader is THE BEST. no seriously. I have never seen a man more involved with his calling. He has called us I think about everyday since I´ve been here checking up on us, asking if we need help with anything, and what citas we have so he can send members with us. It is awesome. This past Sunday we had a meeting with him for like 2 hours introducing me and a new elder to the ward and then talking to us about the ward mission plan. He is very into communicating and helping us FIND new investigators through members. After this past Zone meeting and the meeting with him I feel as in the focus of the mission is changing. We are still here to teach and baptize bacause that is our calling but the way we go about it is changing. Before the missionaries found, taught, baptized, and then fellowshiped into the ward. Our focus now is very much on finding through the members. We are only there to teach and then skip out. The members are to be the link to the church not the missionaries. The way that they have presented it is that we are more focused on retention and recieveing temple ordinances and baptism as a step to get there. We are going to start with the rescue and reactivation of less active members. The way he presented it involves A TON of work. But it is going to be very rewarding. And also this sounds like it is coming from the stake. From what I have heard the stake and mission president have been coorolating. President Deere has arrived with a vision. And I am so excited to be here and part of the change. This is how the church in Spain is going to grow. This is how we are going to invite our brothers and sisters to come unto Christ and enter into the Celestial Kingdom. Oh I could go on and on and just jabber about how we plan and doing it but those are just details. Instead I am sure you all want to hear about the NEW COMPANION:

Her name is Hermana Torres. She is from Barcelona. She has two sisters and is the middle girl. She has been in the chruch all her life. She is quite a bit shorter then me with dark curly hair. She knows a little english, understands more then she speaks but I think that is about with every second language. She has been very very patient with my spanish. And it is definatley improving daily and some days hourly. She is a great cook. I really do like spanish food. VERY different from the states but good. I do miss a nice big steak though. They don´t eat a lot of beef here. Well they don´t eat a lot of meat period but it is good. She loves American music. She has been playing my ipod for days now. Oh she loves to play basketball so we are going to go play today. I´m excited. I haven´t touched a basketball since the MTC so this is going to be interesting to watch.

Also we have two elders here in Almería. Elder Bird, who is our district leader, came out with me. I know him from the Provo MTC. and Elder Lyman, crazy name huh, is from California. He has been out 20 months. Elder Bird is from Arizona. We see them like everyday pretty much. Not like we plan too. but they are sometimes on the same bus we are on or turn down one of the same streets we are on. It is very different from Nerja where we go a week usually without seeing any other missionary. But it is nice. They are good elders and work really hard.

Anyway I love you all. I know this chruch is true. I know that we can have eternal families. I know that lie will always have its ups and downs but I also know that these challenges are for our eternal progression and learning. I hope this letter finds you well and happy.

With all my love,

Hermana Petru

P.S. I gave a five minute talk in sacrament this sunday and I did NOT cry. Miracles really do happen. :P Yep everyday.

Love ya.