DÍA DE GRACIAS

AAAAHHHH HELLO ALL YOU LITTLE TURKEYS!!!

Ok so this week was a bit incredibl......ly long. And incredible. Oh my gosh it was just so great I'll just start at the beginning. Ish.

So Tuesday we had district meeting and that was good and I met Elder Stark who went to BYU and knows my good friend Elder Kawika Dipko so that's cool beans. Wednesday we had almost thanksgiving lunch at a members house it was great. We had some really great lessons so it was good. This is where this week got interesting though. We had been trying to figure out something for thanksgiving with the elders and they were gonna try to find some turkey meat and I was expecting them to just come back with deli slices bc who has a turkey in Spain?? Then we are at the members house and I get a call from the ZL's and Elder Kroff is trying to explain to me that they (the elders) are in Alcampo staring at a turkey and then Elder Boston gets on and just says, "We've found a turkey. Like a full on turkey and it's the last one. Are you guys in?" I just looked at Hma Moore and say, "We're in."
That night Elder Kroff called and we asked how big it is:
Kroff: "Elder! Cuánto pesa el pavo?"
Boston in the back ground: "mdmskanebdhejakahbahsh"
Kroff: "8 kilos"
Us: "OCHO?!?!? Elder!!!! ESO ES GIGANTE!!!!!"

So yes....we had an 8 kilo turkey for thanksgiving. For 6 missionaries. For you Americans who don't use the metric system 8 kilos is approximately 18 lbs. It was incredible. We asked if any of them knew how to cook a turkey and all of them said no. But they called our mission nurse Hma Frost and she gave them directions so after weekly planning, we took out mashed potatoes and went to the capilla. Those elders got soooo lucky bc they checked it at the perfect time and it was juicy and one of the best turkeys I've had for thanksgiving. We made turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and no bake cookies. Needless to say, thanksgiving was amazing except I think we almost killed our Chilean with all the food at his first ever thanksgiving. He asked us what else we do and us Americans looked and each other and just say, "....sleep. Then eat some more." When we said that it sounded like a bizarre holiday to me but whatever I'm not complaining.

So thanksgiving was great. Friday we went and did service and then had medio día. Welp we hermanas made a mistake again last week where we uhh....didn't buy groceries again so meals were a little fun. I KNOW I DIDN'T LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE LAST TIME I JUST REALLY WANTED TO PLAY SOCCER WITH THE ELDERS POR FIN LEAVE ME BE!!!
After Mediodia and before English we had a lesson with our investigator and invited her to baptism!!! She said no. But she wants to get baptized just doesn't know when she'll feel she's ready so we told her to pray for a date this week and we'll talk about it more next time. But she's progressing so much so I'm not too worried about it. After English classes we Hermanas sat down with the ZLs to verify the lines for our areas bc there was some confusion. We changed them a little which means we have this new investigator that lives in a refugee home and came to church last week and she is just incredible. The other elders had a lesson with her earlier last week and so we told them they could keep teaching her but then they called later and felt like we needed to be the ones to teach her so we get to teach her and she is so prepared. She came to church again this week and was SHARING THOUGHTS IN SUNDAY SCHOOL AND RELIEF SOCIETY IT WAS AMAZING!!

So that'll be really great. Saturday was incredible. We've been trying to get more animated about contacting bc we just really don't enjoy doing it but we've been doing it for the past 2 transfers bc we don't have investigators so we just said a prayer before we left piso and I just asked for Heavenly Father to help us see His hand in our work that day. Well I had been wanting to pick a building to just knock doors for a while so we were walking around and I had a thought to go to this building where an old investigator lives and we went and Hma Moore rang a random door and asked if we could share a message about prayer AND THEY SAID YES!! So we thought it was door 2°6 so we went up and knocked. Before I tell you what happened be warned: THIS IS REAL LIFE, THESE THINGS DO HAPPEN, THIS IS NOT A JOKE......ALSO I FIND THESE SITUATIONS HILARIOUSLY AWKWARD.

Ok so we knocked on the door and an old man opens the door and we asked if we could share a message with him. This dude is in a bathrobe and his only response is, "You can't come in I'm naked." And then he shut the door. HAHAHAHAHAHAH I seriously died. It was so funny. Ok but the next part of this was so cool. We couldn't remember what door Hma Moore had rang so we just knocked on 2°8, the one next to the naked man and this lady opens the door and she's got these two cute little girls peeking out around the door at us. We shared with them a scripture about prayer and it was so awesome. They were super receptive and then we asked if we could come back AND SHE SAID YES!! She gave us her number and everything and it was great. We left that and just looked at each other and said, "God is so cool."

It was awesome. Every other person in that building that we tried to talk to shut us down but it was fine we didn't care. Also we went to get flowers for a less active that we visit bc it's her birthday and we were in a chino buying a vase and it was 3€ but they cashier only charged us 2€ "Because of your faces. Muy bonitas." We weren't even mad at that.

Sending in their stats to the District Leaders.

So yes it was a great week. 2 investigators in the capilla on Sunday that was incredible. I just had so much love And joy in my heart for Granada on Sunday and especially for my ward. I mean I've had it for a long time but it really hit me that day and I was so happy. Seriously the mission is the best. If you are debating on serving a mission, GO!! It will be the best thing you ever do with your life. "You might regret not going, but you will NEVER regret going." How true is that?!?!
Oh man people, God is amazing. Here in Granada, the work has been practically non existent the last 1.5 transfers, but this week we have been seeing Him open so many doors for us and it is no doubt because we having been trying to do everything He has asked of us during this rough spot. Keep your head up because the good times always come. When life is rough, instead of getting down and blaming God, try to open your eyes and figure out what you need to learn through this trial. God always has a reason. Always.
Ok I love you all and hope you have an incredible week!!

Hermana Twede

New Mall in Granada. Largest in Europe.

Answered Prayers...Literally.

Hello people of Babylon.
So this week was great and incredible and we had (drumroll
please)........NO BAPTISMS!! But it's fine I'm over it.

But this week really was good. We were 3 little Hermanas for a day on
Tuesday due to transfers so we got to experience trio life for 24
hours with good ol Hermana Hooper coming from Jaén going to Cartagena
to her new comp Hermana Mckeown!! So that'll be fun! She was sad to
leave Jaén which was her first area but I think she's got great things
waiting for her in Cartagena and they are just going to kill it. The
whole time she was with us, Hma Moore and I just felt like STLs with
exchanges except we were Missing her companion. But it was good.
Also our ward had a talent show and the missionaries sang Oh My Father
to the tune of Come Thou Fount and I had to sing a little solo and
thought I was going to die. Do t worry though....no windows broke and
everyone's hearing is still intact so it wasn't The Fat Lady status in
breaking glasses. If you don't get that Harry Potter reference go
home. And watch all the Harry Potters. Right now.

Ok SO. The big main things from this week were on Friday one of our
members who is also a recent convert got his mission call!! He has
been called to the Barcelona Spain mission and leaves on the 17 of
January!! We are so so stoked for him. He is one of the strongest
members here and he will leave on his mission just a few days after
his year mark for his baptism. He's seriously incredible and me and my
companion always talk about how we would have loved to have been his
missionaries to teach and baptize him or we at least want to see it
happen. Maybe I'm heaven we can watch his conversion story like a
movie. That would be awesome. He has no idea the big adventure that is
waiting for him and we are all so excited for him to get started! He's
literally going to baptize that whole mission.

Ok other cosa (things). Every Sunday, we meet with this less active in a
member's home and I just love them both to death. But last week we met
with them and we talked about the doctrine of Christ. After our lesson
we invited her to start saying nightly prayers with her husband. She's
been really wanting him to take the discussions but has been really
patience with him. So we felt this would help their marriage and kind
of get him seeing how much this gospel matters to her. She was really
hesitant to commit and didn't want to push her husband to far. We
promised her that if she took this small step with her husband she
would she great blessing. She half heartedly committed to do it so we
left that cita thinking she wouldn't do it. But then we walked into
the chapel and Sunday and GUESS WHO WAS SITTING WITH HER?!! HER
HUSBAND!!! Mind you, this was his 2nd time at church on Sunday and
only 3rd time in the church building. And while I was talking to a
member about something, our less active pulled my companion and just
said, "I took your advice and I prayed with my husband!" She was so so
happy!! People, when we have faith and do what God has asked us to do,
He shows us blessings.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to testify of
His love for His children to the people of Spain in the Spanish language.
This experience was such a huge testimony to me that God has not ceased
to be a God of miracles. It's when we stop showing our faith that we
can't see the miracles He lays out for us. If you can't see His miracles
in your life, look inward and ask yourself what you can do better to
show Him your faith.

Well folks. The gospel is true. Ugh I just love it so much. We had
correlación this week and one companionship of elders announced that
their investigator accepted a fecha (baptismal date). She's been coming
to church every Sunday since one of the first sundays of my first transfer but didn't
have a fecha. So when they announced that I literally cheered.
Everyone just kinda laughed and looked at me but I was so excited that
another one of God's children was coming home. It made me realize that
every success of a missionary is our success too. We are all in this
work together as members and missionaries. So every baptism is our
baptism. Every sealing is our sealing. Every success is our success
because we are all brothers brothers and sisters slowly our family is
all coming back home. So missionaries who aren't having success, stop
thinking that. Because someone somewhere is getting baptized and
that's something to feel good about because wherever you are and
whatever you're doing, you're making a difference. Sometimes you plant
and sometimes you harvest but overall, you're successful and Heavenly
Father is so proud of you.

I ALMOST FORGOT!! We got 3 new elders!! Elder Kroff from
Chile/Northern Spain, Elder Egbert from Arizona, and Elder Stark from
Colorado. I have yet to meet Elder Stark but that will happen tomorrow
at district meeting. But our other two elders are awesome and some
great things are going to be happening here in Granada this transfer.
I'm stoked.

Ok well keep up the good work folks. If you're not sharing the gospel,
get off your couch or your phone or your computer and talk to someone.
Share the light of the gospel with everyone you meet. You don't have
to have a missionary tag to do that.
Love you all! The gospel is true!!

Kia Kaha!!

Hermana Twede

8 VASOS AL DÍA

Hey. You. Over there. Yes you. Drink 8 glasses of water everyday. It's
good for your immune system.

 Well folks the time has come....I'M DONE WITH TRAINING WOOHOO!!!!

Also we got transfer calls this morning but let me just tell you a little
tale of the elders in my district. So for one, they love to mess with
me. I made the mistake a while back of trusting everything they say
and it has haunted me. So now they just mess with me all the time. So
all week, Hma Moore and I have been stressed out waiting for transfers
and couldn't concentrate during our studies today, just waiting for
that little phone to ring. So we are happily doing our grocery
shopping when we got a call from our Zone Leaders and it was Elder
Berry on the phone.

Here's the conversation,
Elder Berry: "Hola Hermanas this is Elder Berry. Elder Boston just got
the email for transfers and told me to call you."
Me: "Yeah I thought he would do that."
Berry: "Well would you like to know what's going to happen?"
Us: "Yes that would be wonderful."
Berry: "Ok. Hermana Moore, you are staying here in Granada. And
Hermana Twede....you want to know where you're going?"
Me: "Yes please."
Berry: "Hermana Twede, you are going to-*click*"
HANGS UP ON US. Then we get a call again from them and this time it's
Elder Boston.
Boston: "Hermana Twede?"
Me: "Yes Elder can you just please tell us what's going on."
Boston: "Ok so the crazy thing is that I'm still going to be your zone
leader but we're going to a different zone..."
Me: ".....ok and what zone is that?"
Boston: "we are going to- *click*"
Me: "OH MY GOSH ARE YOU KIDDING?!?!"
LITERALLY HANGS UP ON US AGAIN!! By this time I have so much stress in
my body I'm ready to die. Then they call us back.
Me: "I literally hate you all. You guys are dead to us. Do you know
how stressed out I am right now?!?"
Boston: *laughing his head off* "You know what the funny part is?"
Me: "I'm staying in Granada aren't I??"
Boston: "Hahah yeah." Then proceeded to tell us the rest of the changes.

Elders are the literal worst. So yes. I'm staying in Granada for
another transfer with Hma Moore and we are sooooo stoked. Granada has
been preparing for Christmas since October so I'm getting in the
spirit already. Also Christmas and thanksgiving are in this transfer
so it's gonna be great!!

Besides that, this was a great week. It was still hard and the work is
still rough but we found that we were being really negative and it
made for a grumpy companionship. So we have a goal to be more positive
and it's made the week soooo much better. So be positive people.
CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY!! My dad told me once that happiness isn't
something that just comes....we have to choose it. And it's so true. I
can think that I'll be happier when I have baptisms or more people to
teach but I don't know that. I have to choose to be happy in this
moment.

Also Hma Moore filled a balloon with confetti and gave me a pop tart
bc I finished training so that was great. Also we celebrated
cumplemeses this week. Hma Moore hit 6 MONTHS and I hit 4. Time is
flying and we are already halfway through November!!
Well.....that's about it. Missionary work is great. I love it here.
The people are great. And yep. Read your scriptures people. There's
great stuff in there. When you have a spiritual moment, WRITE IT
DOWN!! And then share it with someone. God didn't want us to study His
gospel then keep what we learn to ourselves....He wanted us to glory
in the happiness of the gospel with others. You never know who might
need a spiritual lift.

Here we have a commitment called OLA. It stands for Orar, Leer,
Asistir. Orar: pray. Day and night. Everyday. Leer: read the
scriptures everyday. Especially the. Book of Mormon. Asistir: GO TO
CHURCH!! These are just some of the small and simple things that you
can do that will help you grow your testimony that this gospel is
true. I'm gonna pull a missionary on y'all but I COMMIT YOU to OLA
this week. Everyday. Just see what happens. And do it with faith. With
faith, God brings miracles. God never ceases to be a God of miracles,
we just stop having faith. Have faith and OLA.

LOVE YALL!!

Hermana Twede

Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful

HOLA AMIGOS! Cómo estáis? Espero que todo está bien y que esta semana
fue súper buena.

Well this week was a week. Not much to report. We don't have hardly
any investigators and no one likes talking to us. But thus is the life
of a missionary in Spain. But LOVING IT!!

The past few days here in Granada have been very wet and very cold.
Today my companion and I went and purchased tights....something I
never thought I would have to do during my mission in the SOUTH OF
SPAIN. But oh well. We turned on our heater for the first time today
and it didn't burst into flames so that's good! I mean I'm in the
church emailing right now and my piso could be on fire (calm down mom
I didn't leave it on....but it may be unpredictable) and I wouldn't
know!! So bueno. Also I've been getting in the Christmas spirit
already and sometimes I make my companion sing a Christmas Hymns to
start out comp study. (My family is reading this and dying inside and
out. And all my roommates are laughing and probs saying, "Yay Brile!"
Because I hate when people play Christmas music before Christmas
but...,the mission has changed me.)

So this week we worked a lot with the less actives in our area and
contacted a lot as well. Funny story. We decided to call all the less
actives in our phone because we didn't know who they were and who to
teach so we called some up and set up 3 citas!! We were so stoked!!
But......our joy was short lived. We decided we should look up where
they live and....turns out 2/3 live in a pueblo súper lejos from our
Piso and in the area of the elders. So we had to call them back and
cancel the cita. Awkward. Hahah. Never make that mistake. NOTE TO
FUTURE MISSIONARIES: LOOK UP WHERE SOMEONE LIVES
BEFORE YOU SET UP A TEACHING APPOINTMENT WITH THEM.
IF NOT YOU MIGHT BE VERY DISAPPOINTED AND EMBARASSED
WHEN YOU HAVE TO CANCEL IT. Also the "less active" who
actually lives in our area is a full active member and was the relief
society president for 10 years. Bueno. Needless to say this week has
been a rollercoaster.

But we had stake conference yesterday and it was so great!! We got to
see a lot of our missionary people and that was awesome. But a lot of
what they talked about is finding happiness in the gospel of Jesus
Christ. One speaker talked about teaching the gospel in the home.
Because when you teach the gospel in the home, the family is
strengthened and Satan has less power over you. I loved that. Study
the doctrine peeps. There's such great stuff in there. I'm reading
Jesus The Christ right now and it's opening up my mind to a deeper
doctrine that I didn't know existed and it's so cool. Seriously. Study
the scriptures. Everyone says they want to know what's on the sealed
portion of the plates....but yet they haven't studied the unsealed
portion yet. Study your scriptures. Pray a lot. And just feel the
spirit. My mission has helped me understand this gospel and my
Heavenly Father so much better and I love it. So get studying. Make
scriptures a priority.

Well hope y'all have a fantastic week!! Love yall!

Hermana Twede