Monday, April 25, 2016

The Last Email

I know that I've skipped out on some of the past weeks  but I thought I would try to end on a somewhat good note. This week I  will be heading to the mission office in Fuengirola and finishing my  time as a full time missionary. I know that at this point it would be  nice if I could say everything that I've learned but I don't think I  have enough time or the words to type it all out. I have looked back on this past year and a half of my life and feel immensely blessed. I feel so blessed of the time and effort that the Lord has put into helping me. If I have learned anything on the mission its that I have so much to learn. I have had the chance to learn for each and everyone one of my wonderful companions. Starting with my wonderful trainer Hermana Ashby who taught me that you can work hard and have fun at the same time and was also so patient with me. Hermana Smith who came from
Malaga and helped me see the importance of diligence and perseverance. Hermana Merrill who helped me learn the importance of obedience as we walked up and down the hills of the outskirts of Malaga. My dear Hermana Viglione who showed me the importance of truly loving the people and showed me how we can learn if we truly have humility. Hermana Gale who helped me learn patience in the pueblo of Valdapeñas as we knocked on every house possible. My adventure of starting Elche
up again with Hermana Jenkins who helped me learn how to keep calm and centered in every situation and realizing yet again that you learn so much more than you teach in training. Then heading to Alicante with my trio and having the chance to soak up the knowledge of Hermana Jones
and then getting to be with Hermana Anderson for 4 months as she taught me how to constantly work on our weaknesses to make them strengths and end with Hermana Swenson as she shows me how to keep going and always have fire to do the work. I don't know where I would be with out these wonderful Hermanas. They really have become my sisters and I feel so blessed to have had the chance to be taught by each if them. I know that I am who I am because they Lord allowed them to guide me. I love being a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints here in the south of Spain and even though people may not be able to recognize me by the name tag I'm wearing I will
make sure they recognize me by the spirit that I leave with them. Thank you all for the support that y'all have given me from my time out here.

See you soon!

Hermana Evelo

Monday, April 4, 2016

Hermana Swenson is a Brownie Pro

And here we are again heading down to Malaga on a nice 7 hour bus
ride. This week passed by so quickly. I feel like I say that fairly
often but this week it went by even faster. You might ask  how  that
is possible and to be honest I have no clue. We started out the week
meeting with various people such as our friend Tom who we found while
offering to hold the door for him as he carried a heavy box, the
family of our friend Elena who came with us to the relief society
breakfast last week and our dear dear Lina who broke the news to us
that she was going to be starting a job interna, which means she works
almost everyday from about 8 to 9 but she wants to ask her boss if we
can come by while she works and then our friend Ness who is the friend
of a member from our ward. We had a lesson with her about the
restoration last night and as we finished the lesson she asked if she
could offer the prayer and told us that she wants to come to church
this next week so she can see for herself if this message is true.
All of these people are so sweet and I'm so grateful that they have
opened their homes and hearts to us. I know that not every single one
of them will end up choosing to enter into the waters of baptism but
I'm so grateful I've had the chance to share with them at least a
small part of the message of the gospel. On Friday afternoon and
Saturday morning we had intercambios with the Elche Hermanas. We asked
them before if there was anything we could do for them before and they
answered with brownies. So we kicked off the intercambios with some
brownie making because Hermana Swenson is a brownie pro. You haven't
had a real brownie until you've had Hermana Swenson's brownie's. I
loved the time that I got to spend with these Hermanas to hear their
points of view and see how much they've changed since the last time
they came. Then Saturday afternoon was GENERAL CONFERENCE! I loved
every moment! On Sunday a member from our ward offered to feed
everyone in our district between sessions. The ward takes such good
care of us. Then later the elders made crepes for all! We ended up
watching most of the sessions in Spanish, it was so interesting to
remember the first time I tried watching in Spanish and could only
catch half of what the speakers were saying. I have to say that after
this general conference I have really felt the push to serve and the
desire to really reach out and share the blessings I have with others
so that one day the Lord can say " she hath wrought a good work". Find
ways to serve in your community or even in your family this week!
I love this good news that I can share with others that my savior
lives and through his sacrifice we can became better people everyday.

Hermana Evelo



Monday, March 28, 2016

The Jacket is Officially in the Closet


Spring!
That's right folks, the jacket is officially in the closet and the sun is out and about. On Tuesday we had district meeting like normal and then ate chili as a district. I love this district because it's so United. Everyone is worried about everyone else and we all know each other's miracles, investigators and preocupaciones. It's like a tiny family. After district meeting we had intercambios with the Albacete. I was with the wonderful Hermana Nuñez and we were able to teach our new friend Elijah who is a Colombian Jew. At the end of the lesson he told us that he needed to go but wanted to know when could he meet with us again. This week we tried to focus on working with members and it worked. I love when members have animo to share the gospel with their friends. On Saturday we went to a Relief Society breakfast and so we were trying to find someone to come with us so we decided to call a lady who they had contacted a couple of months ago who said that she would be interested in the future so we called and she came! And she loved it! All the women were super loving to Her and we got to eat some biscocho. Other than that nothing too crazy. It was Semana Santa here so we enjoyed the processions as they passed our street because we live in centro and so we are expecting people to be a little bit more open this week! I'm so grateful to have this time to be out here during Easter and tell people the joy of the Savior's ministry and sacrifice for us. He lives! I hope you all have a wonderful week and prepare for General Conference! If you don't know what that is refer to this link.

Hermana Evelo

Monday, March 21, 2016

An Easter Message about Jesus Christ

Hello!
So this week we started out by deciding that we were going to go running in the mornings. So far so good but then again it's only been a couple of days. On Tuesday we had district meeting and one of the Hermanas gave a wonderful talk on patience. The next day we went over to Murcia for a District Leader meeting that the Assistants to the President invited us to and even though it wasn't geared specifically towards us, we learned so much about the importance of leadership. We really focused on that leaders can't let their wants get in the way but focus on the needs of others. Leadership is a service. Miracle of the week, we were able to meet with our investigator Nina this week and as we went up we were met by her son and nephew. It was wonderful because we were able to teach all three of them and they were very excited to see us again. This week I have really thought a lot about the importance of how the spirit speaks to us and real intent. How important is it that we have the desire to know what our Heavenly Father has planned for us! I'm so grateful for everyday that I have out here in Spain. Challenge of the week: go watch the new video for Easter! 

#Hallelujah—An Easter Message about Jesus Christ (2:14)

#Hallelujah--An Easter Message about Jesus Christ (2:14) Jesus Christ took upon Himself the sins and sorrows of the world. Though he was crucified, He rose from the dead. This Easter, find out how, through Jesus Christ, we too can find new life. #Hallelujah. Learn more at FollowHim.mormon.org.

Have a wonderful week! 
Hermana Evelo

Monday, March 7, 2016

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman

So this week was consejo. So we drove down to Malaga with the same group. It was a good consejo we talked a lot about developing Christ like attributes. The spirit was so strong as we listened to several missionaries as told stories of people they knew that exhibited certain qualities. I was really struck by Elder Quispe telling us a story about the great charity that his brother has for everyone around him. At consejo President Andersen told Hermana Anderson and I about some crazy changes coming to our area. I'm being transferred! So, he said that they are changing the SHE area and Hermana Anderson will be staying in our area and training and I will be transferred to a far away land called Barrio 2. So I'm going to the other ward in Alicante with Hermana Swenson and that will be the new SHE area.  On the way back we saw snow in Granada!

Monday, February 1, 2016

A Guy from Finland

This week started out with the Crevellante Hermanas coming to be us for intercambios. It was great because I got to be with Hermana Jenkins. Then in the morning I was with Hermana Watkins and we met this awesome guy that is from Finland and studying to be a lawyer so we chatted a bit and set up an appointment to meet with him. Any who it was a great intercambio and we definitely learned the things that we need to do differently next time and it was a bit hard to make twice as many plans but it worked out. Then on Wednesday we took them to the train station and then got Hermana Nuñez who was going to stay with me because our companions were going to Malaga to do residency. So it was a bit crazy because I only got to work with Hermana Anderson twice this week. We were able to find some great people this week thanks to members! Yay members! Oh also transfers happened and we are staying together this transfer!  Any who this week went by really fast and I'm so excited for this transfer! I love you guys so much!

Your Hija

 
After playing futbol

Monday, January 25, 2016

Puking Our Guts Out

This last week started out with Hermana Anderson and I puking our guts out.We spent all Monday trying to help one another out but just both ended up on the couch with a pile of blankets and cups of
ginger tea. We made it out alive Tuesday morning and headed to district meeting and then to the train station and Hermana Anderson went to Elche and I waited for Hermana Viglione to come and then we had enough time to drop her stuff off and head to the church for correlation. We were there for a while and by that I mean a while! I decided that we did that have enough time to jump on the bus and make it back for noche de hogar so we went and contacted for a couple of hours and then headed back home after noche de hogar. I loved being able to be with Hermana Viglione again! She is just so sweet and I always feel that I learn from her. I just really wish that her health problems would go away! So the next morning we had lunch with a member from Bulgarian and I'll let you know that Bulgarian food is great! Then we headed down to Elche for the mission conference. We waited for
someone to show up with the keys to set up the TV and gave up and set it up on the iPad until the bishop came right before it stared. It was great and I really learned to focus on the fundamentals. Then on Saturday we had interviews with president. I always love having interviews because it really helps to get rid of all of my worries. This next week is going to be crazy but I'm excited! Thank you for all that ya'll do!

Hermana Evelo

Monday, January 18, 2016

We Heard Someone Calling to Us

This week I wanted to share a couple of miracles that happened
with my companion and I this week. We were walking on our way to a
cita with our investigator and were a little disappointed because we
had been trying to bring a member with us to the lesson because we
knew we couldn't go in if there wasn't a women present (a rule that we
have as missionaries). We had about 15 minutes before the cita so we
decided to stop at an old investigators piso. We were looking for her
piso number when we heard someone calling to us. We looked up and a
member from our ward was walking towards us. She told us that she just
so happened to get off work an hour earlier and would love to come
with us if we had anything set in the next hour. We were speechless!
She ran home quickly to grab a sweater and we were able to have a
great lesson with our friend William and she was able to answer many
of his questions. A couple hours later we were walking down the street
when we ran into a lady that we had met before and started to talk to
her when Hermana Anderson and I glanced up and made eye contact with a
lady that passed by she smiled at us and continued on her way and was
about to turn the corner when she turned around and asked if we were
Mormons we told her yes and she began to tell us how she had been
baptized about a year ago and had stopped coming to church because of
problems that were happening in her home. She told us how she felt
that she needed to talk to us and wanted to start coming back to
church. These experiences were just such a testament to me that the
Lord really does place people in our paths. Some other highlights of
the week was a wonderful lesson with some new friends that told us
that they would ask God if these things are true. I feel that some of
the best lessons that I've had out here our the ones where I have
learned something myself while teaching. Our friend William was also
able to come to church this week and was instantly attacked with love
by the JAS(young adults). We were also able to have intercambios with
Elche(my old area) I just loved being able to see some of my old
investigators and their progress and of course to be with the lovely
Hermana Olsen. At consejo they talked about changing the way we do
intercambios and would like us to have the Hermanas come with us to
our area instead of one of us going to their area. The selfish part of
me was a little bit sad because I love being able go see other others
but I think it'll be a good change . Last Week I didn't really have the
chance to talk about consejo. Consejo is a meeting that is held at the
beginning of every month. We drove down to Malaga with the Murcia Zone
leaders and arrived 6 hours later and only stopped in Granada for a
bit to eat. I love road tripping! The meeting was all night and we
took a break to sleep and then continued the next morning. I love
being able to discuss with other missionaries ways we can help each
other and other missionaries.  These last couple of weeks have been
pretty hard with the passing of my grandpa but I have so blessed to
have the love and support of my companion and leaders out here in the
mission. I know that even though my grandpa has passed on I will have
the chance to see him again. I am so grateful that the pain and
hardships that we face are not permanent and we have a savior that
gives us this hope. I hope that all of you are doing well. I love you
all!

Hermana Evelo





Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Asking a Man on the Street

So this week really started out Sunday night when we took the train to Murcia to stay with
the Hermanas. We got there and spent a good thirty minutes trying to find their piso and ended up asking a man on the street who happened to be their neighbor. So we got there and they were waiting for us with dinner. They are both just so sweet. So we woke up the next morning and jumped in the car with the elders from Murcia and road tripped to Malaga and ended up there 5 hours later. We had consejo that night and the next morning. It was so great to have the opportunity to help set goals for the upcoming year.  We headed back to Murcia with packages for people in our zone and had a nice man help us and found out we were on the wrong train but managed to jump off right as he doors
closed.

Love you guys.

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Paella Making Pro

Hey! So this week passed too quickly! On Sunday our Ward Mission
Leader invited us over to learn how to make paella. So look out world
I'm going to be a paella making pro soon. Tuesday we had district
meeting like normal and then we had intercambios with the Hermanas of
Albacete. So I got to stay in  Alicante so we decided to start
something with members where instead of just taking them to go to citas
with us , we would take them specifically to contact people. And
man did we see miracles!  I love seeing the excitement that members
have and new missionaries. Wednesday was New Years and so we where out
and about for a while but not a ton of success because people were
celebrating the new year. So we went in and made a lot of goals for
the new year. It was really strange for me to realize that a year ago
I was in the mission. It really gave me time to reflect on everything
that has happened this past year. I am so grateful that I've had this
year to be a missionary. I have been able to have so many experiences
that I could not have had if I had not made the choice to come out
here. I feel that I have learned so much but something that I've
really found is that I have so much more to learn. Sorry if this is a
bit short but I love all of you! Thank you for everything that you
guys have done!

Hermana Evelo