July 1 2010

Oh yes, I got the foot powder. And the crunch n munch. It made it through the trip here, though I´ve been just munching on the nutter butters. They feed us really well here-salmon, beef, canoli, etc. No soda though-I miss my Pepsi. I´ll probably buy one today when we go out.

 

As for the MTC, if the Temple is in the top of the picture, the MTC is to the left. It´s the taller building with all the windows. Floors 1-3 have the Distribution Center, the hotel, and the rooms for temple workers. Fourth floor is for instruction, fifth is for rooms, and sixth is for the dining hall.

 

The picture, though I don´t have it in front of me, should have had Elders Booher, Martherus, Bennett, and Ferguson. Then Sister Bell. Sister Bell is already out in the field, and Elder Bennett and Ferguson leave Tuesday, along with Elder Marchello and the Portuguese Elders, Piña, Silva, and Caputo de Sousa. Then, Wednesday, we get in five Italians, and ten more from Provo. We have an Elder from Sweden here. He´s 6´10¨!

 

It´s a small, close atmosphere here, so everyone is friends with everyone, don´t worry. And the President doesn´t like the way Provo teaches us, so we´re set up ¨School of the Prophets¨ style, like Joseph Smith held for the original Elders of the church. Now we actually get doctrine classes for us and our learning, not only Spanish classes. When you´re studying the gospel this intently, lots of questions pop up, and it´s nice to have them answered! Plus, President keeps his office door open most of the time, with a standing rule that we can come ask anything we want or need about scripture, or anything, really.

 

Saturday´s, we take the Metro to one of Madrid´s parks, Retiro, and walk around making contacts. Last week, (they assign temporary companionships at random), Elder Marchello and I met a man who was very interested. It could prove interesting, as he said ¨I´d love to hear the message, after my woman moves out. She´s the devil!¨ And I´m pretty sure he said he was in the country illegally... ;)

 

I did get your card with the pictures in it. Thank you very much. Would you find and send the dedicatory prayers of Manti, Mesa (the initial and rededicatory), and Gila Valley?

 

I know you´ll love this, but President Earl has been telling us that we have to be married within a year of our return, or he´ll kick our butts. As he said, ¨Yes, you´re on a mission to preach the gospel. But you´re on a mission for you as well! We expect you to go back, get married, and get to the temple. Then all you have to do is stay on the path.¨ Since he´s released in 2012 as well, and lives in Gilbert, he probably could!

 

Now that the temple is open, we´re back to going. We did two sessions on Tuesday, and the normal session this morning.

 

The weather is lovely here. It´s pretty much like Arizona, maybe just a tad more humid, but other than that, fine. A lot of the other Elders are ¨Oh, it´s hot!¨. I just laugh, because it´s nice. Getting a decent tan as well. Barcelona and the Islands are supposed to be like San Diego, and Bilbao is a little colder.

 

We took a trip into town last week and saw the city. Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, and the cathedral next to it (which wasn´t the best of places. Lots of unholy feelings in that place). The Metro drivers are on strike though, so I don´t think we´re going anywhere today.

 

The other night, when Spain beat Portugal in the game, there were horns and firecrackers going off all across the city. Lots of happy people now.

 

I´m pretty sure that ENS doesn´t count. But I don´t have a dictionary around at the moment.

 

I heard going through the airport that General McCrystal had made some comments about Obama, and was in trouble. Has he resigned his commission, or been court martialed? If he leaves, the war in Afghanistan will be lost. Or we´ll end up with North Afghanistan and South Afghanistan. Sound familiar?

 

Don´t feel goofy about talking to God in your head throughout the day. He´s your Father, so of course he wants to hear from you. And I´ll be taken care of, always. ¨You shall be protected from any harm while you preach the gospel.¨

 

Yes, U.S. Dollars are made with recycled jeans, actually. That´s why you can see fibers in the paper, and why they have that distinctive texture. Makes it much harder to counterfeit.

 

As for prayer, there´s no proper way. Sometimes I won´t say anything for a bit, just thinking of what best to say. As long as you have a sincere heart, God will get the message. As for the Book of Mormon, read it like a novel. Sometimes the interpretations are difficult, or perhaps not needed by the reader at the moment.

 

I´m taking pictures, I just figured I´d get a decent amount before sending one of the cards home. And the batteries charged fine.

 

Yes, we´re able to shop here. There´s a little store nearby, and we can take the bus or Metro to the mall during free time. I haven´t needed anything yet though.

 

That´s all that I have for now.

 

Bradley.