Holly's 3rd week at the MTC

Hola!!!

Another blur of a week... none of us can believe we're already halfway done with our time here!

On Saturday, my park companion was sister Parkinson from my room, and we had such a good time! Everyone was really nice to us (MIRACLE) and we were able to talk to a lot of people. One guy we said hello to but it seemed like he was kind of doing things so we started to walk away, but then he stopped us and we were able to talk with him for a while, give him a Book of Mormon, and get his contact information for other missionaries who actually speak Spanish to contact him. It was super cool! Before going to the park, we had prayed to be able to find someone who was interested and even though we kind of chickened out with this man, the Lord was able to pick up the slack and help us out. It was a super neat experience.

All the missionaries in the group with the blue books--that's a picture of a picture of us singing in the park! Every Saturday we're there for about 1.5 hours, then gather together to sing by a big fountain.

The picture of me and Hermana Parkinson and a random lady. A teacher took the picture, and the woman was someone we were talking to in the park. She wasn't interested, but she was super nice.

On Sunday was fast Sunday, which is a little different here than in the states. Because lunch is the biggest meal we ate lunch on Saturday then fasted dinner Saturday and breakfast Sunday and then ate lunch on Sunday. A big group of elders did a musical number at the beginning of church and it was really good, then all the Portuguese elders bore their testimonies and then everyone else who wanted to.

On Tuesday, the Portuguese elders left. They were always so funny and full of the spirit so they're definitely missed.But later on Tuesday the native Spanish speakers came! There are seven Hermanas and I think about that many elders too. Most of them are from the states and learned Spanish from school or living in different countries and things, but a few are true native Spanish speakers and there are a couple who don't speak Spanish at all. The missionaries from Spain/Latin America are all very good at fútbol, and all the missionaries in this new group are super nice.

ALSO Tuesday was the fourth of July! All the sisters went all out with the red white and blue, the elders all wore red ties with their navy slacks and white shirts, and we convinced our teacher to let us sing America the beautiful for our opening hymn once. We also ran into two sisters in Madrid on our way to the drugstore after lunch, and they were decked out too. A couple visiting the temple from the states took a picture of all of us (my roommates and I, plus the two sisters in Madrid) in our red white and blue. Our teachers all thought we were ridiculous but brother Rodriguez played along and stuck one of those mini American flags behind his name tag.

T

I also ate squid! Actually, I'm pretty sure it's called calamari. I only ate a little. It was fine but not my favorite. 

Also this week, we got two new investigators! We're always busy planning lessons now since we teach them four days a week, but it's been super neat getting experience teaching new people. Me and Hermana lighten love being companions but agree that it will definitely be easier to teach lessons when we're with a senior companion who really knows Spanish haha.

This week or possibly next weekend, a group of four sisters is performing come thou font of every blessing/if you could hie to Kolob medley that was apparently originally sung by a group called Elenyi. I'm accompanying on piano and the arrangement is so pretty! It's been nice having something different to play since until a few days ago the only things I'd been playing were straight out of the hymnbook.

Here is a link to the song Holly will be playing.  

https://youtu.be/9Z3pjXmNq2g

For p day today we went to the plaza mayor. It was super pretty but SUPER WET! We were there during the middle of a thunderstorm! Me and Hermana lighten were able to find good skirts to buy, and we liked looking at all the beautiful old architecture.

I found this picture of Plaza Mayor on the internet-so it isn't showing the rain

Looks like Holly's raincoat is coming in handy

Random picture of the building that's not really a building: it was a building under construction but the cover they made for it looks like the building does (according to our teacher). I thought it was kind of funny... and actually really impressive. 

This afternoon we're going to the temple, which we're excited about. Then we'll have a half-hour of glorious free time, dinner, and an old devotional from the Provo MTC before bed.

The picture of all the little drawings--those are sister lighten's! She watercolors and does cute quotes and things for everyone! She's so talented! The Mosiah 2:17 one is for me :)

Notebook: the first vision in Spanish. I wrote it out during a devotional.

I took a picture of the Amulek district (Holly's 8 person class) constitution! the punishment for this week is the first vision in Spanish... in a corner.

I can't really remember anything else from this week, so I guess that's it, but it was definitely a good week! It's so awesome being able to feel the spirit all the time and we love hearing stories that our teachers tell us from their missions. The church is so true, and I know this is where I need to be! Next time I email I'll have been here for an entire month! 

Hope you have an awesome week!

Love, Hermana Walker