Starting from scratch

Querida Familia,

This week we are finding that we are going to have to start from scratch. None of our current investigators are keeping up with their committments or seem really interested. However, I feel like we have some promising future investigators:

Mara and Isabel- Mara is an employee at a Panadería that we love to go to. We have become friends with her and she always recommends yummy pasteries for us. She is 27 and has a little boy. One day we as we were buying pasteries we started talking about our beliefs with her. She invited us to go get drinks with her and her friend. Of course we couldn´t get "drinks" but we were able to meet with her and her friend and share more about the gospel. Her friends name is Isabel and she has a little boy and a husband. They both are from España and grew up here together. They loved talking with us and want to bring their husbands next time to meet us. 

Tomás and Sandro - Two men we contacted from France. We contacted Tomás first and then when his friend Sandro walked up he asked him if he believed in God. His reply "Are you drunk? Do I look like I´m drunk?" We talked with them for a little bit before we had to leave. Then a few days later we saw Sandro outside of a grocery store. He remembered us and was pleased to see us. It was raining really hard and he didn´t have an umbrella so we gave him one of ours. If anything I am happy that he has a better opinion of our church now and that we were able to serve him. 

Alejandro - Alejandro is a homeless spanish street musician that plays the guitar near our piso. Everytime we pass him we say hi and talked with him a little. One night we passed by him and he was terribly drunk and depressed. He began telling us about different things that had happened in his life. We stayed with him for a while to give him comfort and we read him a scripture. We went back everyday after that to try and find him with no luck. The other day we were walking in that area and we hear "Hermanas." We turned around and it was Alejandro. He was looking so much better and getting help. He was really grateful for what we did for him. We are going to try to start teaching him.

Marta and Her Mom - Marta and her mom are from Gijón and own a flowershop on a street near the capilla. We met them one day when we were buying flowers for Isabel for her baptism. We ended up having an hour long conversation with them. They were so sweet and said if we ever needed anything they were there for us. We are hoping to have a Noche de Hogar with their family and begin teaching them. 

Paulino and crew - One night as we were contacting near the capilla we ran into a couple of old spanish men. As we began talking with them about the gospel more and more old spanish men came in a joined the conversation. Paulino doesn´t believe in anything; religion, God, life after death. Basically what he told us was that serving the mission was stupid and that we should go home and spend time with our boyfriends. It was a little crazy with all the different opinions and beliefs going around but with the help of God my companion and I were able to hold our own and speak with the spirit to the point that at moments they were silent. The next day we ran into them again and it was almost like Paulino was a different man. This time he defended us to his friends and said if it wasn´t for the mission we wouldn´t be there learning a new culture, language, or talking with him. Overnight he went from thinking we were wasting our time to defending us. It is amazing to see how the spirit works on people. I am excited to see what miracles the spirit can work on this man. 

Carlos - Carlos is an Evangelist pastor that has the bible memorized and has read the Book of Mormon twice. The first time we met with him was really difficult and he was trying to tell us why our religion was wrong. The next time we met with him was literally the complete opposite. The spirit was so strong in the lesson and we were able to teach about the Restauración of the Gospel We teach him with the other set of hermanas in Gijón and after that lesson we were all in shock. It was a miracle. 

From all of these experiences this week I have learned so much about life, people, and missionary work. The best way to be a missionary is to be a friend. As we form relationships with all of these people around us they are more willing to hear our message and their hearts are open to feeling the spirit. This is especially true with the people of Spain. As I form these friendships with the people of Spain I can feel how much God really loves them, as He loves each one of us. He cares about every single one of His children. I love serving this people. The people here are stubborn and prideful, yes, but they are also passionate, dedicated, and full of love, and once you touch their heart you are there forever. Everyday, through little miracles and tender mercies, I see how much God loves this people. I am excited for the miracles that God has in store for me and the people of Spain.

Mucho Amor,

Hermana Ariana Fuller

ISABEL IS BAPTIZED

¡Hola!

ISABEL IS BAPTIZED!!!! We couldn´t be happier. It was seriously an amazing experience. She got baptized Saturday evening at 6. I spoke at the baptism. Actually, funny story, 5 minutes before the baptism I realized that I had forgotten my talk that I had spent all of my studies that morning writing. I knew that I had to give this talk and in order to do so I really needed to have the spirit with me. The baptism started, I got up there, and with the help of the spirit, gave the talk. My companion told me that it sounded exactly the same as when I was reading it for her that morning. I also had so many members of the branch come up to me and tell me how much better my spanish has gotten. (Whaooo) We seriously can do all things with the spirit, and all things are possible to us because we are children of God and He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins. Because of the Atonement, we can do anything. 

Working with Isabel truly has been inspiring and blessed my life significantly. Her testimony has grown so strong. She has been really impressed with how close the members of our church are and how everyone supports her and truly cares about her. We really do have a special bond as ward and branch families, and we can be such an influence of good on the lives of people who are struggling with their testimonies or who are not members of the church. Part of the reason Isabel desired to be baptised was because of the unity and love she felt from the branch members. 

One thing that we did this week to work with the members better was making Packets. We made a packet for every family in the branch that contained: Conferance talks by Elder Ballard and Elder Giffor Neilson, Convenio del miembro misionero, Calender for november that has days of branch activities, Pamplets from the first three lessons in preach my gospel, pass a long cards, and a Book of Mormon. We made the goal with the branch to do what Elder Ballard said in his talk and share the gospel with at least one person by Christmas. The members were all very excited about it and I can´t wait to see the miracles that come from it. 

Right now we are really in need of new investigators but we are really struggling to find them. The phrase that we hear the most while contacting is "No creo en nada" or "I don´t believe in anything." It breaks my heart to see so many people with out any faith. However, the phrase that I constantly repeat in my mind while we are contacting is "El mundo necesita el evangelio restaurado de Jesucristo" or "The world needs the restored gospel of Jesus Christ." I learned this phrase from my first companion. The world really does need our message, and especially the people here in Spain. They need faith and hope. They need the word of wisdom and law of chastity. They need the Plan of Salvation and Book of Mormon. They need the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Chirst. They need God. And I am responsible to help them find it. I am humbled by my calling and also motivated to work harder to bring the people of Spain this glorious message. Every morning my companion and I recite Romans 1:16 "Porque, no me avergüenza del evangelio de Cristo, porque es poder de Dios para salvación a todo aquel que cree." I love this scripture and I hope we can all apply it to our lives.  

Os Quiero Muchísimo, 

Hermana Ariana Fuller

We have seen a miracle happen

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, this week has been Fantastic! 

First off we have seen a miracle happen with our investigator, Isabel. She is on date to be baptized this coming Saturday!!! None of us could be more thrilled or excited for her. She realized that she is free to make her own decisions and do what makes her happy. When we went over the baptismal interview questions with her she got really emotional and told us she wanted to be as pure as possible when she was baptized. She is so prepared and it really has blessed my life being able to know her and teach her. 

We also started teaching a very promising new investigator. His name is Roger and he is from the Congo. During the first lesson when we were talking about the Book of Mormon he stopped us and said, "I have no doubt in my mind that this book is true." .... Hermana Cançado and I just looked at each other and tried not to freak out. Since then we have also taught the Plan of Salvation where he said "I want to do everything I can to get to the Celestial Kingdom." He has so much real intent and desire. The only problem is that he will be leaving soon to visit his family for 45 days. We are going to see how much he progresses before then. 

We are also trying to work miracles with our 9 year old investigator, Estefanía. Yesterday we fasted with her for her to be able to be baptized in January before her family leaves for Ecuador. She has the desire to be baptized and I faith that through fasting and prayer her father´s heart will be softened and this miracle can happen. Yesterday we also had a Noche de Hogar with her, Katy, and her mom (who is an inactive member and doesn´t have a testimony) Sonnia. We talked about fortifying the family through the gospel. The spirit was really strong. I think that through both of her daughters testimonies, Sonnia´s heart will be softened as well and she we´ll start to gain a testimony of her own. 

Both Hermana Cançado and I are feeling very happy, motivated, and united in the work. I am excited to keep working hard and seeing what miracles the Lord can work through us. 

Love,

Hermana Fuller

Eating Octopus

Birthday Dinner: Hermana Cancado(Standing Ari's Comp),

Hermana Grover, Hermana Diezi, Elder Castaldi (Short Dark Hair),

Elder Alhouvori (Blond Hair)

Birthday Cake

Blowing Out the Candle