Going the Distance

Dear Beloved Family and Friends,

Greetings from Spain! Happy Thanksgiving this coming Thursday!  Though we won't be sharing a meal, we will

When you live on the very edge of the mission, everything takes a long time.  For example, this week was transfer week.  The missionaries get notified on Saturday and then leave for their new area on Tuesday morning. Our little Rama hosted a “funeral” for our “dying” Elder Cullimore on Monday, and we were so sad to see him go since he was our trainer during those first few crazy weeks of adjustment.  So, our Elders left on Tuesday, but because of distance and logistics our new Elder didn’t arrive until late Thursday after hours of train and bus travel.  We were delighted to welcome Elder Bromley along with Elder Graham back in our little corner of the mission.

 

Welcome Elder Bromley

We spent a great deal of time preparing for our Seminary SuperSabado.  Once a month we have a special seminary Saturday where we have time to dive a little deeper into the doctrine.  We have four seminary students and we had 100% attendance, plus our Elders.  After our lesson, we had tons of fun with some “Win it in a Minute Games” and stacks of waffles.  (Our big purchase of the week was a waffle iron!)  I was so involved in the activities of the day; I only snapped a few marginal pictures. This is the first time there has been any kind truly organized seminary program, so we feel it is great step forward.

SuperSabado Waffle Stupor

Today was stake conference, which was held in Lleida, a two-hour bus ride to the south.  Much of Elder Fowers’ energy this week was spent on arranging for the bus and contacting each member to personally invite them to attend.  Even though each member was required to pay 5 Euros for the bus, we had a wonderful response with 28 in attendance!  Sadly we had to leave a few behind that had intended to go because they missed the bus. (Spanish Standard time is pretty loose.)  Elder Christopher Charles of the Seventy spoke and we were all richly feed.  Our new member, Shane was encircled in the arms of friendship throughout the day.  It was very special to him because Elder Charles was from England and his wife was from Scotland and he could hear their talks in English rather than through a translator. Beyond that, he was able to meet Elder Charles and his wife personally afterwards in the new member meeting. What a blessing for us all! Our dedicated members, boarded the bus at 8:30 a.m. and arrived home at 4:30 p.m. just to attend a two-hour stake conference.  We are so very proud of their sacrifice.

Praying that the Member will Show Up

Gathering for a Long Ride to Conference

Elder Fowers nurturing our new member, Shane.

Arriving Home

Surrounded by our Beloved Andorra Branch Members

We have some sad new to report.  One of Elder’s chickens died and the rest have gone into the molt.  So far we are not too successful as chicken farmers, but he still goes out everyday to bond with his little hens.

Farm Boy!

Happy Thanksgiving this coming Thursday!  Though we won't be sharing a meal, you will be in our minds our hearts.  Each one of you is such a blessing in our lives and your prayers for us are evidenced in our work everyday.  We love you and ask the Lord's richest blessing to be with your families during this holiday season.

Love and Prayers from Spain,

Elder and Hermana Fowers

A Mighty Change of Heart

Hola Mis Familias y Amigos,

Hemos tenido una semana fantástica!  (We had a fantastic week!)…Not because the work has changed, but rather we are beginning to change.  We have spent a great deal of time analyzing  our motives and have had wonderful spiritual insights that have changed our view of the work we are doing here. Thanks kids for your counsel and encouragement. As it says in Mosiah…”a might change of heart.”  We have come to understand, more clearly than ever before that our work is really about “the one”, rather than the administration of the branch.  We zeroed in our efforts this week on how to better serve individuals. 

Gladys, for example, joined the church with her father more than ten years ago in the Dominican Republic.  Both she and her father were fully immersed in the joy of the gospel and the bonds of fellowship in their ward.  After a few years however, returned to his vise and became an alcoholic with confrontations with church leaders. When he left the church, his young daughter left with him.  She then moved to Spain with her non member mother and brother and has been living in Le Seu for some years with occasional visits from missionaries.  We decided to visit with her this week and really understand her journey and her feelings towards the church.  The Elders had brought her a copy of the Himnos as a gift because she said that she loved the music of the church.  We opened our Ipads and played “Oh Esta Todo Bien” (Come, Come ye Saints) and her eyes welled with tears and she couldn’t speak for joy.  During the conversation she told us that she had been excommunicated some time ago in the Dominican Republic and the leaders told her not to come back.

After leaving, Elder Fowers was still really puzzled by the fact that she was listed with a membership number.   So he called the Church confidential records department.  To our delight we found that she WAS NOT excommunicated.  In her young mind, it was apparently a miscommunication between her and local ward leadership.  Oh that you could have been there when she found out that she was a member in good standing and she was welcomed back with open arms.  She was beyond happy!  She came to church today and threw her arms around me and said over and over, “Estoy en mi casa otra vez!” (I am home again.) We may not be able to rescue then all, but we found Gladys.

It is hard to express how difficult it has been for me to be so limited in my ability to speak Spanish.  My gift to teach the gospel has been silenced by my inability to speak…until we met Shane!  Many times in recent weeks I have been blessed to participate fully in teaching the gospel of the restoration to Shane in our home.  Oh, what a blessing to able to teach and testify in English.  It feels like I have been let out of a language prison. Shane was baptized yesterday, and I have never met a man more fully converted or more profoundly taught by the spirit. It was a hallowed experience to watch the spirit work in his heart and mind.  Beyond that, he has joined a congregation with which he can’t communicate, but he knows that he has found truth, and is pressing forward with courage.  We have touched his life but even more so he has changed our hearts. What a joyful day!

Elder Cullimore and Shane Burke Waiting for the Baptism

Deep Thought

Our Adopted Irish Son

Elder Fowers Conducting Services Poolside

After Shane's baptism all came to a celebration at the farmhouse. Here is sister Fowers with Cheita and Gabriela helping her in the kitchen, while I was outside showing everyone my chickens.  Actually the farmhouse is becoming a gathering place where joy and a spirit of fellowship resides.  The members all tired to make Shane feel part of the branch even though few words were exchanged. 

Hermana's Kitchen

It's transfer week and we are losing our beloved Elder Cullimore.  He has been with us since we arrived in the Andorra Branch, always patiently teaching us old-timers all that we needed to know to survive while we settled into our calling.  He is an incredible missionary who never fails to bring the spirit in whatever situation he happens upon.  No matter the challenge, we could count on Elder C. to face it with optimism and determination.  He will be greatly missed.

Goodbye to Elder Cullimore from dear Friends

Each morning we awake to the most beautiful sunrises over the Pyrenees mountains.  This is a picture of our back yard.  A new born calf frolics in the pasture in front of our bedroom window.

Pyrenees Sunrise 

Last week was so challenging, but as we continued in faith and waited upon the Lord, our hearts have begun to change through his tender mercies and insights.  We are grateful for your love and support and most of all your letters of encouragement, it has made such a difference!  We love you all so very much.

Mucho Amor,

Elder and Hermana Fowers

Caring for the Flock

Hola Familia y Amigos,

Meet Shane!  Shane is a young Irishman who is living in Le Seu as an English teacher in a local high school.  A few weeks ago, he came walking by when the Elders who were hosting an open house at the chapel, inviting passersby to come inside and view Bible Videos.  As they approached Shane, he held up his hand and said, “I don’t speak Spanish”, without missing a beat, Elder Cullimore said, “Great, I speak perfect English.”  He did come inside and was touched by the teaching of Jesus Christ.  He has been studying with the missionaries, searching the scriptures and sincerely trying to come to know the truth.  He is planning to be baptized this coming Saturday and we are overjoyed.

Meet Shane! Planning for Saturday baptism.

Early this week we were blessed to host the Maxfields, another senior couple that serve with the Young Single Adults in Barcelona.  We had the blessing of picking them up in the Puigcerda train station and driving the northern route through France to Andorra to show them the amazing Pyrenees.  We came upon the ruin of an old French castle, a fortress of yester years.  Of course we were blessed to visit a couple more ancient church, one of which we were able to get inside and see the simple beauty of its architecture. I'm not sure how many we have seen so far, but the antiquity of these structure continue to intrigue us. 

Abandoned old French Castle

French Countryside in Full Foliage

Santa Joan de Caselles Church

One of the true engineering wonders of Andorra is a 12^th century arched bridge that is still fully functional today.  It was built across the Segre River as the main access from Andorra de Valle into Spain. I simply can’t figure out how they were able to build it across a roaring river with huge stones and no power equipment. 

Ancient Bridge in Andorra

Imagine the centuries of feet that have crossed this bridge.

The other big event of the week was that we got chickens!  Yup, we are now chicken farmers.  We bought just a few for ourselves and are hoping that as members find the means they will buy a few of their own to join the flock.  Elder Fowers is getting a real kick out of it…see the picture of his first egg. You would think he laid it himself.

First Egg!

Latest Edition to the Farmhouse

We have faced many challenges in the past weeks, but we continue in the work because we love our Savior and know that we are the only “hands” he has to serve the members in this corner of Spain.  We continually pray for his grace, guidance and comfort.  Even with all our challenges, we see his hand and witness miracles.

Couple of random pictures:

Handcranked, Wooden Farris Wheel at Local Fair

Still out working in a downpour.  Love the Hat!

Thank you for your love and support,

Elder and Hermana Fowers