Winter Snows

Hello from the Pyrenees mountain valley of Le Seu d’Urgell,

Welcome to La Seu

The long awaited snowfall arrived this week covering everything with a blanket of white, closing schools and some roads.  It was a test of faith to press forward and make a few member visits amid the soggy and icy conditions.

Snow-covered Pyrenees

After visiting a member in Andorra, we took a side road up the mountain to discover this mountain top church.  Its construction dates to 1050AD.  It's location on a small outcrop from the mountain side is thousands of feet above the valley floor.  I often wonder how such a construction was accomplished.  I believe these mountain side churches served as strategic look outs for invaders.  Through the small windows we could see original wall painting dated back a thousand years.  These people were a special breed of pioneers.

Sant Serni de Nagol Church

Exploring Antiguity

Mountain-top vista

We thought we would include a random photo of this crazy treehouse for the grandkids.

Ideas for future projects for the grandkids

I normally help Juan, our neighbor milk his cows every Monday morning.  It takes about 1½ hours to complete the task.  He asked if I would also help him Monday night in that he was short handed and I gladly agreed.  He is very Catalonian, with strong options but has a soft heart, kind of like a burnt marshmallow.  He does not want any religion, much like many of the people in Spain because they have been so tainted by his previous church exposure. However, Juan always asks questions about the Mormons, so I try to teach him about God without referring to a religion specifically.  As a reward for helping him milk he invited us on Saturday to another pig slaughter and sausage making party.  We had helped out previously, so we went knowing exactly what we were getting into. We invited the missionaries to join us and they got into sausage up to their elbows.  Not only did they mix the blood sausage, but also they stayed around for lunch to sample all the different varies.  All in all Juan and Carmen are beginning to feel that Mormons are normal people who milk cows the same way they do. I have a year left to get across the gospel message to him through word and deed.

Elders mixing blood sausage

On Wednesday we traveled to Barcelona for interviews with the president and to view the Worldwide Missionary Training.  My impressions of the new schedule is that the brethren are trying giving the missionaries more agency to manage their own time, therefore they can adapt to the local conditions and their particular cultural needs.  The other principle that really stood out to me was that we often move too fast toward baptism before repentance get a chance to work in the investigators life.  It was a blessing to be taught at the feet of three apostles.  We also had a chance to have personal interviews with President Dayton.  He filled us with the determination to press forward in the work. 

While in Barcelona we toured the Christopher Columbus statue near the downtown seaport.  The Rambla is a wide walkway going from the statue several blocks through the old city.  We enjoyed a typical Spanish cuisine at one of the open air restaurants before returning the 2 hours drive to La Seu d’Urgell.  We were blessed to travel during a break in the storm but the Pyrenees were blankets with a beautiful covering of snow.  The next day that same mountain pass was closed for 40 kilometers.

Bundled up as we tour the Barcelona Seaport

Magnificent Architecture

Christopher Columbus pointing the way

We continue to prop up this struggling branch the best we can.  Finding the “menos-activos” reminds me of a game of hide and seek. However, as Elder Bednar taught in the training this week; “do the best you can, but ultimately each has his own agency to respond to your invitation.”  We find ourselves returning to the same piso door multiple times with no response.  We have come to know that we must continue to reach out and press forward, but so doing we are successful missionaries.  Agency is an eternal principle and each individual ultimately makes their personal choice to follow the Savior on the covenant path.

The full stake presidency came to our little branch today arriving from several different directions from at least 2 hours away.  Their message was clear: step up and do your duty, pull together, don’t complain, pay your tithing and the Lord will bless you and permit the branch to grow.  Actually, it was the first time I have not had to speak in Sacrament meeting in a month.  Hermana Fowers took on the primary single-handedly while all adults met for the third hour after she taught seminary during the second hour.  We can only push forward and see what the Lord has planned for both this group and the new group to be formed in Andorra.  It will be a challenge to keep both fires going, simultaneously.

Stake Presidency eating at our table

 Some times the work here is routine like milking cows and comes without any adulation. None the less, God has a plan and we just have to align ourselves with his will, have faith and press forward.  This I know and this is why I serve.  May you all find purpose and rejoice in service to God's children, whatever and wherever.

Sunset glistening across the snow

 Our Love to All,

Elder and Hermana Fowers