Couples and Cathedrals

Hola Familia y Amigos,

Sorry we are late in publishing this week.  Our Sundays now are filled with meetings.  We meet in the morning in Le Seu with the branch for three hours then we go to Andorra in the afternoon and meet with the new group.  Sunday we left for our first meeting at 10:30 am and returned to the farmhouse after 6:30 p.m.  Yesterday I spoke twice and taught a seminary lesson. So our mission blog will likely get pushed to Monday most of the time.

I suppose this week could be called “Cathedrals and Churches”.  We saw some amazing ancient structures, which I will talk about later.   It has been decided to move the missionaries out of La Seu d’Urgell and relocate them in Andorra.  This is only a 15-mile move but it is into another country. So Monday and Tuesday was spent scouring Andorra for a new piso (apartment) for the missionaries. We visited 9 rental agencies, viewed 3 places and settled on a very nice apartment in Encamp, a small city just north of the capital city, Andorra La Vella.  Now the mission office and the area office in Germany will finish the contract.  However, Andorra is a unique little country about the size of Cache valley and has been in existence since 900 AD.  One might say they are very set in their ways and pass laws to their advantage.  They will not rent to a non-citizen without forming an Andorran non-profit corporation and the banks take huge commissions on out-of-country funds.  However, I believe we will get it worked out.  The Lords wants the church back in Andorra, so doors will be opened. That I know.

On the way home, after our search in Andorra, we crossed the river and took the winding switchback road 10 kilometers to the mountain-top to the little village of Fontenada.  At the top, we explored yet another old chapel build in the 1200’s . The view from the chapel is breathtaking overlooking miles of the Pyrenees Mountains all around.

Yesterday, was historic for our little branch.  We officially opened the group in Andorra and held our first sacrament meeting and Sunday School class in that country in 10 years.  The church can now add another country to the list of nations that have opened their borders to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  We only had three members, two missionaries and Sister Fowers and myself in attendance for the first meeting.  We met in a conference room in Hotel Centric located downtown Andorra la Vella, the capital city of Andorra.  The spirit was strong and members rejoiced in taking the sacrament after a 10 years absense.  I felt that this humble beginning will grow and grow as we move forward.  The missionaries are having much better reception.  Already this week they found three or four new investigators that are willing to listen to their message.

Amazing Mountain-top View

Sant Miguel de Fontenada Church

Up close and Personal with Antiquity

On Thursday we drove to the mission home in Barcelona for a Married Missionary Couples Conference. This mission only has 6 senior couples.  However there are 3 couples leaving and 3 joining us so we were all together this week for the conference.  Our gathering is much different from the missionary conferences.  We did have some instruction, then off touring the sights and getting to know everyone.  We had connections to two of the new couples. The Barretts have Hooper roots. Sister Barrett is the sister of Mike Venable that lives in the 3^rd Ward.  Our grandfathers served in the Hooper Ward Bishopric together for 25 years.  The Nelsons are from Visalia, California and we have many friends in common.  The church is a small world sometimes.

Married Missionary Couples with new aprons.

Enjoying Fellowship with Married Missionaries in Mission Home

We first toured the monastery of Montserret Abby/Monestary which is located on a steep rocky mountain-side.  Build over 1,000 years ago, it has endured the invasion and burning of Napoleon, Spanish civil war another among other invaders.  It was stunning inside and out.  Unfortunately clouds and fog blocked some of the view below.  It is difficult for me to understand just how these ancient architects and builders with primitive tools seemingly defy gravity constructing such immense buildings precariously “glued” to the side of  solid rock mountains .

Montserret clinging to the rock cliffs.

Montserret Cathedral

Magnificent Carvings of Twelve Apostles

Missionaries Standing in Awe

Couples awaiting the boys choir performance.

Central Nave in Montserret

Mountain Mist

Friday evening we dined at a notable Italian restaurant in Barcelona.  One of the seniors, Elder Rohde helped with his Italian.  He was one of the first 6 missionaries to open Italy in 1964.  He will have a front row seat to the Rome Italy Temple dedication next year.   He has some great mission stories.  After the meal we walked to the water show down on the promenade.  This was constructed for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.  The big building background is a museum.  Water flows from the steps of the building downward to the main fountain then on to secondary fountains covering about 4 blocks.  The fountains rise and drop to synchronized music and a variety of colors.  The pictures do not capture the visual spectacle that happens every night.

Barcelona Water Show

Saturday morning we drove to Girona , an ancient city some distance from Barcelona where we toured the Cathedral de Girona and the Basilica de Sant Felix.  The ornate workmanship defies description and the pictures don’t do it justice.

Cathedral de Girona with other Seniors

Basilica de Sant Felix

Magnificent!

Girona Tranquility

We loved the city with a quiet river gliding down the center of the old city.  We continue to be in awe of the cultural history of Spain, but even more so, we delighted to rub shoulders with these remarkable Married Couples that have left their lives of ease behind, launching themselves out of the “lazy-boy” and into the unknown.  We returned to our little corner of Spain, lifted and revitalized ready to continue to do what we can to build the kingdom.

Elder and Hermana Fowers

Andorra Group to begin

Amado Familia y Amigos,

We are excited to announce that next week we are opening a new dependent group of the Andorra Branch in Andorra la Vella, the capital city of the country of Andorra.  We will be meeting at 10:30 am in Le Seu with our branch here and then travel into Andorra, to hold a dependent group meeting at 3:00.  Elder Fowers will preside at both.  It will make for really busy Sundays.  I know it sounds very confusing, because now we have the Andorra Branch (Le Seu d’Urgell) and the dependent Andorra Group (Andorra la Vella).  We are planning to publish our blogs on Saturdays if possible.

Elder Fowers’ chickens are enjoying the warmer weather.  For weeks now, we have been getting only two eggs per day, so Elder Fowers was plotted to try to figure out which one of his hens was shirking her duty because she was destined for the soup pot.  The other morning while out feeding, he spied the smallest hen coming around the corner of the building and went to investigate.  He found a nest hidden in some plastic tarps tucked in the corner of their yard by the coop. He found 7 eggs.  So, as Elder Fowers puts it,  “They are firing on all cylinders now!”

Elder Fowers counting his chickens...

We were on the road again this week traveling to a zone meeting in Zaragoza.  It is a 3½ drive and I volunteered to make the lunch to give them a break from their normal pizza lunch.  So we loaded the back of our little red Yaris with 10 lbs. of pulled pork, rice, coleslaw and 10 dozen cookies and headed out at 6 am on Wednesday morning.  Even though we spent much of our time in the kitchen, it is a great blessing to be in the mist of the young Elders and Hermanas.  They truly are His valiant warriors that he saved for the latter days and we love being with them.  We were able to sneak into the afternoon sessions and testimony meeting.  We also were blessed to have an interview with our beloved mission President Dayton.  He never fails to lift and encourage us in the work.

Home cooking...

Not a crumb leftover.

Happy Missionaries

I try to walk as much as I can now that the weather is getting warmer.  In fact, Europe in general has much more of a walking culture than the United States.  Often when Elder Fowers needs to stay at the church for some Branch President business, I will just walk home to the farmhouse, which is just a kilometer away.  I love the quiet walk in the countryside it calms my mind and spirit.

Winter sycamore trees in central plaza.

St. Antoni's Chapel on distant hill.

We have spoken often of our dear friends Cecilia and Aitor.  Cecilia joined the church as a child, but fell away during her teen years.  Her testimony was recently awakened when her younger sister made a decision to be baptized.  Even though her and Aitor have been together for 17 years, she had to great desire to be married in order to more fully keep her baptismal covenants.  So after months of paperwork and waiting, they were married yesterday by the local mayor of Canilo , Andorra in his chamber room.  After the ceremony we gathered in a mountain top hotel for a private celebration.  What a joyful occasion and a blessing to be included with their families to celebrate their wedding. Amid all the celebrating Elder Bromley with input from Elder Bown were able to teach one of Cecilia's co workers most of the first lesson.  Meanwhile Elder Fowers and I conversed the older folks trying to establish a friendship.  It is especially difficult for me to follow a fast paced conversation with my limited Spanish.  However we found many things in common with these seniors beyond our grey hair. At the end of the gathering, we were invited to their home to continue the conversation. We have learned that senior couples have an advantage over the younger missionaries when it come to the older generation.

Married!

Celebrating Happy Day

View from Mountaintop Restaurant

Top of the World

 We often hear it said of a younger missionary, that his first convert is himself.  As seniors, though we have long been converted, our testimonies deepen and ripen in knowledge and gratitude. It is a joy that is hard to contain.  My prayers are often expressions of gratitude…counting my blessings one by one.  Though the work is often challenging, my heart is full everyday with awareness of the amazing blessing of having known these truths since my childhood.   How blessed am I to understand God's plan for me and my family!  We send our love and gratitude for your love and support. 

Elder y Hermana Fowers 

Andorra or Bust

Hola Querido Familia y Amigos,

In just a blink another week has passed as we press forward in several area simultaneously.  We finally received notice from the church area authorities that the office space we selected was too expensive and required a long 5-years lease, with a 4 months deposit.  Andorra has some difficult laws that have served them well for 900 years.  So our new directive was to find a hotel willing to lease us a conference room every Sunday afternoon.  We called several and visited four hotels in the main city of Andorra La Vella. Most turned us down, however, we found one hotel that was very accommodating at a reasonable price 70 Euros per week.  The Hotel Centric is 4-star and centrally located.  The room they offered us is set in a quiet corner on the second floor big enough to hold 25 chairs.  The Area Office is now working the monthly contract and we plan to hold our first group meeting on the 26^th of this month, Hermana Fowers’ birthday.  So we have a lot of work to do announcing, visiting long-forgotten members and preparing to rebuild faith and spirituality. 

New location for Andorra Group

The country of Andorra was opened to the gospel in 1995 with 6 full-time missionaries.  The little branch grew initially but members were very transit.  The branch was relocated to Spain in 2007 to the city of Le Seu d’Urgell, which is where we now live.  Most of the members in Andorra went inactive because of cost and crossing the border to attend in Spain.  An example of the church absence in Andorra is Sonia Douiri.   Sister Douiri joined the church 20 years ago as a young lady.  We found her records, search for her on facebook, made contact and arranged to visit her.  She delighted that we found her and is willing to come back to the church.  But with no contact with the church for such a long time, she thought Gordon Hinckley was still the prophet!  Yes we have a little work to do to resurrect the church in this country after a 10-year absence.

Some of the Bolivian Hermanas wanted to lose some pounds so it was decided in Relief Society to start regular Zumba classes on Wednesday evenings.  Hermana Fowers joined in but could not achieve the dexterity required for some of the Latin movements.  However, the calling of a senior missionary sometimes causes one to stretch, literally.

Hermana Fowers...not quite up with the moves!

Working out together.

Aiator is the soon to be husband of Cecilia, who is a long-time member.  They are getting married on Saturday.  Aiator is a excellent chef, having worked at some of Andorra’s finest restaurants.  Every time we visit them, he provides us with a superb gourmet meal.  Here is a picture of the sea food bonanza he prepared for us last week: Salmon, shrimp, cuddle fish and muscles.

Master Chef...Seafood feast.

We had another baptism on Saturday, Arianny None Silvero, the 15-year old sister of Dariana who was baptized two weeks ago.  Both of these Dominican sisters show great promise and are already talking about serving missions.  Their parents are very supportive, but have not yet attended church due to their work responsibilities.  Their father milks cows 7-days a week on a dairy farm just out side of town otherwise he would come to church.  I have arranged to help him with the milking next week as a way to build a relationship. Again, sometimes senior missionaries have to stretch to spread the gospel wherever and whenever they can. 

Hermanas in the Gospel

Arianny with Elders Bown and Bromley

Font-side at baptismal service.

Farewell with this magnificent sunset over the French countryside...

The heavens are opening...

Much love to all who read our blog and lift us with your prayers and support. We know that you are there cheering us along in our efforts in this little corner of Spain.

Elder and Hermana Fowers

On the Road Again...Bilbao

Querido Familia y Amigos,

Our week has been filled with travel.  During the past week we have spent dozens of hours traveling by foot, car, bus and train.  Interestingly, Andorra is part of the Zaragoza Zone, which requires that we travel to Bilbao for any special conferences with General Authorities, rather than to Barcelona.  We can drive to Barcelona in less than two hours, weather permitting; but it takes us 8 hours to go to Bilbao, which is on the western coast of Spain above Portugal.  This past week was a tri-zone mission conference at which our area authority, Patrick Kearon would be presiding.  For this trip we decided to drive the two hours to Lleida and join the young Elders and Hermanas and take the train.  All was well until about hours two into the trip when the train broke down on the tracks.  We sat for two hours waiting for repairs.  They were finally able to get the train repaired enough to limp us into a station where we were loaded onto buses to finish our journey to Bilbao.  What was supposed to be a five-hour trip turned out to be more than ten hours, arriving in Bilbao at 2:00 a.m.  Our dear hosts, the Rohdes, another senior couple, were at the station to meet us.

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Missionaries still smiling after hours of delay.

Elder Kearon brings such light and energy when he teaches.  Even though we spent most of our time in the kitchen with the Rohdes preparing the luncheon for 56 missionaries, we would slip into the training from time to time.  During these snippets of time, he spoke exactly the words we needed to hear, reminding us that our offering of time and exertion is acceptable to the Lord, even if we do not see immediate results of our efforts.  Then he spoke directly to the senior couples and thanked us for our service…”thank you for having the faith to launch yourself out of the Lazyboy into the unknown, willing to serve wherever you are needed.”  He then expressed the great concern of the brethren, that currently they have less than half of the senior missionaries needed worldwide.  If you are even remotely thinking about serving a senior mission, just do it! It will be the best experience of your life.

Being instructed in the spirit by Elder Kearon

Elder Kearon, President and Hermana Dayton

Sweet Hermanas

Happy Missionaries

While in Bilbao, we decided to stay an extra day and tour around Bilbao.  We walked miles and miles through the old city, visiting a hanging bridge, exploring a tenth century church, and capping off our adventures by spending a few hours wandering around the world famous Guggenheim Museum. The architectural design and construction was mind boggling. (Brad how we wish you could have been there with us!)  Bilbao is a beautiful port city with an eclectic, charming mix of antiquity and modern.  Beyond that, we were delighted to spend time with our dear friends the Rohdes who lifted our spirits with their sweet hospitality.

Sharing a meal with the Rohdes

Evening Walk on the Boardwalk

Calsida Iturrizar Capillla built in 1492

Magnificent Architecture

Busy Port of Bilbao

Bizkaia Hanging Bridge 1893

 This bridge is one of six in the world and is the oldest major hanging bridge in the world.  It is like a giant zip line with a trolley suspended by cables that is capable of carrying about 8 average cars and some 60 people. We boarded for about 80 cents and zipped to the other side suspended about 25 feet above the river.

Guggenheim Museum

 Inside we toured the three main floors where renowned artists works are on display. A new contemporary art exhibition just opened with works from many US artist dating from the early 1900's.  Almost more than the art and sculptures is the structure itself.  There is not one straight wall or line in the whole museum. Definitely it is an engineering and architectural marvel.  

Interior View

Every day we pray to find to know our next steps, after all it is not our work, it is God's work. We want to testify that He is at the helm continually nudging us through the spirit to reach out and touch lives. 

Hasta luego con amor, desde nuestra Andorra hermoso...

On top the Aristot Mountain

Our Love to All
Elder y Hermana Fowers