Meet the Press

Hola Querida Familia,

Through the blessing of technology, we have listened to 5 sessions of General Conference (two in English and 3 in Spanish) in the past 24 hours both in LeSeu and Andorra.  It has been so wonderful.  We are filled to the top with the spirit of the messages.  I find it interesting that every talk was crafted and presented especially me! I expect that anyone who is truly listening with his or her heart, feels the same way. 

Our Beloved Prophet

While Sarah was here, we found some good used bikes and had plans on Monday to take them out on a maiden voyage to a nearby village for lunch, but the weather didn’t cooperate.  It decided to rain and that squelched our plans.  However, we still went to lunch at the Dolcet Restaurant, which is famous for its local cuisine.  The special of the day was roasted pigs’ feet and herbal vegetables.  We were not brave enough to try that, but we did enjoy Dad’s favorite canelones that remind him of his mission days in Uruguay.  Afterwards we wandered around their local cathedral which is relatively new...only few centuries old.

Old Fountain in Alás dated 1786

Alás Cathedral

Little by little I am gaining a little bit of linguistic independence.  This week I did some visiting teaching without Elder with me.  My language is only improving by tiny degrees each week, but I think I am learning how to fake it better and mumble my way through a conversation.  If I am talking, I can formulate a few sentences, but if they answer back…oh my, I am in trouble! Most of the time I still do not know what they are saying to me.  This is my formula for seniors learning a language... since I am about three times older than most of our missionaries, I figure it will take me three times as long to learn Spanish!

Hermana studying Spanish

They held the national white water kayak races at the Parc Olimpic del Segre this past week.  The park was constructed for the 1994 Barcelona Olympics and is often used for local/state canoe and kayak races.  We stopped by for a few minutes and snapped a few shots.

Kayak Competition

The other big event of our week was that our Elder were contacted by the national newspaper of Andorra, the Diari Andorrian and asked if they could do an exclusive article about the Mormon Missionaries and explore the reason for their service.  We met with Cinta Audi (a sweet little reporter that was 7 months along with twins) on Saturday morning.  Both our Elders and ourselves, chatted with her for a couple hours discussing everything from missionary routines to the details of our doctrines. At that point, she followed missionaries to an appointment and observed their conversations with persons on the street. We are expecting it to be published next Sunday as the center-insert, community interest article.  We pray that she presents our work and our faith in a positive light!

Missionaries with Reporter, Cinta Audi

Dad here now…  last week and while talking on the phone to President Hernandez, our stake president, we seriously discussed the possibility of closing the branch here in Le Seu (the Andorra branch).  I have no counselors and only one, active priesthood brother who serves as Elders Quorum president.  This is partly due to forming the new group in Andorra the Vella.  I felt we just could not continue forward unless we received or developed more brethren to stand up and lead this little branch, especially after Hermama and I depart.  The stake president counseled me to hold on. Last Sunday he was coming to our branch conference and we would discuss the future.  Well, as my faith waivered we saw two small tender mercies occur in answer our pleas for help.  First, Jose Luis Vasquez, who we mentioned earlier, previously lived here and milked cows for Juan, our neighbor.  He has been working in Madrid for several years now, however, suddenly he returned to work for Juan again. It is more than a coincidence that we chose to live in this farmhouse next to where a future priesthood leader would return. Jose Luis is a High Priest and has served twice as a Branch President in his home country of Ecuador.  He is a returned missionary and has extensive church leadership experience.  He is ready to serve.  What an answer to my prayers and the Lord placed him in my back yard. 

The second small miracle is Rui Marquiez whom we challenged to return to the church and become a leader.  Last week while setting on the stand in ward conference, beside the stake presidency, Rui came walking in the door with his wife and sat down.  This is the first time he has been to church in 13 years.  As he sat down, he smiled at me as to say: “Yes I am returning, I am here”.  I could not believe my teary eyes.  After sacrament meeting he talked with the stake president and has indicated his willingness to serve.  Just a week before that, I sat in his home, at his table and pleaded with him to come back and serve the Lord. I promised him if he would do so, he would be blessed.  Today as he walked through the chapel doors, he was an answer to my prayer. The Lord’s hand helped deliver my plea to this less active brother, who felt the spirit and came back.  We will now begin to prepare Rui to receive the Melchezidek Priesthood and he and his wife for the temple.  All I can say is this--Be careful what you pray for, because you just might get it.  We needed these two men at this very time. We were sent what we needed to keep this branch alive and growing.  God truly is at the helm and He knows the needs of his children.

Energy is growing for our temple trip that is coming up in May.  Bette Spiekerman Molgard will be arriving in Barcelona on Wednesday and will be working with each family to find their "antepasados".  Our members are excited to have her help, most of which have signed up for appointments to meet with her to assist in their research. Our goal is to take 100 names to the temple!  With Bette's help we are certain to reach our goal...no pressure!

Thank you for your love and support.  We would love to hear about the happenings in your lives.  Old missionaries love letters as much as young ones do, so feel free to drop us a line or comment on the blog.

Mucho Amor,

Elder and Hermana Fowers

Random Photos

Frosted spider web, captured on morning walk.

European Chocolate Easter Eggs