Whirlwind...Busy Brings Joy

Querida Familia y Amigos,

We sat down on Monday morning to take a look at our week and to plan out our many responsibilities and activities.  It looked like we were in for a wild ride.  It turned out to be just that!  With lessons and talks to prepare (and for me it takes hours to prepare and give a lesson in Spanish), houseguests for four days, a youth cookout to organize and zone meals to prepare for 105 missionaries in Barcelona and a special “Progreso Personal” program for our Young Women all before the next Sunday.  We were on a dead run every minute.

Monday was the calm before the storm with a quick bread-making lesson for Anita.  It was sweet to watch the extended Moreno family (many of which that are less active) gather to enjoy the smell and taste of hot rolls right out of the oven.  While I was giving bread-making lessons, Elder Fowers was working with Lluís to help him to prepare his first talk for Sacrament Meeting and Anita to prepare her first Gospel Principles lesson.  They are alive with the spirit and it is joy just to be with them!

We invited the Lundbergs, a senior couple for the island of Ibiza along with her sister Josie and husband Mike to stay in our home for a few days while they explored the wonders of Andorra.  They arrived on Tuesday evening late, and we were able to feast on one of gigantic chickens.  The next day, we spend a few hours with them before our youth activity and showed them some of our favorite haunts.  We get a kick out of watching their reaction as we share the majesty of the Pyrenees that have so beloved to us.

 

Monestary de Sant Serni de Tavernoles with Lundbergs

12th Century Bridge

Lunchbreak

View from the Vallnord Ski Resort

Meet Ramon.  He is a lifetime resident of Ars, a little community located in the tops of the Pyrannese Mountains near the Andorra border with Spain. Ramon is 87 old and has never married, neither have his two brothers. He seldom leaves the mountain and was  sheepherder/farmer from a forgotten generation.  Even though cataracts cloud his eyes, his mind is a history book detailing the rugged lifestyle of his folks. We talked about the war years as many were driven through this area to escape Franco's army in 1936. One can learn so much talking with these of the greatest generation.

Ramon...as old as the mountains.

On Wednesday we held our first youth activity in Cortades de Encamp, a camp ground located near the top of the ski lift on a mountain overlooking Andorra.  We had 8 youth and 4 adults join us for water games, hiking and a campfire complete with hot dogs and S'mores. I gave the campfire message as the sun dropped below the mountains.  I think we have started a youth program that will influence young lives for the better.  What our youth need today are mentors who provide solid examples of righteousness.  I related to them the story of my sister Holly who suffered as a teenager with leukemia and how her passing affected my life and testimony of God's mercy. 

Beautiful Venue

Building strength together.

First time to cook hot dogs over a campfire.

We left the house to the Lundbergs and took off for Barcelona at 5:30 on Thursday morning...

Early Morning Drive

in order to arrive in Hospitalet early enough to make boat loads (four gigantic crock pots full) of sweet and sour pork.  With Brammers’ help were able to provide a delicious meal for the Zaragoza and Hospitalet Zones.  The next day was a repeat, with the Streeters as our helpers for the Barcelona/Badalona missionaries, for a total of 105 missionaries.    They were fed both physically, with mountains of rice and sweet and sours, but even more so spiritually by President and Hermana Dayton and the Ayudantes (assistants to the President). We all left the Zone Conference satiated; rejoicing in the great spirit of our righteous missionaries and leaders. 

Kitchen Help...the Fowers and the Brammers

...and the Streeters

Zaragoza and Hospitalet Zones

We returned home late Friday evening and the Lundbergs left the next morning to return to their responsibilities on the island.  We followed them out the door to participate in a special program, taught by a Stake Young Women’s Counselor to introduce the Personal Progress program to our young women.  In the little branches of the church, programs that have been implemented for many years in our wards back home are often lacking.  Though they had heard of them, they do not have the human resources to actually execute the program or understand the scope of its impact on the Young Women.  Our beloved new, Young Women’s President, Cecilia is determined to give her little flock the blessings of the entire program.

And here we are on Sunday, having just returned from our double meetings— Le Seu Branch in the morning and Andorra group in the afternoon.  Elder Fowers spoke in both meetings because our speakers dropped out the last minute and I taught primary.  I can actually produce enough simple Spanish to fool the six-year olds while the 10 year-old helps to correct my pronunciation. We are a bit weary.  But being tired in the service of our God is remarkably sweet!

Please forgive the travelogue this week...a long list of activities.  I am always at a lose for words as I try to capture the spirit of these events.  Those who have shared these moments with us...Sarah, Bette, Jeanette will understand how elusive the expression our feelings really are.  When we are sitting in our tiny group meeting of 13 people, and our eyes well with tears and our hearts expand with a burning joy...there simply are not words.  When we stand around a campfire and share Americano S'mores with our expanding youth group while we share our testimonies...there are not words that adequately describe the feelings of that moment.  When our new members accept and fulfill callings, we feel like proud parents... but words do not do articulate the feelings in our hearts.  So as you read the travelogue consider that every activity, visit and event provides a sacred moment during which the spirit can witness to their hearts.  We want to tell you all, that we are here in Andorra on the Lord's errand.  Everything we do is an expression of our love for our Savior, but every feeling that fills us, is an expression of His love and approval of our service.

Bendiciones a todos,

Los Fowers