Family...our Strength and Blessing

Querido Familia y Amigos,

What a wonderful week!  Our farmhouse has been filled with happy noise of the voices of the Molen family.  Their timing was perfect …they were here to help us celebrate Elder Fowers 67^th birthday!  We started out our week in Barcelona and took the time to see a few sights that were nearby and kid friendly, and then made our way to Le Seu.  I am certain that you do not need a travelogue of our points of interest, so I think I will just share a slide show of the some of our fun family times.

Exploring the Barcelona Zoo with Molens

View of Guell (Gaudi) Park

Enjoy Cool Treat in Blistering Heat

Sagrada Familia

Barcelona Cathedral Courtyard

Hug for Grandpa at the Farmhouse

Picnic of Cheese, Bread & Fruit from the Le Seu Market

Fun on the Farm

Old Le Seu Nunnery

One story that we simply must share is about our visit to the Sagrada Familia.  Months ago I warned Amy that if she did not buy tickets online in advance that they would not be able to go inside this beautiful edifice.  So she dutifully bought tickets for the appointed day.  Just as we were about to leave to tour the Sagrada Familia, Amy realized that she bought tickets for the wrong day.  Barcelona was literally teaming with tourists so her heart sank realizing she would not likely get inside.  What a disappointment!   We decided to go anyway and at least try to explain the error and view the exterior.  Upon arriving, we immediately went to the ticket booth.  SOLD OUT, just as we expected!  Elder Fowers, in his very best Spanish, tried to explain the problem.  That she had really purchase the tickets but inadvertently selected the incorrect date…we were only going to be in Barcelona for the day, we had purchased them months ago, etc., etc.  The answer was a flat out NO! Then he looked at our missionary badges and said, “Are you missionaries?”  YES!  “Well then you can get in free along with the children, but unfortunately, you (referring to Rick and Amy) can’t go in.  We then asked, can they take our badges and get inside.  The guy was really nice, but none committal.  Within minutes, Rick and Amy became Elder and Hermana Fowers  and walked inside the Sagrada Familia with gratis tickets.  The blessings of being missionaries.

Temporary Missionaries

In between the touristy things we did, we had planned appointments to do member visits and carry on with missionary responsibilities.  After a quick birthday celebration with the kids with zucchini brownies and fresh milk, we were off to Andorra for appointments.  The members in Andorra are so full of the joy of the gospel because they are again blessed to be together again to worship!  Hermana Maria Luis surprised us with a birthday dinner of fried rabbit!

67 Years and Still Going Strong!

Our “autosuficiencia” (self-reliance) class started this past Saturday.  Elder and Hermana Kimball traveled from Madrid to do a special devotional in order to launch the program. Several members that attended committed to facilitate a group to help them all become more self-reliant. I have been amazed at the foresight and wisdom of our leaders to create a program that is so applicable to problems that our members face worldwide. It is truly an inspired program.

Launching Self-Reliance Group

We want to testify that our family has been richly blessed because of our service and sacrifice, but even more so we have been blessed to have the love and support of family during our service as missionaries.  What a delight it has been to have the Molen family with us during this past week as we share the joy of the sweet work we do here in Spain. Their visit will give us the energy to press forward in the coming weeks! We know that "the angels go before us...they are on our right hand and on our left...", as we strive to do God's will and hear his whisperings in our efforts to rescue his children.

Con Mucho Amor,

Los Fowers

Attending church in our Le Seu Building