Missionary Payday

Querido Familia y Amigos,

We had a busy, wonderful week.  We find that when our very busy we are much happier and the time just flies by…in fact, we were so busy this week that we did not take preparation day, therefore, no pictures of churches or mountains this week! 

Monday evening we held an “open-invitation” Family Home Evening for the branch.  Anyone who desired to attend was invited and it gave us an opportunity to model what a family home evening should be like.  Everyone who was able to attend was edified by both the companionship and the instruction.  Rolls, hot out of the oven, topped off the evening!

Family Home Evening at the Farmhouse

Panitas Americana!  A big hit.

Meet Betty, our new friend who is studying with missionaries.

We also launched seminary this week.  We hosted Hermana Sonia and Hermano Jose, our stellar seminary teachers at the farmhouse for a couple of hours of training on Tuesday afternoon.  It is such a complex endeavor, because we have youth in both countries.  So we have two teachers, one in Spain and one in Andorra, that give a seminary lesson every Sunday after our regular meeting block and then Elder Fowers and I give a second weekly lesson on Wednesday evening with all of them together.  The rest of the week our students do home study.  Another interesting twist is that I, (Hermana Fowers) give a part of the Wednesday lesson in English.  Since they all are required to take English in their schools, but has little opportunity to listen to good models we thought it would be a nice addition.  Beyond that, English is the official language of the church and we believe it will really help their future engagement in the church.

Jose Luis with Le Seu Seminary

Our little red Prius Yaris is just not sufficient for our transportation requirements between Spain and Andorra. So this week we were able to make a long-term rental agreement with a member of a branch to rent his 7-passenger van so we can get our youth back and forth to seminary and other activities.  Furthermore, we were able to get permission from the Mission President for our missionaries to drive our little Prius, so we won’t need to be their taxi quite so often.  The extra car will be a great blessing for the work. 

Thursday morning, Elder and I were chatting about our upcoming day, listing the many things that we needed to accomplish.  A few minutes later, Elder Fowers got a call from our neighbor Juan who invited him to join in the fall cattle drive in Bescaran, which is tucked in the tops of the Pyrenees.  So much for the list, 10 minutes later he was dressed in his farm clothes and out the door.  He spent the day sorting cattle and driving them off the mountains. Sorry no horses used here!  Missionary service comes in different packages and Juan appreciated the help.  Needless to say, I managed to cover that list!

Fall Round-up

Sorting Juan's Aubrac Cattle

That evening we were able to feed Aitor and Cecilia, but let me tell you it is pretty intimidating to cook for a professional chef.  The only thing I mastered as a cook is quantity, but he was generous with the compliments.  Even though Aitor is not a member, he is so respectful of Cecilia’s membership and her desire to attend the temple, so he has attended every temple preparation class with her. He is such a dear, sweet man…maybe someday he will get the confirmation he is seeking.

Friday was back-to-back visits. By the time we finished out our afternoon of visits, we had shared a message with five different families.  First we dropped in on Irma, an 83-year-old Hermana who is home-bound because of a leg amputation. She joined the church as a youth and has fond memories, but hasn’t attend for decades.  She explained to us that she had lost her scriptures…well we fixed her right up and gave her a new copy of the Book of Mormon which she promised to read every night.  She also loves the “himnos” of the church so we share a hymn with her and her daughter Veronica as her eyes welled with tears.  What a sweet visit.  Then we rushed  to drop in on Maria Luisa, a single Peruvian sister who lives alone, to discuss her talk for sacrament meeting.  When we arrived, she surprised us with a beautiful lunch of roasted rabbit and lamb.  Maria Luisa has the most generous spirit and her eyes just sparkle when she speaks of her faith and testimony. 

Irma with her new Book of Mormon

Maria Luisa

Rabbit cooked to perfection!

Saturday, Elder Fowers was off to Lleida for stake bishopric training and the Elders  needed a ride to their district meeting.  He returned in time to prepare a talk for church and review the temple prep class that we present together.  Saturday is a critical day for us to prepare for all of the responsibilities of Sunday.  It is always a long day, starting at 10:00 am and ending around 7:00 pm after we have completed all of our critical meetings. 

However, another pay day came today.  We were leaving the group meeting when a good sister came up and thank us both for all we have done to help her change her life.  After 20 plus years of inactivity in the church she is back attending every week and paying tithing. She also determined to stop smoking 2+ packs a day. She is teaching Sunday School, and is preparing to receive her temple endowment. The blessings of service.  I wish all senior couples in the church would experience the same.

Andorra Group Meeting today...blessed.

Thank you for joining us again this week with our sweet work as missionaries.  You are in our hearts and prayers.  We feel your love and support.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder and Hermana Fowers