Details...Details

Hola a Todos,

This week has been a week filled with details.  As with any transition, we are trying to be careful to protect the “institutional knowledge” that we have acquired during the past 17 months and pass it on to the Southwicks, who will be replacing us.  We have tried to write down useful information including specific information about the farmhouse and La Seu community, details about the workings of the Andorra Branch and our members, along with information about our greater mission responsibilities role in supporting our young El Faro missionaries.  Elder Fowers is so gregarious and friendly, that he will approach and talk to any and everyone therefore he has developed a myriad of relationships and contacts. I am the details person, so I have spent much of the week filing and organizing all these details into readily accessible files to help make the transition seamless.

Sadly we had to say goodbye to Elder Christensen this week with a quick preparation day activity in Andorra exploring the 10^th century, Santa Coloma church. It seems that as soon as we get these young Elders wrapped into our Andorra Branch family, they are transferred.  He will be greatly missed. 

Go Well, Elder Christensen

Enjoying the Antiquity of Santa Coloma Church

Elder Hughes joined us later in the week.  He is right at home in our snowy, cold Pyrenees Mountains since he comes from Castle Rock, Colorado.  As with every new Elder that has served in Andorra, he gave a talk in church his first week here, as a means of introducing himself to the members. We also needed to give our Elders driving lessons this week.  This is the only place in the mission (with the exception of the office) where Elders are permitted to drive.  Because Andorra is a separate country, transportation issues are really complex so we gave Elder Warr some time behind the wheel so he can manage things after we leave.

Welcome Elder Hughes

Driving Lessons with Elders Hughes and Warr

Perhaps you will remember Ramon who was baptized in November.  He is a faithful, determined young man.  Though his vision is so poor that he can not read, he has listened to nearly the entire Book of Mormon and has a deep testimony of its truth.  He was ordained a Priest and had a great desire to bless the sacrament.  We created a large-print copy of the sacrament prayers that he was able to study with his magnifying lens.  He memorized both prayers, word for word and blessed the sacrament for the first time today.  What dedication!  Below is a picture of him holding the enlarged copy of the prayers. We were so proud of him.

Ramon, fulfilling his Priesthood Duties

We were watching a bible video the other day called the “La Oveja Perdida” (the lost sheep.)  Just as was represented in the video, the shepherd just didn’t give up looking for his lost lamb.  Well, we are still looking.  This week we found Jóse.  We met him once the first month of our mission and have not been able to contact him again.  He just evaporated into thin air…until a member gave us a tip and we found out that he had been very ill and was now living in a senior care facility.  We had found photos of him in some old branch pictures when it was thriving, with 45 members in Andorra during the 90’s.  There he was, as a young ward mission leader, right in the middle of the group.  We shared these photos with him and he came alive with memories.

 Jóse, former ward misson leader!

Everyone Monday morning for the past 17 months, Elder Fowers has set his alarm for 6:15 a.m., no matter the weather, to go help our neighbor Juan milk his cows.  In the process of this kind service they have built a deep bond of friendship and respect.  I captured this photo this morning on his way home from the farm with a very fresh pitcher of milk. What a good man!

How blessed we have been to serve in this beautiful corner the Spain, Barcelona Mission!

Our beloved Pyrenees

Con Mucho Amor,

Los Fowers