Spain 4th Week 12-18 May 2008

Spain 4th Week 12-18 May 2008

This past week has been an exciting week and a busy one. On Monday we went by subway to a gigantic park called Casa de Campo (this was the private hunting grounds for the royal family in the old days). We entered on one side and rode a gondola, yep, a gondola over about half of the park.

Things have obviously changed a lot since those olden days, but it is huge and I could see them hunting wild animals and riding their horses for hours in pursuit of their game. It would have probably been quite the challenge as big as it is. It’s really a wilderness area that has been modernized with trails for hiking, long asphalt trails for bike riders-and believe me, they let you know the trails are theirs when you are walking on them! The have also built an amusement park with a roller coaster and there is a large lake, where the royals would have their water recreation activities. When you are in the park it seems that civilization is no where to be found…it’s quite as a mouse except for the bikes that come screaming by every couple of minutes. They have made the lake area kind of a summer park with canoeing, restaurants and much more.
We then got back on the subway and went to the Royal Palace and an area called Plaza del Sol. The palace and attached gardens, etc is no longer used except for tours, of course with an entrance fee. There was not time to go inside on this trip, but will make it on another trip downtown. The Plaza del Sol is a walking street and arteries with all different kinds of shops (most are pretty expensive) and is the only place that we have found that you can buy cheddar cheese in a “block” form. Needless to say, we purchased a few kilos and brought it back to the apartment.

We also got to see the “official” statue of the symbol of Madrid….it is a bear standing up to a “strawberry/or a relative thereof” tree. This symbol seems kind of interesting if you ask me?

Also, we saw our first Spanish “street Water Closet,” for a small fee, you can use the latrine…it is probably the fanciest outdoor toilet we have ever seen. I also got my first haircut in Spain and you know I didn’t have much hair to begin with, but now that top part of my head is hard to distinguish from my facial hair….and all for a mere $8.00 USD (because I’m retired). I have never really used hair spray or gel, but if I don’t, it’s too short to do anything. Sharon will try to get a trim this week - vamos a ver?

The work at the Temple this week was good as always! The saints are faithful and come and do work, some of them almost everyday. There is one little supervisor (about 5’ nothing tall) that comes everyday and works in the afternoon. He has to take a bus to get within the limits of the subway, then the subway to within about two blocks of the Temple, he says it takes over one hour each way. He never misses a day and does it with a smile….he has been doing this since the dedication of the temple in 1999. I wonder how many of us would do something like this everyday at your own expense? This coming week saints from Porto Portugal are assigned to come. I’m sure they will come on Monday by bus will stay and work all week, then leave next Saturday afternoon to return home so they will arrive in time for church on Sunday.

On Saturday night we went to dinner with the Bynum’s (Larry & Linda) and the Lyman’s (Brent & Jeanne) to a Chinese Restaurant. They both came to Spain at the same time, but Lyman’s call was for two years and the Bynum’s 18 months. The Bynum’s are going home to Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday after fulfilling their mission. We are getting their computer desk and printer for a small price. They bore their testimonies today in the ward sacrament meeting with the help of a translator.

We know the gospel of Jesus Christ is TRUE! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is TRUE and we have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who leads guides and directs the affairs of the Lord on the earth today. Christ stands as the head of the church and directs it through him. As we study the Book of Mormon in greater depth than we have ever done so, we know it to be the word of God and goes hand-in-hand with the Bible. As a matter of fact, it clarifies its’ teachings and answers many of the most basic questions that people have about life and the so called “mysteries” of God.

We want all of you to know how much we love and appreciate you! We miss each one of you dearly and pray for you morning and night. Thanks for all of your prayers, love and concern…honestly, we can feel it and it gives us strength to carry on and complete our assignments.