Hola from Spain! Esperamos que todos sean felices! It has been another great week in Madrid. We were pretty busy this week, especially Friday and Saturday. We had groups from Portugal, Eastern Spain and France here over the Labor Day Holiday. Over 100 people came from Portugal, 60+ from Eastern Spain (Elche) and 40 sisters from Paris….needless to say, we were very busy. I had the opportunity of being over the Baptistery on Saturday and we had sessions every two hours with about 25-30 young people in each group (7:30 am – 2:30 pm), then they asked me to stay and help with other ordinances during the afternoon shift. It was pretty tiring but well worth it to see the people with smiles on their faces knowing that a lot of work was done for their family members.
There has been one little lady here for a full five weeks now, she is from Portugal, walks with the aid of two crutches and is in constant pain. She does five sessions a day and never, ever complains about anything….she is truly an angel in disguise.
Last Monday we had a Going Away and a Welcome party for three couples;
the Ramos (Salvador and Dolores from Malaga), and the Thomas’s (Gordon and Kathryn from Provo, Ut) are going home and the Picard’s (Michel and Juliette from Bordeaux France) have been here for about a month and will be here for another two months, then they are going to Kansas to visit their daughter and family and then will return for a few more months. The party was great, the food wonderful and the company entertaining. 
It is always amazing to see what kind of food you get at a pot luck dinner. We all ate too much, but the afternoon passed really quickly.We had the opportunity to talk with Ashtyn on Saturday following here baptism. She looked just like an angel and you could tell, even through the webcam, that something was different. She was excited and so was the rest of the family, we really missed being there but hopefully she and her family felt our spirits. We had sent her a couple of things in the mail to open on her baptism day, but unfortunately they were broken in shipping. We look forward to seeing pictures of the blessed day. We heard from some that were there that her baptismal service was very touching and spiritual, enhanced by the fact that her sister Whitney and her cousin Jenacee offered the prayers. The power and spirituality of the little ones is breathtaking! Congratulations Ashytn, we love you very much.
Today we had the Thomas’s over for dinner (they leave Tuesday) and we were sure the last thing they wanted to do was cook, so it was a great time.
They have had some wonderful experiences in their lives from being professors at BYU Hawaii, BYU, Mission President, Area Welfare Missionaries, Area Executive Secretary in Mexico and missionaries in the Canary Islands. Their lives have been ones of service…they will be greatly missed; hopefully, we will run into them at some of the BYU football games.Also, after church today all of the Temple Missionaries, Presidency, President & Sister Hill (MTC President) and Elder & Sister Sproul (CES Missionaries) posed for a picture in front of the Temple.
These are some of the finest people that we have ever had the privilege of serving with.Brother Carbajal from the Temple Department of the Church was here this week looking at the Temple and accompanying buildings. The Lunt’s are friends with him as Berkeley’s sister had helped to raise and provide support to Brother Carbajal when he was young. He is originally South America and now has responsibility for many of the Temples in the world.
We have also been getting updates from Scott and Malia in Maui, it sounds like they are having a fabulous time…they even have the locals singing special songs to Barbara (Malia’s mom) over the phone. That experience was a chance of a lifetime as Barb spent a lot of time in Hawaii while growing up. Be careful and have fun.
Jeff, Amanda and kids are getting excited to move into their new home…should be this week. They are just finishing up a couple of little things and for the funding of the loan. I am really sorry that we will miss the moving part of the ordeal….my back already feels years younger!
Well, we know the gospel of Jesus Christ is TRUE! We are the literal children of a living God and He knows each and every one of us.
We have the opportunity of returning to live with Him and our Savior Jesus Christ if we but obey His commandments. We love all of you and you are constantly in our prayers. Love Mom & Dad / Nan & Papa / Elder y Hermana Shaw
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