Spain 64th Week 6-12 July 2009
We have had a very quiet week. I would say the highlight of the week was serving in the Temple; however, a close second was being invited on Monday to a barbeque. There is a couple who are in Spain because the husband is in the United States Air Force. They are here for three years while he is serving as an officer in a NATO billet. Their names are Kevin and Karen Wilson.
We see Karen once a week at the Temple but really didn’t know them too well. They asked if all the American Temple Missionaries could come to their home for a 4th of July party. They actually live in a big home with a big yard and a swimming pool. 
Tough duty right? They said that they think here that all Americans live in big homes with swimming pools so that’s what they arrange for them here in Spain. You could tell that Karen loves to entertain. They supplied all of the food and wouldn’t let us bring anything. Come to find out the 4th of July is her favorite holiday and so she had all kinds of decorations and party décor. It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed just relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere.
They actually had grass which isn’t to big around here, even in the parks there are a lot of bushes, trees, and flowers - but no grass. It took about an hour and a half to get there but was well worth the trip.
That evening we got home just in time for Family Home Evening. President and Sister Moore were in charge. Sister Moore talked about their family and showed us pictures of them. I’m pretty sure we mentioned that they have nine children and thirty eight grandchildren! We have really loved working with them and getting to know them better. President Moore talked about Old Testament Prophets and Priesthood positions which have meaning and connection with the Temple. Of course we had refreshments which are always good.
This week in the Temple we had a big group from Cadiz, Spain here. There were many workers and also patrons. Because we had so many workers there was a lot of training going on in the different positions that are given every day. They also brought a big group of youth to do baptisms all week. There have been many new workers called lately as well. These are the ones who usually work one to two days a week and live closer to the Temple. This is also the time when many of the Spaniards go on vacation, usually for at least one month!
The days are very long here right now. It is light till almost 10:30 p.m. There are many Tourists all around lately. On the Metro we stick out quite a bit as they can always pick out Americans. Tom did not share an experience on the Metro that we had when Jo and Tom were here. Tom was wearing his shorts with the big pockets at the bottom. He had put the camera in one pocket with Velcro and his wallet in the other pocket closed with Velcro. As we went to get on there seemed to be a lot of people trying to all get on at the same time where we were. As we stepped on Tom felt something (more like a big push) brush along his side. When he put his hand down to check for his wallet it had been taken. He grabbed the guy who was next to him and said you took my wallet. The kid played dumb and Tom was trying to get him off the Metro so he could find a Policeman to help. Right then I was already sitting down and got up to see what was happening. The lady across from me picked up a wallet which was Tom’s and handed it to me. He checked it and thankfully everything was still in it. Apparently the guy had already passed it off to someone only it had fallen to the floor. Tom mentioned that in the prayer he gave in the session that day he had asked that those who were attending would be armed with God’s power and that angels would be round about them. We felt that we were definitely given that blessing that day. Things could have turned out so differently.
Today at church we met a lady (Jill Jasperson) and her son (Conner) from Alpine, Utah. The lady is a Law Professor at Utah Valley University. She had a conference in Geneva, Switzerland and was doing some traveling around Europe before going home. She mentioned to me that she wanted a blessing. Tom and Berkley gave her a blessing and then we invited them to eat with us. Her son is 17 seemed to be quite bored with everything which also wasn’t helping with the way she felt. Tom gave her a beautiful blessing and then we ate. Her son seemed to loosen up as they were here and was talking more and things seemed to be a lot better when they left.
We know without a doubt that this church is true. We are so grateful to be serving as Temple Missionaries at this time.
We consider ourselves very blessed as well as our family. We know that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ care for all of us and know us. We are so grateful for the plan of salvation for the opportunity, if we live worthily; we can return and be with them again. We love you all Love Elder and Sister Shaw / Mom and Dad / Nana and Papa
We have had a very quiet week. I would say the highlight of the week was serving in the Temple; however, a close second was being invited on Monday to a barbeque. There is a couple who are in Spain because the husband is in the United States Air Force. They are here for three years while he is serving as an officer in a NATO billet. Their names are Kevin and Karen Wilson.
We see Karen once a week at the Temple but really didn’t know them too well. They asked if all the American Temple Missionaries could come to their home for a 4th of July party. They actually live in a big home with a big yard and a swimming pool. Tough duty right? They said that they think here that all Americans live in big homes with swimming pools so that’s what they arrange for them here in Spain. You could tell that Karen loves to entertain. They supplied all of the food and wouldn’t let us bring anything. Come to find out the 4th of July is her favorite holiday and so she had all kinds of decorations and party décor. It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed just relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere. They actually had grass which isn’t to big around here, even in the parks there are a lot of bushes, trees, and flowers - but no grass. It took about an hour and a half to get there but was well worth the trip.That evening we got home just in time for Family Home Evening. President and Sister Moore were in charge. Sister Moore talked about their family and showed us pictures of them. I’m pretty sure we mentioned that they have nine children and thirty eight grandchildren! We have really loved working with them and getting to know them better. President Moore talked about Old Testament Prophets and Priesthood positions which have meaning and connection with the Temple. Of course we had refreshments which are always good.
This week in the Temple we had a big group from Cadiz, Spain here. There were many workers and also patrons. Because we had so many workers there was a lot of training going on in the different positions that are given every day. They also brought a big group of youth to do baptisms all week. There have been many new workers called lately as well. These are the ones who usually work one to two days a week and live closer to the Temple. This is also the time when many of the Spaniards go on vacation, usually for at least one month!
The days are very long here right now. It is light till almost 10:30 p.m. There are many Tourists all around lately. On the Metro we stick out quite a bit as they can always pick out Americans. Tom did not share an experience on the Metro that we had when Jo and Tom were here. Tom was wearing his shorts with the big pockets at the bottom. He had put the camera in one pocket with Velcro and his wallet in the other pocket closed with Velcro. As we went to get on there seemed to be a lot of people trying to all get on at the same time where we were. As we stepped on Tom felt something (more like a big push) brush along his side. When he put his hand down to check for his wallet it had been taken. He grabbed the guy who was next to him and said you took my wallet. The kid played dumb and Tom was trying to get him off the Metro so he could find a Policeman to help. Right then I was already sitting down and got up to see what was happening. The lady across from me picked up a wallet which was Tom’s and handed it to me. He checked it and thankfully everything was still in it. Apparently the guy had already passed it off to someone only it had fallen to the floor. Tom mentioned that in the prayer he gave in the session that day he had asked that those who were attending would be armed with God’s power and that angels would be round about them. We felt that we were definitely given that blessing that day. Things could have turned out so differently.
Today at church we met a lady (Jill Jasperson) and her son (Conner) from Alpine, Utah. The lady is a Law Professor at Utah Valley University. She had a conference in Geneva, Switzerland and was doing some traveling around Europe before going home. She mentioned to me that she wanted a blessing. Tom and Berkley gave her a blessing and then we invited them to eat with us. Her son is 17 seemed to be quite bored with everything which also wasn’t helping with the way she felt. Tom gave her a beautiful blessing and then we ate. Her son seemed to loosen up as they were here and was talking more and things seemed to be a lot better when they left.
We know without a doubt that this church is true. We are so grateful to be serving as Temple Missionaries at this time.
We consider ourselves very blessed as well as our family. We know that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ care for all of us and know us. We are so grateful for the plan of salvation for the opportunity, if we live worthily; we can return and be with them again. We love you all Love Elder and Sister Shaw / Mom and Dad / Nana and Papa
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