Hola to all! Today, we finally went to Daylight Savings Time, a couple of weeks after the USA did so. Happy Birthday to Ethan today, his fifth Birthday, we love you. It was also Scott’s and Jeanne’s Birthday on the 23rd of this month. We called both of them but did not get to talk to Scott, so we had to leave our wonderful rendition of Happy Birthday on the answering machine. We did get to talk to Dad and Jeanne though and that was great! We love to hear your voices every so often.
On Monday we had a Family Home Evening with the Temple Missionaries. The Parra’s who are in the Presidency of the Temple gave their conversion story. They lived in San Fernando, which is about six miles from Cadiz (southern Spain). President Parra was approached on the street by some elders who wanted to teach him.
He gave them his address which they thought was a brush off because others had done the same and made sure they weren’t home when they came. Sister Parra had been studying with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, President Parra did not like them. Sister Parra’s sister and Brother Parra’s brother were there when the Missionaries came to teach them (they were also married). In just a few weeks these four and one other were baptized. These were the first Baptisms in the Cadiz area. They said that it seemed logically correct but they didn’t have real testimonies and didn’t know how to pray for one.
The chapel was in Cadiz and they did not have a car at the time to get to church. As a result they did not become real active until four years later which was 1976. In their confirmations they were told that they would be the key to the Missionary work in that area. They became very active and would take eleven people to church with them every week in their five seater car!
They would invite people into their home for dinner and following dinner the Missionaries would give discussions around their kitchen table. Hundreds of people heard the discussions in their home around this kitchen table, they purchased the table in 1972. They still have it because it has so many fond memories. That was a daily occurrence for some time. They figure there were over one hundred people that accepted the gospel through their efforts. Many of those have sent missionaries sons and daughters…thus, they are probably responsible for hundreds, if not thousands, of members. Ever since they learned how to ask and received a testimony of the church, they have been different people and the work has moved forward at an accelerated pace.
The small city of San Fernando has produced many leaders of the church in Spain and continues to have one of the highest activity levels in Spain. They (Parra's) have been counselors and assistants to all four Temple Presidents, for eight years and counting. They will continue to serve as long as the Lord would have them serve. What an inspiration they are to us.
We had a busier week at the Temple, especially towards the end of the week. We had one hundred and sixty women come from the stake of Elche (eastern Spain). They came on the bus which left at one o’clock in the morning to spend the day in the temple and then go back home in the afternoon. We also had the a stake from Portugal come all week. We added several sessions for them and actually had endowment sessions every half hour instead of the normal hour. Also, they accomplished over 2,000 ordinances during their short stay. At the end of the day every worker was tired but overwhelmed at the love of these sisters to travel so far and to work so hard for such a short period of time.
Yesterday we went to have a Kabob with the Picards, the new couple serving from France. He is Iranian and she is Armenian. They both can speak English so communication was good. It was nice to get to know them better.
On Thursday we went to the Botanical gardens in downtwon Madrid. It is a beautiful area right next to the Prado Museum. The weather was fantastic, about 80 degrees.
We had heard a lot about it and wanted to see for ourselves.We knew there were going to be tulips. 
There were some out but not as many as we had hoped. 
This is a beautiful little pond with the goldfish swimming all around. It was a little early for some of the flowering bushes as well. 
There were a few lingering daffodils also. 
It was very peaceful and quiet inside. We might need to go back in a few weeks to get the full affect.
Ashtyn you asked us a while back what the Spain flag looked like. Here is a picture of one. 
We want you all to know that we love the Lord and that we know he is blessing all of us. It is so great to be a part of the great work that takes place in the Temple. It’s hard to imagine how many life’s are changed because of the wonderful plan of the redemption of the dead. Also, the change that takes place in the living and the happiness and joy they receive. We love you and we are anxious as you are for General Conference next week. Love Mom and Dad / Nana and Papa
He is actually Iranian and she is Armenian and have lived in France for the last twenty + years. He was involved in the government schooling of those young people that were selected to represent France in sports and she worked in the private sector. They are great people and we look forward to getting to know them better in the coming months.
We listened to their stories and we really know how blessed we are to be here in Madrid. They are in lock down in a seven acre compound-they can only leave on occasion and that is with basically a bodyguard. They have to send Nigerians out to purchase their food and it sounds like it is a real trying place. Everything they bring food wise into their apartment has to be washed with soap and water (including things like cabbage leaves) then dipped in a Clorox solution before they can eat it. Needless to say they were in heaven here and could not believe the freedoms that we enjoy. They had been in Amsterdam, Spain for a week, then on to France before returning to Nigeria until September when they complete their mission. They have a wonderful love for the people and the work and are honored to be serving there. They were told by the Area Presidency that at any given time on Sunday that there are more Nigerians in church than the rest of Europe put together. Nigeria has five missions and is the fastest growing area in the world. Of course, the church is relatively new there are everyone is learning how to officiate in whatever capacity they are responsible.
Their temple is the smaller model with everything being on one floor, they were amazed that we had three floors in our Temple. Roger is an architect that is in business with a partner and consequently he is on leave from his job and will return to work when they go home. His partner had gone the two years prior to them coming…that is a pretty neat setup where you can go and return to the company. 
It just so happens that this was the last day of Sister Jensen’s mission. Sister Balden asked if we wanted the tour in Spanish or English.. We said English. She started out saying I am Hermana Balden and this is my companion Hermana Jensen. To which I responded, you both have the same first name ? It had sounded to me like they had said Ramona Balden and Ramona Jensen. They laughed thinking I meant Hermana being the same which I should have left it at that but of course I had to say is both your first names Ramona. You can all imagine the look I caught from Dad ! Anyway they took us to the statue of the Mom and Dad with out stretched arms and the little girl walking from one to the other. 
It is called the circle of safety. They mentioned that the Lord always has his arms outstretched to us. He wants to help and guide us. They then moved on to one of the fir trees. Where if you stand behind it you cannot see the Temple. They said there are temptations and Satan who try to block our path-just as this particular tree blocked out the beautiful Temple. Then we went to a corner of the grounds where you can look out and see the busy, noisy street, the other buildings and a running track all symbolizing the World. Then as you turn back in and walk a few steps the feeling is totally different. 
You feel peace and tranquility there by the fountain. 
They then both bore their testimonies about the church and the joy that we can receive from it. About the importance of the family and the true gospel. 
They asked if we wanted to share our thoughts as well. As we have mentioned so many times these grounds are so beautiful and peaceful. 
I’m sure it has touched many, many people who have been here.
They both attend Utah State and met there three years ago. We happened to be assigned to the baptistery yesterday and so we met them there. They stayed with a family in our ward last night and came to church with them. So we met up with them at church again and asked them to come to lunch. We had a great time getting better acquainted. Ashley was going back home tomorrow and Camille was taking a bus back to where she is studying later today. These girls are a lot braver than I would be traveling around but they have done great!
His story of the construction of the Madrid Spain Temple was very touching and everyone felt the spirit of what a Temple can do for a country.
They also began looking for an architect and Brother Cluff (Temple architect for the Church) came to Madrid to help plan Temple and the surrounding buildings. All of these decisions took about two and a half years, including planning for the growth of the Church in the area. They then looked for a local contractor (they eliminated large companies from bidding on the project). They had months and months of trouble trying to get the Title to the land (all entities were doing battle). A building permit was finally given in 1996 following fifteen months of challenges. The building permit cost $800,000.00 (based on local estimates for cost of buildings) and Brother Lopez didn’t have this kind of money. Well, the ground breaking ceremony had been set and President Hinckley, Elder Oaks and Elder Vinas were coming for the event.
About a week before the ceremony Brother Lopez received a letter from the First Presidency naming him as the Chairman of the Madrid, Spain Temple and a charge to build a “perfect” temple. Along with this letter came the approval to write a check to cover the building permit. Brother Lopez stated that the day the check was paid, the US dollar shot way up in value with the Spanish peseta, the very next day it went back down to where it had been for months.
Also, it being the House of the Lord, there were people hired just to clean up after the workers on an hourly basis. It is said that the Temple is the best built building in all of Spain! The architect used to say that the building code and law for this building was The Book of Mormon. The Church hired quality control people in the quarry in Italy (exterior marble) and Spain (interior marble) to ensure that only the best was used. They would have power to say which marble slabs were to be shipped and in what order they were to be put together. As construction neared completion the demands became too great for the general contractor and the Church was forced to try and work it out, not wanting to go to the courts for fear it would be tied up for years (as it was the project was delayed about one year). On final inspection the Church architect came with a white glove (this had been specified in the original documents), but it was not clean!
As all the authorities of the Church came for the Open House they stayed in the Hostal, where we are staying. That created another project….that of feeding them each day, three meals a day. The city of Madrid loudly proclaimed that they had never seen such preparation, organization, order, security and everything else that happened during the month long open house…it was a model for all to emulate!
February flew by so fast! We have almost been here one year. We had a great week. On Monday we had a party for the Fourtina’s who are leaving tomorrow. 
They have been here for three months and we have grown to love them so much. They will not be coming back to the Temple before we leave so we may never see them again. 
They are so humble and have served the Lord on many other missions. They will be greatly missed.
We had her to dinner one week and she has always been so friendly and sweet to us. She had a power point that she had put together with her and different friends. She put a picture of us with her in which meant a lot to us. She had refreshments and Linda, the girl from Venezuela, made arrepa’s which we had at her home when we picked Scott up from his Mission. 
They were great and brought back some fun memories. There were mainly young adults at the party so we were the old folks there!
Doris has had us to her apartment for dinner before. She is in our ward and has always been very nice to us. Especially to me because she can speak English! She is divorced and has one daughter who lives in the states. She faithfully attends the Temple. We also watched The Testaments with them and The Restoration which we played in Spanish. They had never seen them before and they were very touched. You need to notice in our pictures that I have made my apron more modest by adding lace in the appropiate place! 
(Tom had the experience of working very closely with them while they were in the Temple) then later that night they held a meeting for all Temple workers and their spouses. It was incredible and they spoke directly to the point of Temple worship and the blessing that are available to us as we faithfully attend.
No, I did not decorate my own door another couple did! Others leave gifts throughout the day. We invited some couples to go bowling with us on that day. The Sproul’s and the Lunt’s went with us. We ate lunch at Fosters America first and then went bowling.
We had a good time even though our scores don’t show that! I quit after one game because we women wanted to go shopping and look around. 
The men played two more games and it did not get any better for them! I’m sure we will go again now that we know where it is.
Then they brought out three different cheese’s! Then for desert she gave us crepes with different topping to spread on them. Needless to say we needed a stomach pump because we ate too much! I guess that is how they serve dinner in France Wow! It was all very good and there were also the Taggart’s and Sister Lafertt there. 
They finished off the meal with crepes with all types of filling. 
It was quite the conversation with English, French, and Spanish being spoken!
