Semana Santa and 3 new missionaries

Elder Medina and Elder Jones in Malaga 1 with a Mother and son who joined together

 

 

 

Elder Bird and Elder Gochez in Sevilla

 

and here they are again

Elder Woodford and Elder Bivens in Jerez

 

Last Tuesday the Wilsons from Alpine Utah arrived!  They will be working in Alcala, just outside of Sevilla.  Welcome!

 

And Elder Olsen traveled all by himself but made it safely here on Wednesday.  He is working with Elder Jones and Elder Powell in Malaga 3. 

 

 

 This looks like lunchtime after a Malaga Zone Training Meeting.  From left to right, Hermana Hodson, Elders Jones, Seely, Mambo, Rojas, Medina, Peroni, Hermanas Wilcox and Moreno, Elders Powell and Jones, and Hermana Petru. 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Malaga preparation day with a few extra friends..

 

A favorite P-day excursion that only missionaries in a few areas can make--a trip to Gibraltar.  From left to right, Hermanas Jarvis and Nelson, Elders Woodford, McGarry and Bivens, and Hermanas Roderick and Stark.  Photo credit goes to Elder Gomez, I'm guessing.

 

 

 We have monkeys in Spain!  But only on Gibraltar.  They are aggressive, hungry, and cute but very smelly.

 

Here's a very brief glimpse of Semana Santa in Spain.  There are processions everywhere, and we went to see this one in Malaga. These robes and tall pointed hats represent the penitent, and some wearers walk barefoot or carry chains or shackles. 

 

 

The processions have representations of Mary, and of Christ on the cross.  It seems all of Spain this week was sitting downtown watching a procession every day.  This "trono", (float or throne) was carried by about 50 men, and it swayed with each step they took.  The tronos can weigh up to 5,000 kilos.

 

 

 This is what we were doing this week...learning how to preach the Savior's gospel in His way. 

 

10 Arrive, 7 Depart

We love every baptism, but this week seems to be full of extra-special things:  "old" missionaries baptizing in their last week of the mission, "new" missionaries baptizing in their first transfer, family members of new converts joining together, family members of "rescued" members joining, and a shout-out to the rescue effort of missionaries long gone from an area.   This is what we call "Real Growth"!!

Elder Keller and Elder Webb in Sevilla in Elder Webb's first transfer.

Elder Geest and Elder Walker in Sevilla in Elder Geest's last week.

Elder Pena and Elder Berrett in Almeria in Elder Berrett's last week.  This young man was a miracle find, and now his family is meeting with the missionaries too.



Elder Powell and Elder Jones in Malaga 3, with family members of a recent convert in Fuengirola. 

Hermana Chavez and Hermana Torres with some young converts in Cartagena with a shout out to the Hermanas who worked with their mother months ago. 

And here are Hermana Chavez and Torres again with some help from Elders Jackson and Brown. 

Elder Powell and Jones again in Malaga 3.  Dad was baptized the week before and received the Aaronic Priesthood so he could baptize his son the next week. 

Elder Peters and Gutierrez in Puertollano.

Meet our 10 new missionaries who arrived this week! 

Meet our newest group of missionaries to arrive from Madrid.  From left to right, Elders Paxman, Fernandez, Navarro, Hermana Moreno, Hermana Deere, Elder Larios, President Deere, Elders Johnson, Wilson, Bastian and Flores.  Hermana Moreno is our FIRST younger-than-21 sister!

And here's one more!  Elder Richardson arrived in the airport a few hours later.  Poor Elder Richardson was the only one who spend the night before on a plane, but he got through the first day like a champ. 

Elder Merchán and Elder Bastian are headed to Chiclana

 Elder Webb and Elder Flores will work in Jaén

 Elder Triana and Elder Johnson are opening up Albacete

 Elder Fernandez and Elder Lish are working in Elche 1

 Elder Larios and Elder Norton will work in Aljarafe

 Hermana Brimhall and Hermana Moreno will work in Málaga 2

 Elder Navarro and Elder Walker will work in Sevilla

 Elder Peña and Elder Paxman are going to Almería

 Elder Richardson and Elder Lucero will work in Algeciras

 Elder Chumbipuma and Elder Wilson are going to Cáceres

We also lost some:

So long to these 7 great Elders.  After President Deere, Elders Peterson, Geest, Allred, Gibson, Berrett, Blanch and Nally.  We will miss you!!

 Elder Nally´s family came from Arizona to pick him up. 

 Elder Berrett´s family came to get him also.  Here he is with Mom and Dad, 

 and his little sister.  It´s ok to put your arm around your sister before you´re released! 

The lovely hermanas of Granada on a fun preparation day at the Alhambra. From left to right: Hermana Johns, Daly, Brimhall, Martin and Cano.

The Malaga missionaries in front of the Roman theater at the base of the Malaga castle.  Back row:  Elders Rojas, Mambo, Jones, Peroni, Hermana Moreno, Elder Seely, Hermana Moreno, Elder Jones.  Front row:  Elder Powell and Elder Medina.

 The chaos you normally don't see before a photo is taken...  This is after a Zone Training Meeting with both Sevilla zones.  Thanks Elder Warburton for sharing!

Now for a pushup update.  Hermanas, pushups are good for women too!  It´s time for us to get in shape!  I'm starting a pushup board for Hermanas, so add flexiones to your morning exercise.  If you can't do any, you can start on your knees and work up.  I can do a solid 2 pushups on my toes now.  Send me your number!

 

The Elders are having so much fun with pushups, we might have to have a "50 Club", "100 Club", and a leader board.  Here's the latest:

 

Elder Blanch has a solid lead right now, but once you go home, you can't update your number anymore. 

 

 

Elder Ryan Jones is second with 117.  Knowing Elder Jones, he won't be #2 for long.  

 

Hermanas, get going with the flexiones!! 

 

 

Short and Sweet (and wet!)

It's short and sweet this week compared to next week, when we will receive 10 new missionaries and send 8 home. 

Baptisms:

Elder Tirrell and Barbosa in Utrera

Elder Norton and Elder Blanch in Aljarafe

Hermana Moreno and Hermana Wilcox in Malaga 1

 

 

Elder Wright and Elder Read had a baptism in Huelva.  Their new convert declined to have a photo taken, but here are the happy Elders!

 

 

 

Elder Barbosa and Elder Cortes, with other fuzzy faces including Elder Tirrell, Elder Rodriguez, Hermanas Ramsay and Yardley.

 

 

Snow in Spain

 

Elder Triana and Elder Lucero on a big day in Algeciras!

 



 Elder Jackson and Elder Brown in Cartagena 3

 

 Elder Mardones and Elder Oldroyd in Lorca

 

 

 Elder Mora and Elder Smith in Murcia 2

 

 

 

Elder Peters and Elder Gutierrez with a new sister in Puertollano, on Elder Peter's birthday!

 

 

 



 Elder Pardo and Elder Banbury in Cartagena 1 with 2 new sisters

 

 

All these guys have already been baptized but they are just excited about the big day when 4 new members were baptized in Cartagena.  Elders Jackson, Brown, Banbury and Pardo.



 Concilio, March 5, 2013

Left to right:  Elders Estrada, Peterson, Dangerfield, Salmeron, Bird, Gochez, McGarry, Jackson, President Deere, Elders Mambo, Brown, Hooper, Barahona, Jones, Valenzuela, Cortes, Berrett, Mockler, Rodriguez and Gomes.

 

 

Elder Barahona and Elder Jones bought matching ties for Elder Barahona's last day.  He finished his mission on Tuesday, March 5.  Goodbye Elder Barahona!

 

And hello Elder Medina!  He arrived last week from Texas, and is now working in Malaga 1 with Elder Jones.  Welcome Elder Medina!

 

 

 

 Here are three brave (?) Elders (Elders Walker, Bird and Geest) trying a home remedy for a cold that someone told them about.  They boiled a lemon and a head of garlic in water, then drank the liquid before bed.  They don't recommend it.  It didn't help the colds, and gave them bad breath.

 

 Here's a little of the past and the future.  Remember these faces?  In the back, Elder Crawford, the soon-to-be Hermana Childers (coming soon to our mission), Elders Card and Taylor.  In the front, Hermanas Ross, Capener and Sturgess.  Hermana Childers was rooming with Hermanas Capener and Sturgess.  Que pequeno es el mundo!

 

 

 

Elders Webb, Keller and Nunez got to change a tire of a woman Elder Hooper and Elder Nunez are teaching.   Lucky she needed help when a bunch of missionaries were there!

 

 



Elder Estrada and Elder Sanhueza having a little friendly fun in the snowstorm that hit a few weeks ago.

It even snowed a bit in Malaga too!  Hermana Wilcox, Moreno and our daughter Annie.

(Note to Elders:  Notice how Hermanas just smile and hold snow--they don't throw it at each other.)

 

Elders Walker, Geest and Gochez in Sevilla 1 have been working on their pushups.  I have bad news Elder Geest--Elder Ryan Jones did 117 when he was here for Concilio!