Thanksgiving and the Frosts Arrive

Hermanas Volpe and Ashby with Elder Richardson in Cadiz.

President Deere got to baptize this good man in Malaga 1, shown with Elders Skousen and Rojas (and Elder Olsen)

Hermanas Brown and Guerrero with Elders Rojas and Olsen in Malaga 1.

Elders Skousen, Rojas and Castillo (sniff, sniff) with a new sister in Malaga 1.

Elders Phipps and Ellsworth with a new brother in Malaga 4.

Elders Fife and Justiniano in Motril.

A "four-generation" photo, with great grandfather Elder Peroni on the left, grandfathers Elders Rojas and Bassett, Elder Guarcax (father) and Elder Zech.

Elder and Sister Frost arrived last Thursday.  Sister Frost will serve as our mission nurse (she is a Physician's Assistant), and both will also work with the young single adults in the Granada Stake.  Welcome!

 
Thanksgiving is a wonderful American holiday where we focus on gratitude for all the blessings God has given us.  We also eat.  Mucho.  Our non-American fellow missionaries love trying the food and seeing what this holiday is all about, while the Americans cherish a little taste of home.  Those of us serving here so far away from home are so grateful for a loving "mission family", our families back home, and above all the gospel truths we seek to share.  Happy Thanksgiving!



The Wiscombes took good care of the missionaries in La Mancha with a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner.  Pictured are Hermanas Ancalle and Stradling, Elders Gonzalez, Miranda, Turley, Chavez, Alomia, Kiffe, Simon, Quinn and Flores.

Even though the Redds just arrived last week, they had the Caceres and Badajoz missionaries over for a Thanksgiving dinner too.  Elders Olsen, red, Sister Noriega, Elder Webb, Sister Meneses, Elders Narcizo and Reid. 

The Malaga Zone gave thanks together in one grand dinner! 

More Malaga missionaries!

More Malaga missionaries!

Still more Malaga missionaries, with a few special guests!

Elders Hannemann and Webb practiced for weeks making rolls for the big day.  When they arrived a little late with about 100 warm rolls we all cheered.  Sisters Hannemann and Webb can just let these two make rolls from now on...

The Castillos, the Redds and Elder and Sister Kearon

We had a wonderfully memorable week in the Spain Malaga Mission.  Each year we receive a visit from a member of our Area Presidency, and this week Elder Kearon visited our mission.  The first session was  held in Alicante with 110 missionaries from the Alicante, Elche, Cartagena, Murcia, Granada and La Mancha Zones.  The second session was held in Malaga with the remaining 110 missionaries from Malaga, Sevilla 1 and 2, and San Fernando Zones.    Elder Kearon thanked us over and over again for our service, and encouraged us to stretch  beyond where we are now, to decide to change and give the mission our all.  I personally am so grateful to Elder Kearon, his family and our other leaders and their families who so selflessly serve for years.  While our missionaries have sacrificed our time and money for 18-24 months, they sacrifice their freedom, time, entire career, and in the case of Elder Kearon move their families frequently, all to answer a call to serve the Lord.  



Elders Webb and Hannemann in Malaga 3.

Elder Castillo with Elders Phipps and Ellsworth in Malaga 4.



The Castillos finished their mission this week.  They have filled so many roles here, and helped so many of us it would be impossible to recount.  We love them so, and they will always be a fond memory from the mission, and dear friends always. 



President Marmol and his wife (not pictured) made paella for us at the Alicante chapel for our first conference held Wednesday, 19 November.  Pictured is Sister and President Deere, Elder Kearon and President Marmol, Stake President of the Cartagena Stake.

Our second session was held in Malaga on Thursday 20 November.  Pictured are President and Sister Deere, Sister and Elder Kearon, and Sister and President Jimenez, a counselor in the mission presidency.

 

A big welcome to Elder and Sister Redd, who will work and serve in Caceres.  They arrived just in time for our amazing conference with Elder and Sister Kearon, and we fear that they opened their mission on such a high note that it can only go downhill from here!  Pictured here are President Jimenez, Elders Narcizo and Webb, Sister and Elder Redd, President Deere and President Andy Nelson, Branch President of the Caceres Branch. Welcome Redds!

 

Elders Antezana and West with a new friend in Alcala.

 

Concilio, Halloween and work as usual

Hermanas Robayo and Carmen with Elder Reynolds and a new brother in Alicante 2.

Hermanas Samuelson and Coloma in Murcia 1.

Hermanas Brown and Samuelson in Murcia 1 again!

Hermanas Robayo and Morrow in Huelva.

Concilio, 4 November 2014

Hermanas Demayola and Hurtado at Halloween.

Missionaries in La Mancha get a little crazy after a while...

Some Granada missionaries on preparation day overlooking the Alhambra.

Happy Halloween!

Transfers: 9 Arrive, 11 Depart

We received 9 new missionaries on Tuesday from the Madrid MTC.  (Sorry about the poor picture..)



Our trainers just before the big moment.

Hermana Adrian will be trained in Cartagena 3 by Hermana Jones.

Hermana Stradling will work in Valdepenas with Hermana Ancalle.

Hermana Folsom will train Hermana Knowles in Fuengirola.

Hermana Giler will train Hermana Olson in San Fernando 1.

Elder Martin will work in Malaga 1 with Elder Larios.

Elder Oliver will train Elder Moore in Fuengirola.

Elder Quispe will be trained by Elder Bastian in Mazarron.

Hermana Rodriguez will be trained by Hermana Daines in Elche 2.

Elder Wilson will train Elder Stephens in Cordoba.

These 11 missionaries finished their missions last week and are on to the next phase.  We miss you!



Elder Powell's family came to pick him up.

 

We also met Elder Bivens' parents.

Hermana Roan's family came too, but I accidently deleted the photo. We met her parents and two younger brothers.

Softball in Malaga.