HI! HELLO!
HOLA! KAIXO! BON DIA! I hope you are all doing well! I´m going to try something
a little different this week, going day by day.
Monday:
I absolutely
LOVE the hermanas in our piso (Hermana Moser, Hermana Bastidas & Hermana
Arauco)! They are just incredible! We have all become so close. We really do
feel like sisters (hermanas)! We had preparation day and we all just hung out
and had fun walking around different parts of Barcelona and shopping. They have
become great friends and I love them! At night we were able to meet with a lady
in our ward named Yennis. She is so sweet and has two little kids, Marjorie and
Markel. We were able to talk about the importance of families and what we can
do together in our home to strengthen one another and build our faith. Yennis
actually shared her conversion story with us. The Spirit was so strong, and we
saw the joy in her eyes when she told us how she felt when she and her family
were sealed in the Madrid Temple. What an adorable family!
Tuesday:
Today we had
a TON of eating appointments with members! It was fun, but I literally thought
I was going to die! I was having flashbacks of Valencia over the summer when we
just got fed so much! We had about 3 dinners today! The food was great, but
just a little much, haha. But I have loved getting to know the members more
here, because they have such strong testimonies and incredible stories
(conversion stories, mission stories, life stories, you name it!). We saw Luis,
one of our investigators, today as well. He is interesting, and we love him so
much, but he has a lot of problems. He is from Barcelona and is about 45 years
old. He lives alone and his mother died a few months ago. He is constantly
falling back into his drug and alcohol problems. It has been an ongoing battle for
him throughout his entire life. But he has made a lot of improvement, and he
wants to change. We strongly testified about the Atonement of Jesus Christ,
that none of us are perfect, but that through Christ we can be made perfect. He
can change us. He can strengthen us. He knows and loves us, and wants to lift
us up. I know Luis will come around one of these days. Please pray for him.
Wednesday:
Today was MY
1 YEAR MARK in the mission! Time is soaring right before my eyes. It honestly is
a pretty weird feeling! The hermanas are so funny, right before I woke up they surprised
me with music, balloons, posters and tons of confetti to celebrate! Haha, they
got me good! This has honestly been the best year of my life. Full of endless
memories, life-changing experiences and heaven-on-earth miracles. I am so
blessed to be here and serve these wonderful people of Spain. I love them so
dearly.
Wednesday =
Miracle Day! We saw so many great things today! We met so many great families
and people in the street who are so prepared! We visited a member named
Maritza. She is so great and just cracks me up! I love her! One of the first
things she said to me was, "You are just sweet! It´s like you’re covered
in honey! But you also have a lot of character … you tell people how it is, and
you don´t mess around! That´s one good combination!" She´s hilarious and
blunt and I just love her to bits! Her daughter, Natalia, is not a member and
she is about 20 years old. We have really started to gain a great relationship
with her and we hope to meet with her more often! We shared this scripture with
them and a few other people today … it’s amazing and in The Book of Mormon, 2
Nephi 25:26.
"And we talk of Christ, we
rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write
according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may
look for a remission of their sins.”
I know this
to be true and something we should strive for in our lives. People should be
able to recognize each of us as a disciple of Christ and a child of God at all
times and in all things and in all places. We need to be examples for our
children, family and friends, and all of those around us. We need to teach them
and show them, that it is through Christ that we can gain the remission of our
sins and feel that happiness.
Thursday:
I was able
to go on a companion exchange with two hermanas in The Islands of Spain! Talk
about incredible and gorgeous! What an amazing opportunity! It was in Palma de
Mallorca, and was such an amazing opportunity and a phenomenal day!
Friday and
Saturday:
Long story
short … I don´t know if we got some kind of food poisoning or if there is some
type of bug going around … but Hermana Moser and I had to stay home for two
days because so were sooo sick. We had a lot of stomach problems, cramps and
threw up for two days straight. I had yet to get sick on my mission … I guess I
was due! But I did get a lot of cleaning, organizing and journal writing done
(and a little bit of sleep)! The other hermanas were so sweet and took good
care of us! The elders also came over and gave us a Priesthood blessing. The
Priesthood is so real. I think it was the first time I had ever asked someone,
besides my dad, to give me a blessing. It was so powerful, and definitely a
testimony builder for me.
Sunday:
We FINALLY
had enough strength to leave Sunday afternoon to go to church. We had a few
people that came that we were not expecting at all! It is so funny, I always
end up playing the piano for things. I can hardly play! I haven´t practiced in
forever, especially sight reading! In Sacrament, the talks were given by the
young men. They all spoke and it was just the cutest thing. They all talked
about being missionaries someday. At the end, the young men´s president spoke,
and it really touched me. He talked about how, when he was younger, he LOVED
comic books and superheroes, and that he loves Batman and Spiderman, etc. He
was talking about what a hero really is; that they don´t just have cool
costumes and names and special powers. They are brave, selfless, fearless,
kind; and they never give up. They do all that they can to help those in need …
the lost, the afflicted, the struggling, the downhearted … those that need to
see the light and hope in their lives. He gave examples of modern day heroes
that we see all around us. We see them in our role models, our parents, our
best friends, and those that are always there for us.
But he said
that aside from all of that … there is One, who is the greatest and most
perfect superhero this world has ever seen. That hero is our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. He came to this earth to save us; to do the will of the Father
and to redeem us from the "villains" and evils around us and in this
world. He came to save us from ourselves. He was the only one who could have
done that, as He showed and performed the greatest act of love known to man …
His atoning sacrifice. Because of this, we too can defeat the things that are
impeding us. We can battle, fight and conquer our weaknesses and imperfections.
He knows us perfectly and is always there to help and to save your day, every
day. Never doubt His power and love. He watches over you and protects you. He is
your Savior and best friend, and always will be. Trust him … he is right there.
I love you
all! Have a great week! Be superheroes and conquer your “villians” with the
Lord who is on your side!
With all my
heart,
Hermana
Lydia Pamela Vance
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