IPADS!!!

April 27, 2015

OK, OK, OK.....I will not freak out too much, buuuuut! WE´RE GETTING IPADS NEXT WEEK! Hallelujah! The 21st century has arrived!!!! Yay!!!!! Also, we will be Skyping our family 3 days after receiving our IPads. Do you know what this means? No locotorios to Skype! (Locotorios = grungy businesses with computers and phone booths shoved into a room. They´re my life, but the germ factor and the unreliability kinda scare me for skyping.) OK, so there's my natural man. Now moving on to the other benefits. No more weight in our bags! Well not as much! Yay! I think my body has aged a good 20 years on the mission. Now our backs won't be aching after long days. Also sharing videos and Mormon messages with investigators and others. I never really knew this before my mission, but the Church has an incredible source of inspiring videos and movies, all online! As well as music and other helpful things to help bring the Spirit! Next time you're browsing online I would suggest watching a Mormon message or two! Also I am so excited to have the resources that will be so readily available. I can´t wait to write my next talk! 

Speaking of talks: I was asked to give a talk yesterday in church. I began with how some of my first memories involved Dad taking us out into the mountains to search for arrowheads. It didn't matter if we were camping or riding or just on a Sunday drive, Dad´s eyes would always be searching on the ground. Then I related it to finding people who are prepared for the gospel. We've got to be always searching and looking for those prepared. Thought Dad would enjoy the little life lesson learned from him. :)

Next up: MIRACLES!!!! Tuesday morning we had a return lesson with one of our new investigators from last week. We headed out in the morning to the lesson, rang her apartment number and the woman's voice that responded said she didn't want anything. Yup. Well. We were on the same street as some of our favorite members, whose wife (E.) had told us to come visit her sometime. So we decided to pass by since we were in the neighborhood and when we entered their house I immediately saw E's sister (Es.).  Lemme just tell you a little about Es. She served a mission in Peru. Then she came home, married a man who didn't like the church and became inactive. She served a mission. She had a daughter with the man. She served a mission. She still was inactive. The day we passed by she was at her sister's house because she and her husband are now splitting up. The minutes before we entered she had been telling her brother-in-law how she needed to return to church. Then we entered and Hna Berry shared 2 Nephi 27:23. God truly is a God of miracles. Es. came to church on Sunday. 

I can´t even begin to tell you how deeply this has touched my heart. She served a mission, but she still went inactive. Nobody is invincible. I tell myself I will never let go, but as set as I am in my path there are things that happen in life that don't seem like big things but can throw us off the path. It's not like Es. woke up one day and said to herself  "Well, that's it. I've tried. The Church just asks too much and I'm tired. I don´t think I'm going to go anymore." It's a matter of degrees. So it warms my heart to be able to help another sister, who I'm sure said that she would never been inactive. It warms my heart to know that I will always have my brothers and sisters in the church to help me. And family to be my base siempre. 

Now, the coolest part of the story!!!!  Remember the new investigator we went to go see who said she didn't want anything to do with us?  It wasn't her! Or something! We tried calling her later that day and she was like "No, that wasn't me! I didn't hear anything this morning!" Annnnd now the new investigator has a baptismal date for May. OK that´s it! :)

I love you all! Look for the miracles!

Love, Hna Finch

P.S. I cut my hair!!!! And it's super dark since I haven´t dyed it since I left on my mission! So weird! And when I say I cut my hair I mean I got it professionally cut!  By the time we were done, the lady at the salon asked if she could have a Restoration pamphlet for her clients to read and accepted her own Book of Mormon. This is how we do it. ;)

5 Questions:

1.  What is the best sight seeing attraction in Alcorcon?

     Ummm Alcorcón....has....no sight seeing honestly. hahaha It's got some pretty parks. Apparently there's some modern castles somewhere, but I haven't found them! 

2.  What has been your most spiritual moment with Hna Berry?

      Es.'s story. See Miracle: This week:) Yay!

3.  Do you have as many dinner appointment as you did in Alcala?

     We really suck at sending around a dinner calendar so we haven't had as many comidas, but it's ok, We sleep instead:) And I like sleep!

4.  What has been your most embarrassing moment in this area?

     Ummmmm I wish I could say...I honestly have embarrassing moments all the time they don't even faze me. Hehe

5.  Besides the fantastic pastries and churro chocolate - what is your favorite meal - main dish?

     Tortilla española! Yum! Also pollo con arroz! Or papá de guan cayína or ceviche! Umm it honestly depends on the country! We're pretty international here;)

Nothing!

April 20, 2015:

So there isn't a letter from Hermana McKenna today.  She and I talked for a few minutes back and forth while she was on.  She had a few questions about home and mission, but nothing for family and friends.  I went on her companion's blog and there isn't anything new there either!  So I went on her previous companion's blog and found a few pictures I hadn't been sent.  I sure hope it's OK to beg, borrow or I guess in this case - steal!  Love this dear daughter!  Looking at her happy face makes up for the lack of letter!  

Just before Hna Marsh was transferred they were all able to go to an amusement park!

In last weeks letter Hna McKenna wrote how when she comes home from intercambios her companions sing the primary song "I'm so glad when Hna Finch comes home!"  Then they climb upon her knee!

Facebook Find!

April 13, 2015:

It just makes my day to find these gems on facebook!  Thank you "R."!

Mis mejores amigas

Back to Two :'(

April 13, 2015

So this week: I had exchanges again with Hna Vilariño. It´s so fun to be with Spanish sisters and just talk and talk and talk! I love it! And I learn so much! We were also able to visit "S." (the girl with the cancer) and we did her makeup and everything. It was so good to see her again. Especially cause we thought that we would never see each other again. Then when I got home my companions were hilarious and sang me "I´m so glad when Hna Finch comes home, glad as I can be" Then they jumped upon my knees. I sure to love the trio life. But here´s the twist...

TRANSFERS. And we've been changed Hna Marsh is headed off to the islands, hooray for her! Boo for us! She was a great companion. Definitely the most similar companion I've had on the whole mission and it was great. She is SUCH a hard worker and is so diligent. I learned so much from her about perseverance and control. I really am so sad to see her go. She´s only my second companion I've had for two transfers and I think the reason I've only had two is cause a little part of me has died with her and with Hna Fowers. After 3 months of being together for 24/7 you really get to know them and be completely comfortable of being with them. I love Hna Marsh! Go Spartans!

Well, that means that I'll be finishing up training Hna Berry alone. We´re both really gonna have to step it up and be the best possible. We've got this:) 

Other news: I'll be sister leader again, but this transfer instead of doing it alone, I will have another sister leader in my zone to help! Yay! It´ll be super nice not to have to do so many intercambios especially cause leaving will be a lot harder now that it's just Hna Berry and I.

Our investigator "I." is wavering with his baptismal date. He's had a few personal blows, but we're really gonna hit him hard this week. He's so prepared. He's already paying his tithing every week and everything. 

Love you all! Hna Finch!

So one of the members asked us to come by and teach their daughter a little about baptism before the big day. 

 After the lesson she and her sister taught us! We pretended to be the investigators of a different religion;)

How cute is he!?

 So fun to be with her on her big day!

Dropping off Hna Marsh.....:'(

  
 First day of normal companionship life for Hna Berry! We went to Sol! 

You know you're in Spain when the paella is cooked in the biggest thingy possible and the bread comes by the box!

Jeje;) It didn´t work....

Beautiful Conference Weekend

April 6, 2015

What a beautiful conference weekend!!! So everything this week started great with the Leadership Council Tuesday. Wow, I needed that experience. I really didn't even realize what a great resource Preach My Gospel is. It was definitely something necessary. On my mission I have never been more aware of all my faults and things I need to improve on, but I have also never felt more capable of changing all and becoming better.

One thing I really loved that I learned that we've implemented in our companionship and that I want to continue throughout my whole life is invite or mentioning to everyone that I'm a Mormon. Even in the mission there are people we pass on the streets and wave to everyday, but they haven't heard our message, or our friends/waiters at our favorite eating places. They know we're missionaries, but they don't know what we believe. So this week we went in search of everyone we know by glance that haven't heard our message: "J"-the lottery man we pass everyday. "A"-Our favorite Spanish man waiter at the churros and chocolate place. The cute girl that always gives us our bread at Bread and Co. We will get all of our friends! It's just an invitation for salvation.

So confession time....I usually don't talk to old people on the streets. It's that Spanish old people are super catholic, don't want to change, but do want to talk so you can literally waste 30 minutes listening to an old Spanish person, while other people pass you on the streets. BUT I contacted a Spanish woman the other day! Haha! And she was adorable. She still talked to us for a good 30 minutes, but she was actually reciting the history of the church for us without taking a breath to prove that she knew it. Cute! She's going on vacation to Toledo and won't be back until November, and doesn't have a cell phone, but we've got her address and we're definitely going to visit her when she comes back. 

Conference was great! We colored eggs with the sister in Mostoles and then went to their chapel to listen to the women's session and first session. But I have to say the best part of conference was going to a member's house ("R") and eating with her and her parents and listening to conference. I love this time of year!!!! I learned sooo much. There sure was a huge focus in the family. I would just like to personally rededicate Linda K. Burton´s talk to all of the men in my life, especially Dad and Garrett. You guys are the best. It's so often the the priesthood authorities tell us how specially we are as women, but to her her talk about the men in our life, oh! It just mirrored all my own feelings. I love you guys! 

Have a wonderful week!!!

Leadership Conference:

Just for kicks and giggles!

MTC Reunites!  Hermana Seegmiller

My day of lost and founds. First a legit briefcase that I was having too much fun with, then a pair of giant shoes that my feet (with shoes) fit inside of!

Dying Easter eggs with the hermanas in Mestoles, just a few km west of Alcorcon.

My hermanas!

Compies finding a new path to "R"´s house for conference!

Friends de Espana!

March 31, 2015

Found these on Facebook!  Thank you "I."

An Awesome Fireside

March 30, 2015

What a week! You gotta love how after a baptism it seems like your investigators just go down to -5. Haha. But it was actually necessary. Some of the most meaningful lessons on my mission I have learned are when the numbers are low. We spent a much larger portion than I am used to contacting in the streets. We've gotta find some new investigators! Time to bring these blessings to more people!

Speaking of our opportunity we have to spread the gospel by contacting let's just say....not my favorite thing. I love speaking with people, I really do! The thing that´s the hardest for me is the rejection that comes next. I do not like rejection. At all. But it's something we have to do as missionaries to help bring more people unto Christ.  So needless to say we always have realllly good plans and backup plans, cause when you have good plans you don't have to contact as much! Yay! But this week we were scratching the bottom of the barrel so last night when we got to go to a fireside by Brad Wilcox it was exactly what I needed....

So Brother Wilcox is just awesome.  He and his wife came to Alcalá the week before I left so I got to know them a little. They're in charge of the BYU students that do the Spanish study abroad.  He gives magnificent talks. I want to be able to talk like that when I am older....or now. I could do now. But he spoke on how it is our BIRTHRIGHT to share the gospel. 

Fun Fact: Birthright means if there are 5 brothers, when Dad dies, the inheritance gets split up into 5 portions and the oldest son gets a DOUBLE portion. In addition to the double portion of inheritance he also takes on the responsibility of caring for Mom and his sisters. Birthright = More inheritance, More responsibility.

We are children of  Israel and children of the covenant. Part of this covenant is to bring the knowledge of the gospel to the other children. So next time we ask "Why do I have to go to church?" Or "Why, the french toast, do I have to go out contacting in the rain today?" we must remember: We are children of the covenant. We were reserved for these latter days. And they were too. But we have knowledge of it! Everyone is of beloved son or daughter. But I am a trusted daughter. I am not a passenger. I am a part of the crew and have to do my part!

Brad Wilcox´s 4th verse of I am a Child of God:

I am a Child of God

Saved for latter days

with noble birthright given to me

that I must now repay.

Leading, guiding other children

to help them find their way.

He also issued an invitation to us and I'm gonna share it with you guys. This General Conference remember: The apostles aren't talking to the world. They are talking to the House of Israel. Especially those with patriarchal blessings. This of the responsibility of your tribe. We have to remember QUIEN SOY YO (WHO I AM)!

Love you alll!!!!! So much!!!! Also Thank you for the birthday wishes and packages!!!! Thank you Hna Chavez! I love you!

"P." brought birthday cake and my favorite peach juice and candles to our lesson on Monday:) Best guys ever:) He even sang me my own happy birthday song in English! 

Also bread.....I won´t even say how much of this I eat. To be truly Spanish you must have at least one bar of bread at every sitting of a meal. Pan (bread) life for life!

Da Pan!

So we made a box a cigarettes to help Carmen quit smoking. Tell me we are just the cutest hermanas ever;)  Each cigarette has a spiritual pick-me-up to help her along!

I love these hermanas!

  

Our district in front of the beautiful Madrid temple! 

  

AND I saw my two favorite people from Alcalá at the concert last night!!! "I." and "A."!!! 

 

  

I seriously love the Lovell's!