Hermana en España: Tenerife!

June 1, 2015

Stats: So right now I am in the Canary Islands on the island of Tenerife. Tenerife is the biggest Canary Island and has 3 wards on it. La Laguna, Santa Cruz, y Los Cristianos. The ward of Los Cristianos consists of every little pueblo (town) from basically the lower 3/4 of the island of Tenerife. So we've got a TON of little pueblos, but no big cities really. It's a new experience to be on the bus so much, but I really like contacting people in the bus. Everybody is so open and friendly and the best part is: They. Can´t. Run. Hahaha! Just kidding! Kinda.... ;) Los Cristianos is the name of the pueblo where the missionaries and the church are. The south of Tenerife is famous for it's beaches, which are GORGEOUS.

Ok now onto the fun part! I loooove Hna Santiago! She is great. Picture this: being Avery Veater's companion. I'm not even kidding. It's awesome. She even went to The U! She's a country loving Texan and we get along great. She's also only two transfers younger than me in the mission so it's been so fun to just work so hard together the past week.

I got to meet the ward yesterday and I am so excited to get to know everybody better! We're a ward, but it's not nearly the size of Alcalá. I think there were probably like 70 there yesterday and there's about 200 less actives....Ladies and gents. I think we've got a problem. But no worries Santiago and Finch are here!

Speaking of less actives. Let´s talk about "L.", a 32 year old Argentinian. Served a year of his mission here in the islands while he was waiting for his visa, but the visa never came through so he didn't end up serving the last year of his mission. Well, now he's a has some difficulties but I really quite like him. We've just got to get him to come back to church. He's just gotta take of the sacrament. He's worthy to do it too. He just doesn't want to because he feels like the members judge and that he doesn't want to be a hypocrite. We're working with him.

Also, "E.". She's from the islands. She was actually found by the sisters through her sister, "S." who is a less active member. She's in her 60's or 70's and the sisters started teaching her right before I came in. She knows the church is true. Her husband is just a little (a lot) against it (mainly 3 hours plus 45 minutes there and back of traveling time). Her and her husband actually own a farm so we're going to go over there this Friday and do some service and hopefully change his opinion of the church.

Next up, we're teaching a family. Well kinda, the dad doesn't want anything to do with us (he gave up on God when his son died) and the mom's a little confused about how our church is different, but they're great! They've got two teenage kids and one younger daughter that just completed her first communion last Saturday. We've got a little work, but they're great!

CPdE: Welll this is awkward. Last night we were meeting with one of our 20 year old muslim investigators and now I'd like to borrow Hna Santiago´s word's for this part of the story: "Lastly, to end the week we started meeting with this great 20 something kid that we met near the bus stop. Unfortunately, we wont be meeting with him anymore though. Last night he expressed to us that the first time we met him, it was because he saw Hermana Finch and I and we just had this light about us, so he followed us. He then proceeded to express unto ME his undying desires to take Hermana Finch for his wife. Don't worry she was sitting right in the middle of us and heard the whole thing! I think it may be common in his culture to have arranged marriages, I believe I was playing the role of the mother. Better luck next time kid!" It was un poco incomodo!

That´s it for the islands folks!

I forgot! So "L." has also sent a few letters up to Salt Lake and you've gotta hear what he said to us!

"L.": "And you know what they said to me?!"

Us: "....No...."

"L.: "Obey! Don´t question the doctrine!"

Us *In our heads*: Welll, yep, that sounds about right...

Hna Santiago: "And how does that make you feel?...."

Bahahahaha!!!! We ended up quoting it all week long. Obey! Don´t question the doctrine! And over time it grew to have more and more of a hick accent until we decided that it was definitely Elder Oaks who wrote the letter. We went back to his house yesterday and guess what we found out? Elder Oaks wrote the letter.... ^_^ Hehehehehe!!

Goodbye to the old district...

and one of my closest friends in Alcorcón! Besos!

My last hair cut in Alcorcón. Look Mom! I´m professional now! Before...

After...

Saying goodbye to Hna Berry and the missionaries that went to the islands.

The blond elder standing on the edge and I are in the same district.

Hna Sanchez and I on the plane to the islands. I would just like to say how much I love this sister. We've been thrown together as companions in a couple other situations before when we were sister training leaders and never had our comps so we got another day to be together. Probably our last before she goes home in August.