Week 23 Email to Mom and Dad

So today isn't actually P-day but tomorrow is transfers and I don't know if I will get time to write emails tomorrow because I'm leaving Manacor!

I leave tomorrow on a plane at 1:00 to Barcelona and then a train to Valencia!

A little town close to Valencia right on the coast named Gandia is my next area in the mission. My new companions name is Elder Tingee.  He's been in the mission just as long as Elder Peck my current companion. Gandia is a smaller area I believe and a very beautiful one. There's a ward there and so I will eat with lots of members, it's going to be so different!

The past days I've been saying goodbye to members and friends and actually viewing parts of the islands I haven't seen yet that people have taken me to. I saw a lighthouse that gives you a great view of the half of the island and I went to some caves today with an investigator. 

I'm sad but happy to leave, I'm going to miss my companion and the people I have met here but I feel like I've been in Manacor a long time, and so I'm ready for a new adventure and new people and places to see!

I'll attach a few pictures in case I don't send a group email tomorrow but I'm excited to go!

Love you both! Tell everyone I say hi. Also, we killed a chicken on Saturday that was the funniest and weirdest experience of my life. Sorry mom for the gruesome photos.

Week 22 Email to Mom and Dad

Sounds like a lot going on! 

Trina is super happy you're helping her in the nursery! How do you feel about that calling?

For me around junior year I picked up on my grades and stuff, idk is it his girlfriend that's distracting him or just games on his phone? It doesn't make sense to me, honestly idk how much the flip phone would help because he would still try and use that smartphone as an iPod if you let him have it back. These are important years though and if his grades are falling how he definitely won't get into BYProvovo, and with BYU Hawaii so hard to get into, he might have to settle with going to Idaho. I sent him an email because he actually sent me one and asked me for advice with is girlfriend and I basically told him to break up with her. It's not worth it, like it's fine to go on dates and stuff but dating in high school it hits a point of fun and then it's boring and something you have to keep up. Just wait till college, I made a ton of friends and now I'm emailing like 4 girls. There are so many options out there.

Honestly, I forgot what other questions you had in the email so if I forget any to answer just let me know. Love you thanks for the email!

Elder Keith 

Oh right about the flood. So yeah that was scary! It was in a small town about 20 minutes from Manacor and it was super super bad. Some of the missionaries in a big group went to help last week, me and my companio couldn't because there are no buses running to that town right now and we dont have anyone to take us there. The town is messed up, and there a lot of mud flown through the town and the bad thing is a lot of the flood water was mixed with sewage water and so there's a lot of people who get sick from all the bacteria so any clothes you get soiled working there helping you pretty much have to throw away to protect yourself. I called Pilar and we talked she always talks to me in English like I don't speak Spanish but I totally understood her completely when she talked to me in Spanish hahaha. Anyways yeah and with transfers just make a guess where I could go, I feel like I'm going to San Sebastian in the north but who knows!

Also sorry third email I started making a list of ideas of things I need for Christmas:

1. A normal sweater from home, I didn't bring any with me and in the winter I'm gonna need one bad

2. A new case for my phone, either from Amazon or in the package. I have one but it's almost broken apart. It's a Samsung A8 

3. Some how I really want sour cream and onion lays, they dont sell them here and I crave them bad 

4. And I need more black and brown shoe shiner because they don't sell that good kiwi brand here.

I'll let you know if I have more ideas! Thanks 

Week 22 En Espanol

Hola a todos! Voy a escribir mi correo está semana en español, porque no!

El martes yo estuve en intercambio con elder may, y fue un intercambio diferente. El es un buen misionero, a veces no caemos bien pero hicimos mucho. Estábamos en la capilla mucho porque había mucha lluvia, muchísima lluvia. Muchas personas han visto en la televisión sobre las inundaciones aquí en mi área. Eran 20 minutos de Manacor, no en la ciudad donde vivo. Las personas allí que han sido efectuado por las inundaciones necesitan todas las oraciones de uds! Por favor oren por estas personas. Es un desastre allí y es muy triste.

El miércoles terminamos el intercambio y quedamos con brilian para planear el bautismo

El jueves armamos la pila para el bautismo y después fuimos con el presidente de rama a wok, un restaurante chino, para comer con un menos activo de la rama. Fue muy divertido y ella es más abierta a hablar con nosotros porque antes era muy difícil a hablar con ella pero ahora nos conocemos y estamos trabajando con ella para ayudarle a venir a la iglesia otra vez. 

El viernes hicimos otro intercambio pero con los elderes en inca. Estaba en Manacor con elder hughes otra vez. Nosotros armamos elsceleras nuevas para la pila y hicimos el programa para el bautismo. Tambien estábamos en la capilla durante una actividad de la sociedad de socorro y ella prepararon salsa de tomate y pasta fresca. Y la pasta fue horrible jajajs los miembros dijeron el mismo, también creo que los miembros no pueden cocinar en la capilla pero no soy el presidente de rama...

El sábado fue el bautismo! Y fue muy poderoso. También el compartió su testimonio de 5 minutos. El está listo para trabajar con nosotros misioneros y quiere traer más y más personas a la iglesia. El es genial y va a ser un miembro fuerte aquí en Manacor. 

El domingo confirmamos a brilian

Hoy estamos en Palma y estamos descansando y en una hora vamos a hacer un intercambio con los líderes de zona. 

Gracias por todos los correos está semana y las oraciones. Siempre oren para este rama y área de Manacor y también por las personas en San llorenç. Les quiero!

Elder Keith 

1+2. Pictures from the baptism of Brilian 

3. Selfie with Brilian after his confirmation.  He is 30 but wants to be a missionary really bad so he put on my companion's name tag. 

4. Lemon Fanta is something they need to bring to the US.

5. Me and Elder Hughes on intercambio and we set up the new stairs for the font 

6. We went to Wok which is a huge Asian food buffet, some of it they cook by order and so I got a huge steak, it was so good I hadn't had food that good in a while 

7. Selfie 

Week 21

Sorry everyone, I did not send out a weekly email but it was a rough week and I couldn't get myself dedicated to writing one. But here's what I have to sum up the last week and this week.

Last week me and my companion were sick basically and so all we did was go and do Facebook contacting online because we couldn't go out and teach or talk to people. We had a few lessons with our friend Brilian and we finished teaching him the lessons. That's all that we did basically, it flew by really quick 

This last week we had a zone activity, with all the other missionaries from the islands.  We went to a member's house and had a bonfire. We roasted hot dogs and made s'mores, it was basically the most American thing ever to do in Spain but it was really fun.

Wednesday we had the interview for Brilian for his baptism and he passed! He truly has been changed by the gospel and he is truly ready to go and be baptized.  We will have the baptism this Saturday the 13th!

Thursday we had zone conference so with all the missionaries again we went to Palma and we listened to lessons from the zone leaders and the mission president. It was a lot more teachings about teaching casually and things like that and obedience. Basic missionary things but it was very good. I then had an interview with the mission president and he basically told me I will be transferred this transfer! So every 6 weeks we have transfers where we change area and I have been here 3 transfers or about 4 months now so it is the normal time to change. Generally, missionaries change every 2-4 transfers. I'm excited to start on new adventures but I still have 2 weeks here to work hard.  I have enjoyed lots of success here and so I will finish my work here strong. I do not know where I am going next but you guys are welcome to send me emails and make guesses!

Friday we had exchanges with the elders in Inca. I went to Inca and basically went to many members' houses and just enjoyed my time there. Then Saturday morning we had churros and chocolate courtesy of a friend who bought them for us and we then went to watch conference!

So conference here works differently.  On Saturday at 6 PM we watched the Saturday morning session, then on Sunday at 3 PM we watched the Saturday afternoon session and then at 6 PM watched the Sunday morning session. I am yet to watch the Sunday afternoon session but I've already seen spoilers. Facebook has let me know about the temple being built in Yuba City!!! I can't even wrap my head around it I'm so excited to come back and see that temple come to the people there. I was hoping they would say they're building a temple in Barcelona but I'm not disappointed:)

Today me and my companion went to Palma to go shopping.  The elderly couple here invited us to come with them and take the car around to some shops in Palma so I bought a new tie and a Barcelona scarf which I found for cheap! And my companion bought some new suitcases.

That's all that happened, thank you all for the emails and support. Love you all, send me any questions, mail, or prayers you would like!

Elder Keith 

1. Bonfire with all the missionaries 

2. Churros with chocolate 

3. The dog at one of the members home

4. Huge huge ensaimada a member brought to me and my companion, it could probably feed 6 people but it's all for us....

5. Scarf I bought

Week 21 Email to Mom and Dad

Wow it wasn't a huge week but conference was amazing, still haven't watched Sunday afternoon session yet but I'll get there.

We had zone activity this last week, we did a bonfire at a members home and ate hot dogs and smores which was really fun, then we had zone conference which was pretty good, and had an interview with president where basically he told me I'm getting transferred, he says it's about that time and to enjoy the islands while I can. I'm excited to see where I'll be going but also realizing I have like 2-3 more weeks to work. 

Conference has been amazing! Wow truly learned a lot and I now have a lot to share with the members and apply here and in the work. Its been such an experience. Everyone here listens to it in Spanish but I went into the other room and listened to it in English. For me it's not that I dont understand Spanish but I just dont get the whole picture and idea in Spanish. Spanish is a very simple language, in English we use a lot more detail and so I prefer English. 

Just like what? They're building a temple in yuba city??? Why? I'm guessing it's to service all the members in northern California  but even then, its gotta be a small temple and where will they build it? Guess dad and the stake presidency didn't know anything about it? That's so insane. Wow I'm so excited, I'm sure it won't be built by the time I'm back but it will be in the process!

Not a lot happened missionary wise this week with all the things going on but this Saturday we have the baptism of brilian, I'll keep you all updated on that, any questions you have or any I didn't answer let me know!

Love you 

Elder Keith 

Week 20... again

It's been a long week here. Sorry I didn't send out a group email it's also because not a lot happened. Me and my companion have been sick all week with a cold and my companion has had stomach pains. So we didn't do a lot besides like teach Brillian and go to church. Me and my companion are getting along fine.  We've had some rough moments where in the beginning there was just so much disobedience but now he's learned a lot of the rules and we work better and get along a lot better. He's truly a great guy I really like being his companion. 

So we're working on the baptism for Brillian and we thought of doing it on the beach. Its something we're allowed to do here on the island and so we brought it up to the branch in branch council to see what they think. First off they went no no no if you do it on the beach we are not going. Literally all of them just gave no support. They're like you can do it in the Capilla and we will come, well bueno we did it last time in the Capilla and all of them who said no to the beach didn't even come. So idk where their heads are. Then they start telling us how to do our jobs. They're like - Elders why do you keep baptizing people that don't even come to church and just go inactive.... I about flipped out on then right there. I was so ticked off I left the room for a second. First off this branch would not grow if it wasn't for our work as missionaries to baptize people and bring them to the branch. We do everything we can to teach, help then understand the importance of going to church, and then we actually bring them to church. It's a requirement for baptism to come to church at least 2 times before being baptized. Second, inactivity happens for 2 reasons here in Spain. First, they get work and they just can't come on Sundays. And second, there is no "amistad" between the members and the person who was just baptized. People don't take a big enough effort in all the church to welcome in new people to the ward and make them feel at home and in a family. The second one happens all over the world and I would encourage you all to get to know the missionaries, who they're teaching, and bring people to them to teach. References from members are literally the biggest blessing as a missionary.  Antonio who I just baptized was a ward reference they brought to church. The missionaries are temporary.  We move a lot and when we do and if we're the only friends a convert has, we have problems.

That happened and I'm still holding hard feelings over that whole thing, but I'll move on. Yesterday we went to a small town as a zone and played games and did a small bonfire at a members house. We ate s'mores and roasted hot dogs. It was super fun and before that activity, we were doing a service activity as a zone so I didn't have much time to email.

I'll attach any pictures from this last week real quick.

Love you both sorry for the empty feelings and inboxes yesterday. Keep us in your prayers!

Elder Keith 

1.  Bonfire with all the missionaries 

2.  Me in a Pueblo named Sa Coma on Monday 

3.  More pictures of Sa Coma 

4.  A really cool and detailed picture of the bonfire I took with my phone 

5.  Went to a shop where they sell American food and bought a mountain dew, it's not as good here ...

6.  My companion in our room, it's humble but what we work with.

Week 20

No se es que hoy yo no tengo ganas a escribir correos. No se porque pero a escribir cartas cada semana es como una tarea. Está semana no se, quizás no enviaré un correo pero vamos a ver. Hoy es el día de la actividad de zona, eso es porque el día de preparación es el martes y no el lunes. También no tengo mucho tiempo para escribir. También no hay mucho que pasó está semana porque mi compañero y yo estábamos enfermos y no hicimos mucho. Lo siento pero muchísimas gracias por los correos y las oraciones! Le quiero!

Elder Keith