10,000 mistakes

 On top of the Santa Maria Basilica, a cathedral in the city. There was awesome views all around.

Hola a todos!

We had a pretty packed week over here in Europe, we had a lot of things going on, but we were still able to find success in the midst of crazy. 

But I had an awesome experience with the Gift of the Interpretation of tongues. We were in a visit with 3 people from Venezuela and we were just chatting having a great time. My companion was talking with one of them, and I was talking to the other 2. We were in 2 different conversations, and at first I was like oh boy this is going to be rough. But, I was fine. I didn't understand 100% of everything said, but I was able to understand exactly what they were talking about, and be able to add comments to the conversation, where usually I just sit there confused and hope sí works as a response when they stop talking and expect me to say something. It was so awesome!!! I know my Spanish still has a long way to go, but I know with the Lord's help, I will make due and grow my speaking and understanding skills as I study and practice. Something I always remember when studying Spanish is something my high jump coach said, before you can be an expert at something, one must make 10,000 mistakes. So I still have a lot more mistakes to go! 

We also had a district meeting this week which was lots of fun. We have a pretty awesome district, out of the 6 of us, 3 of us are not from America. And for the 3 of us who are from the States, not one is from Utah! Qué raro! But I was asked to teach a little bit of English, so I taught our district the Pledge of Allegiance, claro. It was awesome. 

Élder Van Wagenen

God Bless America, Viva España

Fotos:

 

Inside the cathedral

Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, because my companion wanted it seen in action. I thought it was a moving and motivating experience. 

Besitos!

Hola a todos!

I had an awesome week here in Spain! This week, I went on exchanges with my zone leader from Alicante, and right as we were leaving Alicante to drive to Elche, an older Peruvian was walking along the street, and Elder West, my zone leader, had talked with her before. So we went to visit with her for just a sec, and he greeted she greeted him with besitos (the way people greet each other in Spain, you just kiss each other on the cheek, but really you're just putting your cheek against theirs. I'm sure they've been done in a movie or something), and when it got my turn to greet her, she expected me to do the same. I never given besitos, but have seen them done. I wasn't quite expecting it, but it was a fun experience!

And Spaniards are just fun. They are great. We were out contacting in the streets of Elche, and I contacted this older Spaniard woman. And for the next hour, we sat and talked there. Just in the streets. Spaniards are storytellers! It was awesome! We talked about her belief in God and faith, and we are going to meet with her again this week. I am getting a lot of practice with my Spanish!

Also, awesome and rare thing happened this week. We had a general authority, a 70, Francisco J. Viñas, come to a noche de hogar in Elda and give us a message. It was so beast! He talked about the importance of fellowshipping and ministering. We felt his spirit there and the power in his words, it was awesome!!!

I hope everyone had a great week, and a great Valentine's Day! Also, I'd like to say Happy early Birthday to my good friend George Washington, February 22nd, 1732. Happy Birthday George!

Until next week!

Élder Van Wagenen
God Bless America, Viva España

Fotos:

1.  Noche de hogar in Elda with Élder Francisco J. Viñas 

2. Driving in España! 

3. Love this flag! 

4. Me and my Zone Leader Élder West ripping mate and having a good time. We both also love that flag

5. Ward activity!

Lift

Hola a todos!

This week we got a little more settled into the schedule, and I'm learning to run the area, which means speaking! My new companion is also a native, so my Spanish is improving very quickly! We have also found out that Elder Stevenson is coming to our mission, and we will be listening to him as an entire mission in a few weeks. I am so excited!!!!! 

Highlight of the week, we shared a message about the effect ministering can have. And we watched the video "one by one." The video is about a father who lost his son, and as you can imagine, is something very difficult. However, through the ministering of a friend, this father got through a really low time in his life. It is a really awesome video. After watching it, we talked about how we can apply that into our lives. Usually, everyone has some burden or trial they have going on. Some bigger than others, but regardless, we all have troubles. So with this idea of ministering, if we can focus on other people, help them, we can do a lot of good. It can be as simple as smiling, holding a door open, just being a friend. If you need some ideas, ask yourself what would the Savior do? And from there act on any impressions you get. So my invitation you can say, try to lift someone. Can be a family member, a friend, a teacher, a stranger, it doesn't matter! Just look for ways to lift, and I promise you will feel the Savior's love, because we feel it when we live the way he lived, and going about lifting others was what he did. So try it. It's an awesome feeling!

Until next week!

Élder Van Wagenen 

God Bless America, Viva la España 

Fotos:

1. Our beautiful capilla in Elche

2. Beach in Santa Pola

3. Our district. We have tons of fun together! 

Where did January go?

Hola a todos!

I had an amazing week! Since my new companion is new to the area and knows pretty much nothing about the area and the work, I'm leading the area. And with that I need to talk and understand. I can do okay, but I'm still pretty new. But wow, something happened, and it was like my knowledge of Spanish double! I have been talking to people, answering calls, and have understood the language so much better. And I am with a native companion who speaks perfect Spanish, and I am off to a great start!

This week, we had a noche de barrio, translated as a ward night, kinda like family home evening, but with the ward. We have these every week. But this week I gave a message about the Book of Mormón and it's importance. But as I studied to give this message, I truly learned how vital the Book of Mormon is to the Church. Joseph Smith said: “Take away the Book of Mormon... and where is our religion? We have none”. And then, there was a real life example. And it talked about an arc. An arch is a strong architectural structure made from wedge-shaped pieces that lean against each other. The middle piece, or keystone, is usually larger than the other wedges and locks the other stones in place. If an arc was related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, then maybe some if the pieces are points of doctrine, however they keystone, the thing that keeps the whole thing standing, The Book of Mormon. And for me, it was a testimony builder of the church, but also Joseph Smith. It makes sense why it was so important, and why it was needed. 

I hope everyone had a great week, and boy is it just me, or did January go by in a blink??? Until next week!

Élder Van Wagenen 

God Bless America, Viva la España 

Fotos:

1. We teach lots of English, and I needed a way to promote it. We'll see how it goes. 

2. Me and my new companion, Élder Monsalve 

3. Jugant L'illa Prohibida! Our catalán is improving!

4. An evening in Elche. The weather here is so awesome!