Quarantine: Week 3, we will survive!

Hola a todos!

Back at it again rocking in quarantine here in the beautiful land of Spain. I have heard that many missionaries from around the globe have been sent home due to the virus. From the Philippines, Africa, South America, and other places. I feel really bad for those missionaries and pray that it is a smooth transition for them. However, I am very grateful to say that we here in Europe are here for the journey! Our Mission President and the Area Presidency over Europe have said that there are no plans for missionaries in Europe to go home, so we will be staying! Vamos!

With all the time I have, I am able to study the scriptures really well each day, and it's awesome! For one of my studies this week, I read sections 121-123 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This is when Joseph Smith receives these revelations while stuck in Liberty Jail. One thing I really liked was in verse 5 of section 122, the Lord says "If thou art called to pass through tribulation...." And then for the next verse and a half He begins naming difficulties and trials Joseph has had or currently had, and then at the end of verse 7 the Lord says, "know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." And clearly, being locked up in a modern piso in Spain is far better than Liberty Jail on frozen ground, and his trials were much more severe, however I directly applied the Lord's words to my situation. I have been called to serve as a missionary at this time, to be locked in quarantine for who knows how long, so that I gain experience. It's all for my own good. And I just love that, and that has helped me see this quarantine as a blessing rather than a trial or an annoyance. And this scripture can be applied to anybody at any given time. So ask yourself, what is there to learn, and how does the Lord see me growing from this experience???

I hope everyone is staying sane and safe. I would also like to invite y'all to watch General Conference this weekend. It's gonna be awesome!!! And remember that God loves you!

Élder Van Wagenen 

God Bless America, Viva España

Fotos:

1. Some quality eating in quarantine 

2. Doing what I do a lot, ripping mate

Quarantine: Week 2

Hola a todos!

We have been locked up in piso all week, and has it been the most enjoyable experience, no, but it has been a fun experience. And we even saw a miracle in our time in piso, it's amazing how the work of the Lord moves forth no matter the circumstance!

So our little miracle this week. The way we work in piso is by sending text messages to people, calling people, and working with Facebook to find people to teach. But one day, we texted a man who had been in our contacts for a long time and asked him if he had an interest. He didn't respond for a few hours, so we thought nothing of it, but we didn't delete his number. Later that day, we got a message from a group chat we were not familiar with. Confused, we looked at the messages that were piling in. They were all questions about the church. And then the first text of the group chat said something like this: Hey Élders I am the guy you texted earlier today. I have interest, and so do 13 of my other friends, so I made this group chat with all of us. Can you guys answer some questions for us?? We were kind of in shock, 14 people who have interest??? 14?!?!?!?!? Madre mía! So for the rest of the day, we texted these guys and answered their questions, and taught them the 1st lesson, the Restoration. Clearly, God had a hand in this miracle here, and it was an answer to a prayer. Even in quarantine when we can't go outside, the work goes forth!

I hope everyone is doing well and staying sane. Be sure to stay at home and wash yo hands!!!

Élder Van Wagenen 

God Bless America, Viva España 

Fotos:

1. Yeah we made a ping pong table out of our dining table and toilet paper.

2. So the city announced to close your windows and doors because they would be "sanitizing" the city. I was imagining a lysol helicopter flying over the city and dropping lysol or something. But, its this tractor towing around a tank that sprays the sanitizer out the sides. It's been raining for 6 days straight so not sure if it did anything, but I give them an A for effort. 

Quarantine: Week 1

Hola a todos! 

This past week has been the craziest week of my mission so far!! But it's been an absolute blast! To start, we had transfers this week, and I am in Huércal-Overa, an awesome little pueblo in Southern Spain. 

So the beginning of the week was full of packing and traveling. Once we finally got all settled in our piso, our friend the corona virus made things a little tricky. We have been in quarantine since Saturday. And today, the Prime Minister of Spain made it illegal to go out on the streets if you are not commuting to work, or buying food or things from the pharmacy. If you get caught, it's a hefty 500 euro fine, at least. So it is pretty crazy! But we are having a grand old time and it has been an experience that I will not forget. 

With the corona virus, it seems to be causing a lot of panic. I've only heard of the mass of people flocking to Costco to stock up on toilet paper, I mean they're doing it here as well, we just don't have Costco. Sad I know. But with that, I don't fully understand why people are going ham on TP. Corona virus is a respiratory thing, but I suppose it's always good to be prepared. But with all of the uncertainty and panic, it can be quite scary and easy to be afraid. And I know I talked about this last week, but have faith. All this uncertainty and panic can and will increase our faith, but we need to put our trust in him. We have no idea what will happen, weather it gets better or worse, but regardless, trust that the Lord has a plan, and it is a perfect plan, and in the end, everything will be fine. In the Book of Mormon, there are tons of father and son talks, and I really enjoy a talk Helaman had with his son Shiblon, Alma 38:5

5 And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

So, put your trust in him. Trust in him and everything will be okay. I hope all of you are doing well, and stay safe! Wash yo hands!!

Élder Van Wagenen

Fotos:

1. Our leaders are so smart. They had us buy a lot of food at the beginning of this week just in case we can't leave. I think this will last me a while. 

2. Before we got put in quarantine, we were able to get out into the streets. This cathedral is super cool and really close to piso. Huércal-Overa is a really cool pueblo! 

3. Me & Elder Griffin (my new companion)

Hasta luego Elche

 This is a the Pinson family. 

Hola a todos!

It's been a great week here in Elche, and sadly my last! I got a call from my zone leader a couple days ago and told me that I will be going to Huércal-Overa, a city in the deep south of the mission. In fact, it is the most southern area of our mission, so I am excited!

But this week, we had lots of opportunities to teach. And one thing that I love teaching is about faith. In Ether 12:6 it says 

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

We have problems, concerns, challenges, whatever it may be in our lives. But they are so we can grow and learn. But with that, God is going to help us. However, we must have faith he will. We need to have a hope that he will help us, although we cannot see, just as Moroni states. But a way I enjoy teaching this is with an emptied Infusión bag and fire. An Infusión bag is just like a tea bag, just a really dry and thin piece of paper. But anyways, you stand the bag straight up on your hand, and then light it on fire from the top. It will burn down the paper, and just before it gets to your hand, it will lift up into the air. So with that, we will not receive a testimony of our faith until after we have tried. We must have the faith and try it first, and if we do that, God will help us.

Until next week!

Élder Van Wagenen 

God Bless America, Viva España

 Fotos:

1.  Me & Elder Perry in Alicante

2.  Me and members in Elche

3.  Amigo Joseph

 
4.  Me with a fun sister in our ward

5.  Me teaching about faith

Remember the Alamo

Hola a todos!

I had a great week! We had zone conference, and I got to see a lot of friends there, and the teachings during the conference were awesome and really motivated me to be the best missionary I can be. It was awesome!

But, highlight of the week. We went to Madrid, outside the mission boundaries, and went to the temple. Our Mission President had made a new rule, allowing us to go outside of the mission and attend the temple. And it was awesome. My last time at the temple in the MTC, I told myself, well I need to wait 2 years before I can come to a temple again, and that was really sad. But I only had to wait 4 months, much better than 2 years. I truly love the temple, it is such an amazing and beautiful place. I really felt the spirit there and it was a great time to relax, reflect, and ponder.

This week we taught 3 people from Venezuela, and they are beasts. The father got to know the church through his job, building churches, and then he moved to Spain. A year and a half later, he found us in the streets, and now we are teaching in him. But we passed by and taught them the first lesson, The Restoration, and that went very well. They had the same question Joseph Smith had, why so many different churches, different religions??? And it was awesome telling them about the experience of Joseph Smith, and his journey in finding the truth. And likewise, we can do the same as Joseph Smith. If we have faith, ponder and read the scriptures, and then ask God if it is true or not, he will give us an answer, just like he did Joseph Smith.

Élder Van Wagenen
God Bless America, Viva España

Fotos:

1. Zone Conference with 3 zones

2. Me and Otilia, a short Columbian in our ward. She is a beast, and really short! But she played along for a foto




















3. Make sure to remember the Alamo folks. February 23rd - March 6th, 1836

4. I saw Élder Boden at Zone Conference!




















5. Our district went to Madrid to go to the temple, it was amazing!