Whitewash.... TRAIN

Ice cream in the Plaza del Pilar

Hola a todos!

Well, with the new President, there have been so many changes happening, including the way we received transfer calls. We had a meeting with Presidente about social media in the mission, and at the end of the meeting, he asked my fellow social media specialist and me to stay on the zoom meeting, and once everyone left, he told us the news haha. It was much different, but the anticipation did not change in the slightest. But, out of the 4 of us in Zaragoza, I am the only one who is staying! And on top of that, we hope to be receiving missionaries from the States, that moment is not now, however, our mission is receiving 1 brand new missionary. And this brand new missionary is going to start his mission in Zaragoza! At the moment, I know very little about him, but since we are only 2 missionaries in Zaragoza, and not 4, we are going to be very busy!

These past few weeks, Elder Villamizar and I have been finding ourselves using the same scripture often in our citas and visits, with members and amigos alike. Something that the Gospel brings is true happiness. A happiness that lasts, something that is different from temporal happiness. An example for me personally is mountain biking. I absolutely love it, the adrenaline of blasting down a trail, I think that is safe to say that in those moments, there is a wide grin on my face. But, unfortunately, I am not constantly riding a bike in the forest. That would be awesome though. So, when we aren't doing things that make us happy, whether it's riding bikes, playing a sport, or even eating a good empanada, where can one find happiness, especially during tough trials? Well, here is where that scripture comes in. In Mosiah 2:41, we read:

    41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Who wants to be blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual? Who wants to dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness? Anyone? Well, in the first part of the verse, we find what we need to do in order to do so. Keep the commandments of God. By following the commandments, we show faith that we want to follow God, and with that, God gives us blessings, and with that, we can be happy, in any situation. So, if you want to be happier, well try an experiment on what King Benjamin said. :)

Until next week!
Élder Van Wagenen
God Bless America, Viva España

Fotos:

1. Calle de la Libertad. I would give a gold star to the man who named this street

2. District council

3. Enough said

Changes

The Barcelona and Lleida zone. Yikes we need more missionaries 😂

 Hola a todos!

We had a very good week full of awesome teaching experiences! One of those awesome teaching moments actually came from one of our very own Facebook ads! It's always fun seeing success in our own areas from the work we do :). But a few weeks ago, our friend, Marcela, saw one of our ads on Facebook and signed up to know more. This ad presented the question of "where do the people who have died go?" As we spoke with her through WhatsApp, she told us that a few months ago, her husband passed away, and that it has been a very difficult and trying time in her life. Later, we had a cita, and she brought her mom with her as well! But in the cita, we taught that through Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation, we can find peace in difficult times. I could literally note a physical change in her from the beginning of the cita, and the end. It was very easy to see that she was looking for peace, and as we testified of the Plan of Salvation, and how we have found peace in our own personal experiences, the Spirit touched her heart. They happily accepted a Book of Mormon, and we are in frequent contact. Prayers for Marcela are gladly accepted! :)

We also had our Zone Conference with Los Villar this past week, and I am so excited to work with them for the final few months of my mission! We spent a few days in Barcelona where we had our interviews, and then the next day we had the Zone Conference. We also had a few meetings specifically about Social Media in the mission, and I just know that the Villars are the right leaders for this mission at this time. In my interview, in our meetings, and at the Zone Conference, you could feel their love for the work, and for the missionaries. They also seemed very optimistic about getting new missionaries soon, so, prayers for a miracle to happen in the Spain Consulate for all the American missionaries waiting for a visa would also be genial!

Until next week!

Élder Van Wagenen

God Bless America, Viva España

Fotos:

1. Parc Güell

2. Monestario de Piedra. A big park full of dope waterfalls and caves in Aragon.

3. It made me feel right at home like I was standing next to Nevada Falls in Yosemite.

4. Sagrada Familia with a good friend, Elder Rivas 

5. Sagrada Familia

Some depressing, but happy times

Los Galli

 Hola a todos!

As the title of this email so indicates, the past few weeks were pretty depressing, but at the same time very fun times. This past week, our Mission President and his wife left the mission, as did Elder and Hermana Foster. But what was cool was that the entire mission got to get together to have 1 last zone conference, and it was so awesome. I saw lots of people that I hadn't seen in ages, like our MTC district, it was so much fun, and kind of crazy seeing how small our mission is. But it was a pretty sad day saying goodbye to the Gallis and the Fosters, I am so grateful that I was able to serve with them here in Spain, and especially grateful to have served in the islands, and later in social media with the Fosters. They are true disciples of Christ, and I can't wait to visit them later after the mission.

And what was awesome was that the Villars were able to make it to Spain! I had a cool experience because we had a virtual zoom conference with the whole mission not too long after their arrival, and even though it was through zoom, I felt like I had known the Villars for a very long time, and that we were already very close friends. I had a very deep love for these 2 people, who I've never met in my life, and have only seen them through a screen. So it was a testimony for me that the Villars are the leaders the Spain Barcelona Mission needs right now, and the Mission President and wife that I need right now. We will be meeting them next week, so super excited to do that!

And, the best day of the year has just gone past us, and well, those of you who know me pretty well, know darn well that I can't keep my mouth shut about America, especially around this time of the year, but, think about this...

A reason why I love the United States so much is because I feel like it is the least I can do to thank all of the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for my freedom and my rights. But, another big reason is that without the United States, and especially the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution (which was totally written by God btw go ask Dallin H. Oaks or read 1 Nephi 13, 2 Nephi 1, or D&C 101:80), well the Restoration would not have happened when it happened. Back before the USA was even 13 colonies, people flocked to the new land, including my ancestors, the pilgrims in 1620, looking for religious freedom. During this time in the world, it was one of the only places where this freedom was enjoyed. Come 1776, God had quite the hand when the colonists defeated the most powerful country in the world (1 Nephi 13). But why is that important? With the Declaration and the Constitution, it allowed people to keep enjoying religious freedom, and allowed people to form their own churches. (We know this as results from the apostasy). All these things came together to set up the situation perfectly for when a young boy of 14 years old wanted to know which church of all the churches was true. He prayed, and ultimately through the power of God, restored the true church to the earth. Without the States, I would not have the happiness that I have in my life, that happiness being the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. And that is why I love America, and what it stands for.

But that's enough for today, go read some of those scriptures I mentioned, and think about what role the signing of the Declaration of Independence means to you in your life. Thank you for all the birthday wishes, and I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe July 4th weekend. Love yall!!

Élder Van Wagenen 

God Bless America, Viva España (1 Nephi 13:12, tell me under which flag said person "went forth upon the many waters...[to the] promised land. Hint, the guy's name starts with C, and ends in hristopher Columbus.)

Fotos:

1. The Spain Barcelona Mission, June 2021

2. 4th of July dinner. Fall off the bone ribs came clutch once again

3. All the social media specialists, the current, as some of those who have retired, with the Fosters

4. Los Foster

5. Forca Barca, Camp Nou

6. MTC district 12D. We 4 were all in the same district and were the 4 who came to Barc, and we all still kickin it