Ch. 44 The Light

Chapter 44: The Light

What a week. I can hardly believe it has only been a week with everything that has gone on! I don´t think I have ever been so exhausted after a week, but if you could only see the smile that I can´t seem to get off my face. As we started our week, we were desperately praying for a miracle. I want to see Cathy and Tony baptized with all my heart. I don´t know if I have ever felt so close to investigators before. We knew that the Spanish government is practically impossible to work with, but between the Spanish Goverment and God...I´ll put my money on God. (I am not so sure if gambling on God´s side is appropriate, but you get what I am saying. Haha) But, if we were going to get a miracle, I knew we would have to put some forth of effort of our own. We´ve been talking a lot about obedience in the mission field, and I always have thought of myself as a pretty obedient missionary, so nothing really stuck out in my mind... But I also knew that if I wanted a miracle, that it was through obedience that I was going to get it. So, I took a real good look at everything and realized something. There is something that all the missionaries do because everyone else in Spain does it....Walk on Red lights. Something so little, right? The thing is, it´s not really dangerous, because all the streets are practically one way and really little. But, it was a sacrifice we were willing to make. So, we stopped walking on red lights, and the day we did we went to go visit Cathy and Tony. They had two big grins just plastered on their faces. We sat down and they told us that they were finally able to get in and get the information that they needed. They said that they were told if as soon as they got their papers done, they could get married right on the spot. No agonizing waiting. Tony told us that it was an absolute miracle, and that he still doesn´t understand how that could be. I knew. But...there was a catch. To do the papers, Cathy has to fly to Romania and get her papers, and get them translated which will cost about $600 in total. Now, I want to remind you that they are so desperately in need of money right now that the bishop brought them by a ton of food to last them for the month. I feel like I had so much hope...and then bam!!  We walked a little slower home, heads down a little.  But hang on, the story gets brighter... So two days later we came back to talk with them. Cathy received news that the piso that she had in Romania owed her 500$ I could hardly believe it. The said they were working so hard to get all the money saved up so that they could go. They only needed a hundred euros. So, we talked to the bishop about it, and this Sunday was just incredible all around. We had a crazy Sunday morning, so we were in and out of the classes picking up investigators. When we walked into the investigator class, they were teaching tithing...the one lesson that we haven´t been able to teach them that we were kind of saving for last. Yes, I as afraid to teach it, I will admit it. You shouldnt´be scared, but I was. I just nervously looked over at their faces during the whole lesson. They both looked so serious....ah! Well, I didn´t get the chance to ask them about it until after church. I went and sat over by Cathy and asked her, “So, how did you like the classes today?” and she just looked over at me and said, “I understand why God hasn´t been blessing us. We haven´t ever paid tithing. I wish I would have known when I had a job because I know the Lord would have blessed us. I can´t pay any money now, but is there anything else I can donate? I could clean the chapel!” I just sat there in amazement. Could they possibly be this converted to the gospel?? The bishop said he wanted to talk to them after the meeting, so I sat there waiting with the outside the door, and they were just talking about how happy they were now. That they had looked their whole lives for this peace. Even Tony said, “I can´t explain it. I just can´t explain this inner peace that just makes me so happy. With all the problems we had, life just seemed dark, and now there´s light. The problems are still there, but now I have this hope.” I just could hardly believe it. This man who was slightly on the rough side when we first met him is a man of faith now! We were looking through of how it could possibly happen, and really it was the Book of Mormon. You just can´t not receive a testimony of Christ and His church if you are reading the Book of Mormon. Tony especially has such a thirst for the gospel. He is reading the gospel principles book, The Book of Mormon (he is halfway through 2 Nephi) and on chapter Genesis of the Bible. I was talking to Cathy and she told me, “A while ago I was praying to God. I told him that if Tony is really supposed to be my husband, then he has got to put him on the right path. Now I look at him, and he is reading more books from God than I am, and his faith is growing.” I just can hardly express how much I love them. They are so precious to me. The bishop found Tony work possibly and so it looks like that there future really is getting brighter. I can just see in their faces the change—they really just shine. We are still working on getting them to Romania, but with God, nothing is impossible. Not only them, but we had another huge miracle. Remember Husane our Muslim investigator? Well, he called me this week and he said, “Hermana Hopkins...I need to talk to you about something. When can we meet?” So we set up the appointment, and I was slightly nervous. We sat down and he says, “I have a really important question for you.” “Ummm yes??” “Are Mormons....Christian.”

Phew, an easy question. Hahaha “Yes, Husane, we are Christian. I thought you were reading the Book of Mormon...?” and he replies, “Well, I am. I am almost halfway done. I would be done by now, but I read every page five times to make sure I understand.” “And what does it talk about Husane?” “Jesus! That´s why I don´t understand why the people on the internet said you weren´t Christian!” Oh brother. Well after a good long talk, he said, “Ok, I want to be baptized.” WHAT! So, we will be working with him. I just love the Book of Mormon. It truly is the truth that you can feel in your hand! The day after we stopped walking on red lights, we got in contact with a Spaniard family that we contacted on the Three Kings Day. They are incredible. I actually was on a split and in an other cita, but my companion just comes back jumping up and down and says, “They want to be baptized, they want to be baptized!! AND they are a family of 6!!” I could hardly believe it. We really felt the Lord´s hand in the work this week for sure. When we met with them again, they believed in the story of Joseph Smith, believe in the Book of Mormon, but don´t understand why that means they have to change churches.....I don´t really understand that, but I am working on it.  It was like watching Satan work with them, but they said they would be baptized. We also have been trying to get into this family the whole time I have been in Castellón. The mom is alone trying to raise 5 girls. The two oldest are twins and 14 years old, and then a 6 year old, and then 2 twin 3 year olds. Their dad left them last year I believe, and she has hasn´t let us in to teach them. We have been teaching her best friend, and she said she would talk to her about it. Well, we felt like we should try a lesson with them both, so we got it all planned out. Well, the moms had a last minute work thing, but the mother of the 5 girls said we could come and teach the girls!! What!! It was incredible. The two oldest girls have been reading the Book of Mormon.  One of them suffers from epilepsy, and said that since she has been reading the Book of Mormon, she hasn´t had a single attack. So, if you can´t tell, I really love the Book of Mormon. Funny, but not so funny update on our Peruvian family. They called us and told us how much of an impact our lesson had on them and they want to get their family closer to God.....so they are preparing their son for the first communion. Not what I had in mind, and they cancelled on us this week.  We are going to teach them about the Restoration next and clarify a few things hopefully.  I really love this time here, and it just makes me so excited to see the light that the Book of Mormon and the Gospel is bringing into these homes.

Les Quiero,

Hermana Hopkins 

Ch. 43: Los Tres Reyes (The Three Kings)

Chapter 43: Los Tres Reyes (The Three Kings)

Happy New Year!! I can´t believe we are already in 2014. I thoroughly enjoyed my twelve grapes with a side of “champin”, and we spent it with all the missionaries with a cute Peruvian family here. They made us rabbit (sorry Lex), potatoes, and they said they looked it up and in America we eat homemade pizza for New Years. So Homemade pizza it was. I was expecting a huge bash or crashing for the New Years, but it was a very quiet celebration here in Castellon.  A few fireworks, we could hear the bell tower do the count down, and a few shouts was about the extent of their celebration.  The work....was a little slower on New Years, but I guess that´s to be expected when everyone is sleeping the next day. Even the members had a party in the church that went until six in the morning.  So, we visited a couple members that were awake, and then had a family home evening with some of the youth in the ward at the church that night. I was just ready to get back to work though! We found this wonderful Peruvian family that are just so incredible! The only thing is they live about a half hour out of Castellón. However, we had our cita with them, and it was the cutest thing. They were talking about how they are really interested in our doctrine of eternal families. The husband was just like, “I have always hated how the marriage vows always end with death; I want my family to be eternal. If we believe in life after death, why would I want to be separated from my loved ones?” Exactly my friend, that´s what we are here for, I thought.  Well, we were talking to him briefly about some of the doctrines when I look over at their nine year old son. Get this: he had a highlighter going through the Book of Mormon asking our Mission Leader (who took us out there) for scriptures that he liked. Yes, I think we found a future missionary.  I am really excited to keep working with them. They are really special. They wanted to come to church, but the dad and the baby got really sick. The devil is sneaky one.... grr.... But, speaking of eternal families, we had an incredible cita with Cathy and Tony. They are seriously the best. They are more active than half the ward. They are at all the activities and ready to help with anything. We stopped the day after New Years to see how they were doing, and they said that they had been talking with the Bishop about some things, and in particular about the temple. I thought this was a little premature since we have only been teaching them for about a month, but they are so incredible, I guess they can handle it. Anyway, they looked at us and they said, “It would really mean a lot to us if you could be in our sealing.”

What?  Did I hear that right??Yes, yes I did. I was completely shocked. In fact, I couldn´t respond. I just stared at them for about 10 seconds probably with a look like I had just won a million dollars (except it´s way better). I responded, a little choked up, that I would do everything in my power to be there. The only problem is we are still waiting on the papers here before Cathy can go to Romania and finish her papers there, then she has to bring them back, and then they have to submit everything here to the Spanish Government which can take up to 2-4 months before you can get married. I´ve never been a fan of the drive through weddings in Vegas, but all of a sudden, they are looking quite ingenious... haha Anyway, I will be opening my Send-Hermana-Hopkins-Back-To-Spain-2015 fund reserve promptly.  Just kidding, but I am quite determined to do everything I can to at least get them to this first wedding. They are my only investigators that I can count on being at church every week.... As to Miguel, we still can never meet with him! He has proven to be slippier than grabbing a bar of soap with wet hands. We found out though from one of his friends in the church that he has a really bad drinking problem that he is trying to get over, which would definitely explain the strange behavior. I have seen crazier miracles though. We are working with a few families in our area, and the work is really growing. I feel like with all the Peruvians we´ve been finding that we might have to open a Peruvian branch. J

Saturday was the day we receive transfer calls. It´s probably the one thing that I simply will not miss on the mission. I am a nervous wreck all day. You just think about if you are going to stay, are you going to go, where you could possibly go, the goodbyes you may be saying. Ok, maybe I am just a worrier, but I can´t stand it! So that night I practically jumped on the phone when the district leader called. He knew I was nervous, so he made it as painful as possible...

“Hermana Portas. You are staying in Castellón. Hermana Hopkins. Sorry, but you aren´t so lucky...”My heart stopped.  “Just kidding, you´re staying too.” So, I will officially be spending a third of my mission in Castellón, and I dont´mind one bit!

Yesterday was the Three Kings Day which is the biggest holiday here in Spain. It´s the sixth of January, but the fifth is when the three kings come (really, there are three kings and they come in the train station) and everyone goes crazy! They have a big parade and everything to greet them in. Then the morning of the sixth the kids open their presents (like Christmas) and the kings go around in cars led by police officers throwing candies in the streets and they have a big lunch and dinner. It was really fun because we got to spend the big dinner with one of the Spaniard families in the ward and celebrate it authentically with all the missionaries. It was so fun. I thought I was going to have to roll home because they fed us so much, but it was so worth it. It was definitely a holiday season that I won´t forget! I love you all so much, and I am so grateful for the blessings I receive from your prayers.

Les Quiero!

Hermana Hopkins 

Chapter 42: 12 Grapes

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas holiday! I know that it was a Christmas that I will never forget. All of Christmas Eve I was making Oreo truffles (thank you Laurie Petersen-your truffles are officially world-famous haha) with the Elders. We made about 300 truffles to pass around to the members, less actives, and investigators as we carolled to them. It was really fun! That evening, we celebrated the “noche buena” with one of the families I am really close to, and it was a feast! They ordered in a turkey just for us. You can´t really find turkey here in Spain since the special or traditionial  “Christmas food” is more seafood. They were so cute! Then on Christmas our district got together in the church and had a big Christmas breakfast and listened to Christmas music, afterwards, we went out and continued our carolling fest, and went to a member´s house for dinner. Really, I feel so blessed to have these great members here. Then I got to skype home, and oh my goodness, it felt unreal!! It was almost like being home for Christmas seeing everyone´s faces. I can´t believe that in 9 months (well less than that now) I will be home again. But, we don´t need to talk about that now. However, I had a not so great Christmas present that arrived to me in the form of a text that evening. Remember my “Island Carol” from last summer and the horrible intercambio experience? Well, I had a real scroogey moment when I was told I would be doing an intercambio the next day with the same training leader. NOOO!! Haha I was not happy. First of all, I didn´t get any heads up, and I wanted to have some good appointments for when she comes, and it was the day after Christmas. Really?? Is anyone that cruel!! Luckily, God´s got my back. I don´t know why I worry. We had a really productive day. In fact, we had so many appointments, that we had to have members come with us and do splits. We were really blessed. The rest of the week we thought would be really hard, but actually it ended up being really productive. I was really shocked. I guess everyone was really tired from the holidays and decided to stay home. J Well, we saw a lot of Christmas miracles. (Like people we have been trying to get a hold of for months now were at home and ready to accept the lessons.) We had four miracles that come to mind.

1.  We met with Ana and her son was there and finally accepted to listen to us. His friend, Adrian, was there as well, and he was the most prepared twelve year old boy that I have ever met. He said he wanted to learn more and would ask his mom permission. It was seriously just a beautiful lesson we had with them explaining why Christ was important in their lives. I love how the gospel is for everyone—young, old, big, and small.

2.  We also had the opportunity to meet with Hussian this week! My favorite Muslim investigator. Honestly, I was so excited. We met with him, and he said, “I am on the road....what´s the word again? Hmm...I have the faith now in Christ....I saw this on a television program....” and by this time we were like, what? Haha But he continued, “... Oh! That´s it! I am on the road to conversion.” I was really excited. He just soaks up everything he can about Jesus. He is reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon side by side for the first time in his life, and he loves to talk about how it all just makes sense that Christ is the savior of the world. He said, “I wish I could just open the eyes to my people, the Muslim people, of the beauty of this message, the divinity of Christ, and that he is the Son of God and suffered for our sins. Except, they are just too afraid to listen to it.” I was so touched. He really is one of my favorite investigators (I know, you probably shouldn´t pick favorites, but I do)

3.  We were going to Grou, a little pueblo on the beach outside of Castellón to go visit some people that the mission leader wanted us to meet. We ran back to piso to grab some extra Books of Mormon, and the thought came to me to bring a Romanian book of Mormon. I thought it was such a strange idea since we were going to go teach some Colombians, but I followed the prompting and grabbed the Romania Book of Mormon. When we got to the house, the lady we were trying to meet wasn´t there, but the owners were there. They were Romanians. I almost freaked out right there, but we gave them the Book of Mormon, and explained about the history of it. I am not sure how interested they were, but it was really cool none-of-the-less.

4.  Cathy and Tony are just so wonderful. They are progressing so much!! They are going through a really hard time though right now. They told us that his mom left him when he was 9 years old. About five years ago, he lost his job and recently, Cathy had an operation and can´t work. So, they are really struggling financially. Tony´s mom came back into the picture and is trying to get custody of their precious daughter Gemma because they can´t support her. We are praying so hard for them. They told us they are going today to get the papers filled out to get married. We had a family home evening with them and the bishop´s family yesterday, and Cathy just said, “I just want my family to be brought up in this church; I want a family for the eternities.” I didn´t get to pay a whole lot of attention to the message though, unfortunately, because Gemma was playing hair salon with my hair. She is just too cute I couldn´t resist! Haha But I really love my little Spaniard and Romanian family. Not to mention, I am going to have a lot of fun planning a wedding here. J

This week we are preparing for the New Years. We pretty much are spending New Years Eve and New Years day with members, and it will be so fun. My companion and I bought our non-alcoholic Champagne to get ready for the celebration. Also, a tradition they hold here in Spain is that with each of the 12 strokes before midnight, you eat a grape. So, get your 12 grapes ready, and Happy New Year!!

¡Les Quiero!

Hermana Hopkins