Finally! Going to Spain! Elder Ryan Coombs, with the other Spain visa waiters from the Ogden, Utah mission are reporting to the Provo, Utah MTC to get their visas processed by a visiting consulate authority.
Vamos a Espania!! I Thought I'd send my quick update! We got here in the MTC and got all of our stuff signed.The guy was telling us about how it was a little on both ends in Madrid and Los Angeles as to why it has taken so long. Basically, they had a slow few months from August to January and were really understaffed, so our stuff sat on the desk. But, everyone should get visas pretty quick now, they are optimistic and hired new staff. Sounds like all of the newly called won't have to wait. So we fly out to JFK tomorrow morning, fly out from there to Barcelona, flying all night and arriving the next morning in sunny Spain! We are all super stoked! There are a lot of missionaries heading out today, tomorrow and next week. There are a lot more for Madrid and Malaga, only a few we have met headed for Barcelona. Elder Miskin has been in the MTC call center the whole time. He leaves Tuesday. Also, I saw Elder Hunter Black (Skylers brother) here when we arrived this morning, He is leaving for Costa Rica soon. That is all my news.. I will see if I have a chance to call from New York. Os quiero!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Christmas Photos
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| Elder Coombs with his aunt Anne Cook, husband Mitch, children , Cannon and Addison, with Grandma and Grandpa Valberg. Christmas Eve Dinner in Hooper, Utah |
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| Christmas time with the Eckart family |
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| Elder Wright, Elder Coombs, and Elder Ward |
Feliz ano nuevo!!
Feliz ano nuevo!! Y Buenos tardes a todos que estais leyendo esto! ;)
It was fine by all of us though!
Also, you asked about Christmas Eve. Since everyone celebrates it on the evening of the 24th, practically nobody was home or they were getting stuff ready, so we couldn't really do much. We shoveled a few people's driveways, had snowball fights with the kids we were helping, went sledding with a couple others, did a few visits for the Bishop, then went up to Anne's for dinner. After that we didn't have much to do. We went and watched this house that had some crazy Christmas lights synchronized with Christmas music for like an hour haha. It was pretty sweet.
So basically, Elder Ward, Elder Wright, and I are tearing it up out here in Clearfield. It's been great! We've done a lot of tracting in the new area (north) and have done lots of visits in Syracuse based off of ward maps we got from the English missionaries, and some referrals/potentials the branch President gave us. We tracted into mostly members, most of them white and not spanish speaking. Either them or anti's/people who have met with missionaries for like a thousand years or a bajillion times and really don't care. Much better to find the members who offer us food/goodies/money for lunches ;) Sometimes they have more referrals for us too! So that's been fun. We've picked up a lot of new investigators in Clearfield with a date. We have 6, with more on the way! There is a family Silva/Briseno who the mom was recently baptized when they lived in Layton a month ago, and the husband and two teenage boys that we are working with.They are super cool. The kids love the church and want to go, and already have had super powerful spiritual confirmations of the truth of the Book of Mormon and baptism. The dad wants to change, just is kinda scared and likes his other church still. The Oxandabarat kids have a date too. They are the family that moved in from North Ogden. The parents have been less active, but now want to start going again. They have 4 boys and a girl. The oldest is almost 10, the next 8, then they go down to the daughter, who is a couple years. They would have probably been baptized the 5th this week, but they didn't come to church, so they have to wait until the 12th, and the father still has to meet with the Bishop to see if he will be able to baptize them. Nicole, the 9 year old we've been teaching, her parents in Guatemala said no they didn't want her to be baptized, but the grandparents that she's living with have legal custody over her and the Bishop will probably push them to do it anyways =) Yolanda hasn't been cooperating to set up an appointment recently, so we have no idea where she's at with her answer. Pepe Olaya went to Cali for a while, so we have to wait for them to get back. Our recent convert Rolando is still having a super rough time with his situation with his wife leaving and his work and stuff. We pass by often to comfort him/read in the Book of Mormon, he still hasn't gone to visit the Bishop or to church yet though. He needs lots of prayers =) The ward was really good at supporting him, but they can't ever seem to catch him or have stopped going apparently.
One super cool miracle story. So we were at the church 1/2 hour before sacrament meeting, and we get this phone call from an unknown number. Some guy is talking in a jumbled, unorganized voice and kinda fast and it takes a while for Elder Ward to understand him. He basically told us he wanted to meet/talk with us sometime. (All in Spanish) Elder Ward was like "Ok, church starts in 25 min, want to come?" "No, no I can't, I have to go visit someone, can you come by later, at like 7?" "Yeah, sure. What's your address?" "It's 525...*jumbled nonsense, phone going in and out*" "I'm sorry, what was it?" "It's 525...well, nevermind. You know the Aztec Market store?" Elder Ward looks at me and asks...I say yeah "Yeah..." "And you know the laundromat right by there?" (Again he looks at me...I say yeah) "Yeah..." "Ok, let's meet there at 7". So we agreed and planned on that. So all through the day we were thinking about this sketchy appointment to meet at this dumpy laundromat. We went there around 6:50 and waited a littlebit, scoping out any hispanic looking people, thinking this might be some sort of drug deal situation or something. At around 7 we text him saying we're there, and this guy comes out from behind it. He took us into his place, basically a little garage behind one of the empty for rent spaces nearby. Long story short, this guy has talked to missionaries before and turned them down at his door where he used to live. Recently he says he's been searching God, and looking for something. He said one day he felt like he should go for a ride in his truck. While he was out he passed some missionaries walking, and felt like he should stop to talk to them. He thought "no, I'm not talking to those missionaries!" and kept driving. He said he felt strongly that he should turn around and talk to them, so he did but couldn't find them. He said he found them by a gas station and pulled up and asked if they spoke spanish. (this was the Clearfield Center English Elders, so they said no..but gave him our number.) So thus we got our phone call. As we talked with them he said if we really did come at 7 then we must be of God, and if not, then oh well I guess we weren't. But we were there 7 on the dot, so he was astounded. He ate up everything we taught with the Restoration and accepted a date for baptism the 26th! So it will be fun teaching Alberto =) So yeah, we have a lot of cool things happening, and I almost don't want to go quite yet to see some baptisms happen, because I haven't had much while I've been here, but then again I do kinda want to go...so, I can be content with whatever the Lord gives me! I love my new companions though, they're super fun. We spent our p-day new years playing cards (I taught them nertz ;) and we played a few other games) and taking naps. We all get along well, teach together well, and are tearing it up in the work!
We had a zone study today, Elder Walz who goes home tomorrow taught a lot of it and gave us tons of good advice, but they did a good job teaching about goals and applying them more effectively in the work. President Hiers has a new vision for the year, for the first quarter (3 months) about changing the old mission culture, achieving great things, and improving the work a lot. I think a lot of great things are going to be coming out. A lot of the older missionaries who knew President Olsen more have a harder time adapting to the new culture, but the newer missionaries all seem to just eat it up. It makes me wonder about what cool things President Pace has rolling out and what all of us new missionaries that will hopefully be heading in soon will do. Neat stuff. And with missionary work in general with all the new missionaries and changes. It's great to be a missionary in such exciting times and with all of the amazing tools, recources, and more experienced teachers we have!
So, it feels weird to be in 2013. The year everyone thought wouldn't come because of "December 21" nonsense (I was kinda surprised we didn't meet any crazies...apparently there were a few in Ogden). Also, I didn't think I would still be in Utah by this year, pero asi es! We didn't do too much for New Years. President said we had to be in by 9. We did all of our appointments as regular, had our dinner at 8 because the lady couldn't do it earlier. It seemed like she was a little upset when we told her we only had like 45 min...I think she was planning on us staying for some party. Oh well, we missionaries do what we do! We pretty much just went home an slept through the new year =)
It was fine by all of us though!
Also, you asked about Christmas Eve. Since everyone celebrates it on the evening of the 24th, practically nobody was home or they were getting stuff ready, so we couldn't really do much. We shoveled a few people's driveways, had snowball fights with the kids we were helping, went sledding with a couple others, did a few visits for the Bishop, then went up to Anne's for dinner. After that we didn't have much to do. We went and watched this house that had some crazy Christmas lights synchronized with Christmas music for like an hour haha. It was pretty sweet.
So basically, Elder Ward, Elder Wright, and I are tearing it up out here in Clearfield. It's been great! We've done a lot of tracting in the new area (north) and have done lots of visits in Syracuse based off of ward maps we got from the English missionaries, and some referrals/potentials the branch President gave us. We tracted into mostly members, most of them white and not spanish speaking. Either them or anti's/people who have met with missionaries for like a thousand years or a bajillion times and really don't care. Much better to find the members who offer us food/goodies/money for lunches ;) Sometimes they have more referrals for us too! So that's been fun. We've picked up a lot of new investigators in Clearfield with a date. We have 6, with more on the way! There is a family Silva/Briseno who the mom was recently baptized when they lived in Layton a month ago, and the husband and two teenage boys that we are working with.They are super cool. The kids love the church and want to go, and already have had super powerful spiritual confirmations of the truth of the Book of Mormon and baptism. The dad wants to change, just is kinda scared and likes his other church still. The Oxandabarat kids have a date too. They are the family that moved in from North Ogden. The parents have been less active, but now want to start going again. They have 4 boys and a girl. The oldest is almost 10, the next 8, then they go down to the daughter, who is a couple years. They would have probably been baptized the 5th this week, but they didn't come to church, so they have to wait until the 12th, and the father still has to meet with the Bishop to see if he will be able to baptize them. Nicole, the 9 year old we've been teaching, her parents in Guatemala said no they didn't want her to be baptized, but the grandparents that she's living with have legal custody over her and the Bishop will probably push them to do it anyways =) Yolanda hasn't been cooperating to set up an appointment recently, so we have no idea where she's at with her answer. Pepe Olaya went to Cali for a while, so we have to wait for them to get back. Our recent convert Rolando is still having a super rough time with his situation with his wife leaving and his work and stuff. We pass by often to comfort him/read in the Book of Mormon, he still hasn't gone to visit the Bishop or to church yet though. He needs lots of prayers =) The ward was really good at supporting him, but they can't ever seem to catch him or have stopped going apparently.
One super cool miracle story. So we were at the church 1/2 hour before sacrament meeting, and we get this phone call from an unknown number. Some guy is talking in a jumbled, unorganized voice and kinda fast and it takes a while for Elder Ward to understand him. He basically told us he wanted to meet/talk with us sometime. (All in Spanish) Elder Ward was like "Ok, church starts in 25 min, want to come?" "No, no I can't, I have to go visit someone, can you come by later, at like 7?" "Yeah, sure. What's your address?" "It's 525...*jumbled nonsense, phone going in and out*" "I'm sorry, what was it?" "It's 525...well, nevermind. You know the Aztec Market store?" Elder Ward looks at me and asks...I say yeah "Yeah..." "And you know the laundromat right by there?" (Again he looks at me...I say yeah) "Yeah..." "Ok, let's meet there at 7". So we agreed and planned on that. So all through the day we were thinking about this sketchy appointment to meet at this dumpy laundromat. We went there around 6:50 and waited a littlebit, scoping out any hispanic looking people, thinking this might be some sort of drug deal situation or something. At around 7 we text him saying we're there, and this guy comes out from behind it. He took us into his place, basically a little garage behind one of the empty for rent spaces nearby. Long story short, this guy has talked to missionaries before and turned them down at his door where he used to live. Recently he says he's been searching God, and looking for something. He said one day he felt like he should go for a ride in his truck. While he was out he passed some missionaries walking, and felt like he should stop to talk to them. He thought "no, I'm not talking to those missionaries!" and kept driving. He said he felt strongly that he should turn around and talk to them, so he did but couldn't find them. He said he found them by a gas station and pulled up and asked if they spoke spanish. (this was the Clearfield Center English Elders, so they said no..but gave him our number.) So thus we got our phone call. As we talked with them he said if we really did come at 7 then we must be of God, and if not, then oh well I guess we weren't. But we were there 7 on the dot, so he was astounded. He ate up everything we taught with the Restoration and accepted a date for baptism the 26th! So it will be fun teaching Alberto =) So yeah, we have a lot of cool things happening, and I almost don't want to go quite yet to see some baptisms happen, because I haven't had much while I've been here, but then again I do kinda want to go...so, I can be content with whatever the Lord gives me! I love my new companions though, they're super fun. We spent our p-day new years playing cards (I taught them nertz ;) and we played a few other games) and taking naps. We all get along well, teach together well, and are tearing it up in the work!
We had a zone study today, Elder Walz who goes home tomorrow taught a lot of it and gave us tons of good advice, but they did a good job teaching about goals and applying them more effectively in the work. President Hiers has a new vision for the year, for the first quarter (3 months) about changing the old mission culture, achieving great things, and improving the work a lot. I think a lot of great things are going to be coming out. A lot of the older missionaries who knew President Olsen more have a harder time adapting to the new culture, but the newer missionaries all seem to just eat it up. It makes me wonder about what cool things President Pace has rolling out and what all of us new missionaries that will hopefully be heading in soon will do. Neat stuff. And with missionary work in general with all the new missionaries and changes. It's great to be a missionary in such exciting times and with all of the amazing tools, recources, and more experienced teachers we have!
That's about all for this week. Love you guys! The Church is true, and the Gospel blesses lives. It can for members too! Always look for the small miracles/tender mercies, because they are always there, and look for answers to prayers in ways you might not expect...that's usually where they are! Ciau!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
December Update
I must apologize, as I (Ryan's Dad) have not kept up with the postings lately, as we had sold our home, moved into a rental house, and are making plans to build a new home. Ryan is still doing well in Ogden, Utah mission, patiently awaiting his visa to Spain. Here are some of the updates from his last letter:
"It's been a pretty good week. We did have the Christmas party on the 6th, and that was pretty good. I was glad to get the package! I haven't opened up any of the gifts yet, but we'll see how long that goes... It's about that time when the rumors start spreading about the transfers, which are next Wednesday. People are saying that they are staying, that they are leaving, this, that, APs said this, ZLs said that, it get kind of annoying, ha ha. The Argentine visa waiters were sent to SLC the other day to meet with some lady of the consulate, and I guess that they are like 6th in line. I was talking to Sister Tibolla, and she said she needs to call about us Spain guys this week, but said that she thinks it may be 2-3 weeks. I sure hope so! I am getting kinda antsy to go! But anyways, I have no idea what will happen, if I will be transferred closer to the office to send me away, put me in a trio, keep me?? Who knows. I guess we will see!
"The work is coming along, albiet kinda stressfully. I'm being forced to do all of the planning and stuff "to get the ropes of controlling an area" (just one of the many stresses I have right now, ha ha). It has been hard and stressful, but I suppose that I am learning lots,(it is just hard to tell in the middle of it all, ha, ha.).
"Thanks for keeping me posted on the house. I hope everything goes through quickly! Keep the faith and patience, and rely on the Lord. That is a lesson I've been learning a lot lately...but it is a good one to learn. I was reading in Deuteronomy the other day, and it was a chapter about how the Lord delivered the children of Israel through the mighty miracles, provided manna and water for them, and delivered them from their enemies, made it so their feet wouldn't swell up walking so much, and all the while they were complaining over this and that. Also in President Uchdorf's talk "Grumbling over the size of their package of peanuts while soaring high in the sky, something kings would have given all that they had to try" The Lord said he did all this to try them and for them to prove if they would love Him. The Lord promised them that if they were faithful, and kept His statutes and commandments that He would deliver them and bless them immensely in the promised land, filled with milk, honey, fruitful lands, and be protected from enemies. So it is with us, we have the Lord's blessing of peace, prosperity, and blessings if we prove we are willing to love him and follow His will through trials and affliction in our own wilderness, maybe 40 years, maybe for a couple of days. The Lord's timing is always calculated to bless though =).
"Hope all is well! Have fun with all of the Christmas parties-say hi to people for me! Have a wonderful week!"
"It's been a pretty good week. We did have the Christmas party on the 6th, and that was pretty good. I was glad to get the package! I haven't opened up any of the gifts yet, but we'll see how long that goes... It's about that time when the rumors start spreading about the transfers, which are next Wednesday. People are saying that they are staying, that they are leaving, this, that, APs said this, ZLs said that, it get kind of annoying, ha ha. The Argentine visa waiters were sent to SLC the other day to meet with some lady of the consulate, and I guess that they are like 6th in line. I was talking to Sister Tibolla, and she said she needs to call about us Spain guys this week, but said that she thinks it may be 2-3 weeks. I sure hope so! I am getting kinda antsy to go! But anyways, I have no idea what will happen, if I will be transferred closer to the office to send me away, put me in a trio, keep me?? Who knows. I guess we will see!
"The work is coming along, albiet kinda stressfully. I'm being forced to do all of the planning and stuff "to get the ropes of controlling an area" (just one of the many stresses I have right now, ha ha). It has been hard and stressful, but I suppose that I am learning lots,(it is just hard to tell in the middle of it all, ha, ha.).
"Thanks for keeping me posted on the house. I hope everything goes through quickly! Keep the faith and patience, and rely on the Lord. That is a lesson I've been learning a lot lately...but it is a good one to learn. I was reading in Deuteronomy the other day, and it was a chapter about how the Lord delivered the children of Israel through the mighty miracles, provided manna and water for them, and delivered them from their enemies, made it so their feet wouldn't swell up walking so much, and all the while they were complaining over this and that. Also in President Uchdorf's talk "Grumbling over the size of their package of peanuts while soaring high in the sky, something kings would have given all that they had to try" The Lord said he did all this to try them and for them to prove if they would love Him. The Lord promised them that if they were faithful, and kept His statutes and commandments that He would deliver them and bless them immensely in the promised land, filled with milk, honey, fruitful lands, and be protected from enemies. So it is with us, we have the Lord's blessing of peace, prosperity, and blessings if we prove we are willing to love him and follow His will through trials and affliction in our own wilderness, maybe 40 years, maybe for a couple of days. The Lord's timing is always calculated to bless though =).
"Hope all is well! Have fun with all of the Christmas parties-say hi to people for me! Have a wonderful week!"
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Temporary Assignment (Awaiting Visa to Spain!)
If you hadn't heard, Ryan has been temporarily reassigned to the Ogden, Utah mission and arrived Saturday morning Sept 29th!! The first photo is Ryan with President & Sister Hiers. The second photo is of all the missionaries temporarily assigned to that mission who are also awaiting their visas. Hopefully they will come soon, but if not, maybe he'll be close to some of you in the Ogden mission
Love to all,
Temporary mailing address (Utah Ogden Mission Home) is:
Elder Ryan C. Coombs
4380 So. Orchard Ave.
South Ogden, UT 84403
Love to all,
Temporary mailing address (Utah Ogden Mission Home) is:
Elder Ryan C. Coombs
4380 So. Orchard Ave.
South Ogden, UT 84403
Ultima carta electronico del CCM! 9/27/12
Crazy! It has not felt like 9 weeks...and yet it has. I'm ready to hit the field! Pero, a donde ese campo est'a, no s'e! We all got flight plans last week with the Texas Elders, but since we didn't have visas it doesn't matter. Basically there to laugh in our faces. We all went in to ask if that meant that we got our visas, along with 2 Elders from another zone and some Hermanas. The guy had some corny smile so we thought it meant yes, and then he flat out told us no and not to get our hopes up haha. So we've all been bracing ourselves for our reassignments sometime this week, maybe later today or tomorrow. Elder Wiscombe just got his today though! He went before our laundry to get the mail (since he's the district leader now) so that we could maybe see where we got reassigned to before emailing home, and the only thing in our mailbox was a paper for him to go to the travel office and get his visa! We are all super happy for him, since he probably deserved it most out of all of us, but then again it makes the rest of us all want to weep haha. So the Texas Elders all leave Monday morning, Elder Wiscombe on Wednesday, and the other 3 of us have no idea as of now. So, I don't know when my next P-day will be and when I'll be able to write next, or from where. All I can say is, it better be someplace awesome! I'm know wherever it is, it's where the Lord wants. I want for the Lord to want Spain though ;)
They broadcasted the Temple Dedication here in 3 sessions, we went to the 3:00 session. It was super awesome. I thought it was really powerful, especially hearing Boyd K. Packer and one of his sons talk about it, as well as Elder Perry talking, and Elder Nelson read the dedicatory prayer that Elder Packer wrote. The second counselor in the presidency and his wife spoke too, and they did a good job. Speaking of temples, today was probably our last time for quite awhile. It was good to go through and get that one last spiritual boost before heading out. We stayed up on the grounds and studied there, rather than heading back to our classroom, which I really enjoyed.
Thanks for all of your prayers and your faith in my behalf! Thanks for all of your thoughtfulness and caring, they mean a lot! Thanks for being great examples to me and teaching me so much!
I know that this work is sure, that there is nothing that will stop the Lord's work as we do it in His name, His way, and by His power! All things are possible through Him. I know that He has given us His word, contained in books of Scripture and Living Prophets, Seers, and Revelators. I know that we have been called by this Prophet to preach the restored Gospel, which came again to the earth by means of God's called and chosen prophet, Joseph Smith. I know that we have the fulness of the Gospel that has ever been on the earth. I have a testimony of the temple, that it is His house, that His peace, glory, and power reside within those walls, that the ordinances performed therein are eternal. I know that God lives and hears our prayers. I know He loves His children, that we are His work and His glory, that He knows each of us by name, recognizes our faces, and knows each of us perfectly. As such He knows how to change us, help us, and teach us. I know that we have a Savior and Redeemer, the living Christ. I know that He loved and loves us enough to have suffered for each of us individually and intimately, that by His grace and enabling power we can be changed, justified, and sanctified, and His grace is sufficient for all who come unto Him. These things I know because they have been impressed upon my so powerfully by the Spirit and so many times that I cannot deny them!
Con mucho amor, Elder Coombs
They broadcasted the Temple Dedication here in 3 sessions, we went to the 3:00 session. It was super awesome. I thought it was really powerful, especially hearing Boyd K. Packer and one of his sons talk about it, as well as Elder Perry talking, and Elder Nelson read the dedicatory prayer that Elder Packer wrote. The second counselor in the presidency and his wife spoke too, and they did a good job. Speaking of temples, today was probably our last time for quite awhile. It was good to go through and get that one last spiritual boost before heading out. We stayed up on the grounds and studied there, rather than heading back to our classroom, which I really enjoyed.
Thanks for all of your prayers and your faith in my behalf! Thanks for all of your thoughtfulness and caring, they mean a lot! Thanks for being great examples to me and teaching me so much!
I know that this work is sure, that there is nothing that will stop the Lord's work as we do it in His name, His way, and by His power! All things are possible through Him. I know that He has given us His word, contained in books of Scripture and Living Prophets, Seers, and Revelators. I know that we have been called by this Prophet to preach the restored Gospel, which came again to the earth by means of God's called and chosen prophet, Joseph Smith. I know that we have the fulness of the Gospel that has ever been on the earth. I have a testimony of the temple, that it is His house, that His peace, glory, and power reside within those walls, that the ordinances performed therein are eternal. I know that God lives and hears our prayers. I know He loves His children, that we are His work and His glory, that He knows each of us by name, recognizes our faces, and knows each of us perfectly. As such He knows how to change us, help us, and teach us. I know that we have a Savior and Redeemer, the living Christ. I know that He loved and loves us enough to have suffered for each of us individually and intimately, that by His grace and enabling power we can be changed, justified, and sanctified, and His grace is sufficient for all who come unto Him. These things I know because they have been impressed upon my so powerfully by the Spirit and so many times that I cannot deny them!
Con mucho amor, Elder Coombs
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sept. 13th Updates
Hola from Madrid!! Haha just kidding. Es un chiste. We are still hanging around Provo! Definitely getting antsy though! We hear all sorts of cool stuff about our mission and it makes us want to leave! I've seen a bunch of people that I hadn't thought I would still be here to see, and that's one reason it feels super weird. Hopefully we will be out of here in a week or two.
It's been really cool to recognize how the Lord uses us as instruments in answers to other people's prayers. I have had some pretty neat experiences about where something I have said, done, or was that I came to find was an answer to somebody's prayers. Especially when it pertains to the Gospel!
It's been really cool to recognize how the Lord uses us as instruments in answers to other people's prayers. I have had some pretty neat experiences about where something I have said, done, or was that I came to find was an answer to somebody's prayers. Especially when it pertains to the Gospel!
The Spirit here is so powerful, cuyo fulgor or gloria no admiten descripcion! I've learned so much in this past week and I sometimes wonder how I can retain it all. Hermano Barton and us all had a super powerful experience on Saturday night in class. After singing our opening hymn, it was really spiritual so Hermano Barton asked if we could sing another for his desires/benefit. He told us later that he said that the Holy Ghost told him that we needed that experience too, so we ended up singing all the verses of each person's favorite hymn in Spanish for like an hour. Then after we were all in tears and filled with the Spirit, we wrote in our journals while Hmo. Barton asked us tons of inspired questions and then it was just waterworks after that. We bonded so powerfully as a district and in our personal relationship with the Holy Ghost, Heavenly Father, and especially of our Savior Jesus Christ when Hmo. Barton took an hour or so to talk about the Atonement instead of doing our progressing investigator. It was amazing! Then all throughout the week the talks and workshops and class lessons have been on the Holy Ghost and conversion, which just reemphasizes to us the things we've learned, and I can't tell you how many times that happens in the MTC. Everything here is inspired and directed by God in Heaven, and it is such a testimony builder.
As for our visas, this last week we've heard rumors of missionaries going to Spain getting their visas. We've heard of one Hermana and two Elders who got theirs this last week, and we heard that Elder McKeagan (one of our zone leaders going to Madrid when we first got here and was reassigned to Salt Lake) just got his too. So we have hope again!! Hopefully sometime next week we will be able to get ours and leave! It sounds like you leave as soon as you can after, like within the next 2 days after. We are definitely excited to go!
Well, I've got to run now. I love you all! May God's blessings of health, guidance, and love and Spirit be upon you! Muchas gracias for your prayers and support! They're really the only way missionaries learn and grow as fast and as much as they do, because it's definitely not all come from my faith! Nos vemos hasta la proxima semana!
Elder Coombs
As for our visas, this last week we've heard rumors of missionaries going to Spain getting their visas. We've heard of one Hermana and two Elders who got theirs this last week, and we heard that Elder McKeagan (one of our zone leaders going to Madrid when we first got here and was reassigned to Salt Lake) just got his too. So we have hope again!! Hopefully sometime next week we will be able to get ours and leave! It sounds like you leave as soon as you can after, like within the next 2 days after. We are definitely excited to go!
Well, I've got to run now. I love you all! May God's blessings of health, guidance, and love and Spirit be upon you! Muchas gracias for your prayers and support! They're really the only way missionaries learn and grow as fast and as much as they do, because it's definitely not all come from my faith! Nos vemos hasta la proxima semana!
Elder Coombs
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