Last picture?

We got this from a member. Probably the last picture of Élder Zubeldia's mission.

I love you!!

My family,

I am doing well!! This is late -- I have been taking care of a missionary who just had a concussion. Don't worry -- all is well. I am only telling you this so that you know why I'm writing this short message after 7 o'clock my time. He's doing alright, you can ask me later. I love these missionaries, and they are a high priority.

I am fine, the work here is amazing, my companion is wonderful, our friend Angelo is such an AMAZING convert!!!! He was baptized this weekend, and he is absolutely incredible!!!!! He is such a prepared person, and he has such strong desires to please the Lord and to share the gospel!!! I'm just so blown away by my friend Angelo!!!

This is a poem Pte Pace just send me:

Hoe to the End of the Row!

Bill Brown made a million,

Bill Brown, think of that.

That boy you remember,

As poor as a rat.

He hoed for the neighbors,

Did jobs by the day.

And Bill made a million,

Or near it they say.

He worked for my father,

You’ll maybe recall.

He wasn’t a wonder,

Not that, not at all.

He couldn’t out-hoe me,

Or cover more ground,

Or hoe any faster,

Or beat me around.

In fact, I was better

In one way that I know.

One toot from the kitchen

And home I would go.

But Bill Brown always hoed

To the end of the row.

We used to get hungry

Out there in the corn.

You talk about music,

What equals a horn?

A horn yellin’ dinner,

And tomatoes and beans,

And pork and potatoes,

And gravy and greens.

I ain’t blamin’ no one

For quittin’ on time.

To quit with the whistle,

That ain’t any crime.

But as for the million,

Well, this much I know.

Bill Brown always hoed

To the end of the row.

- Anonymous

I've got a lot of row still ahead of me!! I am not stopping with the whistle -- I'm going to the end of the row!!! My Savior did, Joseph Smith did, all of you always have, and I'm 100% dependent on the Lord who is giving me the strength to follow His example!!

I love you!

Élder Zubeldia

I love you all so much!!!

Dear Family,

This week was absolutely incredible!! So many of our friends are learning about their Savior and about how they can come closer to Him!!

We had SO many conferences this week!! Spiritual feast tras spiritual feast!! It was absolutely incredible!! Such a privilege!! We heard from Élder Allen, director of the Missionary Dept, and Élder Dyches, from the Europe Area Presidency.

They taught us many things, and the topics that stuck out to me most were about conversion, mentality, applying Preach My Gospel fully, and a quote from Élder Bednar: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got." We can always rethink, retool, and reboot our way of doing things, and we can always become more effective!!!

As a side-note, we learned that our mission has been selected for the 2nd Round of iPad testing. I don't know when we'll get them, but I'm grateful for the perspective that they shared with us this week. The Lord is reaching out to our generation, and is trying to teach us how to use technology effectively. Safeguards for the digital age of missionary work are: Learning to tune in to the Spirit, Focusing on our Missionary Purpose, Being disciplined, and Being One. What a miraculous time!!

But what's most important, my companion is such a great example, our missionaries are happy, and we are seeing so many miracles with our friends!!! Andrés and Marina are so happy to have the gift of the Holy Ghost in their lives!! They have felt so much happier since having been baptized!!!!! Angelo is excited for his baptism this Saturday; Nelson really felt the Spirit yesterday at our Stake Conference (he even got to speak with President Pace), and we're inviting him to be baptized later today; and Santos, Irma, and Estefanía are also committed to trying out the promise of the Book of Mormon for themselves, and so they will know for themselves before their goal to be baptized this month as well!!!!!!!!

I have been praying for my friends all the time; they are always on my mind, and we're always learning how to help them. I have felt that they are all ready to take their first steps of discipleship this month. I pray that they will continue to feel the Spirit, and that they will feel of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon for themselves. Angelo already has, along with Nelson, Santos, and Estefanía; we are just working to help them discover for themselves what the Lord is guiding them to do!! I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers, and that miracles happen here in the Lord's work!!

I know that Heavenly Father loves us, and that He loves you, too. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and that we can repent. I know that covenants have real power. I know that the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His priesthood authority were restored through Joseph Smith. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that Heavenly Father will share the knowledge of these things with you, too, if you sincerely seek for yourself.

May Heavenly Father bless you in all aspects of your life!!

 

I love you so much!!

Élder Zubeldia

A Milagroso Time to Live!!! :D

Dear Family,

I love you all so much!!

This week was absolutely phenomenal!!! It's so hard to explain!!!! I'll try to go in reverse order:

1) Today was miraculous because we were able to help a Moldavian woman who was drunk, and were able to help her in the hour-long train ride. Heavenly Father had us in the right place at the right time for her, and the Japanese man who was with us saw what we were doing, and now he has a mini-Book of Mormon which he wants to read!! We said a prayer for both of our friends, and I know that the Lord will guide and bless them!!

 

2) Yesterday we had so many of our friends show up to church!! We went and picked up a family with a wheelchair, and then our wonderful members went and picked up their friends and family members!!

 

3) My friend Marina was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints yesterday!!!!!!!!! 8D 8D 8D She is SO AMAZING!!!! 5 months ago I met her in her granddaughter's birthday party. Marina's daughter Liliam and Liliam's son David were baptized last year, and they are from El Salvador. There were some weird stuff for a few months, but we were able to maintain contact with the family, and then they came to General Conference. That was where everything changed. Marina started to progress, little by little, and when she learned that she could perform baptisms in the Temple for her ancestors (particularly her mom), she felt the Spirit and gained a personal witness of the truthfulness of all we had been learning together. She bore a beautiful testimony after the service, and is setting such a great example for the rest of her family. SHE WAS SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SO excited to see them later today!!!!

 

4) Our friend Melisa, who was baptized last year, and her boyfriend Angelo, came to a dinner with Andrés (our friend who was baptized the morning of General Conference (we watch it in the afternoon here in Spain)) and his wife Talía. It was a wonderful dinner conversation, and the whole room was full of the Spirit. We invited Angelo to be baptized, and he said (to the effect), "I feel like it's my time. If I don't get closer to God now, I'll just keep putting it off, and I might never find out for myself." Melisa broke into tears on the spot. He is excited, and he loves learning!! He is going to be baptized on the 16th!! We are all so happy for him!!!

 

5) The missionaries in our ward are doing so great!! Everyone is seeing so many miracles, and is feeling so happy!! These missionaries and this wonderful ward are the shining stars of Barcelona!! They are just so great!!!

I am so grateful for the privilege I've been given to serve alongside the amazing people here in Spain.

Estoy aprendiendo que le debo mucho más a mi Padre Celestial de lo puedo entender.

It is incredible: the Gospel is all about becoming. It seems that the more we love others, the more we become. Heavenly Father is so great!!! The Savior loves us so much, and is SUCH an example for all of us!!!

I know that Heavenly Father loves us, all of us. I know that Jesus Christ's offering is extended to everyone, all the time. I know that we can accept His offering by receiving the restored ordinances and by living the principles of His gospel. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that everyone who reads it and prays about it will be blessed in their lives.