In 3 days, I will have been out for 6 months?! D: Where does the time go?!

My dearly beloved ones,

I will be back on in about two hours to finish writing (haha, the locutorio randomly has a new schedule), in case any of you are awake and would like to "chat" live. I think that in the future, I will be writing earlier in the day, to help my companion stay "on-purpose"; but I will pray about it and see.

Real quick, here's part of what I wrote to my mission president this week:

Dear President,

I am doing well, and I am excited to continue working in San Antonio with Élder Dean. I love Élder Dean's ability to press forward, even when things are difficult! I'm so grateful for the tender mercy of being able to continue being his companion -- he is the first companion that I will have yet had for more than a transfer!! I know that we will be able to serve even more effectively now than before, and that, through mutual trust/support/service, we will be able to improve as faithful servants of the Lord!

I know that if I am focused on using every moment of the Lord's time to it's fullest use, by being diligently and cheerfully obedient, that the Lord will bless us for our efforts and that we will have the Spirit's power, authority, and guidance with us at all times. I feel full of new resolve to work harder and more effectively, to be more constant and obedient, to become more humble and loving! I want to work hard so that Heavenly Father will be pleased with our joint efforts to bring my spirit family back to Him for this Christmas. I can't think of a better Christmas gift for God than the baptisms of members of my spirit family on our island.

Miracle of the morning: this morning I was praying for guidance, and I felt prompted to call up Branch President Horacio. I want to get the whole branch, not just the leaders, inspired to express their love and gratitude for Christ and what He has done for them by helping bring their friends and family on our island to Him. I feel that we all need to be on the same loop, from our new District Leader to the Primary children. We can give Jesus the best Christmas present ever by adding more members to our branch family. President Horacio will give us the last hour of church to put this together for the members. I know that as we all work together as a branch family to bring more people to Christ, He will bless our family and our efforts, even for us in San Antonio. I know that Heavenly Father loves us, and I know that He will bless us as we share His love with the wonderful people of our island, as a branch.

I need to work on humility, President. Last week we set 5 baptismal dates (Élder Dean will give that report), but none of them came to church, so we will have to begin again with them. I also decided that, in order for us to work with greater love and effectiveness this next transfer, I need to be more direct with Élder Dean, letting him know that we will be blessed as we both work. I previously taught uniquely by example of cheerful obedience, which wasn't perfect and still isn't (though I will never stop trying!), without much direct/verbal correction; I've decided that, in order to see real progress, I really need to pray for the Spirit to guide me to provide loving and direct correction. I want him to become a great missionary so that he can feel the happiness that will come from successfully finding, teaching (in Spanish), and baptizing throughout the rest of his mission. For this to work, I need to be more humble, and to work on strengthening my relationship with the Savior; I need to repent, and to humble myself. I know that if I work on being more humble, and work on being even more diligently and cheerfully obedient, Heavenly Father will bless our companionship, the families of our branch, and the families that are waiting for us in our area.

Thank you so much for all that you do for our mission, and for my people. We pray for you always!

Simply,
 
Élder Zubeldia

San Antonio, Ibiza

Dearest Family and Friends,

 

Time FLIES!!! Vaca Santa!!! ;)

 

I got the package that you sent, family, and HAVE I REMINDED YOU THAT I LOVE YOU PEOPLE?!?! Thank you so much for the PICTURES, the LETTERS, and the american food (my companions and investigators love it!!)

 

This is the saga that I wrote to my mission president:

 

Dear President,

 

I am doing well: I am happy, and I am grateful to be a missionary. I´m learning so much, President. Something really stuck out to me from what you said in the Specialized Training: that I don't have to conform myself to the habits/traditions/standards of missionaries who've come before me; that it's alright to make a change for the better. I don't expect it to be easy, but I know that it is going to be a huge blessing for our branch! 

 

I've already spoken to [said] family -- I explained that we won't be in their house for more than an hour, that the amounts of visits are going to be less frequent, and will no longer be at set days of the week. I explained to them that you (President) are not to blame -- that if we, as missionaries, do what you counsel us to do, it is not our your "fault"; WE make the decision to be obedient because we know that the Lord will bless us, the families of this branch, and the people of this island for it. The Spirit was strong, and they took it well.

  

I am looking for other ways that we can change how missionary work has been done in the past in our area. We worked with the members to create a "Disponibilidad" Chart -- now we know which of the members we can count on for visits in our area, and when they are available. Visits with members in the past were really the sort of visits that Home and Visiting Teachers should be doing; from now on, I'm going to try and turn our visits into mini-district meetings, to check-up on and facilitate members's missionary work. As we try this out, and simultaneously get members more involved into the Lord's work for us all as a branch in San Antonio, I know that we will be blessed with miracles!!

  

I'm sorry for the constant stream of questions that I have usually asked in the past. They might have seemed annoying. I'm learning that I don't have to try and be Elder Rockwood or Elder Archibald or any of the other missionary legends; I know that Heavenly Father will help me to become Élder Zubeldia, and that I, with His guidance, will be able to be a useful instrument in His hands if I sincerely listen to the Spirit and act on it. He will give me the answers to the questions I have.

  

When it comes to reporting our efforts, it's better to be honest than to have there be big numbers. I know that, as I strive to be cheerfully obedient, enthusiastically diligent, loving, and humble, Heavenly Father will help me to honestly be a servant of His who effectively finds, strengthens, and baptizes. I might never be the perfect missionary, but I'm never going to stop trying to become the best missionary that I can be; that is how I will reach Heavenly Father's Standards of Excellence.

 

We love and pray for you and Sister Pace every day. Thank you for all that you do for us!!

 

Simply,
Élder Zubeldia

P.S. Sorry for the epistle!

 

The missionary work in here on our part of the island is going well -- our investigator family of Romanians keeps bringing more and more family to the lessons (we teach in Spanish-Romanian-Hungarian, between my companion and I, and the investigators, and the Hungarian and Romanian Books of Mormon that we have given them, and the Spirit :) ). Our other families seem to all be going on vacation soon, and will be back in a month or two. A huge chunck of our investigator base is all leaving for their respective home countries for their off-season breaks. This will be an interesting challenge. :) It's a good thing that this is the Lord's work, and that everything will be alright!! :)

 

I pray for each of you, by name, every day, even if I don't hear back from you. Why? Because I love you!!! Read the Book of Mormon every day -- you WILL feel happier!!!

 

Y esas son las noticias!! Les quiero un montón!!!

 

Simply,

Élder Zubeldia

 

Alma 26:15 IBIZA!!!

Wonderful Family and Friends,
  

I love you people, just so you know. :) Don't forget it!! Sorry if this is going to have to be brief and to-the-point. :)
  

This week has been so much fun! MISSIONARIES HAVE THE BEST JOB EVER!!!!!

Read Alma 26:15
   

Nice quote from President George Q. Cannon:

No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character, He is an unchangeable being; the same yesterday, the same today, and He will be the same throughout the eternal ages to come. We have found that god. We have made Him our friend, by obeying His Gospel; and He will stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed or overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and the purer for them, if we only trust in our God and keep His commandments.

Letter to President Pace:

Dear President,

The work out here is going so well!! We are making so much progress with our investigators!!

I know that prayer, fasting, and exact obedience bring miracles, President, and I know that Élder Dean and I are being surrounded by miracles. We are having so much fun working together, and I know that as we are continuing to work on our personal goals of obedience and humility, we are going to continue being blessed, and our prayers will be answered and we WILL help families be baptized in the coming weeks!!

When investigators love the Spirit they feel around us so much that they keep inviting us to birthday parties, then we know that we're doing something right. When we find less-active members who had no idea that the church existed on our island, and find entire families who are interested in having us visit them, then we know that the Lord is blessing us for our efforts and obedience.

We love you, President!!

Simply,
Élder Zubeldia

Family, (I consider you my family if you are receiving this), I love you. Read Alma 5:12, and share it with someone who needs some hope. The Spirit will bless us if we are obedient!!

LOVE YOU SO MUCH I'M PRAYING FOR YÁLL!!!!

Simply,

Élder Zubeldia

P.S. No, I haven't gotten the package yet, because it's too big. I´ll be getting it in pieces over time, I suppose. I love yáll!! I will send pictures and videos, soon!!

The Work on the Island of Ibiza, Spain

Beloved family and friends,

I love you all so much!! I am doing great!! Missionary work is so much fun (and the not-as-fun parts are SO GOOD FOR US!!!)!!!

 

This week has been a little weird--we spent almost half of it in Palma de Mallorca for Zone Enfoque, and then President Interviews, and then for the Halloween party in the Stake Center in Palma. It´s hard to set visits with people when you can't meet them ("Yeah, I'm sorry, we won't be able to make it because we'll be on a different island for the next few days. See you at church on Sunday?"). 

 

You know, even though getting people to come to church on Sunday is a challenge, I know that as Élder Dean and I work on being worthy of the Spirit´s companionship, we will be guided to find prepared people, and to help our investigators really progress and come to realize their eternal potential as God´s children.

 

This is my President´s Letter for this week:

 

Dear President,

 

The work in San Antonio is progressing, if not as quick as Élder Dean and I would like, it is progressing nonetheless. We´re visiting a few families (Milton and Aileen, and their two children Antony and Shirley from Ecuador; Merari and her daughter Dayana from Colombia; Oscar (Milton's nephew), his family and his nephew Joel; Amparo from Colombia, and perhaps her Ibizenco husband and stepdaughter in the future; and Verónica and her daughter and son-in-law Georgiana and Luis, from Romania) who are all interested in learning more about the restored gospel. We are also trying to work with the few less-active families here, paying particular attention to Luis and Paola's family. 

 

We love these people, and I know that they love when we visit them in their homes because they always tell us how peaceful they feel--they love the Spirit!! I know that as we are worthy of the Spirit, and continue trying to cheerfully and obediently love-find-love-teach-love-baptize-love these people, we will see even more miracles here!! I´m so grateful for the gifts of fasting, prayer, studying, planning, and teaching!!

  

I have been praying that Élder Dean would be able to see a baptism this month. I sense that it´s a little frustrating for him that other missionaries that came out at the same time as him are seeing so much success, and I want so badly for him to know that he can also be an instrument in the Lord´s hands that helps people decide to be baptized, too. I pray for miracles to show him, for him to see. I know that Heavenly Father will answer the prayers of humble and obedient missionaries.

 

Scripture that defines our work in San Antonio, Alma 26:15 -- "Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work."

 

I'm striving to continue focusing on serving Élder Dean, as you suggested. I love my companion -- he has such a sense of humor, and a sincere desire to do his best! Our numbers might not satisfy us, but our efforts aren't always captured by the numbers we report. President, I know that there is a standard of excellence, and I know that Élder Dean and I can get there. This week we will work even harder than we have been working in previous weeks. This is the work of Salvation for my people, my family, and we will NOT slack off or take this work lightly!!

  

With love,
Élder Zubeldia

 

One of the miracles of this week is that there is a newlywed couple from Layton, Utah that just moved into San Antonio!! San Antonio is one of three bigger towns on our island, and something that has been a problem the last couple of months is that the national education system just established a requirement for all schools in Catalunya and the Balearic Islands to teach equally in Spanish, Catalán, and English. This has made our free English classes a much more popular option, and we're seeing a LOT more people attending!!

  

Justin Smith, from Missouri, and his wife Chelsea, from Layton, came because Justin was selected from a program at the UofU to teach English here in San Antonio!! He's apparently been here since September, and we just discovered each other the other day!! He served in San Diego, California, and I know that he will be a HUGE help in San Antonio!! What are the odds that, on top of them being Mormons on Ibiza, they happen to practically be from my hometown? God works in mysterious ways, even through people who went to Layton high!!

 

Speaking of which, when I went to the Trainer Training meeting in Barcelona a couple of weeks back, I found FOUR other missionaries that are now in our mission who I went to school with!! On Palma are a couple of missionaries that came out with Elder Dean that are from Farmington, Utah. Davis County people are gathering for the Lord's Reconquista of Spain!!! We have the BEST JOB EVER!!!!

 

Thank you so much for you emails and letters!! I love hearing about how you're all doing, and how you're all accelerating the work where you are!! I'm so grateful to be serving shoulder-to-shoulder with you wonderful people!!

 

I love you all, and I hope to hear more about how you're all doing. Preach to the choir moment: READ THE BOOK OF MORMON EVERY DAY. PRAY. FAST WHILE YOU PRAY. And when you feel happy (because doing these things cheerfully/sincerely guarantees you will), notify your face -- nobody wants to join a church of grumps!!

 

Love you!!

Simply,

Élder Zubeldia

Week 20

Beloved Family and Beloved Friends,

I love you so much, just so you know!! Sorry for not writing on Monday--it was a rare combination of unforeseeable ridiculousness that will NOT become a habit!

Alright...I don't know if I've got much time, but let me try to sum things up for you all:

I love it out here; my companion and I are two fresh missionaries excited to get to work, and we're seeing miracles!! Investigator families keep inviting us to birthday parties and dinners, and my stomach is applying for Ecuadorian citizenship. ;) We're really striving to be worthy of the divine companionship of the Spirit, and we know that it is possible through fasting and prayer; it is in our most humble moments that we have the greatest miracles. We're having a sort of crisis here in our branch, but it is okay, because the Lord is on our team and we and our leaders are being guided on how to help and bless this island.

I'd get into more detail, but I've got to go.

I will DEFINITELY write more next week, and pictures are already on the way. :) I'm sorry for my imperfections and my lack of diligence in writing back letters to you all, but I want you to know that my companion, my fellow Ibiza Elders, our branch, and our investigators are being blessed and I'm trying my best to help them feel how important they are, and what God has in store for us all.

I'm safe, I'm happy, and I'm committed--don't worry about me!!! I love you!!!

I love you!!!

Elder Zubeldia

San Antonio, week 1! :)

Hey beloved family!!!

 

Haha, well, I don't have any time left but I just wanted to say

 

I LOVE YOU ALL SO SOSOSOSOSOSO MUCH, ¿VALE?

 

Read D&C 58:28, and if you can, rewatch/reread Edward Dube's Conference Talk. Heavenly Father has given YOU the power to do much good. Trust in God, and trust in yourself, because He trusts you!!

 

San Antonio is great. We're working hard, and we're doing a lot of walking and contacting. :) I probably would've felt discouraged at how it's going a week or two ago, but now, I just feel like everything is going to be alright, and that we really are going about the Lord's work. :) We see miracles happen all the time; little packages from heaven that light up our days. :) My companion Elder Dean is a stud, and he also wants to work hard. His spanish is doing well, and it's always getting better, and I know that as we're obedient that we will be the missionaries that Heavenly Father desires us to be.

 

Have a fantastic week!! INVITE SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!! READ THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!!!!!!!! PRAY TO HEAVENLY FATHER AND ACT ON THE ANSWERS THAT COME!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Simply,

Élder Pablo Zubeldia

Lord, I would follow Thee

My cherished family and dear friends,

I love you all. :) I just needed you all to know, in case you've forgotten. :) What's more, Heavenly Father loves you, even if you feel like don't always deserve it. So, remember, and remind yourself often!

This week has been insane, and I will start with last Saturday night: apparently, without any of us four missionaries here on Ibiza (a small Mediterranean island -- again, please don't look it up) realizing, this week was Transfers week (every six weeks the mission switches missionaries around, according to where Heavenly Father needs them -- so I am now in my fourth transfer in Spain, my third transfer on Ibiza). 

The surprise came that our district leader was assigned to work back on the peninsula (mainland Spain); that I will be moved to the new area of San Antonio, Ibiza (which was opened last transfer by my district leader and his trainee-companion, Elder Dean), and that I will be finishing the training of Elder Dean this transfer. It didn't really hit me that night, or those next days. My previous companion will be assigned to work with the Elder who came yesterday, who was part of the first pair of missionaries who originally opened Ibiza almost 2 years ago ¨(the members are so excited that he's back!), who will also be our new district leader of the "Ibiza and Menorca District" of the Balearic Islands Zone.

Sunday, we had to break the news to the branch, and there were many tears. One of our recent converts was so overwhelmed with sorrow that she had a panic attack and fainted; I caught her in my arms and laid her on her back on some chairs, and then (as calmly as I could) asked for the other elders to give her a blessing (I was still trying to steady her and keep her conscious). The Priesthood power and authority from God is on the earth today, and I felt the change happen right below my hands. She suddenly relaxed, and was strengthened. We spent the next hour comforting her, singing hymns, and bearing testimony through the scriptures. The Spirit does have the power to guide and comfort us.

Monday, the members wanted us in their homes, and so we spent the day with them sharing scriptures, fond memories, and extending commitments to really read the Book of Mormon as families. (Mondays technically aren't Preparation Days during Transfers -- they make the day that the missionaries will be doing traveling (Tuesday) a Preparation Day so that the traveling doesn't interfere with proselyting hours. But, since we had forgotten about transfers, I had set up a ton of appointments in Ibiza for Tuesday, and so had the San Antonio elders. So...we didn't really have time for Preparation Day this week. We did try and write our families-friends on Tuesday, but my keyboard was on the fritz, and I didn't realize how to make it work until I had already tried to sign in about 10 times and got locked out. That's why I'm writing so late in the week. :/ Hermana Pace said that it is a commandment that I write every week (haha, I'm not complaining!), and she told me to use this time to write.) That night, the branch put together a farewell fireside for Elder Bozarth; there was so much love and appreciation felt there. What a sign of a missionary who is on-purpose!! Afterwards, we had our own private party amongst ourselves in piso. I love my fellow Ibiza Elders, and the wonderful members and people of this island!!

Tuesday, we took Elder Bozarth to the airport, more tears, and then we came back home wanting to get even more work done here. I went with my previous companion, Elder Lindsay, and visited our investigators, to let them know that I was leaving for San Antonio, but that I will see them at the church on Sundays and for activities. We had beautiful experiences with our investigator families; they felt the powerful peace and love of the Spirit, especially as we sung hymns for them, and testified of the merciful plan of happiness that Heavenly Father has for us, of the reality of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and of the veracity of the Book of Mormon. It was starting to sink in that I really was going to be assigned to be Elder Dean´s companion: that my responsibilities would be, in effect, different. I didn't feel ready or worthy, and to be honest, I´m still dealing with that, but the Trainer Meeting the next day was a huge blessing and comfort to me.

Wednesday (yesterday), I flew into Barcelona and went to the meeting. I don't have tons of time left, but here is a couple of the things that came to me as I was listening: 

There is no greater blessing than participating in the Lord's Work--There's no way we can do this sacred work our way; we must do it His way by KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS.

Heavenly Father, I don't feel ready, but if you will help me, then I will do my best to do everything you ask of me.

The Lord has sent us here to bring people unto Him -- WE CAN DO IT; it'll happen as I'm dedicated, obedient, and focus on finding, teaching, and baptizing.

How successful our mission is depends on how we use our mornings... so it is in the little things that we accomplish great things (Alma 27:6-7) We will be exactly the kind of missionary that we want and work to be.

This really will be a wonderful time on the mission. I need to teach by example and through love--merely telling will never be enough. So if I need to teach by example, I need to try and follow Christ's example -- as His representatives, He doesn't ask anything less than our best efforts.

Everything will be alright; Heavenly Father will help me be worthy of this assignment, and we will help people come unto Him through the waters of baptism together!!

I love you all so much!! This work is so much fun!!! I feel like I'm receiving the strength and joy and love that I need, and the problems that we had before seem so small now. Thank you so much for your support, love, and counsel. I love you all so much!! We are going to see so many miracles in San Antonio, I can feel it!! We're going to have so much fun going about the work together!!!

I pray that everything is going well for you all, and I'm so glad to have you all in my life. This week's challenge: put the words of the prophets (from Conference and from the BoM) to the test--see if you don't get blessed by your sincere efforts to invite people to come unto Christ. I know that you will be blessed and helped by God as you labor in His work.

Simply,

Élder Pablo Zubeldia