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.

JAJAJA, THE FUTURE IS ARRIVING IN BARCELONA!!!

Dear Missionaries of El Faro,

We are now pleased to announce the following: 

What: Missionary Work in the Digital Age - Mission Conference Visiting General Authorities: Elder Timothy J. Dyches, Counselor Europe Area Presidency Elder Stephen B Allen, Area Seventy, Managing Director of the Missionary Department 

Date: Tuesday, May 5th Time: 9:30 am - Seated reading scriptures 10:00 am - Conference begins 

Place: Barcelona Stake Center Calle Cantabria 31 

Attendance: Every missionary in El Faro! 

Individual Preparation: In preparation for the Mission Conference we invite each of you to re-read the white Missionary Handbook to find all references that would help a missionary using a digital device. Read the Missionary Handbook, before the conference, with this question in your mind, "What principles apply to a Missionary using an iPad?" An important part of our discussion will be the principles, in the Handbook, that give guidance and direction to missionaries with iPads. 

The First Presidency has approved fifteen (15) missions in Europe for the continued testing of digital devices in missionary work. We are pleased that the three (3) missions in Spain are the first Spanish-speaking missions to use digital devices. This is a great honor and a great responsibility. 

This Mission Conference will prepare us to use iPads as an additional tool in our missionary work. However, the iPads will not be delivered to the missionaries as part of the Mission Conference. There is no certain date as to when the iPad will be available.  

Love,

President Pace, President of the Spain Barcelona Mission, and a huge example to me

P.S. I am so excited to go to this training!! Even if I don't actually get to be here when they arrive (they'll probably get here with the new mission president in July), I am so happy that I'll get to be here to listen to the training for the iPads!! This is historic!! This is so great!! The Future is looking so bright!!!

Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally!!

Dear Family,

I love you so much!!

This has been another fantastic week!! This week has been a very intense week!! I just feel like I got off a roller-coaster, and now I'm at the front of the line to get back on! I'm so excited for how things are going in our ward!!

For example, we were going to a visit where we were expecting a few evangelical gypsy families to be (we had met them a few days earlier, and they had been so excited to receive the copies of the Book of Mormon that we gave them), when we were surprised to find that the plaza was empty. So we prayed, and felt like we should pass by a girl who was baptized last year, but who hasn't been able to attend church because of school. We went by, and met her for the first time and her boyfriend Angelo! They are super great!! Talking with them was like talking with people who've been our friends for the longest time!! The Spirit was so strong, and they came to visit the baptism the next day, and then they came to church the day after (they had even returned the Tupperware we had given them -- replacing the brownies originally there with a delicious lemon-pastry). They are so great, and they are both looking to have the Spirit more in their lives. I know that the answer is in the Book of Mormon, and in living principles of the restored gospel!!

The other day, we were about to begin delivering brownies to members in our area, and we were walking the one-metro-stop distance between our apartment and the chapel, along the Rambla. There was this Spanish guy who looked awesome -- he had the side of his head shaved, some braids, and was listening to really loud rap music. We were waiting at a red light together, and I knew we would be friends. He readily accepted the gift of the Book of Mormon, even though he isn't "creyente" (believer). He said he would read it, and that he would get back to us. The Lord's timing will be right! On that same walk, we continued making friends with a huge family from Peru -- they had met with missionaries before!! They were in a hurry, but felt the Spirit when we talked with them about eternal families. They all were happy by the end of our conversation, and they are excited to try out the Book of Mormon for themselves! A minute or so later, on the same walk, we were walking parallel to an older couple who were commenting on the limo that was parked right next to us. We joked about "our car", and how we were just feeling like today was the day to take a walk for once and enjoy nature. We had a wonderful conversation about the Restoration, and had such a fun time with these nice people!! Fun fact, his name was Hercules!! Jaja, he's such a funny guy!! It was such a miraculous and fun walk!! I am so grateful for these every-day experiences as a missionary!! Every day is extraordinary!!

Last night, while at a ward baptism, my companion Élder Farley was talking to our friend Marina, who is the mother and grandmother of our recent convert friends. She had a goal to be baptized for last week, and we had taken the Bishop to meet with her and talk with her about baptism. She had been a little cautious, and was having trouble recognizing the testimony that she already has. He invited her to be baptized this coming Saturday, and she said no... but that she wanted to be baptized this next Sunday, because Sunday seems like a nicer day!! Jaja, what a miracle!!! She is so sweet, and she is always trying to serve and unite her family!! I know that the gospel will help her family to feel peace and happiness at home, despite how life is for so many people here in Europe.

My companion is such a focused missionary -- he is just full of pure love for everybody!! I LOVE being his companion!!! He is such a great example!! In a meeting we had as missionaries,we were going to have another message at the end, after listening to Him share a message about the Atonement, but after he brought the Spirit so strongly, we just wordlessly ended with the closing hymn. He is a huge example, and he is really inspiring the missionaries. He is such a great influence!!

I love my Savior, and the privilege it is to represent Him to this world. I know that He lives, and I know that He loves me perfectly. I know that this is His work, and I am grateful for what He has and is doing for me!!

 

Love,

Élder Zubeldia

We don't develop character "in the moment" -- that's when we demonstrate our character

Dear Family and Friends,

I am doing super well!! I am so happy to be a missionary!! I feel the Spirit, I have a wonderful companion, we have wonderful people, and I am feeling the Lord's hand in my life. I love this work!!

My companion is a spiritual giant!! He is so in tune with the Spirit, and has been a huge help this week in finding, teaching, and ministering to people's needs!! Élder Farley understands the value of little things. He is such a blessing to serve with, and such a great companion!!

This week was a little different from last week, but the Lord's will was done. We were in the right places, at the right times, to be there for people who really needed our help this week (missionaries, members, and non-members). We gave priesthood blessings 7 out of the last 8 days. It was really fulfilling to be there for people right in their hard moments, and to feel like the Lord was using us as His hands. I don't know how to describe how great it feels to know that He trusts us... I feel so grateful!

This is our District!! :D

Today was transfers, and I saw some of my best friends today!! Some of them are going home (Élder Hardy, heading to his next area in Canada), and I've been thinking about my mission. I find it interesting that we all decide how we're going to end our missions long before the end approaches. The Savior did His best work at the end of His mission, and He served till the end (and is still serving!); I want to follow His example!!

Our ward is still catching the Vision of the Prophets!! We are still nurturing the momentum, and we can feel it building in the members -- especially in the leaders!! I am so excited!!

Our friend Andrés received the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday. This week was full of testimonies of the power of the Priesthood. Andrés is already doing missionary work!! He and his wife are helping a part-member couple, and we saved their marriage this week in a spiritually intense visit, in which we were asked, by the less-active husband, for a blessing. He told us that he felt like we were reading his heart, and the Spirit spoke to all of us so powerfully. This has been a perspective-changing week.

I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for the love He makes me feel from Him, and for others. He is absolutely amazing. I love Him!!

I hope you have a great week!! I have about 100 years left on my mission, más o menos, and I am trying to give my all to the Lord, His work, and these wonderful people!! I love you all!!

Love,

Élder Zubeldia

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me

My Dear Family and Friends who I love so much!!,

Happy Easter!! Happy General Conference!! I am completely blown away by how Heavenly Father made this week so incredible!! He is so amazing!! I am praying that I can be motivated by love, that I may listen, and do His will.

From left: Élder Farley, my current companion,
Élder Dean, me and Élder Sorensen.
I love these missionaries!!

Élder Farley is a wonderful companion! He is proactive, hardworking, and full of faith. He has such a love for his family, and for everyone around him. If there was a word I would use to describe him it would be "pure". He is always so eager to serve and to work!!

Every companionship in the district is going to have a friend be baptized this month, for sure!!! :D I know that it's a direct result of their worthiness, and of their efforts to work with the members!!! Every single baptism this month will be traced directly to working with members!!

Andrés was baptized, and at the Bishop´s instruction, was confirmed right after his baptism!!! His testimony after his baptism was the following, "I am grateful to have finally accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, and to feel accepted by Him". We asked him the morning of his baptism what it was that he was doing by being baptized. He said, "I am committing to follow and obey the Lord, and to share His gospel." It was such a precious day, totally filled with a feeling of love and gratitude. I love Andrés, and I am so grateful to be a missionary!!!

One of our miracles of the week is the story of Irma. We were going with our Bishop to visit the family of Liliam (her mom Marina and niece Paola, who also want to be baptized this month!), a new member from El Salvador. We arrived a few minutes early, and decided to share the message of Easter with a woman who was standing right behind us. Irma and her little girls (Estefanía, Paula, Wendy, and the baby Caterina) are also from El Salvador, and our wonderful Bishop David Solís invited and committed them to a Noche de Hogar later in the week, in the home of the family we were about to visit. Both families agreed, and come the Noche de Hogar, Irma had brought her husband Santos. They felt the Spirit, and had a great time with the members (our fantastic Bishop and Ward Mission Leader Jesús came!). They all came together to the Sunday afternoon session at the church, and felt the Spirit again! Talking afterward with Santos about the Conference, he told me that this was the true path of God. We invited them to continue discovering for themselves, and asked if they would be baptized if they would continue to feel that this IS God's true fold. Irma seemed uncertain, but Santos said yes! We invited them to pray as a couple about what they had heard in the Conference, and we will be visiting them later this week!! I know that as we do our best to love others, to work with the members, Heavenly Father will guide us to find families who are ready!

I hope that, for the rest of my mission and life, that I will be able to present the Lord with my heart, and that He will find an accounting of love for others, and of awe and love for Him and His Son.

I love you all!! Thank you so much for the exemplar lives you are all living!!

Love,

Élder Zubeldia