How is Élder Pablo Zubeldia doing on his mission?

Beloved family and friends,
 

It´s been a while since I last sent a message out to all of you, and so I feel like now´d be a great time to send one out to you all. But first...how´s the weather? :)   (Haha, now that I've asked you all a question, you´ll have to respond, out of common courtesy, if nothing else!)

Please bear with me, as I do not have much time to write emails, if this is lacking in detail.  Please let the thought count!

I am in Spain. I have been out in the field for almost 10 weeks. I am serving on the island of Ibiza -- do NOT look it up on the internet. I am Missionary #8 to have ever served on the island. My companion and I are the first missionaries to be here throughout the month of August ("high season" here in Ibiza). I am having a blast!

My companion is named Élder Jordan Bozarth, 6´0, red-head, from St. George, been serving for a year, Visa-waited in Ogden for 6 months. He was an ardent (no reference to his red hair) basketball player before his mission. He was sent to the hospital two weeks ago (if you´d like details, ask my parents), but he is fine --turns out he simply has a very low heart rate (I attribute it to his having been such a dedicated athlete). It was a great experience, even though we couldn't be with our people on Ibiza, because we are now good friends. He likes to have fun. We played with blow torches last night.
 

We got back in Ibiza last Tuesday morning. We have been warmly welcomed back by the members of the small branch here, and we have been eating with them every day (as usual--they really love us [not that we're special, it's the Spirit and blessings that Heavenly Father gives them for helping us]).

On Wednesday, we met with an investigator named Patricia, who has been progressing for a while, but who is very shy.  We went and taught her for the first time since I've been here, and we followed the promptings of the Spirit that we had been given during our studies (we had received a chain of scriptures that we felt would help her -- Mor 7:8-9, Mos 4:10, 3 Nephi 27:16, 2 Nephi 31:9-12).  We invited her to be baptized, and she asked, "What time?".  She was BAPTIZED this last Saturday!!!! 8D I firmly believe that we will continue to see Heavenly Father work miracles here on this "isle of the sea".

On Thursday, we met with an investigator named Isabel, who had been progressing for a while, but who had reached a wall. It was the first time I had met her, but I felt that she was ready to be baptized. She told me that she would be baptized...but not now. She wants to wait until she can go back to Ecuador so her mother and son can be there. I know that Heavenly Father has His perfect plan for all of us, and if Isabel´s time isn't now, then it isn't now -- that´s not under my control. All I can do is hope (which is the source of faith and of charity) for the best, and do my part by being obedient, working hard, striving to be worthy of the Spirit, and making sure that the people we meet with feel our love (and more importantly, His love) for them.

On Friday, we set up the font (which had just recently arrived). It looked right having it set up, brand new, for the first baptism on the island for over 6 months now.

On Saturday, the baptism!! 8D She was so excited, in her shy way!! She was baptized by my companion.

On Sunday, the giving of the gift of the Holy Ghost!! And the Sacrament, of course!! It was beautiful!! Our elders quorum president carried out the ordinance.

I think that it´s best for the people here to use their priesthood. It´s a strength for them, and it unites the people who will continue to live here after we, as missionaries, leave. I´m thinking about setting the goal to try my best to always have a member baptize, instead of me. It feels right.

If there is anything that any of you should do today, you should begin to read the Book of Mormon, and continue reading it daily. Regardless of where your personal testimony is, how old you are, or how much you might think you already know, you NEED to read it every day. When I say read, I mean STUDY -- I tell people every day that if they read the Book of Mormon, ponder its contents, and pray to Heavenly Father about it´s truthfullness, that He will answer their prayers, and they will feel more of His influence in their lives. 
If this applies to them, it applies to us all -- READ THE BOOK. START NOW. LET YOUR LIFE BE CHANGED BY ITS MESSAGES FOR YOU.

I love you all.

Simply,

Élder Pablo Zubeldia

News from Ibiza

Dear Parents,

Hey, Mami, I'm going to focus on answering Papi's questions today; please don't feel bad!  I love you both so much!!

First: I keep trying to send you pictures, but there is never time to download them! Computers here (especially in locutorios) are so slow.  Today, for example, I am in the Mission Office, and I'm using their computer; but I don't have my memory card with all of my pictures/videos with me (I'm trying to see if a member can download them and send them to you--I'm not allowed to use members' computers, but they can send emails to our family, so I think it's alright).  I'll see what I can do.  I would love any device that would help me send you all more information/pictures to you all.  I am NOT intentionally neglecting to give you information--I want to let you know as much as possible.

Second: Thank you so much for the Spiritual thoughts you send me.  I love reading your spiritual thoughts--they always help me, and bless me.  I especially needed the message about imperfection--I needed the encouragement to be patient with myself.  I always try to apply things that I get from my studies, and things that I get from your letters--please keep sending me letters.  :)

How much time do you have for reading and responding to email?

                      I have an hour and a half, once a week.

Can you print the messages, or do you have to read them on line?

                      I can print messsages (which is great, even though it costs me money).

Could you get on email, print your messages, and then turn the computer over to your companion while you read the printed messages? Then get back on the computer for the remainder of the time to send your answers?

                       I just checked with a master missionary here in the office, and he says that that's a great idea.  I might run out of money, but that is what I will do from now on!  I WANT TO WRITE TO YOU ALL.

Do you know how long you are expected to be in Ibiza?

                       I know that I will be here all of August, and that I will be here for at least another 6 weeks:  when I left my first area, President told me that he wants me to train in Ibiza, when the new missionaries come (Sept 4). (Isn't that crazy?!  After 6 weeks...My companion and I are excited to have 4 missionaries here. So, I could technically be here until December, if not longer, as far as I'm aware.

Is there something you would like us to send you?

                        I would love pictures of you all. Peanut butter. That Learning Spanish book that we had when we lived in Santander, the one that was really good (my companion wants the name of it, so that he can go and buy it, wherever it is sold).  I don't know--I love getting letters.  Anything that you send will make me very happy!!!

Do you need sunblock?

                        Nope.  I'm fine.  We spend so much time in homes that I don't get hardly any sun (which sounds weird, being on an island, but it's true).  I have tons of sunscreen, though--I should be good until next summer.  ;) 

Are you learning Eivissenc?

                         Not yet.  :)  We only have one member who is Spanish (she's "mayor"), but she comes to our English class and she says that she's going to teach me.  We'll see.  Oh, and she calls it "Eivissenco".
 

Can you send us some pictures? Will you?

                         Can I?  I don't know.  Will I?  I'M TRYING AND I WILL REGARDLESS OF WHAT TRIES TO STOP ME!!!  :)
 

Do you rather get one email from all the children and parents, or many separate emails?

                         I really liked this style of letter that you and Mami sent to me.  It actually came to me, last Monday, that I wanted to suggest that you do this all the time, the whole family.  One email is easier, because then I can just go down, after printing it off first, and answer questions.  Then, after answering, I can actually WRITE and DESCRIBE what is going on in my life as a missionary, beyond the questions that you ask.
 

How is the missionary work in Ibiza? Are you tracting, or is it all member referrals?

                          The missionary work is going great.  Member Referrals, unless otherwise directed by the Spirit.  My companion and I set a goal to baptize 10 people this month, something that hasn't happened in Ibiza, in any sense, for probably a year (since it first opened).  I believe that Heavenly Father can empower us to do it.  Pray for us.
 

What did you do last Monday?

                           We went to the home of a member to show them the Work of Salvation Conference (nobody on Ibiza had seen it, and as of now, they're the only ones).  My companion broke out in a huge allergic reaction (I told Sarah a little, ask her).  We missed our afternoon appointments because of the reaction.  I called Hermana Pace, and she suggested I take care of him in piso.
 

What did you do last Tuesday?

                           My companion didn't wake up; I just followed the schedule as exactly as we're supposed too, but you need a companion for Companionship study.  I called Hermana Pace, because I felt like he was sick.  He had flu-symptoms, and we were told to stay in piso all day.  I was given instructions on how to take care of him, and I followed them.  Members came by to give us food when they heard he was sick and we couldn't visit.

What did you do last Wednesday?

                           My companion got worse; Hermana Pace told us to go to the hospital. We were in the Sala de Urgencias for 11 hours.  It was an experience (ask Sarah, I told her a little).  The doctor say his ECG, and wanted him to stay overnight, but he was hungry, and we wanted to be obedient to the missionary schedule.  Hermana Pace was worried, and President Pace told us that he was taking us out of Ibiza until Elder Bozarth got better.  The word got around the branch fast, and there were many teary calls late into the night of goodbye.

What did you do last Thursday?

                            We left to Barcelona.  There were lots of tears--there was no guarantee he would come back (I was for sure coming back); half the branch was there; my companion and I didn't want to leave. We got to Barcelona, and we went to the hospital, the Emergency room here.  Being of Bilbaino blood is a blessing that opens doors--a doctor got to liking me, and he gave me the name of his friends in the Cardiovascular Center.  We had to stay in the Mission Office that evening.  We've slept here every night since.

What did you do last Friday?

                             Hermana Pace tried to have my companion set up appointments; he tried three times and was shut down.  I was out running errands for the office when I got a call from her saying that she wanted to get it done (apparently, she trusts me after having seen me get us in and around the hospital the day before).  Papi, I prayed to be able to handle it in the way you would.  I made one call, didn't take no or "later" for an answer, went directly to those who actually have authority, threw around some names, and got the appointment settled.  We went in, I made friends with the cardiologist's receptionist (she accepted the Book of Mormon that I dedicated to her, and promised me she'd read it), and with the doctor (he and I got to be friends, and he was surprised that I knew about the valves and "vasos" of the heart), and we walked out all within the hour, having the Echo and the Holter Monitor on. Hermana Clark (the Office Couple Sister), told me (while my companion was in the bathroom) that she feels like I just know what's right, and how to do it, that I need to be with my companion so that I can be a help for him. Papi, I'm so blessed to be your son, and to have you as my example.  You're a blessing to my mission, Papi.

What did you do last Saturday?

                              We followed the normal schedule, and took off the Holter.  We went on splits with the Office Elders, and I got to finally go contacting again.  We saw miracles.

What did you do yesterday?

                               I got to partake of the Sacrament again.  Best part of the day.  We went on splits again, and I ran a Noche De Hogar for the JAS (YSA)--they say they loved it, and the other missionaries say they're jealous of my Spanish, and they're shocked that I only have two months in the mission.  Today we went to the hospital to return the Holter, and we'll check the results.  Hopefully they'll send us back to Ibiza tonight--it's been too long since I've been able to work in our area (technically, a week--I'm dying to finally jump back in!!!!!!!!!).  Pray for us, please!

I love you, Papi.  I'm so highly favored to be your son.  After nightly family prayer, please give everyone a hug, every night, from me.

Love,

Elder Pablo Zubeldia

Update from Ibiza

My dearest Mother,

I love you so much!!  :)  Haha, I´m going to respond to your e-mail before writing to anyone, so that I can make sure to answer your questions.  All of them.  :)  I love you!!

Mother, first off I want you to know that we as missionaries don´t go to dangerous places.  We don´t go anywhere near the discotecas, the beaches, or places that are (for similar reasons) dangerous in that sense.  The missionary rules, that we live, protect us from any potentially problematic situations.

There is immodesty and other threats here in many places, but I am protected by God´s hand, as a disciple of Christ, and even especially as a representative and servant of Christ.  The Holy Spirit guides us, and gives us strength.  With that, any missionary could serve in Ibiza without any problems.  I recognize that nobody is spiritually (or otherwise) indestructible, but the power protecting power and guiding influence of the Holy Spirit helps me. I love you so much.  Thank you for your prayers.  I marvel every day at the tender mercies of God, and how He has provided a way for me to be with you all forever.

Now, other questions: 

What is the situation in Ibiza? 
                 That is a vague question that deserves an answer that will calm your worries.  My companion (Élder Bozarth from St. George) and I are the only missionaries on the Island. 

 

Please let us know if you are eating well in Ibiza?

                  That wasn´t phrased as a question, but yes, I will let you know if I am eating well: I am eating well.

 

How was your trip to Ibiza?

                  The trip was pleasant.  It was relaxing, and it gave me time to write in my journal and extra time to study the scriptures and organize my thoughts and prepare in general. 

 

How did you get there? 

                    I took a train from Vitoria to Barcelona, and stayed overnight.  Then I took subway to the airport, and then a plane to Ibiza.  Heavenly Father protects and directs us, and we were safe.  We will have District meetings over Skype, and we will fly to Mallorca for Zone Meetings.  We will always be protected and watched over.

 

How many members are there in Ibiza?

                    The branch of Ibiza has 40-60 members that come to church each week, and a couple of Melchizedek Priesthood holders. 

 

How long has the area been opened to missionaries? 

                    Ibiza has been open for a year (the anniversary was a couple of months ago).  I am missionary number 8 to have served here.  My companion and I are the first ones to ever have served on the island during this part of the year.

 

Is there a branch?

                      There is a branch, and the members love the missionaries.  I´ve already met with and been in the homes of almost all of the members, and we´re already good friends (some of them have already pseudo-adopted me, and want me to come and live with them on a vacation that I don´t know when I´ll take, sometime after my mission).  I know that I will come to love them even more as time goes by.  They´re all very humble, and very willing to participate in missionary work.  There´s a lot of potential, and I´m focusing on getting to know, coming to love, and on bringing the Spirit to the members with my companion. 

 

Do you like your new companion? 

                       Yes, I like my companion.  :)  Rule number one, according to the leaders in our home ward: Love your companion.  :)  He´s nice, he´s humble, and he wants to focus on loving the people.  He´s never been a senior companion before, he tells me, and now he´s also the district leader (our district is us, and the companionship of elders on Menorca).  He says he´s feeling super stressed with the weight of all of the responsibility (the branch, the island, training me, being a District leader, etc). I´m trying to help as much as I can.  President told him that if we´re not 100% obedient, he´s taking us off of the island.  It makes sense to me -- I´ll do my best to make sure that we are always obedient (showing love to and trust in Heavenly Father), and that we focus on loving the members. 

 

I love you, and I hope that I have been able to help you find peace for your concerns.  :)

 

I am now out of time.  Please give everyone my love!

 

Simply.

 

Élder Pablo Zubeldia

Love is what makes the difference

My beloved family,

I´m off to Ibiza, really soon.  Pray for me!!

I know that the Lord has His purposes. 

This is what I wrote to my Mission President this week:

"Dear President,

This week has been fantastic!  Miracles come every day.  I know that Heavenly Father wouldn't tell you to send me to Eivissa (Ibiza) unless that´s what He wanted, so this must be what He wants.  I´m going to miss Élder Sutton (he is such a fantastic missionary), but I know that missionary work is the Lord´s work, regardless of where you are (or where you´re not), or who you´re with (or who you´re no longer with).

Thank you so much, President, for all of the help and guidance you've given me.  I´m really grateful for you and Sister Pace, and for the wonderful leaders that I've been blessed to work with in my time here in Vitoria.  I know that this has not been left to chance--Heavenly Father´s hand is directing every part of His work.  I´m so grateful to be here in this part of the Lord´s orchard, with such great examples all around."

I only get 2 years to consecrate 200% of myself to the Lord´s work.  Well, less than that.  Time is short, and I am trying hard not to waste a moment, a thought, or a word of it.  I know that Heavenly Father is giving me strength.  I know that Heavenly Father is letting me be a steward over this time for a reason, that I have gotten to this point on purpose, and that this is no light charge.  This is the work and the glory of God.  I am here to help people step into the light pouring down from the windows of heaven, and to love them up the first steps of the stairway of celestial happiness.

 

I´m out of time!!  I love you all so much!!

Keeping you in my prayers,

 

Élder Pablo Zubeldia

Guess what? I love you guys so much!

My Treasured Loved Ones,

Missionary work is so great!!  Best.  Life.  EVER!!!!

Here is what I wrote to my Mission President this week: 

"Dear President,

I hope that you and Sister Pace are doing well!  Thank you for the inspired advice you gave me in our recent interview.  It´s blessed me, and I´m already finding myself receiving more guidance, which is a  tender mercy.  As we discussed, I´ll keep this letter short and to-the-point.

I´m doing well, and I love being a missionary.  Élder Sutton is an amazing companion and mentor. We are in Week 6 of the 12 Week Program.  I´m trying my best to become a better servant to the Lord. We see miracles every day here in Vitoria.

Miracle of yesterday:  we had been dropped by our appointments for the afternoon, so we prayed for guidance.  Heavenly Father won´t let our plans fall out unless He wants us to be using His time differently.  He gave us a lot of information about a way that He wants us to assist the growth and strengthening of the ward.  It was marvelous.  I know that He loves us, and He wants us to turn to Him for enlightenment, so that we can do what He wants us to do here in Vitoria.

A less-active member told us this quote from Élder Richard G. Scott: "To achieve what has never been achieved, you must do what has never been done."  When Heavenly Father gives us ideas and promptings, He will give us strength to carry them out." 

Here is what I learned from my scripture study last Thursday: 

"I need to pray and read scriptures unto rejoicing, daily.  Investigators and Members and all people can/will feel the Spirit of rejoicing in me if I can nurture it in me.  The messages of the scriptures are more than cause enough to rejoice in gratitude toward God.  He loves us and wants this sort of happiness for us--that´s why He´s given us the power of prayer and the gifts of the Spirit and the blessing of the scriptures.  When we learn to take joy from these things, we will become better servants of our Savior, and the Spirit will "send the gleam [of the Holy Spirit and it´s "glad tidings of great joy"] across the wave".  These people are my people, they´re my family, and they´re so precious, so significant, and so special.  The joy that I need to continue developing from living the gospel needs to be bright enough to be obvious, for the "eager eyes [that] are watching, longing, for the lights along the shore".

I love you all so much!  I pray for you every night, each of you, by name, at the end of my prayer.  I have never prayed so long, so consistently, ever:  I usually spend somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes on my knees before getting into bed.  I make sure to spend a time praying for each of you, specifically, and listening, so that I can better know what to pray for for each of you.  I know Heavenly Father answers prayers.

I also know that some of you answer e-mails.  ;)  If you´d like to send a short reply, you are now officially invited to do so. ;)

Know that, even though I don´t see you every day, I keep you in my heart.  You are not forgotten.

I love you, so much.  Don´t ever forget it, or worse, doubt it.

Simply,

 Élder Pablo Zubeldia

I love you all so much!!!

My Loved Ones on the other side of the pond,

Thank you so much for your e-mails!!  I can´t fully express my gratitude for the strength you all give me, and for the support that you are for me.  It´s amazing to me how quickly time flies here on the mission--I´ll have been out in the field for a month when the 11th rolls around!!  I cherish the wonderful letters I get from you all, and I´m grateful for the prayers that you offer for me.  Know that I´m safe, healthy, happy, and that I´m trying my hardest to press forward every minute.  I pray for you all every night, and whenever your faces come to my mind.  Thank you so much for the time you take to write to me.

I love you so much.

This keyboard is messed up, (haha, it´s been pretty exciting to find out which letters/symbols are actually the  ones that they are labeled as), and the internet in here in the locutorio has been unfortunately slow today. Thus, I sadly don´t have time this week to write you all individual e-mails. :/

So I´ll just have to make up for quantity and quality with meaning and sincerity.  :)

Here is the letter I sent to my Mission President today: 

Dear President, 

Missionary life is going well here in Vitoria! I love being a missionary! 

This is definitely the Lord´s work. We see miracles every day in contacting, in teaching, in the hearts of the members, and in our own perspectives. So many ideas are coming to us concerning what we should do, what could work, where we need to go, and how we need to go about doing things, that it´s getting hard to remember them all! We know that it is the Spirit that is whispering ideas to us, and I know that doing what we are prompted to do, no matter how embarrassing or difficult it might seem, we are blessed with strength from Heavenly Father. Our personal obedience qualifies us to have the company and guidance of the Spirit, without which we can´t be the missionaries that Heavenly Father needs here in Vitoria.

We are so blessed to be missionaries!! 

This week´s miracle report: Elder Sutton and I felt prompted to go contacting in a specific park. The first people we came across were four elderly people on a bench. Someone called Elder Sutton on the phone, so I got to talk to the people on the bench. I sat down cross-legged in front of them, sitting on my bag, and we began to talk. 

After a while, they seemed to warm up to me. :) They asked such great questions, and the Spirit was giving me answers for them, so my job was easy (as it always is when the Spirit is there)--all I have to do is listen, and then follow His lead. While they didn't want to learn or hear too much about our lesson, I could see in the eyes of one of the couples that they could feel the Spirit´s confirmation of what He was telling me to say (funny, how He plays on both sides of this game). One of the men (Jesus Carmenes, who was more receptive) recognized my name--apparently, he knew other Zubeldia's who lived here in Vitoria!!! He spoke of a Juan Zubeldia, whose children were Juan Carlos, Antonio Mari, and Blanca(?), who Jesus had been good friends with, and of Juan´s brother Andres, who had apparently died in a car accident with his wife. Jesus went on to talk about how these Zubedia's came from the french part of the Basque country, and that their mother had been French. This might not seem like much, but for me it was incredible--we had been guided to a park (which happens to be near the cemetery where the only Zubeldia's that I knew about in Vitoria are buried), and to talk to some people on a bench, and one of them knows people who literally share my blood!! How awesome!!!

Obviously, that isn't the most important thing that happened this week (as finding 9 new investigators might be), but it was just a personal miracle that I really appreciated. :)

Here is an excerpt from my study notes this morning: 

"Yesterday night I wasn't feeling like I was following the Spirit´s guidance, or that I was necessarily being guided at all. I was praying continuously, but I wasn't quite making it. I started tearing myself down, of course; when you don't have God's influence with you, the devil's influence will creep in. Lucifer is more real to me now than he has been for these past few years. A 16-18 year old boy crossed our path during the last hour of our day. I didn't have the Spirit with me, and it came about that the boy wanted to argue and fight. WE shouldn't have even spoken to him. I felt like I am no where near the missionary that God needs for His work in Spain. I read 2 Nephi 8:7 this morning: "...fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings..." verse 12 "I am He, yea, I am He that comforteth you (ergo, the feelings that I was being washed-over with yesterday evening were not from Him). Behold who art thou (a son of God, a bearer of the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Holy One of Israel, a missionary and representative of the Savior of the world), that thou shouldst be afraid of man...?" I have a job to do. While I still have much to improve upon, and I might never fully achieve my expectations for myself, if I continue trying my best (in every moment) to continually and persistently find/follow God´s will, He will accept my offering, and work through the imperfect/limited instrument that I may be. It doesn't matter that I´m not the effective or powerful tool that I wish to be for His hands and His work. He is a Masterful artisan, and He can accomplish His purposes through even the "least of these", even me. so I don´t need to be discouraged by my limitations, and I need not fear the "reproach of men"--God can give me strength to do anything He needs for me to do, and He will do so, so long as I can be strong enough to turn to Him on my knees, loving enough to unlatch my tongue, and gratefully let the Spirit guide my words, thoughts, and steps. Miracles come as I am obedient to His will, and as I'm faithful to my covenants. I know that, as Isaiah repeated twice in 2 Nephi 7, "...the Lord God will help me." 

My time is up.

I love you soooooooooo much!!

Always,

Élder Pablo Zubeldia

it HAS been a month!

My Beloved Family,

You people make me so happy, just so you know.  :)  I think you´re e-mails this week were one-fifth the size as before.  X)  I guess the message is that you all want me to write more.  That´s fine, but also remember that I LOVE hearing from you all, and that the letters you send me give me so much strength, peace, and guidance.  On top of that, I love you family, and I want to know what is going on in your lives, and how you are feeling--it helps me pray for your needs.

I love you.  :)  Did I ever tell you that enough?  Please remember to tell yourselves "Pablo loves me", at least 10 times a day, for me, alright?  :)

Here´s my e-mail to my Mission President (sorry, I spent a lot of time writing to him today--just got carried away, I guess): 

Dear President,

I am so excited for the changes that are going to be happening in the Lord´s work!!  In our area, we see that there would be a huge benefit for the work if we can get the members to work with us more.  I know that we can do it--there´s nothing that we can´t do with the Lord on our team!  Something that hit me yesterday, after watching the Conference, was that we are inhibiting the Lord´s work if we prohibit ourselves from thinking big.  So many ideas had come to mind, and they were further validated by the things said in the Conference.

On that note, I was wondering if I could ask you for some help and advice.  The Stake Center here in Vitoria is big and beautiful, with lots of grounds, and room for large groups of people.  I was told by a member that President Utchdorf said, when he dedicated the building, that it would bless the area as a place to hold events.  So, I was wondering if we should try and hold some events there--so that everyone would know where the LDS Church building is in Vitoria, and so that people would get interested in learning more about LDS people and the lives they lead.  In the Church, we have many talented artists and groups that have the resources to go on tours: can we officially invite them to come and tour the Barcelona, Spain mission, and (particularly) to visit Vitoria?  The Piano Guys, Inside Out, and Lindsay Stirling (a few examples) are very popular artists, and I really think people would come to see them.  I think that there is a good possibility that we can spark people´s interests in this way, and help people recognize better the name "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" in a good light.

Maybe I´m just having a crazy idea, but I really believe that nothing is impossible in the Lord´s work.  We can accelerate the work in this part of the Lord´s vineyard, and we have so much creative "wiggle-room" wherein we can help carry out His work.  It is better to get things done than to simply think, or talk, about them, so I want to know if you´d like for me to try and make this happen, or if you think that this is a good idea.  What do you think?

My companion and I are good friends, and we have so much fun working out here in Vitoria.  It´s hard, but it´s invigorating.  After watching yesterday´s conference, we feel even more enthusiastic, and we've seen so many miracles as we´ve been trying to find and do the Lord´s will.

Speaking of miracles:  while we were trying to follow the Spirit´s guide, and while we were trying to contact the world, we found a woman sitting on a bench with another woman.  The woman in question was giving her address and phone number to the other woman, so that she could give her the assistance necessary to sustain herself and her child.  So, from right off the bat, we knew she was golden.  We began to talk to her, to get to know her, and to have a lesson, right there on the bench.  Her name is Lidia, she´s 50-ish (or so we´re deciding to guess), she has three children here in Spain with her, she´s married, she´s from Colombia, and she´s been searching for the Lord´s truth her entire life.  It felt so good to tell her that her search is over.  The Spirit was there, and knew what she needed to hear.  I´m so grateful for the power of prayer, and scripture study, which helps us so much to follow the Spirit.  We began with a prayer, and we began talking about the Plan of Happiness.  She asked questions, and we answered.  The Spirit helps us listen to people, and He helps us ask the right questions, and then again to listen to people.  Time flew by, and we spent (no, invested), more than an hour with her.  Lidia calls us her angels.  She invited us to visit her, in Miranda de Ebro (a pueblo 30 minutes away from Vitoria--oh, and President, could Elder Sutton and I get sent to Miranda as a new area?  There are SO many youth there, and so many families--it makes Vitoria seem like a night-life-party-metropolis.  We both felt like there´s so much work to be done there), so that we could meet her family.  We had lots of obstacles in getting there (Satan is real, and he doesn't like us--but that´s fine, because we are on Heavenly Father´s roster), but we got there, and taught them about why we are here.  The Spirit is so great, and helped us express our sincere love for them.  Even though my knowledge may be small, and my testimony may be meager, the Spirit of God gives strength to the words that come from our hearts.  She is astonished that we are so young, and has adopted us as her children--we call her "Mama Lidia".  We love her, and we know that she knows, and we know that she loves us.  Heavenly Father is a God of Miracles, and always will be.

I am trying my best to be obedient, President.  My first lesson as a set-apart missionary was, in the words of my Stake President, "Obedience brings blessings; strict obedience brings miracles."  I´m glad that here in the Barcelona Mission that obedience is such a focus--it blesses me, and I know it blesses the work of the Lord, and the people around us.

My goal last week was to focus on humility.  I know I will probably never be humble enough, and even though I´m focusing on a different goal this week, I will also keep in mind this goal to become more humble.  My goal this week is diligence--hard, focused, continuous, determined, and smart effort in all that I do.  I know I won´t come close to progressing much on the continuum of diligence this week, either, but I know it´s important to at least try to grow in this aspect.

I am so blessed, President.  I am the most blessed person I know.  I am happy, doing well, and trying to learn and improve.  I´m so small for such a calling, which makes me even more astonished at how much the Lord can do through the "least of these".  I know that there is nothing that I can´t do if the Lord wants me to do it. 

There is so much to tell you all about every-day missionary life, about what has happened this past month, and what I've learned and how I've grown as one who strives to be a servant of the Lord. Turnips, I haven´t even told you about my experiences at the MTC, have I?  Oh, well--I will try and do better in the future.  I would tell you all now, but I need to dedicate time to writing you personal letters, now.  :)

When it comes to forwarding these e-mails, parents, you can decide how you wish the rest of the family to receive them (I just want to make sure that the cousins/aunts/uncles/grandparents receive them, so that they know that I love them, too.  Will you please forward things to them, as well?).

I don´t want anyone, especially those who I hold dearest to my heart, think that I have forgotten them.  I HAVEN´T FORGOTTEN YOU!!!!!  I THINK OF EACH OF YOU, INDIVIDUALLY, EVERY NIGHT IN MY PRAYERS, and I try to listen to the Spirit to know what to pray for, for you.

I love you, family.  :)  You are always in my heart, and I carry your pictures with me everywhere, and I show them to everyone who asks  (speaking of which, I would immensely appreciate receiving pictures of each of you).  You are all pillars of light and strength in my life.

I love you.

Simply,

Élder Pablo Zubeldia