First P-Day in Madrid!

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Hello! 

This has been one crazy week and I dont know where to start. 

We arrived in Spain last Friday morning after a crazy few days of delays and changes. But we made it here and I am so glad we did! Not only do I love the MTC but I also love Spain! It is cool because we are allowed to leave the MTC to play sports every day and go to the local stores around the area. The MTC is in a tall building right next to the Temple. From almost every window, there is an amazing view of the temple and let me just say it is beautiful! It is closed now but it will open back up in a couple of weeks and I will get to go inside. I cant wait! 

There are only 4 districts here. 2 spanish speaking districts, 1 spanish native, and 1 Russian. So that adds up to a whopping total of 35 missionaries. Everyone knows everyone here and it is so fun! My district is awesome! There are 10 of us: 2 elder companionships and 3 sister companionships. One of the elders is from Brazil but has studied Russian for 2 years and another elder is from Germany! Everyone else in our district is from America and spent their freshman year at BYU which is funny because there isn't anyone else in any of the districts who went to BYU. 

My companion is Cectpa (Sister) Gunderson. She is awesome and we actually already know each other because we were in the same new student orientation group at BYU. Small world! Anyway, she is awesome and we get along really well. 

The food here is amazing and the fruit is even better. Most of the food is spanish and is really good! 

Russian is coming along. It is definitely a difficult language but as I look back at the last week here, I am shocked by how much I have learned! I am so grateful for the gift of tongues! Because our district arrived 3 days late, we crammed 7 days of lessons into 4 days to catch up. It was a little overwhelming but we are slowing back down now and I am pretty happy about it. I am surprised at how much I love the Russian language, it is so fun to learn and use in our everyday conversations. 

Every day is pretty much the same. Wake up, breakfast, class, lunch, class, sports, dinner, class, bed. Sports is definitely my favorite part of the day because we get to go outside and exercise so it definitely keeps me sane! I have actually started enjoying playing soccer. We do huge games with the elders and sisters and even though I can't kick the ball to save my life, I still enjoy it. The schedule can get repetitive but I know that if I keep working diligently with patience I can make it through this and be the best missionary I can be! 

This week has had plenty of ups and downs but today is definitely an up because we are going to a town in Spain that Don Quixote was based on! It's supposed to be super pretty there and I am sooooooooo excited! It is so cool that we get to see all different parts of Spain while we are here! It is also a good day because this morning at breakfast President announced that everyone could wear jeans to Pday. To say everyone is very excited is an understatement.

As I have been trying to learn Russian and keep up with all of our gospel lessons, I have had times where I get frustrated or down on myself but I read a story by President Hinckley this week that really helped me. At the beginning of his mission in England he was having a really hard time and wanted to go home. He emailed his dad asking for advice to which he simply responded, ¨Forget yourself and go to work.¨ This made all the difference for President Hinckley and I can tell it is making all the difference for me. Mark 8:35 says, ¨Whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel´s, the same shall have it.¨ This story and scripture have changed my perspective! I am so grateful that I get to sacrifice this short 18 months for the Lord and I can't wait to serve in Ukraine! 

Docbedahra, 
(dasvedanya)

Cectpa Daines 

P.S. Don't forget to write to me! My email is: edaines@myldsmail.net



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