Tansfer 12, Week 6 Leganes ...Last Email

September 14, 2011

Dear Family,

So crazy, this is the last email Iĺl be sending, and the last letter because we just barely got back from the mission home and we are pressed for time. Dad, I am sure your talk was not that boring. I like your talks. I gave a talk this week too and I wasn't sure if anyone was listening until a I heard whispers “This is her last week?” I talked about the power to change written by James E. Faust that mom sent to me in Spanish (thank you thank you)

I'm excited to eat with René and Angie! That sounds like a blast. I don't plan on sleeping in until 11am even if I do have jet lag ;)

Sorry, this email might be short because I am doing the last minute photo stuff on the computer...but no worries.....Iĺl talk to you before next Wednesday!!!!

Just know that we are super happy. Carol has a baptismal date for the 8^th of October. We feel the Spirit so much with her...we cant stop smiling when we are with her. She told us how 3Nephi 12 helped her decide to apologize to her sister and now they are doing really great together....that takes humility. The gospel is already blessing her life. She is really special.

One sad thing: Belén and Santiago thought that Allison and Leonardo would be staying with them for the school year, but their dad came for them after they had gotten everything ready for school...so sad. Iĺl tell you more about it later.

I'm not sure what else to say. It is so weird that the mission is ending. I think I am nervous, and I am sad to tell people like Carol and other members and investigators that I am leaving, but I am also excited to see how tall my siblings are ;)

Love you so so super so so much.

Love Hna Moulton 1

Tansfer 12, Week 5 Leganes

September 7, 2011
Hola Familia!!!

Today we got to go to the temple! My last time at the temple in Spain...for now. I loved it so much.

I have to say that always, but especially after living in the big city, Twin lakes is my favorite place in the whole whole world. Dito to Shalese...I am super jealous. Loved the pics of Annie and the kids. I can´t wait to meet Baby Blake!!!!!!!!!! How great that the young women got to go up. Yay Annie! I am so grateful that we have so many great leaders. Our ward is very blessed.

Monday and Tuesday I was with Hna Cook. This is her first transfer and she taught me so much. She knew Shalese in Liberty square because she was the RS pres there when Shalese was a teacher. It was so interesting to hear about her life...her Dad was a mission president in New Zealand so she spent three years there. She has four brothers and sisters....she is the youngest...she would be the Sharah in our family. girl girl boy boy girl just like us. I´ll tell you more about what I learned from her when I am with you. It was a very interesting experience. I just loved her outlook on life. She is going to have an amazing mission.

Today at the temple we traded back so Hna Jiménez is back. I am so grateful to be finishing with her...so nice and loves everyone and we laugh all the time. Mom, she got the birthday card ;) that was nice. Yup...she is amazing. I am going to miss being with missionaries all the time, but guess what.... I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE MY FAMILY!!!! I feel good knowing that Hna Jiménez and the rest of the missionaries that have come into this mission are great...very diligent with a lot of love so I know that the people we have been teaching will be taken care of. I am also so glad to have Facebook....so I won´t lose track of people.

Thanks for your letters and pictures....it is going to be weird to see how much everyone has grown up. I am excited to help out with the store and everything...and in the ward.

Thanks for everything. We are seeing miracles in contacting, I feel like there are a lot of people that are ready here. Carol is gone for five days on vacation but she is doing great...she came to a baptism on Saturday, to church on Sunday, and is talking about it to her cousin and her sisters. How cool. She is going to be great. We miss her when she is not here.

I was trying to be good about sugar this transfer....but I think in these last few weeks I am going to take full advantage of the bakeries here. ¡Viva la Napolitana!

I love you all...you know all about the mixed emotions at the end of the mission but it will be so good to talk and talk and talk with you!!!

Love Hna Shayla Moulton

These are the wonderful people that Grant help baptize 30 years ago. Grant talked to them for the 1st time, 2 weeks ago. They drove up special to meet Shayla. What a blessing!!

Photo August 28, 2011

Tansfer 12, Week 4 Leganes

August 31, 2011
Dear Family,

Dad, I think you will like the photo this week ;) Carmen and Moises Conde came to my ward to say hi. Carmen is charming and elegant and any other good thing I can say. She shared some experiences that she has had with the Spirit when we went to gospel principles class together. It touched my heart to think that you were part of helping her learn the gospel. Moises said that he used to go on visits with you and that you baptized a lot of people. They didn't have to be modest for you ;) They said that they still live in the same little place where you visited them. It was so exciting. Carmen brought a few gifts including some money for my companion and I to go out to eat. That was so nice.

So...Hna Jimenez and I are going to go out for Chinese food today...that is what she wanted for her birthday, BUT: last p-day we played soccer with the Elders and she fell...she sprained her ankle and hurt her wrist. The next day, her birthday, I made pancakes and then she said she needed to go to a doctor...after waiting in line in a clinic they sent us to the hospital...where we waited in the emergency section. They called her and I waited for about 30 or 40 minutes...and I talked to a nice abuelita named Maria. Then she came back to the waiting room with a cast on her fractured wrist and a bandage on her ankle. by that time we were way too tired to go out for Chinese food...so I made sweet and sour chicken and rice for her and the other sisters that live with us....can I say it was awesome sweet and sour.....
This week was a little slow and way exhausting with everything that happened, but we had a miracle!!!!!!! After what feels like two months searching and searching and meeting wonderful people but not seeming to see progress, we met Carol through her friend Carlos that we had been teaching on a bench outside. She is 18 and so so super prepared for the gospel. In the first lesson we asked if she had thought about why we are here on earth, where we came from etc, and she said "all the time." She said she thinks that God created us to do something with our lives...He wouldn't have created us just to do nothing. She said she sometimes wondered what she should do and what she shouldn't do in life. She said that she is completely open to new ideas...she had heard of the church in Peru but never learned much about it. We explained the example of Jesus's baptism which was 1.done by someone who had authority from God 2.done at an age when a person is accountable for their sins 3.done by immersion. She said that she had been baptized in a church just before she left Peru because her mom said she should...even though she doesn't believe in the leaders and many of the practices of that church and she thought that baptism should be by immersion like Jesus Christ. She thought of her baptism as false but she seemed worried that she couldn't be baptized again. We explained that a person may have been baptized many many times but it is only valid when performed in the right way by someone who has authority. Day 2: She had read and understood the whole pamphlet of the Restoration and it was all clear to her. She said that when she read the story of Joseph Smith she asked herself, "well, I have learned of many people who have had visions...why not Joseph Smith?" We gave her the Book of Mormon and she is excited to read it. We feel so blessed and we know that the slow difficult time that came before was to help prepare us.... if nothing else, it has taught us to treasure this miracle even more.

Hna Jimenez and I are doing great...even if I have to tie plastic bags around her foot and arm before she showers ;) Poor girl. We laughed the whole time.

Sharah, Josh, and Jacob....cant wait to see you!!!!

Mom, cant wait to help out at home....it gonna be a party.

Shalese, I love to hear about the work there. I love you!

Love you all,
Hna Shayla Moulton

August 2011 - Leganes SPAIN

Sending foto of first ward FHE yeah! Belen and Santiago are on the left
with a two year old in his arms.

Tansfer 12, Week 3 Leganes

August 24, 2011
Dear Family

We got the official no on the idea for me to go to Barcelona...but at least we tried ;) I guess there is a rule in the Mission Presidents manual about this exact situation...Id like to read that manual one day....So I will be home on Tuesday Sept 20th as planned.

Dad...that is an impressive embarrassing moment. I say you should hire her. I am excited that the store is coming together.

Jake....How great that you are there working with Dad on this project! You wont forget it and I am sure you are learning a ton.

Sharah...I am writing a letter to you today :)

Josh...How are you liking the Charter school? I cant wait to play soccer with you guys. Are you ready to be "destroyed"? Remember the What game?

Mom....uniforms sound nice....super easy. That is a really great idea to have the parents volunteer at the school. This school sounds amazing. I hope everyone involved can keep up the excitement in the years to come.

Shalese...I got your letter...I don't know if you received mine but you should look for Ibuprofen cream in the pharmacy.

We are teaching a great couple from Nigeria, Sylvester and Nancy. They are incredible because they understand everything we teach. The other day we taught them about the Plan of Salvation and Sylvester asked, "What about someone like my grandpa in Africa who never had the opportunity to learn the Gospel?" We read 1 Peter 3:18-19 and 4:6 about Jesus Christ teaching in the Spirit world to the dead. He said, tapping the Bible, "It is written. It is scripture." The doctrine that we teach just makes sense to them and they have great questions.

Belén and Santiago continue to be amazing with their amazing four kids. We just don want to see Alison(10) and Leonardo(8) have to go back to Valencia to live with their dad during the school year. Belén had a hard life and it sounds like her family married her to an older man when she was younger. She says the the Lord has recompensated her with Santiago who is wonderful to her and the children. Alison and Leonardo are smart, good, receptive to the Spirit, respectful, and they remember my name. We are going to fast with them for a financial issue that is putting a lot of stress on them right now. The challenge is getting them to church because it is at least a 45min walk and they don't have a car...we walked it with them the other day and I was tired out afterwards...but their kids were running circles around us the whole time.

We think Selene has gone on vacation...she has disappeared. Please pray for her to come back.

Today we had an activity in the chapel with eight Elders and nine Hermanas. We played soccer and sang to Hna Jimenez for her birthday tomorrow.

oops...better go. Sending foto of first ward FHE yeah! Belen and Santiago are on the left with a two year old in his arms.

Love you all so much!!!
Love Hna Shayla Moulton

Tansfer 12, Week 2 Leganes

August 17, 2010
Dear Family,

I love love love Shaleseś emails. so funny!!!! So true.

Hahahahhahhaahahahhahaha Dad, I loved your email too.

Josh...those underpants sound dangerous....I'm excited for you guys to teach me soccer!
Jacob...I love to hear that you are helping out with the new store! It sounds like a family project! Maybe Iĺl be able to find a job after all ;)
Sharah: I hope you love the new charter school. That is pretty crazy that it is in the old Walmart.
Mom: Thanks for never giving up on trying to get us to do scripture study, practice piano, do homework etc. You are a blessing to us all with Dad.

It was so nice to read what you forwarded from Aunt Koolwhip! I loved the cake explanation of our trials...Maybe we can use that in a lesson!

We are working hard with:
Selene-16 who has a testimony, feels the spirit and is super sweet,
Victor-38 from Guinea Bisoa who had a sweet experience with learning to pray,
Sandra-30? from Colombia, she seems to have less doubts every day. She doesn´t understand why we don't drink coffee....colombia is the coffee capital of the world.
Santiago and Belen, 25 with four kids. She is overwhelmed with 4 kids but she loves them a lot. We hope to help them prepare for baptism. They can see already the blessings that are coming with our visits.
We love them all.

My companion is amazing amazing amazing. Hna Jimenez...as you know, is from Honduras but has lived in Barcelona for six years. She laughs all the time...she reminds me of Courtney Deans (now Sanders) and she is always singing English songs from the 1940s and 50s. She knows all the words. She has no fear and we work really well together. I knew it would be like this: The mission gets better and better every day...and this last transfer is turning out to be one of the very best.

I love you all!!!
Love Hermana Shayla Moulton

Tansfer 11, Week 7 Leganes

August 10, 2011
Dear Family,

Big news in Leganes: I get to stay!!! Yayayayayay! I was so happy when I found out that I would stay. Hna Benítez is going to the center of Madrid and Hna Piedade will still be living in our piso but she will be with Hna Wilson. (Hna Wilson was with Hna Waters...who was my comp in the MTC...now she is in Idaho. So Crazy. I loved to be with her at the beginning and the end!) My new comp is Hna Jimenez de Honduras!! She is super sweet. I think she is just what this area needs right now. We are working hard and I feel in-sync with her.

Yesterday Pipi (14, española...looks 18...real name is Fatima) came with us for a lesson with Selene (16, Equador). Pipi described her experience at EFY and how she went a little rebellious but felt the Spirit a ton and came back a new person. It is true...she wore a skirt to church and bore her testimony. Selene wants to get baptized!!!!! She is worried about what her mom will say, and she might go out of town this weekend so we might have to push her date back but it is currently the 27th of August.

I sent a picture of Selene with all of us, one of me with Hna Benítez and Hna Jimenez, and one with with Pipi and her mom Fami who got baptized almost 3 months ago...I love them all!!!!

Life is super great. There is a possibility that I could go over to serve with Shalese for a few days after this transfer ends. We will see what happens. Iĺl let you know for sure next week.

Jacob is driving the rice rocket!!!! It sounds like he is taking good care of it. Dad...remember when you taught me how to drive stick and we got stuck doing bunny hops at the intersection on Sheckler and...Wow..I for the other street name...by the pool, and five cars passed us. Learning how to drive is not exactly the best bonding experience :) at least not for a few years until we can look back and laugh.

I love to hear that the whole ward came out to help the Kelsy family move. I have been surprised how much I have missed my ward family on the mission. It shows me that it really is a family!!

Mom...that is so great that you could be there in the lesson with Heatherś friend. It is incredible to hear that you can receive that much support for a lesson! Eight people! We feel that a majority of our ward is on vacation from Church or something for the summer. Way to go Heatherś ward!!!

Anyway. I love you all so much

Tansfer 11, Week 6 Leganes

Aug 3, 2011
Dear Family,

Thanks for the prayers. They are being answered so so much. We are teaching Selene (16, Ecuador, amazing). We started teaching her a week ago but she went on vacation for a week....oh no! But when we saw her again on Monday she had not only read 3 Nephi 11 but all the chapters until 21, and the pamphlet. We taught her about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We asked if she would pray to ask if the Book of Mormon was true and she said she hadn't prayed about it but she believed that it IS true. I explained that the same had happened to me...we know the Book of Mormon is true because it is good, but if we ask Heavenly Father He will also give us a Spiritual confirmation in our heart that it is true.
Yesterday we taught her the plan of salvation. (yes, she had read Alma 40 and the pamphlet like we asked her to). The lesson was great because SHE is great and we always feel the spirit with her. At the end I remembered to ask about how her prayer went (very important to ask) and she described how she prayed the night before and didn't know why but she started to cry and felt something that she didn't know how to describe. She said she didn't know if it was the answer but she couldn't describe it. She described exactly what happened to me when I was little. Mom, do you remember the night I tried to explain what I felt after praying but I couldn't? (Write back about that....I want to know what you remember.) This was definitely one of the best moments on the mission.

Santiago and Belen are also progressing a ton. After watching the video about Joseph Smith with them we left it for their daughter Alison (10) to watch. A few days later we went over but just Alison and the kids were home. She gave a perfect and beautiful summary of the video. She really liked it. I felt the Spirit so strong as she described the First Vision to us in the doorway. AS we left Hna Benítez asked us...is she 10 or 20 years old? This is a very special family. On Monday we taught the Plan of Salvation. I played the violin for them and then helped distract the littlest kids while Hna Piedade and Hna Benítez taught the lesson. Leonardo (8) was so cute because he also helped them try to be reverent. It reminded me of watching my brothers or Kevin help when sharah was little(r).

Well, I better go...Iḿ sending a letter this week. Thanks for the prayers and the support. I find out this weekend if I get to stay in Leganes for my last transfer. Please oh please!!!!
I Love you
Love Hna Shayla Moulton

Tansfer 11, Week 5 Leganes

July 27, 2011
Dear Dad,
Thanks for the email. I am sorry to hear about the accidents in Lovelock. That is really sad. I know you are always careful. I read in the Bible the other day that God knows the minutes of our lives. That is reassuring.

I love to hear about the Beautiful sunrise in Fallon. That is really one of the most beautiful things about Fallon. I used to ride my bike to the canal and read the scriptures the last summer I was home. (I had a hard time concentrating unless I left) Those were some very cool moments.

I really like the 10 minute, 10 month, and 10 year plan. I think it would help us all feel less guilty because it weeds out the small stuff. I am going to use that!

Dear Mom,
So great that you guys can support Kaden at his baptism. I think I still remember the people that were at mine...all the Fallon family and also Grandpa and Grandma Moulton. very great moment...but I still cant believe he is eight years old!!!!

The rooster problem sounds exciting. I hope it is still alive in a few months.

I am praying for Mikayla...hope things work out for her...what I pain literally and in all other ways.

That is cool that Sharah saw the missionaries at her soccer practice. I know I am going to see them a lot when I am home...they wont be able to get rid of me!!! About violin....I would love to teach her...and since it will only be a few months she wont loose steam with me...change will help he stay pumped about it. I played in two baptisms this week and I am going to play at Zone conference this week. I love it so much. It brings the Spirit quicker than anything else. I'm not nervous to play in front of people anymore :) I am so so so grateful to you and Dad for giving me this opportunity and sticking with it even when i didn't want to practice.

We continue looking for investigators... pray for us...we need it. However we have a family that makes it all worth it. Santiago and Belén are 25 and have four cute kids. They read 3 Nephi 11 just like we asked them to and we felt the Spirit a ton with them in the last lesson. We also have an awesome young woman, Selene, but she is on vacation this week. We think there will be miracles with these people...all from Ecuador woot woot.

About Judith...she texted us that she didnt want to recieve anymore lessons but she came to the ward activity this week so we see that there is still a chance with her :)

Love you all!!!
Love Hna Moulton 1

June 2011 Leganes, Madrid, SPAIN Hrn. Moulton and Benitez

Transfer 11 week 4

July 20, 2011

Dear Mom,
Thanks for your email, and thanks for the letter with the pictures of Leilani's reception. I miss the people in our ward. I loved to see them and I can still feel their goodness. Thanks Mom for everything.
Love you!!!

Dear Family,

I have to write this very quickly....just want to let you know that I love you and that we are doing great. We were having another week of canceled lessons...Judith even texted us that she doesnt want anymore lessons. Ouch.

But even though we had all that the Lord blessed us with Santiago and Belén. They are 25 and have four children. They are so so prepared and I loved them from the start. We don't know if they are married but we know that they are very in love so that wont be a problem. Pray for them. I felt like I was back with Alexandra and Jofre because they are both from Ecuador and about the same age and similar situation. The difference is that Santiago and Belén seem ready for the gospel right now. Belen grew up in an atheist home but about a year or two ago they started going to a church and she started believing in God. She says that since then they have had more financial blessings and they love each other more. They even said that they didn't want to have their youngest daughter but faith showed them that they should and she just loves her kids so much. I feel so blessed that the Lord guided us to them. We were on our way home one night and we almost passed them but I felt like I should talk to them. They said later that they thought we were going to passed by and were surprised when we talked to them...I think we were too. They said they have been looking for peace and they want to learn a lot more.

I love the mission. Thank you for your love and support and for always trying to put the Lord first as a family.

Love you!, Love Hna Shayla Moulton

Transfer 11 week 3

July 13, 2011
Hello Family,

Today we had a big BBQ together with the zone...I will re-attempt to send pics next week. It was a lot of fun... will a very mild, missionary-style water fight.

About the woman from Romania...she moved to another area but I will send her number to the sisters that will be in her area soon. I called her and she was super happy to hear from me...and I was happy to talk to her too!. I am excited..the sisters in her area are great.

Immanuel received the Aaronic Priesthood this week. I love to see how his strong testimony progresses all the time. On Saturday we attempted for the second time an activity for the young single adults (the first was almost a failure and we almost didn't repeat) Well we called Immanuel and he came with three friends from Nigeria. We did a split...Hna Benítez and another girl went to open the church while Hna Piedade and I waited for Stephen...another guy from Nigeria. We saw Immanuel's group and they went ahead of us while we waited for Stephen. I started to panic as I imagined Hna Benítez with two other girls (all Spanish speakers) waiting awkwardly for 20 minutes with Immanuel's group (4 English Speakers) till we came with Stephen so we could start. It all went super well in the end! We played a game and laughed a ton. The game to get to know each other was this: Everyone take 4 M&Ms and each color is a different question you have to answer:
Yellow: What was the last movie you watched (mine was Legacy)
Orange: Hobby
Red: Dream vacation
Green: What would you do with a million dollars
Brown: A nice quality of the person next to you
Blue: Free question from Group

These questions showed a lot about this group. Three of the guys from Nigeria got a green M&M and they all said they would give the money to the orphanages and provide for their families. Immanuel added that he would give money to the church to help the Work. When Hna Benítez got a Blue M&M, Immanuel asked which scripture from the Bible she had read last. She said Romans 1:16 (I will not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.) When Kelly, one of Immanuel's friends got two brown M&Ms he said that Immanuel is very quiet, very nice and a good friend, then he said that Hna Piedade is nice and he liked the way she talks.
Then we had an object lesson: Place an empty tea-bag standing up right like a hollow tube in the palm of the hand....ask if the person trusts you..(hopefully the answer is yes...Kelly said he just met me) then you light the tea-bag on fire. The tea-bag should burn until the bottom and then lift off before the flame gets to the hand. The person should feel heat but not get burned. It was a good thing that we brought extras because the first time the tea-bag fell over and Hna Benítez yelled and stomped it out and everyone laughed...I guess Kelly was right not to trust me.

We are teaching Judith in the home of a member, Orbelina, and she has a baptismal date for the 6th of August. woohoo. She has a great testimony that the Lord is taking care of her. She is 30 years old and is a widow with a five-year old daughter. She is from Honduras and feels that God has led her here to be able to provide for her daughter. wow.


Dad: What are SMART goals? Did you mean to send me an email that you sent to Shalese?

Love you all so much!!!
Love,Hna Moulton 1

Transfer 11 week2

July 6, 2011
Dear Family,

That is so funny that you would mention Ella Enchanted. I just thought about how I read that with Sharah just the other day. I remember I was always scared too to go to girls camp or any other adventure away from home...just like Sharah...but I am so glad that I did....especially with the young women and EFY. The more we do hard things the easier they become.

This week has been awesome with Hna Piedade and Hna Benítez. We are all enjoying our time together.

This week after a great lesson on Sunday night we were coming home feeling pretty good because we had also completed the goals for the week. I saw a woman and I might not have approached her because she was sitting a little ways away smoking a cigarette but something (the Spirit) impulsed me to go talk to her. As I got closer I thought she was Spanish but it turned out that she was Hungarian and most recently from Romania. She told me that she had recently been abused and robbed by a man that had weaseled his way into her life. She is now living in safe house for women. Her real husband died six years ago but her two children are doing well and living with her mother. She wondered how she could have fallen so far in life...she wasn't born to this. She prays all the time and despite everything that has happened to her she has a peace that the Lord will lead good people into her life. I told her that I felt I had been lead to talk to her and we both had tears in our eyes. Her employers also seem to be very good people. We want to see her on Saturday. I know that the Lord guides us and gives us love for people. I felt so much love for her.

I love the mission and it is becoming part of me more and more all the time. Ever since the beginning I knew that the start would be hard and the end would get better and better and it is true. I love my comps, I love Spanish, I love the crazy experiences we have all the time. I also love my Family!!!

Very important assignment: I hope that you will send me at least ten pictures of Leilaniś reception. Hopefully you will receive the letter I sent for her before her reception.

Anyway I love you all super much.
Love Hna Moulton.

PS....other story: we entered metro behind a young couple and sat across from them. The guy started making comments about how the Testigos de Jeovah were following them...I decided to tune out....they thought we didn't understand Spanish. A few minutes pass as they are whispering (for everyone to hear) and I see hna Benítez pull out a card and announce to them (and everyone around us) that there was a web page they could visit if they have questions about what we believe, no we are not nuns and we can form families, and yes, we do understand Spanish explained that she is from Spain....(haha that is when Hna Piedade announced very sweetly that she didn't understand Spanish perfectly yet because she is from Portugal.) Apparently the guy was saying that he wanted to say something to us to embarrass us but the girl was saying that if he said anything she would go to the opposite side of the metro. Hna Benítez felt a force that made her say something, knowing that we would look ridiculous if she didn't right away. It actually ended quite differently than the guy expected.

Transfer 11 week 2

June 29, 2011
Dear Family,

First things first. Happy Birthday Jacob!!!!! AHH AHHH not 16!

Life is good. Yesterday we picked up Hermana Piedade from the CCM and Hna Benítez and I will be training together. It is pretty exciting to train. We want her to have the most happy and positive experience possible right from the start. It is clear that it is a lot easier to learn Spanish when you already speak Portuguese. She is so sweet and knows one of the Portuguese sisters that I loved so much in the CCM!

Shalese and I got a really nice email from Grandma Jean. It was nice to hear what everyone in the family is doing and how cute Jaime´s family is. Say thanks if you see her ;) I´m sending a letter to Kevin today.

I´ll be praying for Athena and Cyle. Yes, they have a ton of faith. I can´t wait to meet Athena. She will be one of the first people I call when I am home ;)

We have been experiencing miracles through fasting here as well. The other day we contacted Estela...She was so positive and accepting that it was almost weird. She wasn´t home two of the days that we had scheduled to meet with her but we tried again and yesterday we found out that she is the sister of an investigator that is receiving the lessons from the misioneras that live with us. Carmen (the sister/investigator) has spoken very positively of the church and the Book of Mormon because Estela was very excited to learn about the Gospel and we were even able to establish a schedule to meet with her twice a week (that is amazing because sometimes people get scared at the idea of having a schedule. ahh ;)

We are also teaching a woman named Juani that listens and understands! Her husband died eleven years ago but he was a very good and spiritual person and he prepared her a lot. When we taught about the First Vision she accepted it very easily because her husband had had a similar experience. After a massive surgery he saw a light and a man told him that he had to get on with his life...he lived another four years with his family and passed away. Those four years were especially important to his son who was ten years old when he passed away. I felt the spirit as she told us about this experience and it confirmed to me that the Spirit can teach us the truth of all things...even the experience of a man that I had never heard of before. It can do the same for those who pray to know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I know he was.

We are finding many more. It is amazing what happens when we put our faith in the Lord. I don´t know if we are working that much harder but we are putting a lot more faith in the Lord and it is changing the results.

I can´t believe that Leilani is getting married in two days!!!! I am sending her a letter today as well. Wow. It makes me laugh to think about all the girly conversations we had growing up...including one time when we wrote a page about each other´s futures....I just remember that she wrote that I am supposed to live in Colorado and do a lot of Humanitarian work in Afghanistan or something.

Anyway, Love you all a ton,

Love Hermana Shayla Moulton

Transfer 10 week 6

June 22, 2011
Just a quick note:

Talked to Elder Woodbury today....his mom is Correen Cowley and his aunt is Colleen Cowley. He said Suzette asked if he new me...are these "the twins" from Reno? Haha small world.

Got a letter to Andrew today. Very cool. He reads the blog....this is a shout out to Andrew and Rose ;)

Love you...had fun today in the mission home...played tennis and a ton of soccer...got burned. Love life.

-Hermana Shayla

PS Thanks for forwarding what Aunt Koolwhip said. So nice. Love her!!

Transfer 10 week 5

June 15, 2011
Dear Family,

Thanks for the update on life back at home. Dito to everything Shalese said. I think it is so exciting that the kids are trying everything out with music and swimming and working and horse riding etc. We are super super super blessed to have that opportunity.We are teaching piano lessons every Saturday and I love helping people who might not otherwise have that opportunity. Music opens a whole other world (just like sports...which I am going to get more into later...look out.)

Way to go Mom!!!! Keep up the great work with piano with the kids. They will be so so so so grateful for it forever.

Also way to go Family with the daily scripture study. That is the most important thing that there is.

Yesterday I spent another two days with Hna Jimenez, but this time in her area. It was nice to be in busy Madrid again for a few days. I learned a ton from her, again. She is great with contacts and has a natural sweetness with everyone she talks to. She is a great teacher and teaches directly.

Shalese, keep up the awesome work. Almost ANYONE will tell you that the first transfer in the field is the trickiest. I can see how it would be difficult in a trio where when you finally feel ready to say something in Spanish someone says it first. In the mission I have had to find my voice (it is somewhat harder to find in Spanish ;) Don´t worry about it. It will come. There is a time and a season for everything...a time to laugh, a time to cry, a time to dance, a time to mourn etc.....a time for trios, a time for a normal companionship, a time to be lost in the language, time to be quiet, a time to speak, a time to learn, a time for baptismal services, a time for hours of contacting....you see?

Just find what the Lord wants from you right now. Maybe it is to build up your comps, start some contacts (which is the hardest part), etc. Anyway, you know the drill: You are AWESOME. The hardest lessons are the best ones.

Something that Shalese wrote reminded me of what I wrote about a year ago to Dad. Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou for serving a mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dad, happy Fathers Day. You are the best Dad! Thanks for being true to the priesthood and true to the family. Be looking for a letter.

Speaking of letters...I have another suggestion for the kids´ summer charts..haha. I hope you are getting the letters I sent...I sent them with gum so I wasn´t sure they got there.

I´d better go. It looks like we are getting into the real summer here...we´ll call it a toxin sweat cleanse again....drink a lot, sweat a lot, wash a lot of clothes. ;)

I just wanted to let you know I am so happy. The biggest thing I have learned on the mission is how to invite the Spirit and fight for it. When we have the Spirit we feel good about ourselves, we love and forgive others easily, we are confident, we learn, we are progressing, we are happy. I feel like I have been woken up from a deep sleep like they talk about in the scriptures and I wake up a little more with every lesson I learn. I imagine that is what recent converts feel like....like they just woke up from a deep sleep they didn´t know they were in. I love the gospel and I love the Lord.

I love you!!

Love Hna Shayla Moulton

Transfer 10 week 4

Jun 8, 2011
Dear Family,

Dad´s scuba diving sounds incredible!!!! how awesome! That is becoming a lifetime goal for me....as soon as I am allowed to go swimming again.

These past few weeks we have been continuing the search. At least three of the best investigators we have right now have been in the middle of moving apartments so it has been hard to see them. Pedro continues to progress although he seems to be afraid to choose from all the churches...he has been looking for so long that I think he might be comfortable searching. He told us yesterday that he doesn´t know how to find peace... I learned the importance of asking the question "Why?" because when I answered him he went on to tell us that his mother died when he was 9 and his father didn´t take care of him, then his aunt whom he loved and who looked out for him was killed in an accident while traveling from Nigeria to Guinea Equatorial. Then his Grandma who also looked out for him passed away as well and he feels alone in the world. What a weight to bear. We had just taught him about the plan of salvation. We challenged him to pray about it and that this pain would be filled little by little. We are praying that he also finds people that can help fill this hole in his life.

We are learning to rely on the Lord and to trust in him with a lot of faith. As I look back on the mission so far I realize that the easiest thing in the mission and the easiest to work for are the people that have been baptized. It is the looking that is hard. I don´t know if all that made sense...I am just learning that when we try to rely only on our own efforts we don´t have as much success and we aren´t happy, but when we rely on the Lord miracles just seem to fall into own laps. For example on Saturday we realized that we were powerless without the help of the Lord and we ran into Pedro that night and had a lesson. We haven´t wanted to call him every day because we didn´t want him to feel a lot of pressure. he also ran into Immanuel on Monday and then ran into us again in another spot. In other words The Lord has kept daily contact with Pedro in the way that would work for him.

Hermana Benítez is still amazing and teaching me a ton she says: "Que tienen una super mega chachisima hija que le quiero un montón, y que tengo ganas de conocer a los Mous" So life is pretty good. We are falling short still on lesson but I think we´re just supposed to learn more faith and some other things. The mission is the best and i am super happy. I have also learned what a wonderful family I have!!

I love you all...can´t wait to see pictures of Mexico!!! At least one with Dad in a wet suit!

make sure to tell Sharah and Mikayla that I got their letters!

Love, Hna moulton (1)

Transfer 10 week 3

June 1, 2011
Hello Family,

Cozumel sounds amazing!!! I heard once in Church a quote by Elenor Roosevelt (?) "Do something every day that scares you," and it stuck with me. Dad learning Scuba Diving made me think of that. Also Mom riding around on the Moto. Good for you. But when do the kids hit the age when they are supposed to tell their parents to stop doing dangerous things? Maybe I´ll learn to scuba dive one day...ahhh!

Katie sent me an email from the home base and so did Mikayla. They both sound great. Thanks to both of them!

Shalese sounds great. It was awesome to see her. I was a little bummed at the thought of her not being around when I get home but now I´ve seen her and I know she is still alive and hasn´t changed...only grown a lot.

Hermana Benítez and I are doing great. On Monday we had the most powerful lesson that I have seen in my mission. Pedro (32) is from Guinea Equatorial but also lived in Nigeria during fifteen years...so he speaks both English and Spanish. He has been attending so many churches and receiving visits from representatives from all sorts of Christian religions. He reminds me of Joseph Smith! So there we were in the house of Lourdes sharing a lesson about the Book of Mormon.

Side note/other miracle: When Pedro was in Nigeria visiting his uncle he saw the Book of Mormon in his house and asked him what it was. Someone a had given it to his uncle. Pedro was going to church one day (I think the Methodist church) and didn´t want to go without a book in hand so he grabbed the Book of Mormon. Now years later we found him and he has questions about it. He called his uncle about a week ago and asked him about the book. His uncle (I´m not sure if he is a member or not) said that it is a good book with the word of God and that Pedro should read it. So cool that a Book of Mormon in a home in Nigeria has had such an impact here and now with Pedro.

So there we were with Lourdes (Mexico, Strong recent convert), Hna Benítez (España), Me (USA), Pedro (golden investigator from Guinea Equatorial), and Immanuel (Nigeria, another super strong recent convert). Very international. Very Spanglish.

After explaining some things about the Book of Mormon and answering questions we asked Lourdes and Immanuel to share how they learned that the Book of Mormon is true. She told about how we had told her to pray about it and when she did, all the doubts that she had been harboring went away and she was sure from that moment. Immanuel related a lot to Pedro explaining that when he saw the Book of Mormon he said "What? What is this? Who is Mormon? Is it a bible or what?" He said he had a lot of doubts but he also followed the direction to pray and he prayed for two or three days. He said you have to be humble, you have to concentrate hard, you have to be hungry to know, you have to want it so bad...and then you know. He said, as he held up the Book of Mormon, that this was what he didn´t know was missing from his life.

Wow. Lourdes, Hna. Benítez, and I just looked at Immanuel with our mouths hanging open. He surprised us all. The Spirit was so strong and I learned in that moment what it means to teach with power. Pedro said wow, I hope I can get an answer like that, little by little I´ll keep praying and learning..or something to that effect. His response was positive but seemed a little lacking in faith and Immanuel (who has become a good friend to Pedro) didn´t let it slide. He stepped in and answered right away. "No, you´ve just got to pray. You have to want it more than anything else. You have to free your spirit and let the Lord guide your path." He shared how he had also fasted. He said..."this is my testimony" in a powerful way but also in a way that said don´t take my advice to be hard, it´s just what I know.

It has been a long week and full of contacting and lacking in lessons which is always difficult. We have made a commitment to the Lord to do at least 15 contacts a day and we are trying to improve in a lot of ways. That lesson showed me how much the Lord is blessing us. The spirit was so strong. The next time we see Immanuel, hopefully tonight, we are going to speak to him about serving a mission (he is 24 so he still has time).

Hope that all made sense. Hope you know I love you and I am loving the Lord´s work.

Love Hna Moulton (1)

Transfer 10 Week 2

May 25, 2011
Dear Family!!!!!!!!!!!

So...I´m here with Shalese. AHHH!!!!!AHHH!!!! AHAHHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!

This will be a joint letter...and "journal entry for sure" says shalese.

I have now been well informed on the home front and the painting situation. It sounds so pretty.

Shalese says: "I love Spain! I love my Companion. I love My Sister. I love that my arm is around her....and she is typing this letter. Dad, only coool people go scuba diving....so you are cool. But Mom, since you are doing it, snorkeling is cool too."

Mikayla, thanks for the email and the informe de la casa. Es verdad, Sharah ya es una mujercita. Gracias por quidarles bien.

We are about to run to a district activity so the pictures must suffice for now...but they are worth a thousand words each ;)

Shalese will comment more tomorrow.

The mission is great and we are learning so much. We love you all so so much. We are so glad we are an eternal family!!

Love, Las Hermanas Moulton

Transfer 10, week1 Leganes

May 18,2011
Dear Family,

Before I forget: Will you forward the pics that shalese sent to you?, They didn´t make it. Also, let me know Shalese´s address when possible...it´s a little tricky since we don´t know when the visa comes through. Shalese, just know I love you and enjoy the experience...everything´s new! I remember my first day...wandering around with Hna Smith who was also lost, not minding walking and walking because I didn´t really know what to expect....I remember being starving and visiting a family...who gave us freshly fried cheese empanadas with sugar...oooo wow...gift from heaven.

So Immanuel and Fadmy got baptized this weekend. I played the violin during the musical number and the played hymns with Hna Waters while we waited for them both to change. I got to play again for sacrament..."I know that my Redeemer lives" with Hna Waters...the same one I played with Sis. Weed. I love it so much! I remember when Pres Williams blessed me that I would touch hearts through music, but I didn´t know how that would work because we weren´t aloud to bring and instrument. Between singing, piano, and violin, the hymns have touched a lot of hearts. I love to see how the Lord works.

Immanuel and Fadmy both seem happy and very strong in their different ways. The baptism was in Spanglish so I translated into English the talk about baptism that we helped Fadmy´s daughter write, and I also got to translate into Spanish Immanuel´s testimony. Wow...translating to Spanish is NOT easy but I think everyone could feel the Spirit that Immanuel had as he gave his testimony about how grateful he is to have heard the Gospel and how he prays there is a way to spread it to everybody.

The next day at church They were both confirmed. The bishop called me to the front and I think they were going to try to have me translate, thankfully, someone said that wasn´t allowed-sweet relief. I asked the bishop to speak very slowly so that Hna Benítez could write it down. Later we gave the copy in Spanish and English to Immanuel. The blessing to both of them were perfect. Fadmy´s included being an example to her daughter, and Immanuel´s talked about many things he has said to us in the past as well as the gift of tongues, which he needs to be able to understand the meetings. It was really perfect. Later I taught Gospel Principles in English again and it was about the Holy Ghost. Immanuel suggested that the Holy Ghost is like a body guard who will protect his master from anything as long as the master treats him well, but if the person chooses to go to a place that he shouldn´t the body guard can´t go with him. His spiritual maturity surprises me. I can see Fadmy as a great leader and activity organizer in the future and I can see Immanuel as a bishop...maybe when he goes back to Nigeria. We are going to teach him about missionary work...he still has a window of time before he turns 26 to serve a mission even though it would be difficult.

Lourdes continues to amaze us with her faith and determination. Dad, she said she added you on Facebook
I have to go, but Dad, I attached a photo of you that a member had froma Christmas Missionary list in 1980. So Crazy. Hna Benítez showed me your companions. I have pictures of the whole thing on my other card and you can see it later. Haha it was so crazy. Francisco (Paco) and Maria José Aguilar showed me the letter. They are just about your age. It was SOOOO cool to see you like that!!!

Ok, Love you all!!

Love Shayla

Photos

Dear Readers: My attempt at a photos You got to really want it! ..... Highlight the below link, copy it, then paste it into a new browser line (the url address place) then push enter.

These photos came with the May 5th entry:

This is who was recently baptized. The tall man baptized her. Shayla describes him in the letter. However, the girl is so incredible and committed as well. We got to visit with Shayla on the phone for Mother's Day...Happy Mother's Day to me!! And she explained a bit more about this amazing girl.


http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=58a21a4048&view=att&th=12fbaef6cad179c9&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_gnaab21y0&zw

This family below is who Shayla got to go to the temple with for their first time.

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=58a21a4048&view=att&th=12fbaef6cad179c9&attid=0.3&disp=inline&realattid=f_gnaabicr2&zw

Transfer 9, week 6 Leganes

May 11,2011

Hello Family and Shalese...who is also part of the Family

Anyway, Shalese. Your emails sound amazing! You are so happy and it is contagious! Yesterday we had a zone conference and Hna Bell gave me three other letters that you sent to my old address. Wow thanks. And thanks for the jokes from Dad. Hey Dad, I´m really glad that jokes are a major component of your personality...it is a real passion. And even if we´ve heard the jokes 5, 6, or 70 times it is still funny every time. They gave me a chiwawa!?!

Mom, Thanks for sending me the email that you sent to Shalese. Haha. now we are all on the same page. Let me know as soon as you all know what Shalese´s address will be wherever she is assigned to.

Also, Mom, thanks for writing about the busy busy day with the kids and everything. I know you are a super hard worker. What a sacrifice. I hope you got the Mother´s day card. That is another reason I am glad you both get to come to Spain. We can do personal and companionship studies every day and not be distracted by the run around of normal life. I think it will be a great spiritual experience for all of us. Oh and Dad, I was hoping to see the Alahmbra in Granada...but Hna Benítez says that we have to request entrance ahead of time. She also says that one of your friends lives in Sevilla now. Hna Benítez says she liked talking to you too...She said your Spanish is still good! I think she was surprised because you have been out of spain so long. hehe so cool.

Yesterday the Zone Conference was perfect. They talked a lot about having faith and how we show our faith by action. At this point in the mission with only four months left and 14 months of training and practice gone by, Hermana Benítez and I were both struck again with the desire to give everything we´ve got. As i thought back on the first zone conference and how shy and uncomfortable I felt and now at this conference where I feel confidence and eager to learn it is another evidence of how much the mission has blessed me. I am enjoying every minute and we are trying to work hard. We felt the spirit a lot in this conference. I´ve also been thinking a lot about Sara and what a wonderful person she is and about the plan of Salvation and how real it is. I am going to send you a letter for her family today.

I loved talking to you. It gave me another boost of energy! I sure love you!

Love, Hermana Moulton 1

P.S. I don´t think I ever sent pictures of Carolina´s baptism so I am sending it now. These are the Elders that talked to her in the street. The tall one is home now and the other one was with me at the CCM. They are great. She said that she didn´t really understand what they were saying when they contacted her. That shows how important the Spirit is! She didn´t want to lie about her number and now she´s got the gospel in her life and a whole family of friends. (all these youth are in Barrio 3. Young single Adults) She is wonderful!

Dear Readers: My attempt at a photo..... High light the below link, copy it, then paste it into a new browser line (the url address place) This will work if you cross your fingers and hold your mouth just right while doing this!!

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=58a21a4048&view=att&th=12fded2d41028c65&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_glgrwftu0&zw

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=58a21a4048&view=att&th=12fded2d41028c65&attid=0.2&disp=inline&realattid=f_glgrwi0f1&zw

Transfer 9, week 5 Leganes

May 4, 2011
Hello Family!! And Hermana Moulton 2!

Shalese, Thanks for sending the pictures and the letter. I love love love your letters. They are short and funny :) Your comp looks cute and you look like a good lookin sister missionary. I´m glad someone told you to buy cute outfits ;) If you can only skim this letter that is fine...I love your guts!!!

I hope the pictures came through... Lourdes was baptized on Saturday by the tall man next to her...who is from Germany. His mother is French and his parents lived through world war 2. He speaks English and Spanish and about two other languages as well. He brought Lourdes the Triple and the Bible..nice copies. He also brought scriptures for our other investigator, Immanuel from Nigeria. He has spent 20 years workings for various countries and companies in different parts of Africa as a scientist and other occupations. So interesting. He gave me a book in English about David Livingstone...one of the early Christian missionaries/explorers to Africa. Lourdes was so happy. There were other people there visiting for the first time as well and the ward was so great and talked to them a ton. They felt really welcome. We brought two cakes of cheese (different from Cheese cake) and chocolate chip cookies. Without saying anything to us, one of the women brought two big bags of food for the baptism. Wow...we feel a lot of support from the ward here.

Immanuel is doing great. We talked to him about fasting and asked if he would like to fast with us before his baptism. He said yes. I tried to help him plan out how it would be...when we should start and finish with his work etc. He said..."if I really want it, I´m going to do it with all my heart....if I think about food I´m not doing anything." Wow. That changed how I view fasting.

When we taught Immanuel about the Word of Wisdom I learned I should work on how I phrase questions. I asked what things can hurt the body...and he said.."like, if somebody hits you or something like that." I don´t know why it was so funny to me but I had to fight not to laugh too hard. Two days later he told us how he had gone without coffee and talked to his friend about how he learned it is bad for us. He said that he used to feel like a lion when he drank coffee, like he could do a million things, but he learned that when he doesn´t drink it, he feels normal...like he should feel. He learned that that sensation of energy was a false and unnatural sensation. He is doing great. We just pray that he can feel integrated into the ward..which is difficult because he is still learning Spanish.

We are seeing a ton of miracles here in Leganes...we both want to stay!!

We had intercambios over the last two days and I stayed in Leganes and Hna Jimenez came. She is from Honduras. She has very sweet personality and is great at explaining things. I learned a lot from the examples she used in lessons. She is also great at contacting. You can see that she has a love for the people and for the mission. It gave us both energy and excitement to keep going. Very awesome...I told her how my parents want to live out their days in Honduras. he he.

Also...I am super glad the aunts convinced you to come!!! We can take it slow or whatever...I am just glad to have all three of us. Woo hoo. If we lay around doing up-dates, all the better. I am sure excited to see you and dad....but not too soon!!!!

I can´t wait talk to you on Sunday. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY I love you so much.

Ok. Love you super much.
Love Shayla

Transfer 9, week 4 Leganes

April 27, 2011
Dear Family,

Today has been amazing! We went with the Familia Bustamante to get their endowment and see them sealed as a family!! Hermana Benítez had been working with them for a long time after their baptism and I met them in Barrio 9. It was a sweet experience! Very special. It made me think a lot about when I went to the temple for the first time. Seeing it all again from the perspective of a companion (Hermana Benítez was her acompañante...I cant think of the word...but we got to be with Olivia, the mom, the whole time) helped me remember how special that was and it brought a lot of fond memories of Dad and Mom. Wow.
It is truly amazing to watch a family be sealed together.

Good news! And lots! Lourdes is getting ready for her baptism on Saturday and I don´t know if anyone has ever been so ready. Fadmy, 35yrs old, Spanish, has made many big changes and wants to be baptized on May 14th. She has a big heart. She talks...much. She is so super generous and a lot of fun. The latest great news is that Immanuel from Nigeria has a baptismal date! You should have seen his face. Then we got a second huge smile when we gave him the cookies we´d made for him. It is really interesting to teach in English. It is making me develop a sense of authority when I teach that I didn´t have before because it is easy for me to let my companions lead lessons, but in the cases of all the English lessons we have been teaching lately it has fallen to me. I think Heavenly Father is trying to help me learn to lead and putting the pressure on Hna Benítez to learn English (she knows and understands a lot when she is listening but the new accent of Nigeria is impossible) This will bless her life immensely just like Spanish will bless mine.
I remember Uncle Roy saying that he knew a little German...but when he spoke it he was the "strong silent type." I feel like that a lot. I understand almost everything, but it doesn´t just fall off my tongue...so I tend to be even quieter then normal. I´m learning a ton with Hna Benítez. I love Spanish!!

It is amazing howthe miracles happen when you enjoy the work. It doesn´t feel like work sometimes and yet that is when we see results. An ironic and wonderful life lesson.

Mom, I got the package with the clothing and the letter with the USB. It was all perfect. Hna Benítez loved the Easter Egg. Shalese also sent me pictures! Katie Horne sent me a letter...it was funny because I had a letter for her sitting on my desk that I still have to send. Please tell her hi the next time you see her. The same for Leilani. I can´t believe she is getting married!!!!

Life is great! Thanks for everything. Love you!!

Transfer 9, week 3 Leganes

April 20, 2011
Hello Family, this is what I sent to Shalese but it is for you too.

"Hello Sister!

Thanks for your email and for you letters. Your comp sounds awesome. All the gas will be a happy memory from the MTC. My comp and I went home yesterday to sleep for three hours because we both had a full body reaction to the pollen here. I never get sick so it was pretty crazy. Yeah, you and I are on the same page about the nyquil. That full body reaction was not helped by the HUGE (but delicious) lunch that we had with members and another late night dinner surprise at another lesson. Lets just say the dinner didn´t sit well with the light fever and well...I never know who ends up reading what I write, so I´ll spare the details.

Last week I wasn´t able to send out a letter but this week I will. Just know that I love you. Oh yeah, Mom sent me a copy of that letter from Josh and I promise I did NOT want the original for obvious reasons, but thanks.

Life is goood in Leganes. We are seeing a ton of Miracles. Lourdes moved her baptismal date up so it is on April 30th. She is more than ready. We feel the spirit so much in our lessons with her. She is engaged to a man from Spain and he is beginning to ask more questions about the church. She told us that he can tell she is much happier now. She is amazing.

We also have Fadmy who is Spanish and her 15 yr old daughter Pipi. Pipi was baptized when she was 9 and now her mother really really really wants to get baptized. We are trying to help Fadmy prepare and be strong. It is so great to work with someone who wants the Gospel so much. She also gives us stuff like shampoo and cream, and perfume. Haha we are spoiled. We are going to do something for her birthday on the 25th.

We are also teaching Immauel in English. He is from Nigeria and whenever we teach him we see how he thinks about what we say and answers with something simple and profound. He is just beginning this journey but Hermana Wilson, (we switched comps for a day), said that he said that before he met us his life was work, eat, and sleep but now his life has purpose and he thanked us for teaching him. Wow. He wakes up at 3am to get to work and comes home at 5pm. Last week I started teaching Gospel principles in English. Maybe the other sisters will trade off with me as well. I ended up teaching the Plan of Salvation.

Anyway, Shalese. The mission is the best thing you could ever do. I love you and the Lord loves you and our family loves you and don´t worry about anything. Just keep going and do better each day. You are wonderful.
Love Hermana Shayla :)"

I love you all so much!!!
Love Hermana Moulton (1)

April 13, 2011

Dear Presidente Watkins,
13 abril 2011

Proselytismo:

Laurdes!!!! Se va a bautisar el 14 de Mayo! Es de la Ciudad de Mexico. Salio con un chico de la iglesia antes y vio que su familia era muy unida. Ahora está compromitida con un hombre de españa. Ha estado aqui 1.5 mezes y ha buscado la iglesia aqui. She said that this week was the first time she has ever attened a full church service because she was too proud to go in Mexico. She was surprized at how well it went and at how welcome she felt. She has already told her fiance and friends that she is getting baptized.

Immanuel. From Nigeria. Has really good questions and puts a lot of thought into the few lessons we have had. It is interesting to teach in English. Hermana Benítez really brings the Spirit with her testimony and we are working on English together, meanwhile she is helping me a ton with Spanish.

Josafine´s family: Also from Nigeria. Speak English. Came to church. I am going to prepare to teach Gospel principles in English this Sunday so they can understand. I don´t know how well our dialects of english coincide...the spirit is very important.

Compañerismo:
Hermana Benítez is amazing! I love the way she teaches and explains things. She is very much a people person and she serves a lot naturally. I am learning a ton from her.

Piso: The plumber came by yesterday to fix a clog. We faxed some gas bills to the office today. The piso is great!!

Leadership: Our ward mission leader is so excited to help us. So is the whole ward. We are going to try to coordinate better so they can come on visits.

Preparation day: Went to Alcalá to see the birthplace of Cervantes. Very cool. There is a lot of neat stuff to see there and you could do it all in an hour if you had a map from the outset. Hermana Wilson read the whole book in Spanish before the mission so she just loved it all!

My Family:
I´ve asked them to email you about the details of coming to pick me up. My mom may or may not be able to come because of severe back problems that she has been having, but my Dad is very excited to come. It will be a really neat experience together.

Personal Progress: I feel like the Lord is teaching me a whole new set of lessons in this area. Hermana Benítez has helped me fall in love even more with the Book of Mormon. Teaching in English is helping me realize what things I should do to teach better. Having a companion from Spain has helped me not be silly and not be so afraid to contact people from Spain. With all the people from all over the world that are here, I feel like the world is opening up to me. I love it so much!!!

Thanks so much for everything.
-Hermana Moulton

Transfer 9, week 1 Leganes

April 6, 2011

Hey Family,

So you received my email to Shalese so you know that I got transferred to Leganes with Hermana Benitez. The apartment is amazing...the walls are painted with bright colors like orange, green, and purple. It is way cool. Hermana Benítez is wonderful. She entered the mission on the same date and we go home at the same time, but she entered the field one transfer before me because she is from Spain. Cadiz. She was in the CCM with Mikayla!!!!! She is a sweet heart. super fun and positive and all that jazz. She is super organized and does a ton of cute stuff with her agenda and journal and scrapbook and photos and notes etc. I´m hoping it will all rub off on me. She´s got a ton of great teaching ideas. The big bonus is that we can help each other learn Spanish and English.

Leganes is beautiful! We will be teaching in English a lot because there are many people from Nigeria here. I Met Johana, a recent convert and she is great. Her family doesn´t know about her baptism but she is super strong. We are going to help her start doing family history for the temple. I told her about how much it impacted me when you sent the letter with information about Grandpa Christiansen and how I felt a connection with him when I read it.

I also met Marcelo from Brazil who really really wants an answer to his prayers and to his confusion. We know that he will get his answer. We also met Fami and Pipi her daughter and helped her set some goals. Last night we had a meeting that was canceled so we went out to knock on doors and we met Jenny from Romania. We have another visit with her tonight. That was super exciting. She lives right next to the church. She calls us "hija mia!"

I am pretty excited to see Dad here. I´m sure sorry that Mom´s back is still spasming out. I´ll be praying for you Mom. I got the itinerary to fly home on Oct 1. Pretty crazy.

Well, I´ve got to go, but know I love you!!! I sent you my address with the email to Shalese :) (That is a smiley face btw) (Btw= by the way) :)

April 6, 2011

Dear Shalesie, (And to the Family)

I only got one letter out this week and I migth only get one out the next week as well because something big happened! I moved out of our apartment because I got transfered to Leganes. I am with Hermana Benitez who is awesome. I´ve written a letter all about her that I will send this week. She was in the CCM at the same time as Mikayla. Pretty cool. I am really enjoying her, she is really a great missionary and I am constantly speaking Spanish now..and it isn´t hard. I love it.

Mom sent me that letter that Josh sent to you. It pumped me up. Things have changed a lot at home I can tell. We all love you a ton. Un montón!

Hey, it is pretty cool that your mission president will be Pres. Hinkley´s son. I have heard that the missionary work is on fire over there.

I see your dream of talking about the mission all together in Spanish!! That is so awesome!! Until then, enjoy! All the hard stuff and all the fun stuff...It goes by way too fast.

Thanks for your email. I´m so glad you sound like you are enjoying the MTC! Keep on enjoying, meanwhile I´ll keep telling everyone I know that my sister is in the MTC. I´m pretty sure my last district heard about it at least five times. That´s ok. Now that I have been transferred my new district is super excited to hear about you ;) <- That is a winky face.

I love you a ton!!!!

Love Shayla

Transfer 8, week6

March 30, 2011

Hi parents.

I sent individual emails to everyone this week. I hope you got the email from shalese. If you get other emails from her you should forward them to me so I know what is going on with her etc. It sounds like she is doing a little better this week. Letters are always..always welcome and helpful in the MTC

As for me, I am doing great!! This week has been awesome. We have spent more time eating with members and hearing their amazing stories. We are also teaching a woman that is reading and praying everyday. Each day there is more closeness and more light in her eyes. Her name is Katya and she is from Peru. She asks good questions. hard questions that I have had myself...which is great because it means that she really cares. Mostly this week has been awesome because of the Spirit I have been feeling. I know fasting is important and works. Alma 5: 45-46. One wonderful member from Armenia told us about the light he sees in our eyes...he says that we have to fight for that after the mission...the adversary will be working double time as we lose the protection of the mission so we have to turn immediately to prayer, reading the scriptures, and fasting.

Did you know that there are 10 million Armenians in the world? 3million live in Armenia and 1 million live in Los Angeles....so where are the other 6 million?

I love you a lot. We are so blessed.

Love Shayla

Transfer 8, week5

March 23, 2011

Dear Family at home:

So I just forwarded Shalese´s email to Mom and Dad...It looks like it has been a rough first week. Lots of letters, lots of love, lots of prayers and we can all fast together this Sunday before General Conference. The MTC was way fun but also super stressful. The best lessons are the hardest ones because they really stick. They really carve us down and change us. the result is a happier and more powerful us. I read D&C 35:9 today. Shalese needs a miracle and miracles are possible by faith prayer and fasting. (I think I asked you to read a story in Mark 12 about that but I looked again and I think it is Mark 9)

I hope you are all doing great. I loved seeing the pictures of Jake and Josh going out to the dance. That is pretty fun.

It was really great to see Jim out here. Tell hope thanks for the home knitted dish cloths. They are almost too nice to use! I definitely want to go out and visit them later.

I hope all is well with you. Dad, I hope you can be guided in you work decisions. It seems like you usually have been though.

We just got back from the mission home where we relaxed and talked and ate. It was pretty fun. That is a very stark contrast to what is going on in other parts of the world. I am so glad Mathew Robertson was safe. It means a lot that the Lord has a plan of happiness for us. As I talked with another missionary I realized how much peace and understanding the gospel has brought to her after losing someone close to her. The gospel is amazing and there is so much to learn. I am so grateful to be on a mission right now. I know Shalese will be forever grateful as well. Please pray for us all to have more faith...faith to find and faith in the Lord´s plan.

I love you all. Thanks for the letter Mom.

Love Shayla.

Transfer 8, week4

March 16, 2011
Hi Family,

It is pretty crazy that Shalese is, or will be very shortly, in the MTC!!! I loved the MTC a lot. I felt like we had no time, but really it was the easiest part of the mission...we just had to get used to it.

I hope we will get to see Jim Laingen!!! That would be so cool!

Someone asked me how my parents were taking having two kids out on the mission now...How are you? I just figure it will be a double party when we get back. Time is a funny thing...it moves slowly when things are rough and too fast when things are going great. Hey, if everything goes so well in the eternities, I guess they will fly by ;) Today I would say time is flying by ;)

We we´re going to go to Segovia today but we missed the bus...bummer...so we have compensated by getting treats at the bakery that we are in love with on the corner near our house.

Thanks for sending the pictures of Cyle´s wedding. I liked the one where they just came out of the Temple and Cyle still has this look on his face like he is in the middle of telling a joke.

I have a feeling there might be changes at the end of this transfer and Hermana Smith might not live with us anymore...that is pretty strange cause we have lived together for a year. I don´t think I have ever lived in once place for so long at a time since high school. That is funny because I thought that people had to move all the time on the mission.

We are teaching a woman named Katya and we taught her at the university where she studies. She seems very open and prepared. She has started the Book of Mormon from the introduction and has prayed about it. She is really sweet. We hope things can work out for her to get to church. A lot of our investigators and recent converts have been facing opposition in coming to the chaple (Grant says using the word chapel instead of church is very common in Spainglish - neat) ..whether it is work or family, it has been difficult. Now they are changing the church schedule and Carolina might not be able to come. I have a lot of faith that things will work out though. In Mark 12 (I think) Jesus heals a child that His disciples couldn´t heal and He said that it is by prayer and fasting that miracles happen. If the Lord can work miracles, He can help people get to church!

Well, I love you all.

Hope Josh and Sharah had Happy Birthdays!!

Love Shayla

Transfer 8, week3

March 9, 2011
Dear Family!!!

Yeah!!! Cyle´s getting married!!!! Dear Karin, thanks for the update on your girls. "I can see two moms!" Haha. I can´t wait to meet Charlotte!! Thanks for the email.

I am super excited...we had interviews with the president yesterday and I learned that we have a new plan to work much more closely with members. I guess they must have had problems with missionaries spending way too much time with members just before I got into the mission because early on Hna Smith and I understood that we we supposed to visit almost entirely investigators and we felt guilty to accept even a dinner invitation from members. That means that often, instead of thinking of visiting a member who we can help inspire to help with the work, we stuck to contacting in the metro, meeting people that may or may not be home when we pass by their homes. We´ve seen miracles from contacting for sure...but I am so excited to start making short visits to every member of the ward. References we receive from them have an automatic support system and the member can be a lot more involved from the beginning. There have been a lot of times lately that I have been walking around in the metro thinking, "There´s got to be a better way...how can we get to be friends with the members without visiting them?" Truth be told, Preach my Gospel would definitely support the new plan and we should have gone with it all along. I am also happy that Shalese will be in Barcelona...where we got the family mission plan calendars that we have started to use...so she will learn this system from the start.
Moral of the story: Every missionary has different ideas and different success stories and things that work for them...sometimes these suggestions compete. I, being a person that takes things literally thought I had to be obedient to every suggestion...which is difficult because plans always change and suggestions adapt every other month. My advice to myself and to Shalese would be....just try to implement what Preach My Gospel teaches. You can think outside the box and learn from the experiences of others...but never feel guilty for not doing exactly the same things. Pray about it, follow the Spirit, use your head. It would be bad to spend hours in the house of a member and lose focus, but we feel comfortable asking for help from the members that we know well...and we should do what it takes to get to know them and gain their trust. The new plan is to make short spirit filled visits to get the members on our team and to inspire them with faith to think of people they can share the Gospel with. I feel like I am saying obvious things that every missionary should know but it finally got into my heart and head. Hna Bell and I are super excited to plan for this week!

-hope that all made sense.
Okay out of time, Hope you all know you are great and I love you.
Love Shayla

P.S. One of the best things that happened this week was the letter I got from Sharah saying "and I made Davis Frenched toast cause he was at our house... And I am going on a mission." Loved the thought process and loved the goal. I have the best siblings ever!

Transfer 8, week 2

March 2, 2011
Dear Family,

Just finished an intercambio...which means I spent the last two days with Hermana McMurray. She is an awesome missionary with a very cool history. She is the youngest of eleven children. She lived in Tonga for a year, one month and one day because her dad was a mission president there ;) She served a mini mission there and learned a lot of the language...or at least enough to share her testimony, and then she learned more when she came back. She said it really helped her get into the hearts of the people because they speak English too and she could have settled.

I got a lot of great ideas from her and I learned a lot about what I should be studying. I just finished the intercambio feeling pumped to help our investigators. I have a lot of ideas to write down and sort through now. I am excited. It was funny how obvious some of the things that I learned were....like the fact that people really need to understand the Apostasy!! If they don´t understand that then it is impossible to understand why a Restoration was necessary. I also want to focus more on helping people understand and listen for the Spirit in the very first lesson. The cool thing about Hermana Bell, my normal companion, is that she is always looking for things we can do better and she isn´t afraid to change, so it will be really fun to practice these new ideas with her. Other cool thing about Hermana Bell: She doesn´t worry so much. She has fun and she is teaching me not to stress out so much. YES!!!
Back to what I learned from Hermana McMurray...I just think it is funny too think that I have been on the mission for a year now and I am still learning the simple things....I have a lot to learn and do!!!

Today we went to a park in Torrejón where they have replicas of many important monuments in Europe. It was very cool and it was nice to be with a bunch of people. At the end one elder took out a guitar and another took out a violin and played some hymns and we sang...we were all freezing by that point but it was my favorite part.

Dad, speaking of the violin you should definitely trade if Uncle Roy needs it. It want to save up and get a new one when I get home....just save the shoulder rest. This past week I took advantage of the violin we had in our apartment for a short time and I brought it to a couple of lessons. I love to play!!!

I should probably get off. I hope everything is well with you. Good luck with the eye surgery. I don´t think Mojo would make a very good seeing-eye-dog ;) I think I emailed Jacob to have fun on the Klondike...but it sounds like it is already over...I hope the boys are even more manly now.

I love you all. Thanks for being a wonderful family and for teaching me the gospel!!!

Love Shayla.

Oh yeah, one more thing...during the intercombio, we talked to a man and sat down on a bench to teach him for about ten minutes. He had good questions and a lot of interest. We are going to meet with him in a week. It was such a good lesson and such a miracle to me. I really hope it works out with him. It is funny how all the plans seemed to fall through when I was with a sister unfamiliar to the area, but we had a lot of unexpected teaching moments come up which is even cooler. ;)

Transfer 8, week 1

February 23, 2011
Dear Family,

I´m glad you all made it through the farewell talk etc. That sounds way fun to have all the family over. I bet it will be a crazy big party when Cyle gets married!?!

Shalese I can´t believe it you enter the MTC so soon!!!! I´ll probably say that every week until you are there. At the MTC you only have 30min to email on p-days...so tell Mom and Dad not to worry about it if you don´t write much the first few weeks.

The mission is the best. For me it just gets better and better and easier all the time. Not because the nature of the task has changed... It is cool to see my own progress and my companion´s progress with Spanish and with teaching styles. The hardest thing to learn is how to ask good questions.

Miracle of the week: We had a ward mission activity so all the youth and young adults could get excited to go missions. We were going to visit a few investigators or less active members. I left the church with Jenifer, 19 yrs old, super smart, baptized in December, with an amazing testimony. For the twenty minutes we had on the way to see the investigator we had made an appointment with, she shared her testimony and insights and changes she has had in the process of her conversion. I love her!!!!! The investigator wasn´t there...so we went to another appointment early. That lady wasn´t home either...I felt bad it hadn´t exactly been the missionary experience we were hoping for. I suggested we contact some people in the metro on the way back to the church. Before we got to the metro, we stopped a woman and I said we had a message to share (it was a little bit awkward since I normally contact people with my companion.) Jenifer said..."um, are you going home? Can we talk to you for a few minutes?" The woman, Eli, said yes and we walked home with her. She told us how she´s been living with her boyfriend in Madrid for three years and it has been miserable for her. I think she has been in Spain for four years total...I don´t remember the details. She said she really needed someone to talk to and she liked the scripture we shared from the Book of Mormon about charity. She said she used to attend a church all the time in Bolivia but she hasn´t here and she has been looking for one to attend. Jenifer offered to pick her up the next day for church. The next day Eli came with Jenifer and she loved church. I gave her a Book of Mormon there and she has read a little since. We will see her tomorrow when we teach her in the home of a member that lives near her.
Jenifer and I got back to the activity pretty late, but it was definitely worth it. I think the leaders of the activity felt pretty good about it, especially the next day when they met Eli at church.

We are also working with a 20 yr old girl named Maida. She came to our English class the week after we got serious about publicizing english classes in our contacts. We have had two lessons with her with Carolina (who was baptized a week ago today.) Carolina took her to Noche de Hogar in the Stake center on Monday and she must have enjoyed it because she agreed to come to another ward noche de hogar tonight. She is from Ecuador and loves to read. She is hesitant about baptism and said she even told her best friend from another evangical church that she wouldn´t. I feel really good about her. We think Jenifer will also help a lot with her. I love that we keep meeting girls about our age to share the gospel with and they embrace it and love it and share it. We hope to have a great network of young adults teaching young adults before we leave. I am amazed at how easy it is to love all of them. Shalese, you are going to feel this too!!!

We have a new elder in our district who hadn´t learned any Spanish before the MTC...kinda like Dad ;) I am excited to see his progress with the language...it is a miracle! He is a good elder so I´m sure he´ll learn fast. Our former district leader finally left the ward after almost a year here. He was another great one and the ward will miss him, He is about 6ft 3 and blond. He went to Mostoles for his last transfer. Does that sound familiar Dad? Now Elder Stock is our district leader...he came into the CCM about three weeks after me so I met him early on.

Life is pretty great. Talking to people on the streets and in the metro gets more fun all the time...sure you have your occasional rudie but those guys just make life more interesting and a tiny bit funny. The best thing is when people really surprise you. Like the other day when we talked to a guy...maybe 20?...Dominicano, who actually had a ton of opinions or religion. We had a ten minute conversation until his friend passed by. We invited them both to a young single adults FHE tonight...hope they will come. So many people say they haven´t really thought about religion that it kind of takes me off guard when they start expounding on what the have learned. I think Internet and clothes and material comforts and other entertainment have separated a lot of people from their human frailty and we forget that we are dependent on Heavenly Father. hmm..

Well, like I said, life is great. Keep praying that we find people, and that we know what to do once we have!

I love you all so much!!! Dad good luck with the eye surgery. What is this about Mexico? Shalese, keep being awesome. Jake...run like the wind. Josh, derby it up. Sharah, I can´t wait to practice cutting your hair (I got my hair cut today)...hope you´ll let me. Mojo, keep being a dog. Mom, didn´t mean to put you last, you are the best one here. Love you allllllll!!!!!!

Love Hermana Moulton (1)