February 16,2011
Dear Mom and Dad,
Mom, can you send me all the words of President Holland and whomever else spoke at that meeting of the MTC? I just love it. I´m not sure I know about the 8 steps and 3 phases.
Yesterday we had a Zone conference and I just loved it! We learned about having the faith to find, staying healthy (my comp has been sick for a week) and lots of other things, like keeping a good attitude. Maybe one of the most important things that I learned was that our work shows our Love for the Lord. It we love Him a lot we will work hard. I like that love can be so tangible.
Today is the big day for Carolina. I am going to play the violin at her baptism!! It has strengthened my testimony so much to see her understand and accept the gospel. People ARE ready for the gospel. At our lesson yesterday she said how it won´t bother her too much if her family won´t come (They aren´t against it, I think they just don´t understand) because she feels like she has a whole new family in the ward. She just kept saying: "I´m sure, I´m sure." referring to her testimony of the gospel, her baptism, of Jesus Christ. How wonderful. I hope we will all always do what it takes to make our wards into our families and take care of each other.
Dad, maybe in your talk you could share how important it is to be a ward family and to make friends with lots of people that aren´t members so that they have real support when they come to Church and see what it is like. If we have faith miracles happen. That is something I am working on and learning. The miracles of Christ were worked by faith. If He could heal, we can find by His same power.
So...I clogged the kitchen sink with rice. That is fun. Poured down some drain chemicals, didn´t work...Called Elder Jewell, stuck hangers down the drain, bought a drain snake, called the owner of the apartment (la dueña) and had her convinced the water wasn´t working in the kitchen because of my lack of plumbing vocabulary...she told me a clog didn´t sound very grave and that I should call my president. (the pile of dishes in the kitchen says it IS grave ;) So, talked to Elder Jewell at Zone conference who told me to call the plumber. Looked up the plumbing vocab that I had lacked and plan to call him today...oh yeah, as one final attempt I bought a toilet plunger to see how that works when I get home...I am learning to wage war against a sink.
That is it for me today. I love you all so much. Tell Sharah Josh and Jake that they rock...Shalese should already know ;)
Love Hermana Moulton
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Transfer 7, week 5
February 9, 2011
Dear Family,
Thanks for the emails. So good to hear from you this week. It sounds like you are doing well. The last two nights I was on exchanges with another sister in another area. I learned a lot. She is going home in two weeks...down to Andalucia.(In Spain) Her name is Hermana Moraza. Dad did you know an Elder Moraza when you were here because we figured out you might have been here around the same time. I really liked the examples she used when she taught the lessons. they really help people understand and personalize the things we teach. I also learned that I should be speaking Spanish more with my companion. We went to district meeting which was interesting because it was almost completely native speakers. I hope to have a native speaker for a companion sometime...weĺl see though, there really aren't that many.
Hermana Moraza also taught me about how important ward involvement is with people that are new to the church. She said, "what would you do if someone invited you to a party where you wont know anyone there?" Everyone needs friends. I also saw that she has had a lot of fun on the mission and I realized that this really can be the funnest time depending on how you view it and how you do it. I always enjoyed my callings at church and the mission should be the same way. One morning Hermana Moraza took breakfast over to a girl´s house before church and then they went all together. The girl, Odali, hasn't missed church since. I met her and she is so happy and bubbly and great. She is 15 and loves the young women program. She wants to be a missionary one day and she already is with her family. She reads the scriptures to them everyday. wow.
Today we got to go to the temple again. I sure love the temple. It hit me that I was really there in my Father´s house and I should relax and enjoy being there with Him, as though I really were at home. I am also really excited to be there one day with you.
I hope to be able to play the violin for Carolina´s baptism on Wednesday. Shalese: Be glad you play the piano...it is a lot easier to find than a violin when you are on a mission. Dad, Good luck with your talk at Shalese´s farewell. I don't know what you should say ;) Iĺl try to think about it. Maybe something that would help everyone would be to know that the first step in sharing the Gospel is real friendship. When people can see that it comes from a source that really cares about them personally it really helps.
Things here are great. The more I learn the more fun things become. Talking to people on the streets and in the metro is difficult but like many hard things it is also one of the most rewarding things we get to do. Even if someone doesn´t have time to meet with us, it feels great to have a meaningful contact. Too bad that so many people work so many hours here. It is a big problem. They either work every minute or they are without work. Tough stuff.
I hope you are all well. You know I love you un montón.
Love, Hermana Maültown...thatś how they say it around here.
PS Hermana Watkins has made a blog: www.spainmadridmission.blogspot.com
Dear Family,
Thanks for the emails. So good to hear from you this week. It sounds like you are doing well. The last two nights I was on exchanges with another sister in another area. I learned a lot. She is going home in two weeks...down to Andalucia.(In Spain) Her name is Hermana Moraza. Dad did you know an Elder Moraza when you were here because we figured out you might have been here around the same time. I really liked the examples she used when she taught the lessons. they really help people understand and personalize the things we teach. I also learned that I should be speaking Spanish more with my companion. We went to district meeting which was interesting because it was almost completely native speakers. I hope to have a native speaker for a companion sometime...weĺl see though, there really aren't that many.
Hermana Moraza also taught me about how important ward involvement is with people that are new to the church. She said, "what would you do if someone invited you to a party where you wont know anyone there?" Everyone needs friends. I also saw that she has had a lot of fun on the mission and I realized that this really can be the funnest time depending on how you view it and how you do it. I always enjoyed my callings at church and the mission should be the same way. One morning Hermana Moraza took breakfast over to a girl´s house before church and then they went all together. The girl, Odali, hasn't missed church since. I met her and she is so happy and bubbly and great. She is 15 and loves the young women program. She wants to be a missionary one day and she already is with her family. She reads the scriptures to them everyday. wow.
Today we got to go to the temple again. I sure love the temple. It hit me that I was really there in my Father´s house and I should relax and enjoy being there with Him, as though I really were at home. I am also really excited to be there one day with you.
I hope to be able to play the violin for Carolina´s baptism on Wednesday. Shalese: Be glad you play the piano...it is a lot easier to find than a violin when you are on a mission. Dad, Good luck with your talk at Shalese´s farewell. I don't know what you should say ;) Iĺl try to think about it. Maybe something that would help everyone would be to know that the first step in sharing the Gospel is real friendship. When people can see that it comes from a source that really cares about them personally it really helps.
Things here are great. The more I learn the more fun things become. Talking to people on the streets and in the metro is difficult but like many hard things it is also one of the most rewarding things we get to do. Even if someone doesn´t have time to meet with us, it feels great to have a meaningful contact. Too bad that so many people work so many hours here. It is a big problem. They either work every minute or they are without work. Tough stuff.
I hope you are all well. You know I love you un montón.
Love, Hermana Maültown...thatś how they say it around here.
PS Hermana Watkins has made a blog: www.spainmadridmission.blogspot.com
Transfer 7, week 4
February 2, 2011
Shayla had a lot to say in a letter to Shalese. Some she didn't want us to post.... however, being the "poster".... I think some things are pretty awesome.
I felt a lot of peace at the temple and I took a minute to pray in the changing stall. My eyes were opened to the fact that everything we do on the mission is or should be enjoyable. We get 8hrs of sleep every night...I think that is more than I got at home. Then we get to study for an hour, which you will come to love.(Speaking to Shalese) Then you get to study with your companion. Then we get to talk to people on the streets and in their homes and at church, have a bunch of meetings with other missionaries and ward leaders. All of that is pretty pleasant. We don´t even have to worry about money or going to work every day. Everything is how you choose to see it. A big part of our happiness on the mission is determined by our relationship with our companion. No One is perfect, but if we just decide to ignore faults and not care about who is right and live a life of forgiveness and love you have an awesome time!!!. That is about how Hna Bell and I are right now. We laugh a lot. Sure we disagree but we apologize quickly and laugh about it.
So I have been wearing one pair of boots ever since the end of October...three or four months. Lets just say they smell like corn chips. As I was putting them back on at the temple, the zipper which has been threatening to break for a long time finally did. I am super smart though so I took my smelly old knee high and tied it around my leg so my boot would stay up...CLASSY. (That's my girl!!)
Ok. better go, you are the best for painting the house ;) (That would be Shalese!)
Just know I pray for you all the time. The mission is the best thing that ever happened to me.
Love Shayla.
Shayla had a lot to say in a letter to Shalese. Some she didn't want us to post.... however, being the "poster".... I think some things are pretty awesome.
I felt a lot of peace at the temple and I took a minute to pray in the changing stall. My eyes were opened to the fact that everything we do on the mission is or should be enjoyable. We get 8hrs of sleep every night...I think that is more than I got at home. Then we get to study for an hour, which you will come to love.(Speaking to Shalese) Then you get to study with your companion. Then we get to talk to people on the streets and in their homes and at church, have a bunch of meetings with other missionaries and ward leaders. All of that is pretty pleasant. We don´t even have to worry about money or going to work every day. Everything is how you choose to see it. A big part of our happiness on the mission is determined by our relationship with our companion. No One is perfect, but if we just decide to ignore faults and not care about who is right and live a life of forgiveness and love you have an awesome time!!!. That is about how Hna Bell and I are right now. We laugh a lot. Sure we disagree but we apologize quickly and laugh about it.
So I have been wearing one pair of boots ever since the end of October...three or four months. Lets just say they smell like corn chips. As I was putting them back on at the temple, the zipper which has been threatening to break for a long time finally did. I am super smart though so I took my smelly old knee high and tied it around my leg so my boot would stay up...CLASSY. (That's my girl!!)
Ok. better go, you are the best for painting the house ;) (That would be Shalese!)
Just know I pray for you all the time. The mission is the best thing that ever happened to me.
Love Shayla.
Transfer 7, week 3
January 26, 2011
Dear Fam!!
Thanks for the letters and the pictures. Shalese I got your package right on my birthday as well!!!! I love these headbands! I´m wearing one right now. They are so cool! Who taught you how to make them?
I also got a card from Sister and Brother Weed. How great that they got called to preside over a mission!! We all spent the day in the mission home today. So fun. Sister Smith and I snuck away with hermana Watkins to buy hamburger meat and buns for sloppy Joes. So fun...we bought it at a place that is a lot like Costco...my favorite place in the world. hermana Smith and I ended up cooking meat for about 60 missionaries, but it was pretty fun. We got a round of applause for it and then everyone sang happy birthday to me. On Monday I was given cake by four different people and I bought myself a Palmera before I knew how much cake was in store...I didn´t let the stomach ache or sugar rush slow me down from eating.
I got to play the violin at the Bishop´s house after a great lunch of fish!!! Yeah....my fingers are a little rusty after 11 months. He just got released as Bishop....sort of sad because he was amazing. His wife told us the story of how they met and got married..Super funny and she is a very animated person. Her parents were not supportive and when he said he wanted to do things right and ask her father for her hand she asked why he wanted to do that when he didn´t just want her hand but the whole thing...she said he shouldn´t have to ask for her hand or arm or leg or anything else. Super funny.
I still have a big question: Where is Kai Fsher serving? Any other mission calls in the ward I should know about? Didn´t Sarah Whitaker go on a mission? Shalese I am so excited for you to go through the temple on Saturday!!! Yeah!!! It is crazy how soon you will be here in Spain.
Other important updates: Carolina is doing great! we are trying to figure out how to help her get her answers.
I am doing great!!!! Thanks for the love!!!
I love you all so much and I am proud of you all!! Which you already know ;)
Love Hermana Shayla Moulton.
Dear Fam!!
Thanks for the letters and the pictures. Shalese I got your package right on my birthday as well!!!! I love these headbands! I´m wearing one right now. They are so cool! Who taught you how to make them?
I also got a card from Sister and Brother Weed. How great that they got called to preside over a mission!! We all spent the day in the mission home today. So fun. Sister Smith and I snuck away with hermana Watkins to buy hamburger meat and buns for sloppy Joes. So fun...we bought it at a place that is a lot like Costco...my favorite place in the world. hermana Smith and I ended up cooking meat for about 60 missionaries, but it was pretty fun. We got a round of applause for it and then everyone sang happy birthday to me. On Monday I was given cake by four different people and I bought myself a Palmera before I knew how much cake was in store...I didn´t let the stomach ache or sugar rush slow me down from eating.
I got to play the violin at the Bishop´s house after a great lunch of fish!!! Yeah....my fingers are a little rusty after 11 months. He just got released as Bishop....sort of sad because he was amazing. His wife told us the story of how they met and got married..Super funny and she is a very animated person. Her parents were not supportive and when he said he wanted to do things right and ask her father for her hand she asked why he wanted to do that when he didn´t just want her hand but the whole thing...she said he shouldn´t have to ask for her hand or arm or leg or anything else. Super funny.
I still have a big question: Where is Kai Fsher serving? Any other mission calls in the ward I should know about? Didn´t Sarah Whitaker go on a mission? Shalese I am so excited for you to go through the temple on Saturday!!! Yeah!!! It is crazy how soon you will be here in Spain.
Other important updates: Carolina is doing great! we are trying to figure out how to help her get her answers.
I am doing great!!!! Thanks for the love!!!
I love you all so much and I am proud of you all!! Which you already know ;)
Love Hermana Shayla Moulton.
Transfer 7, week 2
Jan 19, 2011
Dear Family!!!
Thanks for the emails! Even Josh!!! It sounds like home school is going to be a lot of fun. It seems like homeschooling taught me to love reading too! Thanks for the updates on everyone. Jacob and Sharah are playing the piano!! That sounds great. You two can help me get better when I get home ;) Sure wish I hadn´t stopped taking lessons when I was twelve (hint hint).
Thnigs are great here. Hermana Bell and I are doing great.Last night we taught a Muslim couple. Super nice. We were all there to teach the others. It was pretty neat to see that they study much of the same history that we do. They are from Ishmael, the son of Abraham, which I kind of already knew but it is really fun to talk about. They wanted to hear about miracles from modern prophets but we know that signs can´t convince people...only the Spirit can convince them. We talked about the Word of Wisdom and they have many of the same beliefs and certain customs about how meat should be slaughtered. Very interesting. It was fun.
Maybe you´d like to read part of my letter to President Watkins ;)
"Carolina está progresando muy bien...está trabajando ésta semana pero ella lea y le encanta los Noches de Hogar con JAS. Ella tiene 22 años y será una misionera extrodonair.
Anoche enseñamos a una pareja de Musulmanes y ellos enseñaron a nosotros también. En el fin, todos decidimos orar a las cuatro de la mañana para preguntar a Dios la verdad...los siguientes tres horas yo pasé soñando de ellos ;) interesante. Son muy buenos.
Nimia está progresando también. Ahora su duda es que tiene miedo de hablar o dar testimonio en frente de otras personas...por eso no quiere ser bautizada. Vamos a planear más Noches de Hogar para que tenga más amistades para sentirse más cómodo en la capilla. Su hijo Victor (11) también le encanta la capilla!!
Hermana Bell y yo estamos muy bien. Hemos aprendido mucho y hablamos abiertamente. Bonding!!
Piso: estamos limpiando aun más. No sé si tenemos tiempo para hacer Todas de las sugerencias en la lista de limpieza pero vamos a intentar ;)
Liderazco: nuestro barrio es fantástico y el líder misional del barrio es muy eficaz!!
Me gustó el mensaje que Ud. compartió con nosotros está semana. Estoy aprendiendo como medir mi trabajo, lo que he hecho y lo que debo hacer, de acuerdo con el Espíritu. Estoy muy agradecida por las cosas que estoy aprendiendo en la misión y por los sacrificios de otros para que yo pueda estar aquí. A la vez, sé que no empezamos como misioneros perfectos, ni tampoco terminamos así, pero muy más capaz en el fin. Cada ves que estudio nuestro potencial divino y el propósito de venir a la tierra, siento más feliz con el trabajo que hacemos, y satisfecha aun que tenemos mucho más de hacer."
Family!!! I love you!! The Church is true!!! You are great!
Love Hermana Shayla Moulton
big PS:
Where is Kai Fisher going on his mission?!? How long has Keilana been out?
Dear Family!!!
Thanks for the emails! Even Josh!!! It sounds like home school is going to be a lot of fun. It seems like homeschooling taught me to love reading too! Thanks for the updates on everyone. Jacob and Sharah are playing the piano!! That sounds great. You two can help me get better when I get home ;) Sure wish I hadn´t stopped taking lessons when I was twelve (hint hint).
Thnigs are great here. Hermana Bell and I are doing great.Last night we taught a Muslim couple. Super nice. We were all there to teach the others. It was pretty neat to see that they study much of the same history that we do. They are from Ishmael, the son of Abraham, which I kind of already knew but it is really fun to talk about. They wanted to hear about miracles from modern prophets but we know that signs can´t convince people...only the Spirit can convince them. We talked about the Word of Wisdom and they have many of the same beliefs and certain customs about how meat should be slaughtered. Very interesting. It was fun.
Maybe you´d like to read part of my letter to President Watkins ;)
"Carolina está progresando muy bien...está trabajando ésta semana pero ella lea y le encanta los Noches de Hogar con JAS. Ella tiene 22 años y será una misionera extrodonair.
Anoche enseñamos a una pareja de Musulmanes y ellos enseñaron a nosotros también. En el fin, todos decidimos orar a las cuatro de la mañana para preguntar a Dios la verdad...los siguientes tres horas yo pasé soñando de ellos ;) interesante. Son muy buenos.
Nimia está progresando también. Ahora su duda es que tiene miedo de hablar o dar testimonio en frente de otras personas...por eso no quiere ser bautizada. Vamos a planear más Noches de Hogar para que tenga más amistades para sentirse más cómodo en la capilla. Su hijo Victor (11) también le encanta la capilla!!
Hermana Bell y yo estamos muy bien. Hemos aprendido mucho y hablamos abiertamente. Bonding!!
Piso: estamos limpiando aun más. No sé si tenemos tiempo para hacer Todas de las sugerencias en la lista de limpieza pero vamos a intentar ;)
Liderazco: nuestro barrio es fantástico y el líder misional del barrio es muy eficaz!!
Me gustó el mensaje que Ud. compartió con nosotros está semana. Estoy aprendiendo como medir mi trabajo, lo que he hecho y lo que debo hacer, de acuerdo con el Espíritu. Estoy muy agradecida por las cosas que estoy aprendiendo en la misión y por los sacrificios de otros para que yo pueda estar aquí. A la vez, sé que no empezamos como misioneros perfectos, ni tampoco terminamos así, pero muy más capaz en el fin. Cada ves que estudio nuestro potencial divino y el propósito de venir a la tierra, siento más feliz con el trabajo que hacemos, y satisfecha aun que tenemos mucho más de hacer."
Family!!! I love you!! The Church is true!!! You are great!
Love Hermana Shayla Moulton
big PS:
Where is Kai Fisher going on his mission?!? How long has Keilana been out?
Transfer 7, week 1
January 12, 2011
Dear Family
I got the Christmas letters from the kids ;) I´m not sure what Sharah meant about the roosters. Thanks!!
I don´t have a lot of time today, Just want to tell you all that I really love you and things are going great. Carolina wants to be baptized soon. She is a miracle!! Other than that we have found a lot of new people lately (thanks for your prayers) and had some interesting lessons: One with a Muslim couple, and one last night with a woman from the Philippines studying with the Jehovah Witnesses. All very good people. Madrid is a different world than Fallon...but I love them both!
I love you!! Love Shayla
Dear Family
I got the Christmas letters from the kids ;) I´m not sure what Sharah meant about the roosters. Thanks!!
I don´t have a lot of time today, Just want to tell you all that I really love you and things are going great. Carolina wants to be baptized soon. She is a miracle!! Other than that we have found a lot of new people lately (thanks for your prayers) and had some interesting lessons: One with a Muslim couple, and one last night with a woman from the Philippines studying with the Jehovah Witnesses. All very good people. Madrid is a different world than Fallon...but I love them both!
I love you!! Love Shayla
Transfer 6, week 6
January 5, 2011
Dear Family,
It looks like you had a great New Years party this year. I´m glad the whole family got to go to the dance. Our family is a dancing family at heart.
So Cyle might be getting married? Where are the pictures? Where is the story of how they met?
Dad asked for tips on how to be a great ward missionary (Yeah Mom!!! That is the best calling in the ward!) My advice is keep doing what you have always done...make everyone feel welcome and needed at church. Have no fear because you can´t say or do anything wrong if you do it with love. Chapters 9 to the end of Preach My Gospel talk a lot about how missionaries should work together with the ward. (PMG is amazing) When the missionaries introduce someone to you, don´t wait for the missionaries to instigate every visit, you can invite investigators over for dinner or Family Home Evening. It is always better if a member is present in the lessons with the missionaries. As missionaries we are encouraged to involve the members as much as possible. It is so important that visitors feel comfortable at church so that they can also feel the Spirit- and if they have friends there, it is easier. One thing I regret from before the mission is that I was often too shy to talk to new people. Now I have talked to A LOT of new people and I can say that everyone has their own quirky personality (so I don´t worry if my quirkiness shines a little). Most people will like anyone who likes them (I didn´t know how to word that). -That just made me think of a scripture: We love Him because He first loved us. (Don´t ask me where it is...maybe in John?) Anyway, missionaries come and go and the saddest thing as a missionary would be leaving a progressing investigator or recent convert without a support system in an area. All that said, Mom, you are going to be great!!! and like Dad said, when Mom signs up, the whole family signs up :)
Thanks for the prayers!
I love you all!!
Love Hermana Shayla Moulton
Dear Family,
It looks like you had a great New Years party this year. I´m glad the whole family got to go to the dance. Our family is a dancing family at heart.
So Cyle might be getting married? Where are the pictures? Where is the story of how they met?
Dad asked for tips on how to be a great ward missionary (Yeah Mom!!! That is the best calling in the ward!) My advice is keep doing what you have always done...make everyone feel welcome and needed at church. Have no fear because you can´t say or do anything wrong if you do it with love. Chapters 9 to the end of Preach My Gospel talk a lot about how missionaries should work together with the ward. (PMG is amazing) When the missionaries introduce someone to you, don´t wait for the missionaries to instigate every visit, you can invite investigators over for dinner or Family Home Evening. It is always better if a member is present in the lessons with the missionaries. As missionaries we are encouraged to involve the members as much as possible. It is so important that visitors feel comfortable at church so that they can also feel the Spirit- and if they have friends there, it is easier. One thing I regret from before the mission is that I was often too shy to talk to new people. Now I have talked to A LOT of new people and I can say that everyone has their own quirky personality (so I don´t worry if my quirkiness shines a little). Most people will like anyone who likes them (I didn´t know how to word that). -That just made me think of a scripture: We love Him because He first loved us. (Don´t ask me where it is...maybe in John?) Anyway, missionaries come and go and the saddest thing as a missionary would be leaving a progressing investigator or recent convert without a support system in an area. All that said, Mom, you are going to be great!!! and like Dad said, when Mom signs up, the whole family signs up :)
Thanks for the prayers!
I love you all!!
Love Hermana Shayla Moulton
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)