Week 4

 Singing in the Park

Proselyting in the Park

Crazy week!!  Tons of studying and the Spanish is starting to get better!  During our proselyting we only have a couple hours but we talked to people the whole time.  It was Me, Elder Nyland, and Elder Dean.  We placed 4 Book of Mormons, 2 in English and 2 in Spanish.  We placed the two English to a guy from Nigeria and a girl from Texas and her friend from Virginia.  The man from Nigeria was way cool and President Sitterud got a picture of him sitting on a park bench reading it a couple hours later so that was awesome.  He was super excited to "learn more about Jesus along with his bible" but his biggest question was why didn't Jesus visit Nigeria.  We didn't really know what to say there but none the less he was reading so the seed was planted.  The girl from Texas promised to look up the missionaries in her area back home so we´ll never know on that one.  We placed a Spanish BOM to a man who has lived in Pavones 20 years (Pavones is our metro stop which is by the temple and CCM) and he said he's seen the temple and always seen the missionaries with their books but he has never once talked to missionaries.  He was very open and wanted to know more and said he would stop by the stake center sometime.  Even though we will never know the fruits of the seeds planted, in a fireside a couple weeks ago Elder Bennett of the 70 promised that "not one of our efforts will be wasted" so we will hold onto that promise. 

Great day in the park. We also talked to a couple from Romania on the metro and they wanted to come hear us sing on the temple steps because the wife LOVED how the temple looked on the pass along card we gave her. They said they would like to talk and so Sunday we had a Romanian Book of Mormon for them but they never showed up. It was sad thinking how we had something that could change their lives forever but they missed it.  It's okay, the Lord will take care of them. 

Monday we sang at a Christmas concert for investigators at the stake center with the missionaries from the 5 zones in Madrid City.  Way cool experience. It was powerful and the spirit was undoubtedly there.  I prayed for the investigators there to feel the importance and power of the message of our Savior and His gospel and I do not have one ounce of doubt the prayer was answered with how the concert went.  Great week.  

I was sick yesterday but it was just a one day thing.  I was good to go to class last night and go to the temple this morning. The happiness I feel out here, especially when proslyting cannot be described. I love this work so much and it is the greatest decision I have ever made. This church is true without a doubt!!! 

Spanish is coming along well and the gift of tounges is real.

Yo se que este iglesia es verdad. Yo se que José Smith es un moderna profeta y tenemos moderna profetas en la tierra ahoy. Yo se que El Libro de Mormon es la palabra de dios y verdadero. Yo se que JesuCristo es hijo de dios y él vive! Yo se que La igelsia de jesucristo de los santos de los últimos días es la iglesia de dios en la tierra.

(translation)I know this church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a modern prophet and we have modern prophets on the earth today. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it is true.  I know Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he lives!  I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church of God on the earth.

I love this work and I cannot wait to be in the field in two weeks!!!  I love you all and thank you for the emails. I love hearing about home and knowing everyone is doing so well!!! Love you all.

"El reino de dios o nada!!!"

-John Taylor

(the kingdom of god or nothing)