Hola a todos!
This week was absolutely bonkers, so much happened and not gonna lie, it was pretty stressful. But hey, we made it to the end and we're smiling! Looking forward to this next week so much.
We started off the week with a P-Day in Ceuta and going for a fun hike with one of our members along the coast. We got to see some beautiful, colorful houses, the tall, rocky cliffs with waves crashing at the bottom, and to top it off we ate delicious bocadillos that we got for FREE which is the best price. We ALSO got to eat some tapas at a classic Soanish cafetería, which were super delicious and surprisingly cheap. We cruised back to Algeciras on the boat very content and tired from a long day.
On Tuesday we actually had a lesson with a friend we hadn't met with in a while named Marta, and she had just moved back after being gone for a bit. We taught her the plan of salvation and she LOVED it especially when we started talking about temples. She told us she really wanted to go into a temple some day and we told her she could! We started showing her the way that it could be done, the pathway of covenants, that baptism was the gate to this pathway and all of the sudden we had a baptismal date!! We had it scheduled out for 2.5 weeks, and she seemed super excited to get baptized. Unfortunately, due to some scheduling conflicts with her work, we had to push it back a week so that she can be fully prepared and ready to make her covenants with God. But she is incredible, asks wonderful questions, and really takes a very intellectual approach in understanding and applying the gospel. Super excited for her potential in the branch.
We also had a great zone conference where we learned about the importance if the Book of Mormon in our teaching. We can help our friends with their questions and doubts by reiterating how important it is that the Book of Mormon is true. If the Book of Mormon is true, then everything else falls into place: modern prophets, the temple, the priesthood, etc. We need to make sure our friends have a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and emphasize it very strongly.
We unfortunately had a lot of lessons that fell through this week, which stunk. With members and friends alike. But luckily general conference was this weekend to loft my spirits! Sooo inspired. I came with a bunch of questions and just in one session I had already learned so much and found things to study to answer my questions. One thing that really stood out to me was a lot of speakers focused on covenants and how that binds us to God. Our power to resist temptation and make correct decisions comes from our covenants which serve as our direct line to God. I'm definitely going to be studying my covenants over the next few weeks and see if I can access more of that heavenly power. Also President Nelson's talk was fantastic. He knows how to ride that line of bold yet loving so well.
Going into Semana Santa as well, which should be crazy. I bet I'll have some wild fotos to send sent week with all of the parades that are going on to celebrate Easter. Spain goes hard on Easter for sure. Hope you all have a great Holy Week! Remember Jesus! Celebrate Easter with Him in mind!
¡Cristo vive! ¡El Libro de Mormón es verdadero!
¡Os amo!
Élder Ritter
Fotos:
Gibraltar pic
Cliffside in Ceuta
Houses and fortress in Ceuta
Elder Robinson STOLE my phone and HELD IT OUT THE WINDOW TO TAKE THIS PHOTO. I was very stressed
Sunset in Algeciras
Jumping pic with this weird thing
Another Gibraltar pic
Weird arch in Ceuta
This was delicious
Beachside in Ceuta