More or less the same but a bit different

Okay.

This week was transfer week. I, not surprisingly, am still here in Sanlúcar de Barrameda for my sixth and final transfer. Who is not still here is Elder Clark. He was transferred to Cartagena. It was sad to see him ago, because in addition to us being together for three transfers, he was also my hijo (son). My new companion is named Elder Castillo. He is from Costa Rica, and in addition to speaking Spanish (obviously), he also speaks fluent English, French, and Italian. He’s a chill guy, so it seems like I said goodbye to one good companion and got another good one.

On Monday we had a good Mike de Hogar on which we talked about personal revelation. We showed him President Nelson’s recent talk concerning the matter. I can’t remember everything that happened in the lesson, but I have re-read this talk several times this week. There’s no one part of his address that especially stands out to me, because I love it all! I love his invitation to “increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation.” It’s such simple counsel and yet so profound such that we may be able to “[sift] through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth…We must learn to receive revelation.”

Tuesday was the last district meeting ever for the Puerto de Santa Maria District. First, they closed my mission. Next, they closed the MTC. Now, they’ve closed my district. What’s next? The reason why they did that is because the number of missionaries that the church is sending to Spain is already decreasing, so there are a few less missionaries now in the mission then there were last transfer. One of the areas in Puerto was a pretty slow area and the Piso there had routine problems with bed bugs. So, that would naturally be a good area to close, and instead of having a four person district, the remaining set of Hermanas are in the San Fernando district and we are part of the Jerez district. I am once again the district leader. The Manwarings made us a nice American lunch, and we said goodbye to them because they also go home this week.

Wednesday morning, Elder Clark and I headed up to Jerez so he could catch his train to Sevilla. I spent the rest of the morning with Elder Burton and Elder Burnard waiting for Elder Castillo to get in. Once he did and we got back to Sanlúcar, we went right over to English classes. I don’t think I mentioned this last week, but we had a record-breaking three people come to it both last week and this week!! This past week, all three of our pupils were non-members, so that’s even better! It’s nice to actually have something work out for once.

On Thursday, we were able to meet with Alfonso and Antonio Sarmiento. Alfonso has been doing a lot better recently and we have been reviewing the commandments with him. This week was the fourth or fifth time that we’ve met with Antonio, and he seems really committed to coming to church on Sunday, but doesn’t make it. Poquito a poco.

Then on Friday, we went to Chipiona for the first time in a long time, trying to hunt down some less active members. Couldn’t find any. In his last area, Elder Castillo was teaching an investigator from Morocco who speaks French. We had a Skype lesson on Friday evening with the missionaries in Cáceres, a member there, the Investigador, Elder Castillo, and this one French Elder in our mission. It was cool but somehow even after taking three years of French class in high school, I don’t even know a single word in French. So I just sat there, but it was cool. I’m grateful for technology which makes teaching moments like this possible.

Saturday was an OK day. We met again with Alfonso and were able to resolve some questions and doubts about tithing, and we also gave our good friend Antonio Bernal a visit. We tried to visit Bibi, and she was in her store, but was throwing up like every fifteen minutes. So, we gave her a blessing of health. Hopefully she’s better.

Yesterday, Sunday, was another good fast and testimony meeting. Hearing the testimonies of the members of the branch made me think about 1 Nephi 14:14, which says:

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.”

Since there are not many members of the Church here, I really think that it makes being a member of the Church a lot harder. I really admire the members here in Sanlúcar and their strong conviction to live the restored gospel. Quoting President Nelson’s talk again:

“You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true.”

I know that to be true. I know that the Lord has spoken to my heart and I have received my own spiritual witness about the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon, the veracity of Joseph Smith, Russell M. Nelson, and all of the other prophets’ holy callings, and above all, about the reality of Jesus Christ. I am ever grateful for this time that I have been given as a missionary to help others understand the same thing.

Love,

Élder Stark ??

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1: Love u bag street