Hola everyone! Haha I hope you are enjoying your st. patricks day and that you are wearing green. Guess what? I guess it´s not a holiday here... Que triste. Haha my companion and I figured it out because it´s on a caledar that we have in our apartment. Anyways.. How was everyone´s week? It was good to hear from some of you and it sounds like you are doing well! It was a great week once again here in Hospitalet. 

The high light of the week was for sure our mission tour on Thurdsay. Elder Kearon of the 70 came to speak to us. It was amazing. The spirit was so strong. There is something so powerful about meeting with so many missionaries who are spiritually prepared to here the Lord´s message. Elder Kearon is a convert from England who now resides in Germany.  He talked a lot about how we are beloved children of God. And he invited us to get on our knees and find out who we really are. When we realize who we are and the potential that we have to become like God, everything changes. This is just a tid bit from what he talked about but we left very spiritually fed. He made us laugh and cry all at the same time! And my sweet companion from the mtc sang a This is The Christ and it was incredible. And then the next day I attended concilio once again at the mission home where Elder Kearon spoke to us again! What a blessing it was to be with him. 

On Tuesday night we had quite a bit of time left of before having to go back to our apartment for the night. So we were contacting as we were passing by a big list of less actives that we had. And at about 9:45 we were getting ready to go home we decided we needed to contact one more person. And we found our new friend Mark Scott! He is from Nigeria but has lived here for 30 years now. He is super great and told us about how he wants to be closer to God. Since then we have met with him again and he wants to be baptized but he was not able to come to church yesterday because he was working. So he will have to wait a couple weeks, because investigators have to come twice before baptism. 

Quick update of David and Marina. First of all they are number one. They are more active than the active members here! We went to visit them last night and they are doing so well. They have been reading and praying together. And they told us of how they really feel a difference in their lives. And as we taught the gospel i asked Marina why she wanted to be baptized and she gave us such a great answer. She told us she wants to be baptized so that she can have an eternal family. And as she was telling us she was holding David´s hand and was lovingly looking at him. And then she went on to talk about how she wants to start this new life through baptism. I´m the worst story teller ever but ahhh it was just sooo good. It was one of those moments that should have been on the district. 

Miracles miracles miracles! They happen everyday and I feel so blessed to be here. I really love it so much. I also love you all so much and I am grateful for your love and support! I hope that you have a wonderful week! Keep on keeping on! Os quiero mucho! 

Que Dios les bediga,

Hermana Benson

Here is the address to my piso:

C/ Rambla de Badal

28-30, Esc A, 8, 3

Barcelona 08014

España

It will get to me faster through this address but the office is fine as well. Love you! 

¡Hola a todos! ¿Como estaís? How is everyone doing? I hope you are all having a great week so far! We had a really good week here in Hospitalet. The weather has been beautiful and I am loving the sun! Though our piso is quite old haha we do have this covered balcony thing (we live on the 8th floor!) And my new favorite thing is when we have to study spanish my companion and I go out there and study while we soak up some sun. It´s the best. How is the weather where you are? Has spring started yet? 

This week was a week of miracles. And yesterday (sunday) was for sure the highlight of the week. It started off a little rough because we went to pick up 3 people for church and none of them came.. ;( But then we got to church and one of our investigators, Mario Ricardo, was already there! And then as the meeting went on about 6 of our menos activos showed up too! And Marina (spanish investigator) and David (less active from Ecuador) were also there. And they decided they wanted to join the choir so they stayed after with us for choir practice. 

On yesterday (I was going to fix this grammar mistake but I thought I would leave it haha) we also went to visit David and Marina. Side note- The other day my companion told me my english was bad haha... Hopefully this means that my spanish is getting better, but I don´t know. Anyways we went to visit our favorite couple around. And we had planned to teach them the plan of salvation and talk about setting date/goal for them to get married. And right as we got there, without mentioning anything, they told us that they had decided to get married. And then Marina told us, "And after we get married, I will get baptized!" I think my companion and I cheered after and gave high fives. Then we were able to teach them the plan of salvation and the spirit was so sweet as we talked about eternal families. I know that our Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for us. And that as we live the gospel we will be happy and we will recieve the strength we need to get through hard things in our lives. And that if we are faithful and endure to the end, we will one day have eternal life! 

We recieved four references this week!! So rare for us. And one was for a woman named Pilar that President Pace contacted! So cool haha. We are meeting with her on Tuesday and we are very excited! Another reference was from the Elders. They are a great family who just moved into our area. And one of the daughters is a member (she and her husband are sealed and have 2 kids), but the other daughter and the parents are not members. And the daughter, Mariana, is so ready to be baptized! Yayyy. We are excited to teach them and help them progress towards baptism. 

This is getting really long so I will end. But I just want you all to know that I love you so much and I am grateful for your wonderful examples! Que tengaís una buena semana! 

Besitos,

Hermana Benson

P.S. Ahhh I almost forgot. Haha so on Saturday I ended up teaching the zumba class in the church and it was so much fun and our investigator Marina came! I will take some pictures next time! 

P.S.S I also went on an intercombio this week with the hermanas in motorel. It was a great experience and it was so fun to see Hermana Tyler again. She was my companion from San Sebastian. 

Hola everyone! How is everyone doing? It is so fun to hear from you! Can you believe that March is already here?!! Everytime before we leave our piso we say recite the baptismal invitation, purpose, and we testify. But anyways this morning we invited someone to be baptized on the 22nd of March (2 weeks out). This means that I will hit my year mark this month! So crazy. It makes me a little sick to think about it haha. I love my mission and I feel like I still have so much to learn and do here. This week was a pretty good week and I am excited for what great things the Lord has instore!

Highlights of the week... 

1. We had so many of our menos activos that we have been working with come to church yesterday! It was wonderful and nothing makes me happier than seeing someone come back to church. Church attendance is something that we have been focusing on as a mission. We have been keeping track of how many people come to sacrament each week so that we can chart the growth of the church in the Barcelona mission. And I love this so much because I really think that success equals people coming to church each week and renewing there baptismal convenants, whether they are active, less active, or a recent convert. 

2. I think last email I talked about Marina. She is the girlfriend of David who is less active. Anyways the are doing so so great! Yesterday they came to all three meetings and last night we went to visit them and we taught the first lesson which is the restauration of the gospel. And everything went really well. She is so prepared and she is going to make a wonderful member. And they have also been reading together everyday! Yayyy. I am hoping any praying that they can be married soon so that she can be baptized! 

3. Everyweek there is a zumba class in the church and anyone and everyone is invited. And it is super great because we get a lot of menos activos and invesigators there. And of course you all know how much a love zumba!!! One of the Elders has been teaching it hahah hilarious right? No he really is not too bad because I think he does ballroom dance or something haha. But guess who is teaching it next week? Haha me!! My companion and I are preparing the class for next week and it is going to be so fun! This will check off one of my life goals haha. I wish you could all be there! 

Okay this email is getting long. I mostly just want to say that I love you and the Lord loves you! I am grateful for all your love and support! Que tengan una buena semana! Os quiero mucho. 

besos,

Hermana Benson 

Hola! How is everyone? It so fun to hear from you and it sounds like you are doing really well. This has been a great first week in Hospitalet. I love it here! There are so many great things happening and so much work to do. My companion is super great and I am so grateful to be with her. 

I just got done with a concilio meeting ( not sure what it is in english), but it´s a meeting for the zone leaders, sister training leaders, ayudantes, and President and Hermana Pace. It is held about once a month in the mission home. It was such a neat experience and it was fun to be a part of it! It´s basically a zone conference where we talk about how we can improve the mission and we set goals. The spirit was so strong there and I am grateful for the chance I had to go. This is a great mission and I feel so blessed to serve here! 

The work in our area is going really well. We have already seen so many miracles. There are so many prepared people. And we have seen so much success working with less actives and through them we find more people to teach. For example... Last night we went to go visit a David (less active) and his girlfriend Marina (investigator). He has been bringing her to church and wants to share the blessings of the gospel with her. And guess what? We had such a great lesson with them both last night and she is so ready for baptism. The spirit was strong and my favorite part of the lesson was when David bore his testimony about the atonement to her. Wow is was just great. But the do have to get married first because they are living together. Another thing that I really love about the area is that there are so so many people! Which means so many people to talk to about the gospel. 

Sorry this is quick today, I don´t have much time because of the meeting I had. But I love the mission and I am happy to be here! What a blessing! Thank you for all you love and support! I hope you have a wonderful week! 

xoxo,

Hermana Benson 

P.S. I am not sure what my new address is but you can send anything to the office address because I am close by! 

Hello everyone! How is everyone doing? So so sorry I am just finally emailing you because of transfers. So here comes the big news! ... I got transfered to Hospitalet. It is basically the ghetto part of the city of Barcelona and I am so excited to be here! There are two great wards here, so many missionaries, and so many people to share the gospel with. It was hard to leave Gerona but it´s nice to have a change. And I have also been called as a sister training leader so that will be fun as well. My companion is Hermana Williams and she is from Florida and has been out for about 6 months now. And we live in an apartment with two other hermanas! Yay. I still haven´t really seen the area or met any of the members our investigators, but soon! 

Man it is always so hard to say goodbye to people from your area. I just love them so much! And I was also asked to give a talk for my last sunday there. It all happened so fast but luckily I was able to say goodbye to mostly everyone and somehow in between all the visits, I packed haha. Luggage and train rides are always an adventure! I will attach some pictures of some members and I in Gerona. 

I love my mission and I feel so blessed to be here. I wouldn´t change it for anything! It is flying too fast. I am ready and excited to get to work here in Hospitalet. I know there are people who are waiting for the gospel. I know that the gospel is true and that when we live it, it brings us joy! I know that our Savior lives and only through him we can live again as families with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Thank you for all your love and support! I love you so much! And I hope you have a great week! 

xoxo,

Hermana Benson 

P.S. Check out my new glasses in picture number 1! Haha... 6 euros.

Hello everyone! It was so good to hear from you this week. It sounds like everyone is doing really well! Me alegro mucho. This week was sooo great! We are so blessed here in Gerona. There are transfers this next Tuesday and I do not want to leave! Ahhh I will be so sad because the work is really starting to pick up here in the branch. But I´m sure either me or my companion will go :( The members are really starting to get into the missionary work and it is amazing. This last week we got 5 new investigators just from members! And they are so prepared to hear the gospel. Yayyy. Here is a quote that President Pace just sent to all the missionaries today:

 "Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lords´s vineyard to bring souls unto him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill his work."  -President Monson, from the work of salvation broadcast. 

Missionary work is so much more successful when the members are fully involved. Thank you for all your efforts to share the gospel. I know the Lord will bless you as you continue to search and pray for ways to bring your friends, class mates (haha is that what you would say?), co workers, and others unto Christ. I can also testify that they are people who are being prepared right now to hear the gospel! The Lord is hastening his work and how blessed we are to be a part of it. 

Carina is still progressing towards her baptism and we are so excited. Last night we were able to teach her and her mother, Alda (less active), the plan of salvation and it was a powerful lesson because Carina´s dad passed away about 3 years ago. Alda has already had his baptism done in the temple and is now preparing to be sealed to him! I am so grateful to be able to share with people that we will live again and that families can be together forever! 

Thank you for all your love and support! I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week! 

xoxo,

La Garmana Benson

P.S. Augustine shared his testimony at church yesterday. We have been trying to help him learn spanish... And he wrote his testimony out and read it yesterday in spanish. It was awesome. He read it and then just kept saying how powerful to book of mormon was in english. I almost cheered. Haha :) 

P.S. Next week I will not be able to email unto Tuesday because of transfers! Os quiero mucho! 

Hola everyone?! Thank you for the emails. It sounds like everyone is doing well which makes me way happy. If you´re happy, I´m happy! This week flew by, I can´t believe it´s already Monday again. We had a pretty good week and I am grateful to be here as a missionary in Gerona. I love everyone here so much! I´m trying to think of new and exciting things to tell you haha but not much has changed. We are still working with a lot of the same people. But them are doing really good! 

Yesterday we had 4 investigators to church and some menos acitivos again so that was awesome. Sundays as a missionary is quite exhausting as some of you know haha. And yesterday was no exception. We had a crazy ward counsel after church and then ran home to eat real quick and then we had visits the rest of the night! But I loved it so much. Sundays are the highlight of my week.And last night we went to go visit our investigator Teresa.. Oh Teresa. Haha she is great but very bitter and negative about everything. She has hard things happen in her life and she doesn´t feel like there is hope and light in her life. But she has desires to change which is key. Faith starts with a desire to believe and if we do the things to nourish our faith like reading the scriptures, praying and going to church our faith will grow! This is more fully explained in Alma 32, where you can compare our testimony or our faith to a seed. Anyways back to Teresa.  She comes to church almost everyweek and really likes being with the members there. But tells us she doesn´t feel anything when she goes.  She has also been investigating the church, well kind of, for about 8 years or so now. We ending up having an interesting but good lesson with her. She has already read the book of Mormon but we committed her to reading it again as well as praying everyday! She is already starting to change. You can see it in her eyes and in the desires she has to believe. I am grateful for the opportunity we have to teach her. I am learning so much about patience and love. 

Hmmm I am trying to think of what else! Oh on Saturday we had another successful activity with the young single adults. We played some basketball and ping pong... Way up my alley haha. It was really fun for everyone! It reminded me of playing ping pong for hours at family reunions.. Haha remember that Kath? So funny. Oh ya we continue to teach our gypsy family. Mom to answer your question.. I´m not sure if "gypsy" is a correct term to use. But I don´t know if there is another term to describe them. They are originally from Portugal but have lived here for the past 40 years. They all live together in this little neighborhood. And everyone is related and knows each other. And I´m pretty sure the marry their cousins... haha they like to keep everything in the family. But they are doing so well and we love them so much. One of the girls is preparing for baptism and we hope to get the others progressing towards baptism as well. They are a fun family and it is an adventure every time we visit them! 

Wow this turned out to be a long email. Sorry if it was boring haha. Are there other things you would like to hear about? Let me know :). I love being a missionary and time if flying by too fast. Thank you for all you love and support! I hope you have a wonderful week. I love and miss you!! 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Benson 

xoxo