December 19, 2012

Well hello family. It´s a bit early for me to write, but I have some things to do this afternoon.

Well life is going to be different.  Elder Gonzalez was transfered out.... and well, so was I.  They did a white wash to El Ferrol, :´´´´(  It´s hard to say, and it was hard to leave.  I left about half of my heart there.  I was moved down to Alcalá. It´s a bigger Pueblo near Madrid, so I am now in Madrid.... again.  I was super sad!!!! I wanted to stay! I love those people there. They were amazing members, friends, and well my new family members.  Alcalá has a good thing going. It´s like the north, actually a lot of the areas around Madrid are like the north, just not as much rain, cold, and Spaniards.  There are a lot of Spaniards here, but we also have a good amount of individuals from South American.  That was new to see.  Here's my new address.  I do not know the new address for Elder G, sorry!!!  He is in Mostoles, another Pueblo near Madrid. 

Mine is:

Paseo do la Estación

9 Bis 4ºC 28807

Madrid

Spain

Well yeah, I have a new comp!!  His name is Elder Verdu!! He is from northern New Jersey and he is supppper awesome! I met him before, but not a lot.  He was up north in Orense in the other District.  He has been out for a good year and a half.  His dad is from Spain, and his mom is from Uraguay.  How cool is that! But, he never knew Spanish before the mish.  He has 2 sisters, one is older and the other younger.  I have to say we get along pretty well.  I will inform you more when I find out more, haha

I have a lot of sweet stories for you all, from Ferrol and Alcalá. Alcalá is a college town. There are a lot of students here from all over, like the states, London, and Spain of course. 

Well onto the stories, first Ferrol. 

So when we found out we were getting transferred, of course told everyone, one by one, not all at once.  That was an experience by itself.  It was sad for the members and suppper sad for me because I was crying too and I didn´t want to leave :(  Still a little depressed on this, but I am getting better, and well it´s the life of the mission, gotta live with it and go with it, and still work your hardest.  So sweet amazing story.  Our President of the branch asked us to prepaire a quick 3 minute talk, just our testimony, so I got a nice little scripture and my testimony.  I dídn´t really write down any notes.  So we get to church and they were saying we might not have to talk, they have 4 people with us and just maybe not a lot of time.  Well the first speaker gets up and gives a great talk but only 5 minutes... oh snap.. Then the second, only 5 or 7 minutes.  Ohh freak!  then we sing and they said that it is now the time for the Elders.. we still have a good 30min left of church.  I go up first and ask how much time, President told me I had time for 15-20min to talk, and Elder G had that time as well.... Well here we goo!! OOO OO!! I get up there and just say a little prayer.  And I let the spirit take over.  I have to say, I have never felt the spirit so strong, okay maybe a few times, but it just filled me,  I felt as if I was floating.  I just started talking and using some of the experiences I had learned from Ferrol and my mission.  Then I started getting out my scriptures and and just wow... I spoke for those 15min.  No awkward moment pauses, no ahh or uhh, or what should I say.  I have to say that, that was the gift of tounges.  During my talk..it was the hardest.  I made a little joke that someone must have cut an onion on stage, and I just broke down.  I couldn´t handle it.. It wasn´t that awkard loud cry of sadness, just tears of sadness...  It was hard.. the members were all crying and weeping, and just a wreck, we all were.  Then Elder G gets up and gives a great talk, just took it to them!  He did great.  But this was just a great experience for me.  15min, in Spanish, without any notes at alllll. Love it!  I don´t know, I have never done that before, I always needed notes because of my Spanish, but I had no problem speaking, alot of the members said my Spanish was almost perfect.  I was using many words that were larger for me and my grammer was almost dead on.  That was sweet to hear.  :) 

Okay second thing, I am done with the BOOK OF MORMON!! How sweet is that! I might have said it before, but I´ll say it again.  It helped me out so much reading it in Spanish.  It was just a nice feeling, the feeling of accomplishment.  :)

Okay third, okay before I say this, I have to say that I am okay right now, I am fine and feeling great!

 

So on Monday we arrived in Madrid and I went to Alcalá.  That night we get a call from the office elders because we had to move some things for them for the new piso fo the hermanas here.  We get the stuff and just doing great. So they have a van with a back door that goes up, not the double doors, just the one that goes up when you open it.  Well Elder Johnson didn´t see that I was coming out, well he did, but he thought that I was out of the way, and he closed it.. and it hit my head pretty hard.   Yeah it hurt, but nothing big.. well he´s alll ohhh Elder are you all right?? I was fine and I said that... then I see blood... dripping from my head.  Then I touch my head and my hair has a lot of blood.. Okay so I have a nice little scrape, nooo biggie, I get some tissues and people on the street are freaking out. I was just standing there just chillin.  Then we call up Hermana Jackson to see what to do. I hadn´t seen it yet, but some of the other Elders saw it and it didn´t look so good... so thankfully Pres. Jackson is a doctor surgeon man, so he knows what to do.  We all get in the van and drive over to the Mission home, and it so happened to be the last day and the last super for a couple elders and a sister.  So I´m chillin there with all of them and my comp.  President jackson gets up and just is wowed.. He´s said... you need stiches, I´ll go get my kit.  This isn´t good, but you´ll be fine...  So he gets his stuff and well he did a little operation on my head.  I have I think 4 stiches in my head.  Some of the elders have some pics of it, and it is nasttttyy!! Just all open and gross!! Well, I ruined a good white shirt, I´ll send it home for yall to have, don´t want´to throw it away, ;) but yeah, I am fine and just putting a bunch of meds on the cut.  I get them out on Sunday, ohh yeah... He had to shave a little part of my hair.  Good thing I got it cut last week!! OOO OO!! So yup I have a nice little pach of hair missing, bit it´s fine. My hair grows fast and Elder V said he can´t even tell, just when I show people.  Good times on the mish huh?!  Love it!!  Don´t worry, I am fine right now! It hurts but I´m fine.  Just one of those moments when you want your mom to hold your hand...and your dad to tell you to man up ;)  I was about to rub some dirt on it and go on with my night. hahah jk.  Ohh and don´t worry, I got to hold sister Jacksons hand, that was nice, Miss you mom!!! Good thing I get to talk with you all next week!!!! AHHHHH!!! SAWEEETT!! 

About that, Elder V said that he would like to chat about 8ish in a locutorio.  So I am good with that, and it´s 8 at night my time, so about 2 your time, is that good?

Well hope so!! ohh and It´s pday so I can email you in the mornin if needed!

 

Hey all I love you! Hope you have a great week and welcome home Jana!! Can´t wait to chat with you!! Hope all is well on the home front. Alcalá is about to be lit up!!!!  Can´t wait to really work here!!  Can´t get me down, phhht head wound... !

 

Love you!!

Elder Alex Thor Laubaugh

(one of the elders said the cut looks like a lightning bolt.. so he calls me thor.. haha)