Native

Hey everyone! So, I kinda forgot to mention last week that my P-Day was switched to Wednesday this week. Sorry about that. My companion has a doctor's appointment in Madrid, so we're spending the day there. Don't let my subject line mislead you, I am in no way speaking like a native... yet. The song Native by Lisbon I realized kinda describes what it's like being over here in Europe. "Oh, I've never been so far from home / Taking my chances we both know / I've never been so far from home / I'm no native." 5,762 miles away from Brentwood, yet I'm not worried about it too much. 

It's been more-or-less a bit of a slower week, but that doesn't mean it was any kind of a rest. Some of our investigators seem to be falling off the face of the earth, and to go along with the ones that are out of town, we didn't have many to work with this last week. We ended up doing a lot of finding which meant a lot of walking. It's basically like going to Disneyland all day, but instead of riding rides, you talk to Spaniards that have already made up their mind that they don't wanna hear what you have to say before you even open your mouth. I've met some really interesting people while street contacting while I've been here. A few observations I've made:

- People jog a little as they pass us so it looks like they're in a rush and stop immediately after

- People like to stop and talk to us only to tell us we're wrong smh

- Talked to a rapper named Mario Canario who believed that he was God and rappers run the world

- A couple professional rugby players

- While we're talking to someone, this lady, who is now known by us as "the nemesis," comes up and hijacks the contact and tells them about her own church.

We've continued to work with Xavier the 11-year-old legend. He's still progressing and is able to come to church this weekend with his dad! We taught him about the 10 commandments this last week and he kept asking us where the commandment about respecting your children is. Love that kid hahahaha. 

SOMETHING COOL THAT HAPPENED: So the other day we were preparing for lunch and planned to make some tacos. We decided to run to the store real quick to grab a few things that we needed. As I close the door, I realized I didn't have the keys or phone. And neither did my companion. That meant we were pretty much stranded. We went to the chapel to see if the other elders might be there - nada. I was starting to think about how long of a day it could end up being if we didn't figure something out. Luckily, I knew where the duena (landlord) to our building lived, so we started to go over there in hopes that I could somehow remember which piso she lived in. The plan was to buzz everyone's apartments until we eventually found hers. On our way over, it started to pour. We were soaked by the time we got there. We got ready to start guessing which piso was hers, when a man walked up and opened the door. I asked if he by chance knew the duena and it just so happened that he was her son. We went up, grabbed the spare key, chatted with the duena who lectured us a little, and went back down where the shining sun awaited us. Things turned around real quick. I know that it wasn't just some coincidence. Heavenly Father was looking out for us.

Ok I'm almost done I promise. As I said, we're spending the day in Madrid which means we can stop by the only Five Guys in Spain. Practically a U.S. embassy with the classic rock and greasy burgers. We also had a chance to go to the temple this morning. I was talking to one of the guys working there, and it turns out he knew my uncle when he served in Spain roughly 30 years ago or so. It's a small world, and the Mormon world is even smaller. Everyone knows everyone in some way hahaha. That's all for this update. A little bit more lengthy than usual. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing, but you guys can deal with it. Have a stupendous week everyone!

Hasta Luego,

Elder Penner

1. Our zone at District Conference last week

2. Sol - super touristy center of Madrid

Float On

Went with Modest Mouse's Float On this week. It's been a good week and now it's just a matter of keeping things rolling. Had some quite interesting experiences this week. We went up to Leon yesterday for District Conference which basically means every branch in central-northern Spain got together for a big ol' church meeting. I saw my cousin and freaked some more missionaries out when I hugged her hahaha. My mission president and his wife were both there, and I've gotta say, they are some of the greatest, most caring people I know. Hermana Pack gave a talk about how missionaries not only need physical food, but also spiritual food from the branch members in our areas. The members are so important in the work we do and that's something I've noticed since arriving in Spain.

We've been meeting with a less active member, Mario Martinez, and his son Xavier for a couple months now. Xavier is one of the sickest kids I've ever met. Mario is from El Salvador and actually used to play professional soccer there. Xavier is 11 and hasn't been baptized yet. They can't come to church very often since Mario works as a Burger King delivery driver and the hours are difficult. Xavier recently started progressing and accepted an invitation to be baptized and is super excited about it. Mario was really grateful and told us about his hopes of being sealed to his family. He thinks that Xavier's baptism may be the key in the conversion of his wife, who also isn't a member. I can't think of anything better than being able work with them to make it happen. Really hopeful and excited (as always, really).

We also met with Hamilton the past week. It's safe to say that we might need a little more work with him. He always likes to bring up all the bad things happening in the world and I'm not sure he understands why we've been visiting him. He's a pretty peculiar guy to say the least. We're gonna continue working with him, but we need some of our other investigators back in town. 

Nevertheless, things are looking up. All signs are pointing towards baptisms happening soon. Stay tuned ladies and gentlemen. Love you all and I'll talk to you next week.

Hasta luego,Elder Penner

Pictures:

1 & 2. Valladolid is sick

3. Better quality picture of the legendary Mexican picture from a couple weeks ago

Somebody New

First off, I'd like to wish my father back at home a very happy birthday. He turns 87 on Thursday. Love you pops.

TRANSFERS TODAY. My father in the mission field (trainer) Elder Kamimoto left this morning. That man is a legend, I'm gonna miss him. My new companion, Elder Waters, actually just got done training my friend from the MTC, Elder Burt. He's from Florida and seems super sick. He plays basketball so I've decided that at some point during this transfer, I'm going to dunk on him. I chose Somebody New by Joywave as my subject line for obvious reasons. It's a bit strange to be with someone new after being with Elder Kamimoto for 3 months, but we're ready to pick up right where Elder Kamimoto and I left off and baptize the whole city.

Ok so a couple weeks ago we starting teaching a guy named Edgar. We met him in a pueblo (small town outside of the city) and gave him a passalong card with the church website on it. He then proceeded to show up to our first lesson with a ton of written questions about the things he read about online. We gave him a Book of Mormon and set up a visit with him a week after. We called to confirm the visit the day before and found out that he had read 140 PAGES in the BoM and was in the Book of Jacob already in just one week. We taught him Plan of Salvation and he told us that everything that we've taught and he's read makes perfect sense. Really excited about him. Unfortunately he's out of town for the next 2 weeks.  

There seems to be a pattern with people going out of town right after they start progressing. Mirella is also gone until June. Speaking of people out of town though, our investigator Kennis got back from the Dominican Republic this week and was finally able to go to church! It's just a matter of whether she's able to keep going or not now, which is difficult due to her job.

Think that's it for this week. Love you guys.

Hasta Luego,

Elder Penner

Pictures:

1. Bowling last week (Elder Jones almost dropped that ball and knocked someone out)

2. ENGLISH CLASS WOOOO

3. Last Sunday for Elder Jones and Kamimoto here ft. Charles & Eva (I swear I'm not as short as I look there)

Nocturne

Went with a song by EDEN this week because it highlights something that all missionaries lack. The chorus goes, "I won't sleep, no more" several times. I've learned to just deal with being tired all the time, really. As exhausting as it can be out here, it's so worth it. That aside, it's been a brilliant week.

We've found several new people to teach this past week. One of whom, is named Hamington. He's from Venezuela. We were actually passing by someone else who we thought lived in his apartment, but she apparently didn't live there anymore. Instead, we found him and he invited us in. My companion, Elder Kamimoto has been serving in the Madrid mission for a year and 9 months now, told me that no one has ever let him in on the spot like that before. We taught him the first lesson, and he was intrigued. Looking forward to working with him as well as our other new investigators.

So we got a little more information on our recent convert Mickhael Yadkson (I'll take any chance I get to write out his full name) this week. It turns out, he found a job in France so he's gonna stay there for quite some time while he's waiting for his residency in Spain to be sorted out. That means I probably won't get to see him before I leave the area :( He's one of the sickest people I've ever met so that was a little rough to take. I'll see him again someday though, I've no doubt about that.

Algo más: Elder Jones, Elder Kamimoto and I will be in a trio for the next couple of days. Elder Jones' companion, Elder Peroni, had to go to home to Barcelona to get something about his residency sorted out so he doesn't get kicked out of the country. So that'll be fun for the next two days.

Can't believe I haven't mentioned it in my weekly updates to this point yet, but we found this amazing burger place here called The Good Burger. They have a 2 for 1 deal on Thursdays so we go every week hahaha. The workers know us now and they love us. I'm gonna try to get a picture with them this coming week. It doesn't quite reach the level of In-N-Out, but it's a close second for me. Pretty sure it's an American franchise, but they must only have locations on the East Coast or something.

Currently bowling with the JAS (young single adults) here so I gotta go knock some pins down, you know how it is. I hope you all have a great week wherever you may be! You'll hear from me next week.

Hasta Luego,

Elder Penner

PICTURES:

1. & 2. Made all the birds my minions at a park in the city

3. Exchange student that's here from Utah in the branch (look for the album dropping soon from Alma and the Sons of Mosiah)

Life in Technicolor

I went with one of my favorite Coldplay songs this week for my subject. I've realized that I've really learned to see everything in a different light while I've been out here in the field. It sounds lame I know, but I don't know how else to describe it. I've had some really amazing experiences already and I still have about a year and 8 months to go. I think I might've said this before, but I can't believe how fun it is here even though we're doing all that we're supposed to. I overheard another Elder say at zone conference a couple weeks back "If you're not having fun while doing the work, then something's wrong." I agree 100%. Sometimes if an angry Spaniard yells at you a little, you've just gotta laugh it off.

Update on last week's email and the whole Semana Santa thing: I was right. People dressed up as death eaters from Harry Potter marching through the streets of Valladolid playing super intense music. Kind of an odd way to celebrate Easter imo. I prefer the bunny that brings kids treats and hides eggs. Maybe that's just me, though.

Something super cool happened this week. So on Thursday night, we were looking through our old area book to see if we could find anyone to set up lessons with. I came across this one lady named Mirella. She's from Peru and the description in the area book said she couldn't meet because of an "illness." I called her up and invited her to English class the next day and she accepted. I didn't think too much of it at the time. The next day, on Good Friday, where there are some of the best processions of the week, she showed up to English class. We got to talking with her and found out that basically her entire family are members of the church in Peru. Her "illness" is that she was in a motorcycle accident a couple years back. She has been going to physical therapy ever since so it can be a little difficult to find times to meet. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she said she agreed with everything. We then, introduced the Book of Mormon to her and she proceeded to tell us that she already knew it was true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet (WHAT THAT NEVER HAPPENS). We committed her to baptism right after. Brilliant experience especially since I could've called up literally anyone in the area book, but it happened to be her.

Think that's all for now, folks. We've got two more weeks left of this transfer so we're gonna do all we can to make them count. You'll have to wait until next week to hear from me (sad, I know).

Hasta Luego,

Elder Penner

Pictures:

1. AFTER LIKE A MONTH OF SEARCHING we found a Mexican restaurant. Overpriced, but good feat. zone leaders. (I don't have anything to get the picture of my camera at the moment so I just took a picture of the screen sorry)

2. District playing Catan today (I won, naturally)

Brothers on a Hotel Bed

"And now we say goodnight, from our own separate sides"

In honor of my brother Jordan finishing his mission in Cape Verde this week, I chose his favorite Death Cab For Cutie song - Brothers On A Hotel Bed for my subject. I wish him all the best in his endeavors after he gets home. I hope he can say that "now he lives inside someone he does not recognize." There's no doubt in my mind that the mission has changed him for the better, and I'm so grateful that I have had him as an example. If there's one thing I've already realized, it's that the mission really does change you. Good luck out there in the real world bro.

Anyways enough with the somewhat cringey, sentimental stuff. Onto the weekly update. Crazy that another week has flown by, but it's been a good one. We've taught Cristian a few more times and he's doing really well. At first we weren't too sure he had good intentions or if he was just coming to church because he liked the member that brought him, Emily, but now it seems that he's genuinely interested which is fantastic. We taught him the Plan of Salvation last Monday night and he told us that it made perfect sense to him and he didn't really agree with the Catholic Church which he was raised in. He accepted a baptismal date for the 22 so we've been working hard to prepare him.

We had zone conference this last Friday in Oviedo. We took a train 4 hours Thursday afternoon and working there that night. Beautiful city and a ton of stuff to see. I think the thing I liked the best is that I could actually breath since the air had humidity. It wasn't anything like flat, dry Valladolid. It was in the midst of lush mountains. Don't get me wrong though, I love Valladolid, it was just nice to experience something a little different. Anyway, zone conference was a great experience. President talked a lot about finding people to teach and I definitely learned a lot.

Semana Santa (Holy Week) is this next week, and based on what I've heard, I'm in for something special. I've been told that the processions here are the second best in all of Spain. The pictures that I've seen of them are quite strange though. To me, it looks like a big crucifix being carried around by and surrounded by a bunch of people dressed up as what I can only describe as death eaters from Harry Potter. I'll have more detail next week hahaha.

That's about all I got for this update. Hope you all have an action-packed week and enjoy all the things I love and miss about American that I can't have here. Hasta luego!

-Elder Penner

PICTURES (Told you I'd be better)

1. The district in Oviedo 

2. My main man in the branch in Valladolid, Mateo (yes, that's his autograph and I'm gonna sell it when he gets rich and famous)3. 3. Massive cathedral in Oviedo

4. Palm Sunday happened yesterday and we found a branch outside of our piso

Isombard

I'm absolutely convinced that General Conference is about 47 times better while you're serving a mission. For those that don't know, General Conference is a series of broadcasts over a weekend that happens twice a year, where we get to listen to the leaders of the church and what they have to say to teach us and help us improve. One talk, which was probably my favorite, was by Gary B. Sabin. He spoke about always maintaining a positive attitude and getting back up when we're knocked down, or "standing up inside," as he put it. At one point, he was talking about his father in-law who had a ridiculously optimistic attitude, despite being very elderly. When someone expressed to him a concern about his ability to walk, he replied, "that's ok. If I get tired of walking, I'll just start running." This reminded me of a song by Deklan McKenna - Isombard. In the chorus, it repeats the phrase, "If you can't walk, then run" several times. This is something that is good to keep in mind when we're out working. If you feel like you can't walk, and you just want to go home a little early at the end of a long day, that's often the time when we have to run. I have already seen many examples of blessings received when my companion and I have just gone and done a little bit more. I´ll definitely be looking to apply that throughout my mission.

We had a good week here in Valladolid (pronounced Vay-uh-doh-leed, not sure if i ever included that before). We started teaching this guy named Cristian. He was a reference from a member here and he really seems solid. He's been reading the Book of Mormon and says he likes what he has read. We're meeting with him again today to follow up and teach him the next lesson. He told us he's done karate for years, so I'm hoping we don't ever say anything that offends him hahaha.

Another thing, we called Mikchael, the recent convert, about a week ago to see if we could meet with him, and he told us he was in Paris out of nowhere. Apparently he's there with his uncle for the next month or so. He told us he's going to church there, so that's still good. I just hope there's a Spanish branch there. He's been struggling to learn English and doesn't know French at all hahaha. Love that guy. Hope he returns before I get transferred to another area.

Alright here's your guys' Spanish culture lesson of the week. So Spain has this thing called Mediodia, where pretty much the entire city shuts down during the middle of the day, from roughly 2:00 to 5:30. Everyone goes home and eats lunch and takes a nap, then they go back to work after Mediodia ends. The streets are practically empty at some points, so we usually return to our piso and do our studies if we don't have a meal appointment during those hours.

We've got zone conference this week up in Oviedo which is my comp's old area, so stay tuned for an update on that next week. Until then, I'm Elder Penner. Goodnight (morning) America.

Hasta luego,

Elder Penner

Pictures:

1. Group that came to play basketball and soccer with us this last Saturday (my team won as always) 

2. Graffiti that describes the feelings at the end of a long day (S/O Bay Area)

3. Valladolid is pretty