The 'Every So Often' Health Update

So I heard that people lose weight in the North. ;)
Barcelona was great, I loved it.  There was a member, Miriam, who fed us healthy Peruvian food once a week.  We also ate a lot of Gelato, brownies, Celestial Orbs (Nutella filled donuts), and chocolate-chip cookies (thanks to Hermana Eyring.)
Hitting nine-months was hard.  You just get more tired, and realize there’s still a long way to go.  But then you get over it.
There’s no Mercadona up here (the Spanish grocery store of choice) so we spend more on groceries and are a little less satisfied with them.  Pero Bueno, asi es. [but it’s so good]

I got good with exercising in Barcelona because Hna. Lee had P-90X and Hna. Eyring had something called Julian Smith work outs which I did with her almost every morning.  They were good.
Hna. Randall and I don’t have those, but we do pretty decently and have decided to go running once a week over the really pretty bridge in our area.  We’ll start next week . . . maybe ;)

Conference Moments from Halfway Around the World

Conference Moments—for the family

Conference is a little different here.  We don’t watch the last session (sad) and the ones that are live and in the morning in the states are live and at 6 PM here.  They showed the Women’s Conference at 4 on Saturday and so it was just us—8 Hermanas—in a room thousands of miles from home watching a session SUPER family focused.  Hna Terrazas said beforehand that she thought Conference would make her more home-sick than Holidays.  Well, I started tearing up in the opening song—remembering a year ago when I was sitting in the Conference Center—with Melissa and Mom.  So much has changed since than.  I don’t think there were any of us that didn’t cry at some (or many) point(s) in that session.  It was so good.

A couple of other people (some African investigaors) showed up too so it wasn’t just missionaries.
Bonnie L. Oscarson—I can be a homemaker, here on the mission (so the next day I decided to be the mother).

Saturday Morning Session

-Nothing is more awkward than sitting in a room full of missionaries and listening to a talk on marriage/charity (Boyd K. Packer)
-Loved L. Whitney Clayton’s talk on light.
-Announcing of full-time missionaries—Hey, I’m one of those!
-D. Todd Christopherson—Good talk on marriage . . . completely irrelevant at the moment (BUT CONGRATS !! TO LINDA KAY!  That’s one marriage I’m totally OK with missing because I just want it to happen!)
-Wilford W. Anderson’s Music of the Spirit talk was phenomenal . . . also left me with a strong desire to tell orchestra jokes.
-Dale G. Renlund—Hey, I read that book . . . Nice and fuerte.
-Last conference Elder Nordine was in the MTC choir.  Weird.
-Super-shiblom.  That was a great talk.
-Right-time-at-home.  I thought of your clocks . . .  I also thought that you’d be conference caroling soon and it was a nice feeling.
-New TEMPLES—all the missionaries look around.
-And next, Jeffery R. Holland (Yesss . . . , the missionaries rejoice.) SUCH a great talk, and wrap it up with Uchtdorf, you can’t go wrong!
-The people who “opposed” vocally :(
-Lots of new camera angles, right?
-When you missed a point, you could just ask the room in general, someone was bound to have it.
-I wish I had a Euro for every time they mentioned “The Family Proclamation”.

Postmarked European style as 07.04.15

MY NERDIEST MOMENTS—a geek update and other SnailMail included

-At least every other day we take the bus to get to one area or another.  As you get on, scan your card, and head to the seats, the driver starts going again and it feels like you’re walking ‘warp speed”.  I LOVE it.  Only none of my companions have seen Star Trek, so they don’t get it.

-One day I saw someone rolling an R2D2 carry-on and just about died (too bad they’re probably not mission appropriate, otherwise I would be sorely tempted).

-The metro (subway) stop for the church is called “Aragon” as in LOTR, which always makes me smile.  (Another reason I’m always glad to go to church.)

-I have legitimately contacted people just because of the book they were reading.  One—my most awkward-contact ever was a girl with a Mockingjay necklace reading “The Hunger Games”.  I said “Este libro . . . me gusta.”  Stopped awkwardly, dropped a pass-along card in her gook, and got off at the next metro stop.  Another was reading “El Juego de Ender” and we had a nice chat about the book, the movie, and the differences between them.

-On the way back to Valencia from getting my residency I spent an entire 3 hour train ride passionately geeking out with Hermana O’Neill.  I explained the Weeping Angels, the Doctor-River plotline, the differences between the old series and the new series and how it’s gone on for 50 years.  She mentioned “Once Upon A Time” and I explained how and why I’d only watched the first season.  I raged about “Agents of SHIELD” and correctly guessed her other favorite “Nerd” show

—“Merlin”.  We commiserated over the ending.  It was a total geek fest.  And I loved it.

-There was a little stand (Comic-con style) of Geek Stuff in the mall and I found it physically difficult not to go in.  There was a Harry Potter T-shirt at Primark that made me supremely happy (I would have gotten it if it had been for Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor)

-Pretty much every spare moment with Hna. Stilson was a geek fest.  She loves Harry Potter more than I do (a near-impossible feat) and we spent hours contacting/doing a deep character analysis of Snape, Neville, and Sirius.

          These are my most recent nerdy moments, though I’m sure there will be more.  I’m still a nerd.

After all this time?

Always.

Okay?    Okay.

<3 Hermana Een

The not-at-all annual Alayna health Update!                                     23/2/15 (European Style)

(I know you’re excited)

            At the close of another transfer, you guys should know that I’m still alive and kicking.  I no longer go running in the mornings (that was a rare tripanionship--speared by New Years resolutions and a dying missionary’s desires to not be fat—that has gone the way of most New Years Resolutions at this point).  Hermana Lamerouax—the Sister Training Leader here, and our piso-mate AND she just happens to be IN the picture from the Deseret News Article you sent (so that’s funny)—loves running and was on her college track team so although I went with her once, I don’t have the stamina to make that a frequent occurrence.

            My current exercise regime is to turn on “The Best Two Years” soundtrack (Thank you Elder Matheson) and do sit ups for the first song, bicycles for the second, planking/push-ups for the third, wall sit/read a Spanish dictionary, awkward dog kicks, and then collapse and enjoy the other 3 songs I like on the sound track.  But hey, it’s better than nothing.

            I’m eating well-ish.  There’s still that never-ending chocolate hunger which is just part of being a sister missionary.  The members feed us well and when they remember to pass around the list our days are FULL.  There was a week (full of member eating citas) where the only “grocery shopping” I did was to buy milk, yogurt, and cookies.  (I have my priorities straight.)

            I found out that Valencia is famous in the mission for two reasons.  1) BAPTISMS, AWESOME members and miracles, and I can testify to all three of those.  2) For making missionaries gain weight L.

            I haven’t stepped on a scale for a while (both because we don’t have one, and I don’t WANT to) but I can feel a little “Mother Gothel”  “Plus, I admit you’re getting kind-of chubby.”  But we also found out that the metro stops are a lot closer than we thought so we’ll be walking a lot more.  If I stay.

            I’ve only cried . . . 5 times on the mission. And most of that is more “tearing up” then actual crying, but this past week especially has been emotionally difficult for me.  But I’ve also had a lot of things bring me joy.  So we come out even.  I don’t think I’m a very good trainer and Hermana Manotas is much better in some ways and still struggling in others.  Although I sincerely want to stay here and it makes sense that I will, I’m trying to be prepared for any eventuality.

4/3/15 (European date)

And one more for good measure . . .

Transfer calls have come and gone, I spent one very potentially awkward evening being a tripanionship (a word that’s catching on in the mission) with Hermana Manotas and Hermana Terrazas.  We left the piso and met up with two Elders in our district (half of which were different because of transfers) to give a blessing of comfort to Genoveva (who’s brother died on Sunday).  ELDER KEEN IS IN MY DISTRICT NOW!  This is cool for many reasons:  1) He’s a 24-year-old sarcastic British male and a 1-year convert to boot.  I can’t help but enjoy his company 2) He was in my same MTC group so although no one is in my “same boat” (training with only 6 weeks in the mission kind-of isolates you that way), he’s pretty darn close.  And that’s downright comforting (especially since I’m losing Hermana O’Neill to Lleida).  3) Our names are strikingly similar, which is just fun.

            This morning we went to the training meeting and HERMANA STILSON WAS THERE!  She’s going to train a girl from Tennessee (Hetrmana Ingram) which is perfect because she loves faking southern accents.  It was just SO good to see her again, reminisce on good old times in the tripanionship.  Man, I need to email her more.

            The training meeting is exactly the same as it was last time.  And the time before that.  Hermana Manotas is going to Bilboa with Hermana Vance—a seasoned missionary whose Spanish is very good, who was also “Born” in Valencia, and who has received council from President on what specifically Hna. Manotas needs and struggles with.  I had expected to feel like a little bit of a failure if we were separated in this transfer (even though I sort-of suggested it in my letter to President) but I honestly feel like it’s all for the best.  And, seeing how I’m still training, I know that it’s no fault of mine.

            Hermana Terrazas is 20, the 8^th of 8 children, and very sweet.  From the little comments she‘s made about her mission experience so far I can tell that her trainer let her down in many aspects.  In his response to my letter President said “Hna. Terrazas has great desires to do the work and needs your help and guidance.  Once again, you are the answer.”—not like that’s intimidating or anything.

            And it hit me who she reminds me of.  Eliza, she’s the SPITTING IMAGE of Harriet Smith from “Emma Approved”.  It’s a perfect comparison in all aspects.  And I’m her Emma.  (Hopefully with a bit more wisdom).

<3Hermana Alayna Emma Een

The Not-At-All-Annual Alayna Health Update (or this is for all those questions Mom asks--SnailMail)

So I remember one of the things you said before I left was that you weren’t worried about me gaining weight.  That was really sweet of you and all, but maybe you should have worried just a little bit. ;)
The members feed us well and feed us a lot we don’t eat with them too often though, especially here in our trio.  With two areas, we just don’t have time for eating citas (Spanish word for appointment).  My companions are crazy about this pre-made salad thing, and when we eat in piso (apartment) I make a salad too.
We’ve made a New Years Resolution to work out more effectively.  We go out and run every other day and do cross-fit/P-90x or abb workouts on the off days.  So that’s good.
We eat breakfast well, Mercadona has this fantastic granola, I add frosted flakes, and it’s a delicious homemade Honey Bunches of Oats.
Lunch is late, 2 or 3 usually, but it gets big.  Dinner is either non-existent (a fruit) or leftovers.
No weird twitches.  I’m pretty normal, healthwise.  Being tired is just a part of missionary life, but it hasn’t been too bad for me.
My companions think I’m crazy because of how quickly I wake up in the morning and how ready I am to get going.
I . . . . occasionally zone out of church, and it was hard to stay awake in Sacrament meeting at first, but now that I’ve got more Spanish comprehension, mints, and a water bottle with me, it’s easier.
So I mailed the Lladro and no I’m mailing you the package tracking info.  I hope it gets there OK.  It was about 50 Euors to ship, and they don’t have insurance or anything so that’s why I didn’t have them ship it.
Did you know they have shelf-stable milk here?  It tastes . . . .different.  But good.  There were a couple of other minor adjustments in diet but, I’m game and it’s not too bad.
I’m healthy, happy (a little bit heavier, I think), and carrying on.
<3 Hermana Een (arrow to the heart “that’s healthy too.”)

From the Project Life cards she sent back for her scrapbook:
MTC
President & Hermana Lovell
Location:  Madrid, Spain
Companion:  Ashley Brooke Curtis
Favorite Thing about the MTC:  My district #Amulekforever!  The people I got to meet.
Least favorite thing about the MTC:  Hard to say.  The schedule was a bit rough.

District Meeting 13/1/15 My Trainer’s last. We sang sappy songs like “God be With You ‘Til We Meet Again.”  We did some practicas and talked about statistics.  Elder Grau is our District Leader, a native Peruvian (Paraguay?) and very hard to understand with his thick accent.  He asks if I understand and I feel bad but have to say “más o menos.”

BAPTISM 25/12/14 WHITE CHRISTMAS   Xiomara was the first lesson I had here in Valencia, now she’s my first baptism too!  It was a lot of running around and scrambling together beforehand but the service was perfect.  Afterwards she bore a beautiful testimony of how clean and white she felt.

Companion:  Ashley Brooke Curtis (ABC)
From:  Alpine, Texas (Nowheresville)
About:  One of the sweetest, most compassionate people I know.  Very Spiritual.  Struggled with confidence.
Date:  October 28th-December 9th
Area:  MTC or CCM

Companion:  Vanessa Manwill
From:  Holladay Utah
About:  A hard-working Sister Training Leader.  She said “Well Shoot!”  When things went wrong and always wore purple cardigans.  She swore they were red . . . .
Date:  December 10-January 20th 2015
Area:  Valencia 1C

Zone Conference:  My first one ever.  (12/22/2014)  Brought Christmas to the mission.  President answered questions, people gave lectures and talks, we ate paella and ended with a testimony meeting.  I wasn’t planning on bearing mine, and I didn’t know what to say.  But after a while I stopped fighting the urge and stood up.  Later, President said that I had been an answer to prayer, that he’d prayed I would speak.  I’ll never forget.

Remember to Look UP
12/23/14
We went to visit a family, but couldn’t get in so we decided to knock the building.  Top floor, last door.  Miraculously the door to the roof was unlocked so we snuck out and wandered a bit.  You could see the whole city from up there!  But even better . . . .I saw the stars for the first time on my mission—really seeing them.  And Orion is still there like an old friend.
[Explanatory note from home:  Eliza says when they walked to the Jacksons in the mornings for a ride to seminary it was usually dark and they’d see the constellation Orion hanging out above the Jackson’s home.  Alayna didn’t know what it was at first when Eliza would say, “There’s Orion” but came to recognize it.]

SnailMail at the end of the MTC (CCM)

Dear Een Family

So here’s some fun snail mail stuff:

Remember how I went to college last year and took a couple of art classes?  Well, one of the girls in my class showed up yesterday. She was born in Italy but grew up in America.  She’s serving in Italy, already knows the language, and is learning with our group.  We just had a moment, pointed at each other, and then it clicked.  Pretty funny.  Her name is Stephania Bautizata which is almost the Spanish word for Baptism . . . which is funny.

I love you guys, love hearing from you.  I’m working on the language, but—while we're on the subject, here’s some awesome Spanish mistakes.

                Orejas – ears

                Ovejas –sheep

I just told one of my teachers that I have sheep on the side of my head.

                Pecado—sins

                Pescado—fish

Jesus died for our fish.  (No joke, elders in our district have said that in lessons before.)

One of our teachers told a story of a sister missionary in his home ward last week who stood up at the pulpit and meant to say “I’m embarrassed because the Bishop asked me to speak” but because of the funny way Spanish works, she ended up saying “I’m pregnant because of the Bishop.”  So . . . the Bishop turned beet red and the whole congregation burst into laughter.  *Note to self:  Don’t try to say ‘embarrassed’ in Spanish.  Whatever situation you try to describe couldn’t be worse than the one you almost put yourself into.

Today we had a Thanksgiving.  I love stuffing.  I love to stuff myself with stuffing.  We usually have a bit of free time on Thursdays so I suggested that we take a little while and have each member of the District grab their photos and do a little background/intro.  Today I got to talk about you guys.  “Yes, I know, my Dad does look like Abraham Lincoln” and “Yeah, I know it doesn’t look like it, but that little dark-haired girl really is related to me.  No, that’s my younger sister; she’s not the married one.”  Or Yes, my Mom is really 6’0”.  Yes he’s really 14 . . . and 6’4”.  I played our trio to the EFY medley.  Hermana Curtis says I just melt when I talk about you guys.  Well, you are my favorite subject.  (Well, besides the Gospel, of course.)

We didn’t get to go out and do anything tody because A) it’s Thanksgiving and B) we’re watching the MTC Devotional live, so it cuts into our time. 

Anyway our “Special Activity” (a consolation prise, if you will) was watching “Meet the Mormons”.  A lot of people didn’t have the opportunity to see it before coming and a lot of the teachers hadn’t seen it yet either.  The candy bomber gets me every time.  It’s fun seeing it on this side of things, relating to the missionary efforts more.

I’m super excited to listen to the Christmas CDs you guys sent (starting this afternoon, since Thanksgiving is officially over) and want to thank you once again for the package.  It was . . . so great to hear from you guys and nice to have a physical copy.  (Elder Reading wanted to email Mom and tell her that she should replace the toner, but he forgot.  He’s funny like that.)

Last Sunday, instead of the typical Bednar devotional (apparently MP is neighbors with Bednar, and he probably said ‘hey, can I show the missionaries every devotional you’ve ever given?’)  we watched Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration.  ALL the feels.  I LOVE that movie.

This Monday we lost the Ukranians, so to commemorate their last day we had . . .American food (you know . . .because we’re so culturally sensitive and all.)  There was reverence in the comidor as we savored every bit of the Dominos pizza.  (Apparently they have those here) Nothing like the taste of home.  (Literally)

Lots of love coming your way!

Alayna Een

Hermana Een J

(Sticker of Cinderella)  [arrow] to commemorate the new Cinderella movie.  Marissa sent these in her package because everyone needs stickers. 

Other slips of paper in the envelope:

A card to accompany the Tigger outfit we were instructed to send to SpAria for Christmas.  It joked that they can return it if they don’t name their baby Alayna.

P.S. Sorry for leaving my room a mess L guilty face.

Oh, and also, those Christmas CDs make me really happy.  And my District loves you guys by extension.  (We all love Christmas).  Also, through the MTC Devo Sister Bednar suggested we have our families and friends pray specifically for me to be blessed with the gift of tongues.  So . . . ya.  J

MTC group on the steps of the Madrid Spain Temple

Goofy pose

MTC (CCM) district at the Park Retiro in Madrid where they went each Saturday.

Keen, Een, Green, Bean

A Day in the life at the MTC: Madrid Edition

But first, a message from Elder Reading:  We wake up eat a badly horrible pre-lunch.  Then Een and I talk and joke until lunch.  Then talk & joke until post lunch!  It’s fechin swoll & such. (He means “fetching” He loves lunch.)

OK, but really:

6:30—wake up, dress, companion study

7:00--breakfast until 7:45 (we usually get there at 7:15)  Sometimes Spanish stuff, Always cereal.  Good day when there is Frosted Flakes.

8:00—personal study in the classroom (for your investigator or scriptures)

9:00-9:30—Companionship study

9:30-10:30—Teach investigator  (these two might be switched)

10:00-11:00—Fundamental study with teacher (Growing a testimony through  Book of Mormon, Church Attendance, etc.) or Grammar, topics; Both with teacher

Morning teacher, Hermana Salas

11:00-12:00—Language study.

12:00-1:00 Companionship study/prep for investigators/teach (if assigned)

1:00-2:00 Lunch (called Comida here) largest meal.  They serve Fanta soda.  It’s like liquid gold.  (I like it well enough but most people complain)

2-3  More classes, usually Grammar, also below

3-4  “

4-5  Language study (Personl)

Afternoon teacher, Hermana Martinez

5-6 SPORTS  (2 choices every day)  They play soccer every other day, and people are super passionate about that.  Usually Dodgeball or Volleyball, which I’m getting better at.

6-6:45 A little bit of wiggle-room, time to actually work out, shower and get dressed (only free-time you ever really get)

6:45-7:30—Dinner, usually smaller

7:30-8—Companionship study/Prepare

8-8:30—Teach or companionship study

8:30-9:30 Language Study (with teacher . . . but not a lesson)

9:30-10:30—Ready for bed, shower, write in journal

10:30 Lights out

Evening teacher Hermana Santana & Lacombre

*We do fit in a fair amount of joking, as Elder Reading mentioned.  Sometimes a 10 minute break does wonder to help re-focus.

*They play “Called to Serve” over the intercom at 5 ‘til, so we get to class on time.  I think they play “Abide With Me, ‘Tis Eventide” at night and something else in the morning.

*It’s a lot of work, so I understand why most people think it’s hard to adjust to.  Once you get in the groove though, it’s not that bad.

*People are really strict about mission rules.  It’s the Lord’s time, and you’re supposed to spend it exactly how it’s allotted to you.  That makes doing laundry really hard, since you can’t leave class to switch a load.  Also, you can only write letters on P-Day, which is why I’m speeding through this one.  There are a lot of mission rules . . . You can only take pictures on P-Day and only outside the MTC, but I do follow them.

*P-Day is everyone’s favorite.  Temple in the morning, then letter writing and emails, then lunch, something awesome in the afternoon (trips and such) back for letter writing (actually, there’s never any time for that), dinner, devotional, and discussion with our district.

*Getting mail = instant jealousy from everyone else.  Everyone has a boyfriend/Girlfriend, and everyone wants letters.

*You get used to being tired.  I have to squeeze journal writing in before bed, so there’s never enough time to sleep.  My eye was twitching for 2 ½ days straight, but it finally stopped.

*We can run to the grocery store (nice) or the China store (a sketchy treasure trove of anything you might need—if you can find it, run by a Chinese couple) during lunch as long as we’re back in time for class.

*It’s super-hard not to burst into song.

*Each companionship gets a little magnet key.  If you lose it, you can’t go anywhere.  (It’s so the gypsies don’t come in and steal stuff).  Fact:  Elder Reading is terrified of Gypsies.

*If you get a “commendable” on your cleaning check, Sister Lovell (President’s wife) makes you cookies.

*Devotionals are everyone’s favorite.

*Sister Lovell makes us sing “You’ve had a birthday” and jump after every phrase whenever it’s someone’s birthday at lunch.  We love it.

It’s a lot of fun and a lot of work and I’m not sure what else I should tell you, so I’ll leave it at that.  I love and miss you guys! –Alayna Een

Postcard of 062 Plaza Mayor
I’m putting this in an envelope to save on postage. 

Spain sure does have a lot of random statues, but this is in the Centro, so it’s probably important.

P.S.  Those cobblestones are death. 

Every step is treacherous and you have to watch where you’re going which is hard because you want to look at the awesome buildings too!

First SnailMail excerpts

Some things I didn’t get to mention in my last email (which, by the time you get this, will have been two weeks ago.  I’m a time Lord)

We watched the Tad R. Callister devotional from January and I remember seeing it at BYU.  I want Melissa Balconi to see it.  I don’t know why.  There’s a moment when they zoom in on the choir and you can see Aaron.  I yelped and my district thought I was dying, I was so excited.  [link to this talk:  https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2014/01/what-is-the-blueprint-of-christs-church?lang=eng]

I love my district.  The first time we met, I felt like each one of them reminded me of someone I knew but I couldn’t recall who.  Now I think they remind me  . . . of themselves, and that I met them in a place I can’t recall.  In a place before this one.

Last P-Day was lame-ish because we just went to the mall.  It’s basically the same as a mall in America because I only recognize ½ the stores.  I was determined, but no jeans. L

Hermana Curtis is from Texas.  She likes musicals, but hasn’t seen as many as I have.  Dear family:  I’m so glad we watch musicals together.  She’s seen Doctor Who and Sherlock and seems to like me pretty well.  As another bonus, she’s the first person I met and talked to when we went to the VISA thing.  (She remembered I don’t know that I did.)  She really knows scripture references.  I really know the words and verses.  We make a really good team.  She stretches me to use the language, and when we teach, we can feel the Spirit.

Elder Reading is an amazing 19 year old (2 days younger than me) with a million amazing stories.  He’s pulled a 180 degree in his life and will be on a mission for more years than he’s been a member.  He thinks I have a beautiful voice and bugged me to sing to him very persistently (he will be a great missionary).  (Think Phantom of the Opera) We finally worked out a deal where if I sing (during a transition period, so we don’t get distracted) he has to tell me one of his stories.  The most recent one included his driving Missy Franklin to get drug tested, holding a towel for Michael Phelps, and cutting in front of Ryan Lochte in the Gatorade line.  He’s held 11 different jobs, been pulled over 10 times, and only ever gotten 1 ticket.  I’m surrounded by amazing people.

The first week in Spain made me wish I’d taken more thought in my packing.  (hindsight is 20/20, right?) I feel like I’ve had Girls Camp packing lists more complete than the mission list.  And all this time I’m kicking myself for not bringing a Tide-to-go pen.  But you can usually get what you need from a helpful Hermana, so all is well.

Funny story though; There’s an Elder Keen going to Barcelona.  (crazy similar to our name, right?)  He’s 24 and from London, but the 1st night we were here and introducing ourselves, he said, “You’re Hermana Een?”  I nodded.  Then he said, very matter-of-factly, “You left your jeans in the dryer.”  A  very interesting 1st sentence, I must say.  Turns out he saw your post on the Barcelona Facebook page before he flew out.

Eliza will be happy to have those jeans.  I’ll find some eventually, but I wasn’t the only one to forget them, so I don’t feel bad.  We went to the mall last P-Day and I planned on getting some, but they were all skinny jeans . . . which are not allowed.  :(

I love that you’ve been using Google to see Spain.  It’s true what you say about the Graffiti.  Sometimes It’s artful, sometimes it’s potent (a cursive phrase that waxes profound), and sometimes it’s juvenile (there’s a drawing of poop on a wall across the street, and you can see it from the Elder’s side of the building.  I think it has something to do with the fact that everything is brick.  Painting over a stucco wall is no big deal.  Painting over brick is ick.

The trees are a brilliant red to rival that of the brick buildings surrounding them.  I tried to preserve one but I’m pretty sure it’s less vibrant than when I picked it.  It’s nice to see fall for once.

The MTC is a red brick building, 6 or 7 stories high and it literally couldn’t be closer to the temple.  Our stairways have full-wall windows and the view of the temple—in the rain, in the sunset, in the dark, in the early morning—it’s unbeatable.

I miss doing initiatories and stuff, but we get to go to the temple every Thursday and do a session.  This temple services France and Portugal as well, and sometimes hearing the echoes of other languages through so many little black headsets really throws me off.

The temple is beautiful inside and out and, as could be expected, the celestial room is no exception.  There are ornate chairs and gilded mirrors, but the only painting or image in the room is a grandly framed photo of Minerva Tichert’s “Christ in a Red Robe”.  Seeing that painting just made me feel at home again.  Thank you for raising me in such a way that the celestial room reminds me of our living room. :)

This is the reproduction of  Minerva Tichert's "Christ in the Red" robe that we have above our piano in our living room.

A few days after I got your letter they put in the flowers on the Spain temple grounds.  Purple and white pansies.  Our temples have the same flowers. :) [Explanatory Editing:  When we went to the Las Vegas temple the last couple of weeks before she left they were replanting the flowerbeds.  I told her they were replanted and with what flowers.]

I miss music.  I love and miss you guys as well, of course, but I know that what I’m going and learning here is important.

Lots of love!

Alayna Een

[Alayna included a PassAlong card with a picture of the Madrid temple and a pressed red leaf in the envelope.]