La Segunda Semana en Castilleja de la Cuesta - The Second Week in Castilleja de la Cuesta

Un campo - A field

As ever, Elder Read starts his weekly epistle with "All is well." They have a family preparing for baptism.  Three of them have baptismal dates, the parents and the daughter, and Elder Read and Elder Metcalf want dates for the other children as well.  The date is set for the 16th November. They are a lovely family.  On Sunday Elders Read and Metcalf  taught them a lesson and the Spirit was VERY strong. When the elders explained about the first vision and the restoration they asked the family if it made sense to them, and if they wanted to know for themselves.  And they all said yes!  Now the elders are getting excited about the 16th.

Elder Read is really liking it in his new area.  He was released as District Leader which means he can focus completely on the area and nothing else.  In this mission they frequently release district leaders, zone leaders and assistants to the presidents, and it's not because they can't do it!!!

Lo que encontré en el piso - What he found in the flat!!

His new address is:

C/. Convento número 42 - 3A

Castilleja de la Cuesta

Sevilla
41950

España

The town is very traditional and he loves it; and the people are super.

Today they were having special training from President Deere, and Elder Read said he was really excited to be learning  new things.  And he was hoping to receive the cards and parcels that have been sent to him.

He says he loves us a lot, he knows with his whole soul that this is the work of God and that they can't waste a single moment, as the consequences will be severe of they don't play their full part in the gathering of Israel.

The clocks went back the other day, which gave them their only opportunity to get 9 hours sleep, which they really enjoyed!

Elder Read dice:

Todo bien por aquí. Tenemos una familia que se están preparando para ser bautizados :D Tres de la familia tienen fechas bautismales, los padres y la hija, queremos poner fechas con los demás hijos también. Se están preparando para el 16 del próximo mes. Son una familia buenísima. Domingo tuvimos una lección con ellos y el espíritu estaba MUY fuerte, cuando explicamos sobre la primera visión y la restauración les preguntamos si todo esto tenía sentido y si querían saber por sí mismos. ¡Todos dijeron que sí! ¡Que guay! estamos MUY animado para el 16 :)

 la 'temperatura' - the temperature!!!!!!!!!!!

Me gusta mucho aquí la verdad. Me relevaron como líder de distrito y eso significa que ya puedo enfocarme completamente en mi área y nada mas (en esta misión relevan lideres de distrito, zona y ayudantes mucho, no es porque no lo podría hacer jaja :P )

Mi nueva dirección es:

C/. Convento número 42 - 3A

Castilleja de la Cuesta

Sevilla
41950

España

:D Como les dije antes es un pueblo MUY tradicional, me encanta :) Y la gente muy buena.

No sé que pasa con mi tarjeta SD, no me deja ver las fotos, pero aquí hay algunas fotos que no tienen aún :)

Martes vamos a tener entrenamiento especial con Presidente Deere y estoy muy animado para aprender nuevas cosas. Y espero recibir cartas y paquetes :D jaja :P  

Bueno, les quiero un montón, sé con todo mi alma que esta es la obra de dios, y sé que NO podemos gastar ningún momento, y las consecuencias son severas si no hagamos nuestra parte en cumplir con nuestra promesa de ayudar a dios en el recogimiento de Israel.

La hora cambio el otro día, es el único día del año cuando podemos dormir 9 horas :D Lo disfrutamos mucho jaja :P

P.D. Las fotos: Lo que encontré en el piso ;)

- la 'temperatura'

- Un campo :) 

Castilleja de la Cuesta.

Farewell to Cartagena!!!  Adios a Cartagena!!!

Now follow other photos of the people he had grown to love in Cartagena and also of his leaving:

Siguen ahora otras fotos de sus amigos  en Cartagena y de su despedido:

The District on P-Day  El Distrito en P Day

Elders Read and Hampel visiting members.  Elderes Read y Hampel visitando miembros

Adiós a su compañero Elder Hampel

Farewell to his companion Elder Hampel

El viaje con Elder Avilés  -  The journey with Elder Avilés

Que triste! Parting is such sweet sorrow!

Although Elder Read misses Cartagena a lot he's really excited to have arrived in Castilleja de la Cuesta, not Aljaráfe as he said last week, but it is in the suburbs of Sevilla - or Seville in English. The truth is, he says, that his new companion is buenísimo, which I'd translate as fantastic.  

A digression for a moment:  his Spanish has now changed totally from Latin-American to Spanish Spanish, As those of you who speak the language will already have noted: he says "Como estáis" instead of "Como estan" and "os conté" instead of "le conté."  You may also remember that he said months ago that he had adopted the Spanish lisp, but we needn't worry as he wont do it in English!

To return to this week's epistle, Elder Read says that he is responsible for finishing the training of his new companion, Elder Metcalf - above -who, he says, is also teaching him a lot.  He is from Texas so, says Elder Read, he has a cowboy for a companion!  I wonder when we'll see a photo of Elder Metcalf in Stetson and spurs.  His 'father' or first trainer was Elder Vergara, who was in Elder Read's group at the MTC.  And they - Elders Read and Metcalf - are working really hard, which makes them very tired.  On Sunday they had to run from the chapel in order to catch the bus; how far he doesn't say!  But they were looking forward to having a siesta on Monday - P-Day.

Between last Wednesday when he arrived and Monday, when he wrote, they had managed to get fifteen future investigators, so they're really looking forward to working with them.  They have seen many miracles in the last few days and I'm sure we'll here about them as the investigators progress towards baptism.

Sunday was the farewell of a young elder who is going to serve his mission in Argentina, who is very excited to be leaving on Thursday. 

They are working with an excellent family from India, but because of their concerns about the traditions of their country, they don't want to be baptised yet.  However, the elders have spoken to them and they say that if the Lord answers their prayers they'll be baptised.  They were at church on Sunday.

But the pianist wasn't, so Elder Read played for both Priesthood and Sacrament, which he thoroughly enjoyed, playing all the hymns that he knows.  It's a very small ward and he was pleased to get to know all the members.  The ward mission leader is so effective that he's like a machine, truly a great man!

Many of the photos on this blog are of Elder Read leaving Cartagena.

Elder Avilés and Elder Sandelin get on very well.   Elder Avilés finishes his mission very soon.

Elder Read was absolutely delighted to have seen NEFTALY, his convert from Cartagena on Sunday, who went to the chapel to visit the elders.  You can see that Neftaly pinched Elder Read's name tag for this photo!  He'd like to serve a mission but it's difficult because of his work and his studies.  You'll probably recall that he's in the Spanish Marines, but he told Elder Read that once he's married he'd like to serve a mission with his wife.

Elder Read says he's absolutely exhausted and could sleep anywhere.  But the truth is that he's happy to feel like that as it means they're working hard.  

 La verdad es que extraño cartagena mucho pero estoy muy animado de estar aquí en Castilleja de la Cuesta. ¡¡SEVILLA!! jaja :P  La verdad es que mi nuevo compañero - Elder Metcalf - es buenísimo. Os conté que estoy terminando su entrenamiento ¿no? la verdad es que él me está enseñando muchísimo. Es de Texas, entonces tengo un vaquero como compañero jaja :P Su `padre´ es Élder Vergara, que estaba en mi grupo del CCM. Y estamos trabajando muchísimo. Y estamos MUY cansados jaja :P Domingo tuvimos que correr de la capilla para coger el bus a tiempo. Estamos animados echar una siesta hoy jaja . Desde el miércoles hemos conseguido mas de 15 futuro investigadores, estamos muy animado para trabajar con ellos. Hemos visto muchísimos milagros estos últimos días. Domingo fue la despidida de un joven que se va a misión a Argentina este jueves. Está muy animado jaja :P 

Estamos trabajando con una familia de la india,quienes son muy buenos. Están preocupados por causa de las tradiciones de su país. No se quieren bautizar aún. Pero hemos hablado con ellos y dicen si el señor conteste sus oraciones se bautizarán, fueron a la capilla ayer también :) 

La pianista no estaba en la capilla ayer entonces tuve que tocar para sacerdocio y la reunión sacramental, fue divertido :) Toce todos los himnos que sé jaja :P Es un barrio muy pequeño pero estoy muy animado para conocer a todos los miembros. El líder misional es como una máquina, muy eficaz, un hombre buenísimo la verdad.   Les estoy mandando fotos de mi despedida de Cartagena.   

Élder Avilés y Élder Sandelin van muy bien.  Élder Avilés va a casa muy pronto. 

 la vista del piso lunes

the view from the flat on Monday

¡¡¡VI A NEFTALY AYER!!!! Mi converso de Cartagena, vino a visitarnos ayer en la capilla :D Robo mi chapa para tomar esta foto jaja :P Está fuerte y quiere servir una misión, pero es difícil por causa de trabajo y los estudios, como os conté él es infantería marina. Pero sí me dijo que cuando está casado quiero hacer una misión con su esposa :) 

Bueno, no sé que más os puedo contar. Solo que estoy reventado :P hoy voy a dormir sí o sí jaja :P La verdad es que me encanta sentirme así, significa que estamos trabajando duro :) 

Teaching By Skype - and Moving. Enseñando por Skype y traslando

As I write this post Elder Read, accompanied by Elder Avilés, is on his way to Aljarafe, his new area 11 miles west of Sevilla.  He is going to finish training Elder Metcalfe, who has been on his mission for six weeks.   President Deere said to Elder Read: Oh, you are getting the best companion! Hermana Deere and I really love this elder."   Aljarafe is a fairly new area, so it will be a challenge, but the President said he has confidence in Elder Read, which means that the Lord also has confidence in him.  So he is pleased with this.

Like Portsmouth Stake, Cartagena have just had their Conference and, as President Deere was there for the Saturday Adult Session, he was able to tell Elder Read in person.  Interestingly, he is going to the same ward as Elder Sandelin, whose companion will be Elder Avilés, who has been living in the same flat as Elder Read. However, they won't be sharing the same flat in Aljarafe.  He also says that he may have the opportunity to drive on occasion.

The truth is that he's rather sad to be leaving Cartagena, as he feels part of the ward and stake, and it has been difficult to say goodbye to both the members and missionaries.  However, this is very much part of being a missionary.  You grow to love the people you serve.  As he was District Leader for practically all the missionaries in Cartagena that makes it difficult again.  However, he's on his way and he's delighted to have this new challenge.  He believes he has been released as district leader so he won't have that responsibility in Aljarafe, which means he'll be able to focus completely on training his new companion and building up this new area.

He's going to be in the same zone and district as Huelva so it's quite possible that he'll see those members again.

On Sunday they gave an amazing lesson! They went to visit an investigator and in the house they found another person, but he didn't want to join in the lesson because he was talking to his girlfriend on Skype.  So Elder Read asked him to bring the computer to them, with the result that he joined in and his girlfriend was taught by Skype! 
A most interesting lesson!  It was about the Plan of Salvation.  The girl lives in Cadiz so they took her address and phone number to pass the referral to the missionaries there. 

Now follow a lot of photos without captions, but it's evident that some were taken in a building that was being used for their stake conference.  As it's a new stake, it would seem that they don't yet have a proper stake centre.

Aqui están un montón de  fotos sin titulo, pero parece que unas estaban tomado en un edificio que fue necesario  usar por la conferencia porque ya no hay centro de estaca.  

Bueno, me trasladan de Cartagena. Me voy para Aljarafe, un pueblo de Sevilla, y voy a terminar el entrenamiento de un Élder que se llama Élder Metcalfe. Presidente me dijo "Oh, you are getting the best companion! Hermana Deere and I really love this elder." Solo lleva 6 semanas en la misión. Es un área bastante nuevo entonces va a ser un desafío, pero presidente me dijo que confía en mí. Eso significa que el Señor confía en mí entonces me alegro con eso. Acabamos de tener la conferencia de estaca aquí también. y presidente Deere estaba aquí para la sesión del Sábado. Entonces me lo dijo en persona. Voy al mismo barrio de Élder Sandelin. Élder Avilés que vive en el mismo piso que yo va a ser su compañero. No vamos a vivir en el mismo piso. Pero es posible que voy a tener que conducir a veces, pero no mucho creo. 

La verdad es que estoy bastante triste de ir me de aquí. Realmente me siento como parte del barrio y de la estaca. Era muy difícil despedirme de todos ayer. Va a ser difícil para mi despedirme de todos los misioneros aquí también. Fue el líder de distrito de casi todos entonces les quiero muchísimo. Sin embargo, eso así por los misioneros y tengo mucho alegría a tener esto desafió en el nuevo área de Aljarafe.  

Creo que me relevaron como líder de distrito entonces no voy a ser líder en Aljarafe, que es algo bueno porque significa que puedo enfocarme completamente a entrenar mi nuevo compañero y al área. 

Voy a estar en la misma zona y el mismo distrito que Huelva, entonces es posible que voy a ver a los miembros de Huelva otra vez : voy el miércoles creo.

Ayer enseñamos una lección buenísima, Fuimos a visitar a un investigador y en la casa encontramos alguien mas, no quería venir porque estaba hablando con su novia en skype, le dije que no pasa nada y que traiga la compu aquí y, pues enseñamos a la novia por skype jaja :P estaban de hecho muy interesados, especialmente sobre el plan de salvación, ella vive en Cadiz per tenemos su dirección y número para mandar la referencia a Cadiz. 

Epistle from Cartagena Epístolo desde Cartagena

Después de la reunión de distrito :) Tuvieron que hacer la el viernes por la noche, entonces, pues, mira la hora jeje :P 

After the district meeting.  They had to have it on Friday night, so look at the time haha!

Elder Read says everything continues to go really well but they're tired.  However, that goes with missionary work.  Tired but full of blessings!

He still hasn't heard where he's going when he leaves this area, but he'll know this week.  We've checked back and see that he arrived in Cartagena on 29th April, so on Monday, not the day before yesterday, he will have completed four transfers!  Four transfers means twenty four weeks, or just over five calendar months - a long time.  He says he's excited to know where he's going.  Naturally, he's grown very fond of the members and the missionaries in Cartagena and it'll be difficult to leave.  He's been District Leader for all the missionaries here except one.

For the first two transfers there were two companionships, then in the third there were six, so it went from four missionaries to twelve. In his fourth transfer they created a new zone and split the district, so that there were eight missionaries.

Like us he loved General Conference, saying it was brilliant and he learnt so much.  It's true, he says, that they have to talk to more people as more are ready to receive the Gospel.

Very interestingly, they are having their stake conference this coming weekend, just the same as us in Portsmouth stake, and he's in the stake choir the same as we are - and he is when he's at home.  Cartagena stake was only created six months ago, so this is their second conference - and he can't wait!!

Last Sunday, between sessions of General Conference, it was raining and two missionary sisters ran outside and started running and jumping about!  He took a video of it, but it's too big to send by e-mail, so we'll just have to wait until he comes home in 14 months.

Last week they went to see a large number of less-actives and investigators, although many more they didn't manage to see, but they're happy with what they're doing.

And now he's just waiting for the phone call to tell him where he's going next.

Elder Hampel eating sardines?
Elder Hampel, el compañero de Elder Read

Dice Elder Read:

 Todo va super bien por aquí. Estamos MUY cansados, pero nos encontramos bien, y es así con la obra misional.  Cansados pero bendecidos. Aún no sé donde me voy, sabré esta semana, pero estoy animado para saber donde me voy. Pienso Andalucía otra vez pero no estoy seguro, simplemente lo que yo pienso jeje :P Va a ser difícil ir me de aquí, y sí he estado aquí por mucho tiempo ya, 4 traslados, es mucho tiempo jaja, bueno, normal para esta misión de hecho. Pero tengo tanto cariño por las personas y los misioneros aquí, he sido el líder de Distrito por todos los misioneros aquí menos uno. Los primeros dos traslados solo eramos dos compañerismos. Luego el tercer traslado eramos 6 compañerismos, osea antes eramos 4 misioneros y luego 12, y este traslado el distrito de dividió en una zona y ya somos 8 misioneros en el distrito. Entonces todos los misioneros aquí estuvieron en el mismo distrito por un tiempo menos el nuevo líder de zona que vino este traslado. Voy a echar mucho de menos Cartagena. 

¡¡La conferencia general era GENIAL!! Aprendí tanto. Es verdad, tenemos que hablar con mas gente, hay mucha gente preparada. 

Ya estamos en el coro de la estaca y tenemos la segunda conferencia de estaca de cartagena este fin de semana. No puedo esperar :) Ayer estaba lloviendo en medio de las sesiones también, dos de la hermanas misioneras corrieron afuera y empezaron a correr y saltar jaja :P tengo un video pero el archivo es demasiado grande para mandarlo por correo electrónico, tengo un montón de videos, pero no se pueden mandar, entonces tendran que esperar para que cuando vuelva jeje.

Esta semana pasamos por muchos menos activos e investigadores, y muchas personas nos fallaron jaja. Pero nos sentimos contentos de lo que estamos haciendo. 

Ya solo tengo que esperar la llamada para decirme donde me voy.

Last Week in Cartagena - La Ultima Semana en Cartagena

Zone Conference in Murcia last week with the Cartagena, Alicante and Murcia Zones.

Spot Elder Read

Conferencia de la Zona en Murcia la semana pasada con las zonas de Cartagena, Alicante y Murcia

Elder Read  understands he'll be moving next Wednesday when this transfer ends, but where to as yet he has no idea.  He will have been in Cartagena for 3 transfers of six weeks each, in other words four and a half months.

On Monday they had a wonderful P-Day, when his district climbed a mountain - El Roldan, and he's sent us lots of photos which you can see lower down.

Elder Read says that last week he was really busy - as usual - and he was soooo tired!  After their hike up the mountain on Monday he took a siesta, the first time for almost a month, and he just wanted to carry on sleeping, P-Day being the only day in the week when he can!

At the Zone Conference in Murcia, which covered three zones, he again met his second companion Elder Rodriguez from Barcelona.  I see he is also photographed with him on the P-Day trek.  He was delighted to see him again.

Unlike other weeks, they didn't have many discussions last week, but it's a new area and they are planting seeds for the missionaries who will come after them, which is what missionary work is all about.  The brother he baptised in this area is strong in the Church and holds the Aaronic Priesthood.  He lives in Cádiz now but from time to time he phones and they are able to chat.

Do you remember that a few weeks ago when they were given their new area Elder Read asked the Mission President whether it would be possible to have a car?  Well, now he says that those who walk aren't as fat and are much stronger than those who have cars!

So on Saturday he will have been on his mission for ten months!!!  So much has happened but it only seems like yesterday when he left home.  And in no time he'll be back!

Teaching a chameleon on the mountain. Last week it was a dog!  They're certainly obeying Mark 16:15 and preaching the gospel to every creature!

The chameleon 

Elder Hampel

Elder Read's with his second companion, Elder Rodriguez, who comes from Barcelona, and who is now serving in the Zone

I'm the king of the castle; get down you dirty rascal!

Light relief from studying in the flat.  

This must be a view out of the window of their flat.

Desayuno de Elder Read: fruta con yogur natural, Jugo de naranja y leche

Elder Read's breakfast: fruit with natural yogurt, orange juice and milk

La comida principal aquí es el almuerzo, y siempre estamos comiendo en la casa de los miembros :) Principalmente del obispo, Lider Misional y el presidente del Quórum de Élderes :) Mucho, arroz, pan, carne (Especialmente Jamón serrano y chorizo) comida muy rica :) Compré mazamorra en polvo hace algunas semanas; estoy animado para hacerla :)

The main meal for them in Spain is lunch, which they always have in members' houses:  mainly the bishop, ward mission leader, and the elders' quorum president, and they eat a lot of rice, bread, meat - especially boiled ham and hard pork sausages.

Elder Read dice:
Fuimos a subir una montaña (El Roldan) por mi última vez antes que me voy. Casi seguro que me voy de aquí el dos semanas y pico. 

Esta semana hemos trabajado mucho, estoy cansadísimo, casi me quedé dormido hoy cuando tomé una siesta, como hoy es el único día que lo puedo hacer y no e tomado una siesta por casi un mes, me hacía mucha falta jeje. En la conferencia de Zona, eramos 3 zonas! Vi a uno de mis compañeros también. Élder Rodríquez, mi segundo compañero, ¿se recuerdan? El de Barcelona. Me alegró mucho verle otra vez. 

No tuvimos muchas charlas como otras semanas pero estamos trabajando duro en nuestra área nueva que no tiene mucho, entonces estamos plantando muchas semillas para los misioneros que vienen.  El hermano que bauticé aquí está fuerte en la iglesia y ya tiene el Sacerdocio Aaronico  Vive en Cádiz ahora pero de vez en cuanto me llama y hablamos :) 

Hoy era un día super bueno. 

Hace unas semanas, recuerdan que Elder Read pido un carro del presidente de la Misión?  Ahora dice: Los misioneros que caminan no son tan gordos y son mas fuertes que ellos quienes tienen carros;) jeje. 

Es muy raro pensar que esta semana voy a cumplir 10 meses en la misión. Tanto a pasado pero al mismo tiempo siento como si fuera ayer que me fui de casa. ¡Que raro! 

La comida principal aquí es el almuerzo, y siempre estamos comiendo en la casa de los miembros :) Principalmente del obispo, Lider Misional y el presidente del Quórum de Élderes :) Mucho, arroz, pan, carne (Especialmente Jamón serrano y chorizo) comida muy rica :) Compré mazamorra en polvo hace algunas semanas; estoy animado para hacerla :)