Birthday and Baptism - Cumpleaños y Bautismo

It's time you all knew.  Elder Read has a secret.

Es la hora por todo a saber. Elder Read tiene un secreto.

Elder Read says they're going to have a baptism - just as his companion is being transferred!! "He's going, the poor thing," he says.  But they're very excited about the baptism and, what's more, it's sure and certain.  It's the wife of a member, she's been investigating the Church for a year and has now taken the decision to be baptised.  At the moment there's no date but it'll be this month and her husband will baptise her.

The 2nd January - Elder Read's 20th birthday - was a normal day.  They did their weekly planning and then they went to see a Romanian family they're teaching.  They had to teach using pictures because the family don't understand Spanish very well; and then they went to see the bishop.  Elder Read had told no-one that it was his birthday but his companion told the bishop who gave them a birthday cake.  It was lovely and he took a photo.

The following day he had a phone call from Élder Castillo, one of the senior missionaries who work in the mission office, and he sang Happy Birthday. This was followed by a phone call from Sister Deere - and she, the president and the assistants to the president all sang Happy Birthday to him!! It was actually quite poignant as 3rd January would have been his sister Abigail's 40th birthday, but she died from a brain tumour in 1990 when she was just 16.

He's going to have a new companion by the name of Elder Orr - and he's the tallest missionary in the whole mission. He's over 2 metres tall, so over 6ft 6in. However, it means that Elder Metcalf is going.  President Deere said to Elder Read: 'It seems like that's what you do Élder Read, you teach young missionaries.' Elder Read says he thinks that he is the one who learns most.

Elder Tudela is headed to Alcoy with Elder Orr. 

However, they've had an excellent week, although Elder Metcalf has been Elder Read's favourite companion and it will be very difficult to say goodbye to him.

Monday was the Festival of the Three Kings when they throw sweets into the crowd - and one nearly hit Elder Read in the head. But they collected some so they were happy.  And the Kings painted their faces black.

Unfortunately Elder Read wasn't able to send any photos this week as it wouldn't work, so I've put up some from the Mission.  He'll send them next week.

Sevilla Conferencia de la Zona

Elder Read is on the right hand side of the table almost at the far end.

Elder Read se encuentra al derecha al fondo. 

Sevilla Conferencia de la Zona

Elder Read se encuentra al fondo a la izquierda.

Elder Read is at the top left hand corner.

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡VAMOS A TENER UN BAUTISMO!!!!!!!!!!!! Justo cuando mi compañero  se va, el pobre. Pero estamos MUY animados. Y además es seguro, seguro :) Es la esposa de un miembro que ha estado investigando la iglesia ya por un año. Y ha tomado la decisión del bautismo :) Aún no sabemos la fecha, pero será este mes :) Su esposo la va a bautizar :) 

El día dos fue un día normal, tuvimos nuestro planeamiento semanal, luego vimos a visitar una familia Rumana que estamos enseñando, tenemos que enseñar con imágenes porque no entienden muy bien el español. Luego fuimos a visitar el obispo. Yo no dije a nadie que era mi cumple pero mi compañero  lo dijo al obispo y luego el obispo nos llevo y me compraron una tarta jaja :) Son MUY buenos. Tomé una foto :) 

El día siguiente me llamó Élder Castillo, uno de los misioneros mayores que trabaja en la oficina de la misión y me cantó 'feliz cumpleaños' jaja :) y luego me llamó la Hermana Deere y ella, el presidente y los ayudantes también cantaron jaja :) 

Voy a recibir un nuevo compañero, se llama Élder Orr, es el misionero MAS ALTO de toda la misión España Málaga :) Mide mas que dos metros. ¡Vaya!  Lleva el mismo tiempo que Élder Metcalf, Presidente me dijo 'It seems like that's what you do Élder Read, you teach young missionaries' Creo que yo soy el que aprende mas. 

Elders Orr, Salmeron, Neira and Proctor in Alcoy, with Elder Pascua.

Pues, hemos tenido una semana muy buena, Élder Metcalf ha sido mi compañero favorito entonces es un poco difícil despedirme de él. 

Hoy - lunes - es festivo por causa de Reyes, los 'reyes magos' tiren dulces por las calles, casi me dieron en la cabeza jaja :P Pero cogimos algunos entonces estamos contentos :) También nos atacaron con pintura y nos pintaron la caras negras jaja :P (es normal, siempre los hacen jeje) 

P.D. El locutorio no me deja enviar fotos.... Entonces la semana que viene :)