Specialized Training, Valencia, Russian.

Dear Family and Friends,

I had this amazing revelation: I am going to start (trying) to write shorter emails so that 1) you guys actually read them and don't get bored out of your minds and 2) I can spend some more time communicating with recent converts, less actives, and members here that I have worked here in the past. It's a win-win. That being said...for Hermana Tuttle... talking less is a lot easier said then done. Little by little.

What sparked this revelation? INTERCAMBIO TO VALENCIA!!!!! So you know how I have to travel to different areas each transfer to help the sisters around the mission (intercambios) well this transfer I have been asked to visit the two companionships in Zaragoza and the 2 in Valencia! You have no idea how excited I have been. I have been looking forward to it for the last few weeks and it was perfect! I went down on Wednesday and I got to work in my old area for all of Thursday and then in the area of the other hermanas on Friday and returned to Barcelona that night. It was so much fun to call people and say "guess who" they would say "the sister missionaries" and then I would say "ya, but which one?" and to hear their reactions was the most amazing thing in the world. The best was from Belén Mambo. We ended up at the church to visit an investigator and a less active and she was there too. Her family knew I was in town but I told them to keep it a surprise from her. When I turned the corner and said hello she just stared at me for a second and then she screamed, hugged me so tight, and just started crying. I asked her why she just stared at me for so long and she said "at first I was mad, I thought it was just someone who looked like you and that it was a cruel joke because how on earth could you be in Valencia but then I realized it really was you!" It was such an amazing experience to go back and to help the hermana who just got there and hasn't really gotten to know anyone see how loving and welcoming these people are and how much I love them and how much she will love them too. Rosemary (remember the investigator I had before I left, by far the hardest goodbye) got baptized shortly after I left and is doing very well. (I could go on and on but I did that in my journal so I'll move on to the next topic but just know that it was mi sueño hecho real)

So Monday as you know I had Concilio, Wednesday-Friday I was in Valencia but I kind of skipped over that Tuesday and Wednesday I also had training. Usually Specialized Training is just like a mini zone conference where we focus on one thing and we talk about it and practice it for about 4 hours, however the first training of the year President and Hermana Pace like to make it 2 days long. It was so helpful and I think we all learned a lot. The theme was not losing the faith to find. To talk to everyone and if the first 100 people say no but the 101st says yes, that one person is worth it. It got us all super excited.

Last but not least, we are teaching a Russian family who is absolutely amazing! We found Kira and her son Slava through metro contacting, they had a lot of interest in learning english then we invited them to the district conference we had(a conference broadcasted to Portugal, Spain, and Cape Verde, Elders Ballard, Maynes, Teixera, Richards and Sister Reeves spoke. They did amazing! It was perfect for investigators). Not only did Kira want to come but she asked if she could bring her boyfriend Vadim. They all came and afterwards when they had to leave Vadim said "could we come back sometime so you can explain to us the history of this church and the book?" He has worked a lot in Salt Lake for an international business and he says that he has had a really good impression of the Mormons. Last night we taught them and it went really well. We asked Kira to read Moroni's promise (10:3-5) in Russian and after she read it they were quiet for a second and then Vadim said "that was beautiful" we testified about the Book of Mormon and asked them what they thought, Vadim said "I am going to read the book, it sounds very intriguing" Slava, who is about 10, wants to read it too because there are wars. Kira is quiet but she was smiling the whole time and seems to enjoy it as well. They are great! 

Real fast: Harry and Josef both have baptismal dates for this week so please keep them in your prayers.

Thank you for everything! I love you!

Hermana Tuttle