Monday: So I think I have told you about Triny, the older Catalán woman who has pretty much adopted us as her American granddaughters, well this last monday she wanted to do something special for us to say thanks for everything we have done for her (we haven't done anything but love her, she is just the sweetest woman on earth) so she told us that after we emailed our families she wanted to take us out for lunch. She told us to dress up because we were going to a nice restaurant. When we got to her house she had a taxi downstairs (she pretty much has a personal chauffer that she calls whenever she needs to go anywhere). And she took us to a castle!!!!!!!!!!! It was gorgeous! She told us to get whatever we wanted and not to worry about the price. She suggested the lamb or the filet (which we all know how much H. Tuttle loves her Filet) but Hma. Swenson and I decided that when in Barcelona we do as the Catalan do and ate a total authentic Catalunya meal, complete with pa amb tomaca, green olives, etc. etc. It was SO GOOD! I would tell you what I actually ate for my main meal but...I have no clue how to spell it. Just know that it was delicious. And of course the desserts... ummm ya maintaining the same weight would be SOOO much easier if Spain didn't have such delicious postres. Their fault, not mine. When we were done she called the taxi driver and said "Juan we are ready for you to come pick us up now" I felt so high class. She took us to another castle to take some pictures it was great.
Wednesday was our mission tour. Elder Kearon the first counselor of the European area presidency (and a member of the 1st quorum of the 70) came. He is so inspired. He talked about finding and how missionaries that develop the attributes of Christ will automatically find more people. We just need to be loving but bold, humble but creative. He talked a lot about the importance of recent converts as well. At lunch he asked to sit by Hma. Swenson and I which was so cool (keep in mind there 150 other missionaries he could have sat by) because we got to learn a lot about him and ask him some questions we had. So ya, no big deal but I got to eat pizza with a 70. He is also very funny we laughed A LOT in this conference.
Thursday the leadership council (the zone leaders, sister training leaders, and the ayudantes) had an extra mini concilio (our monthly meeting) with Elder Kearon. My little claim to fame was that he asked for a scribe and everyone looked right at me (President Pace was even pointing) so I got to be his scribe for the whole meeting. What I loved most about Elder Kearon was that he has the best balance of fun and spiritual just like President and Hermana Pace. He made sure we all felt very comfortable in the meeting we had and joked around a lot but he also told us some sacred experiences he's had and that he had never shared with anyone outside of close friends and family. He said that he felt such a strong spirit with us and a love for us that he wanted us to join him in a prayer for some stuff that is going on in the church. I got to kneel next to him and President and I can't even describe to you the power I could feel being by both of them. After he offered one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard in my life we all stayed on our knees for a moment and the spirit felt tangible. It was so incredible. I wish I could do it justice and I wish I had the time to tell you about everything we talked about but I'm sure I will refer back to it many times in the months to come.
I am so grateful to be a missionary. I am grateful for all of these amazing once in a lifetime experiences I am having right now and for the spirit I get to feel everyday as a missionary.
I love you all so much and I wish you the very best!
Hermana Tuttle
P.S. The other day I told my zone leader something my mom always said growing up "if not me, who? if not now, when?" When we were in the concilio with Elder Kearon, the zone leader brought up that quote as we were talking about the urgency to the work and the importance of the missionaries. Elder Kearon asked him to repeat it and for me to write it on the board. My mom's the greatest.
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