Transfers!

Dear everyone,

I AM THE WORST!!!!! I am so sorry! For some reason I just assume you guys can read my mind sometimes and it wasn't until my mom asked why I had a BBQ farewell last week that I realized that I hadn't told you that transfers were coming up. I have been in Barcelona for 4 transfers/6 months (can you believe it??? I feel like I just wrote to you guys saying that I had been transferred from Valencia!) so I knew that I was going to get transferred in this one (4 transfers is pretty long for sisters) so then it was only a matter of when. This last saturday we got the calls. We usually get them at night but President called me in the morning...weird right? And so here is where I drop the big news! I'm sure you've heard by now that they just opened the Bilbao mission back up in Spain (if you haven't heard I'm sure you will this weekend) ... we have been hearing about it for a while and that preparations were being made and everyone has been kind of anxious to find out if anyone is getting mission transferred. President may have already emailed you about this but I just thought I'd make sure you knew I was one of those who got mission transferred. I am now going to serve in Santander about an hour west of the city of Bilbao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay let's be real, I am the worst liar ever so today is so not my holiday but I hope I got at least one or two of you ;) lie: Bilbao did not open up again. Truth: I did get transferred to Sabadell!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know that won't mean anything to you, but it's a city in Catalunya pretty much still Barcelona but on the other side of the mountain which means LOTS OF CATALANS!!!! I'm stoked!!! This is my time to really learn catalán. But the most exciting part guess who is my companion!?!?!? This name won't mean much to a lot of you but it is no other than my best friend in the mission, the girl I said goodbye to my family with, who I flew over with, who I roomed with in the MTC, who decked out my room for my birthday, etc. etc, HERMANA NOAKES!!! Ya we are going to have soooo much fun! All that being said though I can't even tell you how much I am going to miss Hermana Swenson. In these last two transfers she has become a sister to me. I already miss her like crazy. But on the plus side an Elder from my ward here got transferred to my ward in Sabadell and he is going to be companions with my old zone leader in Valencia Elder Glenn so I will know a few people which will be fun.

Other exciting news: This week our zone was on such a high from so many companionships hitting pautas last week that they decided to set the goal that every companionship hit them this week. We worked so hard!!!! It was amazing! We prayed for each other in EVERY prayer and I felt so unified. It took me back to December when we prayed that each companionship would have a baptism and it happened (which is still a record). On Saturday night Hma. Swenson and I hit them and so Sunday was all about making sure that the other companionships had the support they needed to hit it. In the end 7 of the 9 companionships hit it. 1 that didn't missed it by one baptismal date but had 37 lessons!! and the other missed it by one person in church but had 31 lessons! Keep in mind a good week is like 24-25 lessons. Every companionship hit the pauta for member presents and for new investigators. It was AMAZING!

I won't tell you too much about goodbyes because I'll start to cry, I'll just say they have been sweet but rough. I have felt so loved here and I couldn't be more grateful. I can't wait to come back one day with my parents to see all of these people again.

This morning we went to see the sunrise for Hermana Liu's last day in the mission with President at Mount Tibidabo. GORGEOUS! He asked me to come over so that he could show me where Sabadell I asked him if there was anything he needed from me there, he said just use your talents. Then we all started walking back to the van when he asked if I could stay back and talk to him for a bit. He explained to me why I had been called there and what the area needed from me. It was so powerful. I know I've been called where I need to be right now and I can't wait to get to Sabadell this afternoon and start working. 

Real quick: Nuria's baptism was BREATHTAKING. I will send photos ASAP (hopefully today) she is so happy and I am so happy for her. I love her with all of my heart. Before she entered the font she was crying and her mom asked if she was second guessing her decision to be baptized she said no, that she just felt so happy. Afterwards she said "I want to do that again." So sweet. Another cute story about that is she knew exactly which elder she wanted to baptize her, when we were all in the church a week ago for an activity I encouraged her to ask him if he'd do it, she wanted me to go over with here so arm in arm we went and she nervously asked this 6'3 elder (keep in mind she's 8 so he's huge compared to her) if he'd do it, he then got down on his knees so they were eye level and said "Nuria, may I baptize you?" she excitedly nodded her head as he smiled at her and said that it would be his privilege. It was so sweet and it made Nuria feel like a princess which is exactly what she deserves. I'm going to miss her. Oh and real quick: Marlene who left the church 15 years ago and has now come back let me call her mom to tell her that Nuria was going to be baptized. She bawled and bawled and just thanked us so much. I can't believe I have had the privilege to be a part of reuniting a family. A daughter who was lost and a granddaughter who is the only one not baptized in the whole family.

Edgar is a new investigator who when I invited him to be baptized he thought about it for a moment and then said yes, when I asked him if he would prepare to be baptized on April 12th he said "yes I'll prepare the best I can" he then committed to come to church, read, and pray. I'm sad I won't be here to see how he does but it was so amazing to find someone who we barely knew trust that we were messengers of Jesus Christ right off the bat and accept our invitation to be baptism. 

Sorry this is forever long, lots to write. Happy April Fools! Sorry I didn't warn you this would be coming a day late.

Hermana Tuttle

pictures: my district last week at the BBQ and Nuria's baptism

Here's a map showing where Sabadell is so you can have a better idea of where Sister Tuttle is!