What We Are Thankful For, Part 2

We started our second swing of interviews in the beautiful city of Santander where we have 4 wonderful missionaries. Now remember parents everyone of them are thankful for their family and the mission. I promised them I would say that, so don't forget that as you read their words. Hna Stosich is thankful for rejections so that she can appreciate the good while Hna Maquieira is thankful por su madre. Elder Farnsworth is thankful for dryers, carpet, WalMart and all the wonderful things waiting for him in America. Elder Nye is thankful that he was born speaking English. (His Spanish is great by the way)

Our wonderful office Elders are thankful for many things as they all know that they are very blessed. Elder Moore is thankful for his parents and for being a missionary while his companion, Elder Ashby is thankful for all his good examples that he had growing up, being a missionary and his mom and dad who raised him. Elder Anderson is thankful for music and Elder Strickland is for a loving Heavenly Father. And I want to say these 4 are the best. They work so hard at keeping the mission going and are so patient with us. Thanks Elders!

Here are the good looking Santiago Elders. Elder Sayaz is thankful for su familia y la oportunidad de ser misionaro while Elder Nestvogel is thankful for days without rain and that his companion gets up every day to play sports with him. (They have some keys to a gym so they can do it every morning. They love it.)

We visited the Santiago District meeting where we were able to catch these great missionaries. Elder Jackson is thankful for his family and being a missionary in Spain. Elder Zamora, one of our newest missionaries is grateful for el apoyo que recibe de algien muy especial y por la "chapa." Elder Stevens is thankful for Los Belnaps! Hna Calderon is thankful for la taza y por la mongui while Hna Sandoval is thankful for su familia y por salud. Elder Driggs is thankful for shoes dryers and Elder McClanahan is thankful that his brother is safely home from his mission and his family.

I just had to include the Santiago District Christmas photo. Find the District Leader! (hint, he is the one in the green tie, que guapo!)

On to Aviles where we found our other new missionary, Elder Saune doing an exchange with Elder Barber. Elder Saune is thankful "ser misionaro y mi nuevo companero"! Our dear Elder Barber is thankful for the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for Primary Teachers.

We found some very happy missionaries in Gijon with a variety of things they are thankful for. Hna Roerig is thankful for her companion while her companion, Hna Bell is thankful for tender mercies of the Lord that they see every day. Elder Araya is thankful por Elder Flory, mi companero while Elder Probst is thankful for his family and for Elder Flory. Elder Flory is thankful for his family and for Elder Probst. Finally Elder Sanchez is thankful for hallarnos al servicio de los demas.

On to Oviedo in the morning where we find some happy Elders. Elder Skidmore isn't here, he just left to go to Pamplona. He moved early to accomodate space and get a head-start on his new area in Pamplona. He is thankful for family, mission and Elder Hanson. Elder Hanson is thankful for family members here and for Elder Skidmore. Elder Castellon esta agradecido por las manos divinas de Hna Clegg y Hna Belnap. Elder Aston is thankful for postres, canas and napolitanas de Eroski and the amazing rama with Pres. Silvester Gonzalez. Elder Pederson is thankful for the wife of his mission president and for his family, especially his mother!

The next day we went to Bilbao where we have a wonderful district of great missionaries. Elder Gordon is grateful for the spice of his mom, the fun from his dad and the inspiration from everyone. His companion is Elder Cepeda who is thankful for la mision Bilbao y por la gente que son integran. Elder Nelson is thankful for his Christmas package that he got today. Last year it came late, so good job mom! Hna Fitches is thankful for her Christmas presents while Hna Johns is thankful for golden oreos from Elder Gordon and her family. Elder Rowley is thankful for homemade bread while his companion, Elder Woods is thankful for mom, dad, Sandra, Ty, Ally, Ryan, MaKenna, Jeremy and Maddie (hope they are all spelled right) And finally Elder Leon is thankful por mi companero, Elder Nelson.

The San Sebastian Elders are so thankful for a new piso and it is wonderful. Elder Crocker is thankful for family, especially his grandmother. Elder Blazian is thankful for such a great district! Elder Nielsen is thankful for his father for his example to him and all he has taught him and for the power of prayer. Elder Howard is thankful for the persians because they invented chess and his family.

Here we have the wonderful Belnaps. Hna Belnap is thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ as her Savior, while Elder Belnap is thankful for his eternal companion. The entire mission is thankful for the wonderful bread they get to enjoy that Hna Belnap so willingly made.

And finally, it is our turn. We are so thankful for this wonderful opportunity to be on a mission and especially here in the great Spain Bilbao Mission. We are in the best mission in the church with the best missionaries and members. We love the parents of our missionaries. Thank-you for raising such wonderful young men and women, they are fantastic! We have been overwhelmed at the welcome and love we have felt every day since we arrived on July 1st, almost 5 months now. We love our family back home. They give us so much support and we are so proud of them and their choices. We are thankful for this wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we have the opportunity as a mission to invite everyone to come unto Christ and repent and be baptized! This is his church which has been restored on earth. Our message is simple to the world. Come, enter the gate of baptism and enjoy the blessings that will come into your life for your choice. The vision of this mission is "Thru faith, we don't hesitate to baptize." In Spanish, "Por medio de la fe, no basilamos en bautizar." This is our purpose and this is our message. As our faith grows we will see this come to pass in the lives of the elect here in Spain! Happy Thanksgiving to all!