We're Finally Legal!

 

This week started with Brenda and I finally getting our appointments to establish residency. Trying to get these appointments is like trying to pan for gold in your bathtub at home. The entire office staff jumps on their phones at exactly 3:00 PM every Thursday afternoon, and frantically calls to try to get whatever appointments they can get. There is literally a 10 minute window at best before they shut it down. So, the fact that we were able to get our appointments is a miracle in and of itself. Brenda's was in a place called Rubi which is about an hour train ride from Barcelona, and mine was in Terrasa which was about 1/2 hour longer train ride. The above photo was taken as I was waiting for Brenda to come back out (they wouldn't let me go in with her). Basically all they do is look at our paperwork and visas, take our fingerprints, and scan a passport photo. We now get to wait for about 45 days until we can go back and get our residency cards. Kind of a pain, but what can you do?

We did pass a major test this week. We opened up our first new piso (apartment). There is a checklist that is a page and a half long of things that we need to do, in order, to make that happen. There is now a place in a town called Alzira for the missionaries to live in while they serve! There is another one in the works that should come about in a week or two. So, the work continues.

Things are starting to get a little cooler here with temperatures dipping down into the 40's at night and cresting out in the 60's during the day. Not unpleasant, but cooler. The only problem is that the heat in the office isn't working so by the end of the day, we're kind of cold. Still, it isn't bad enough to deter the work.

We have started eating lunch with the Elders. We all take turns cooking, and I think it benefits us more than them, because we only have to worry about cooking something once a week. They're always in competition to see who can make the most amazing lunch. We've had pulled pork, ribs, tuna melts, and when it was our turn, I made ramen noodles with veggies and shrimp. I wonder what lies in store next week!

On Saturday we found out a place where they were going to do some human towers. It was amazing to watch, and it was fun to get a taste of some traditional Spanish culture. The plaza where the human towers were was really close to the office elder's favorite Kebab place, so we had to go there. These kids are hilarious, and one of the assistants asked the guy working there if he could come back behind the counter and actually be the one to shave off the meat for our meals. He claimed it has been on his "bucket list" for a long time. We then came back to our place to play cards. They then let us in on a goofy mission tradition call the "Chocky-muff". There is a store a few blocks away from us that sells chocolate muffins. They buy one of those every p-day along with some vanilla ice-cream, bring it home, heat it up in the microwave, and enjoy some gooey deliciousness. It was a fun P-day. In two weeks we're going to go watch Barcelona play a soccer game in the Olympic stadium on p-day, so we're looking forward to that.

The Spanish do not do "Thanksgiving" here, but the mission president wants the missionaries to have something special on that day. The assistants have decided that they want to be the ones to cook a Thanksgiving dinner for about 65 of the missionaries here in Barcelona. They found a place where you can get turkeys and have all of the logistics planned out on how to get them cooked along with all the trimmings. It should be interesting, but I don't doubt these kids for a second. They'll get it done.

Today at church I was asked to lead the music. Normally that wouldn't be an issue, but I find it difficult when I'm trying to follow along with the Spanish words. Sometimes I feel like Jim Carey in "The Grinch" where he is trying to sing along with the Whos. The "dork meter" is pretty far off the charts, but I'm glad to do what I can to help the work of the Lord. These sweet missionaries continue to be both an amazing blessing and a frustrating challenge at the same time. We love them dearly. It's wonderful to see the Lord doing his work with these wonderful young people. 

We hope that all is well for you and yours as you look forward to the Holidays. We are very thankful to be here, and to be exactly where the Lord wants us to be at this point in our lives. Have a great week!

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