Monday, December 26, 2016

Leche con Cola-cao


Hey y'all!
So just to explain the title..... basically, here in Spain, almost every single time we enter a house, they ask us, "queréis leche con cola cao?" Which pretty much is hot chocolate. We have probably drunk GALLONS already this month. #funfact

I'm sorry it's been a couple weeks since I have written anything. But. Merry Christmas! I hope y'all had a wonderful day and that you celebrated with family/friends/loved ones and that even more importantly, you remembered to take a moment and remember the true reason we celebrate this day.
Aaaand, since it's been such a long time, I have a lot of stuff to catch y'all up on so..... here goes. If you don't want to read it all, you can just look at the pictures and that's fine too. (;

So here in Almería, we are working with a lot of members that are less active. And along with that, we have had lots of opportunities to do service! And this past week, just in time for Christmas, we got to go to the house of a less active member and help him clean! He has some health problems and lives with his parents that do as well and it was so rewarding to be able to go and help them deep clean their house and make it a nice , clean environment where they could feel the spirit.

Also, a couple weeks ago, like a week and half, we had our ward Christmas dinner!! So of course all good things, food, friends, a nice message, etc..... but the best part was that we invited lots of people and LOTS OF PEOPLE CAME!! Our investigator Ana came with her husband and daughter, our other main investigator, José María ALSO came! As well as the friends of a couple of members that we are starting to work with. As well as a few less active members! YOO-HOO! We were literally so happy. We also made a real Spanish tortilla de patata to take and share and well, it wasn't perfect, but it also wasn't to shabby for the first try. (;
On a random fun note, we went with the elders last week to play Padel on P-day. It's like a mix of tennis and racquetball and it was super fun! 
Okay, back to investigators..... Ana is incredible! She looked up the church on her own when she came to Spain about a month and a half ago and she loves it! She is reading the Book of Mormon and every time we visit her, she has questions, but she also tells us all about the questions that she had that she has found answers to! So that's super cool. She is progressing so much and really actually recognizing all the answers to her prayers and the blessings that come from knowing and accepting the gospel in her life. 
Another fun thing is that this last week we had the Christmas conference in Málaga! It was so great to see a lot of other missionaries and I got to sing! It was a little crazy how it all worked out and I wasn't planning on singing, but they asked last minute and the hermana that played the piano was sight reading but it turned out pretty good. It was so fun to be able to really sing again and it was the perfect song for what they were talking about during the conference! 
So now you're wondering what we talked about, huh? Well let me tell y'all. We talked a lot about attributes of Christ. About service and love and kindness. We also talked about what we learned this year, and what we gave to the Lord. The things we sacrificed or willingly gave up to learn and have the experiences that we did. As I thought about it, I was able to recognize all of the things that I have willingly given and also all of the things that I have struggled with this year. But also.... I was able to see the innumerable amount of blessings that I have received in return for the very little that I have given.
Also, I'm sorry this is already so long, just one more thing. Christmas was fantastic!! We ate with a couple different families and, of course, went to church. We made crepes with the elders and did a white elephant and, best of all, I got to skype with my sweet family!

Shoot, I lied. One more thing. We have TRANSFERS this week! I will be staying here in Almería - which I'm very excited for since I just got here this transfer. My sweet Hermana Trujillo will be heading to Elche! And my new comp will be Hermana Christensen! She is from Georgia and we served in the same ward when I was in Sevilla! So we already know each other. (: 

And for real, that's all. I LOVE being a missionary. I'm so grateful for this time I have to be here in the mission and share this love and happiness that I have with Gods children here. I know that Jesus Christ is our savior and that HE LOVES US. He is our perfect example and that is the center of the perfect plan that our Heavenly Father has created to help us find JOY in our lives. 
I love you all! Have a safe and wonderful week and a fabulous New Years! And just rmember..... no goal is a good goal if it isn't written down. (:
LOVE YOU ALL!
XOXO, Hermana Hauber (:
P.s. Today was so warm, we went and ate by the beach and it was BEAUTIFUL! 
I got to see lots of friends at the zone conference




This is a typical Spanish Cena

Dinner on Christmas Eve!


Christmas Eve!


Christmas Morning!


Unexpected Christmas gifts!

Waffles!
We did a white elephant!


(Here are some pictures from last week as well:)
We ate at a yummy Mexican restaurant (:

Ward Christmas dinner!

I made ymmy veggie soup and tortilla de patata!
#superespanol






Monday, December 12, 2016

Photo Update

(No group email these past 2 weeks, but here are the pictures Hermana Hauber has sent!)

Lentils! Forever reminds me of home

My CCM comp, Hermana Stephens (:

My comp hit 7 months so of course we celebrate
with ice cream

Intercambios!

We made arroz a la cubana after district meeting. SO YUMMY

SWEET hermana Burrell (:

The Washington monument! in Spain (:

District foto...

Elder Boston is my new zone leader!

Still poor but finding food! We love to cook

Someone from Nibley UT sent my comp a package with 25 days
of Christmas! Neither of us know who it was, but it was a huge
blessing for her (:

When we don't go shopping for three weeks and end up eating
tuna fish with bananas...

Cute Tati made us cake because I helped her with English.
And because she loves us (:

There are little bakeries here like on every corner
and we love them!

The district!

We tried to go ice skating but it was closed...
#badplanning

More artistic pictures...

Monday, November 28, 2016

Holidays!

Hey y'all!

I don't have a lot of time this week, but here's a quick rundown.....
- it's finally getting cold! Sadly, I have stopped wearing my sandals.
- we have seen so many miracles and little blessings this week!
- a new investigator, José María, came to church and really liked it!
- I taught my comp how to make no bake cookies and she loved them! #holidayspirit
- we put the Christmas tree up #REALholidayspirit
- we have been sharing the new video #iluminaelmundo like crazy people!! If you haven't seen it, go to Mormón.org to see the new Light the World video and then serve someone!

I love being a missionary! Especially during the holiday season when we get to share the joy and love not Only with our families, but with every person we teach in their house or on a park bench or in the street. It  Truly is a blessing. Go out and share your light and serve others and let's all just remember that this time Centers on our Savior Jesus Christ and his example for us and what He did to fill this world with light.

I love you all!!
XOXO, Hermana Hauber (:

My comp made us a yummy Peruvian dish for thanksgiving



classic elevator selfie