Hola a todos!
This week was actually pretty cool, still a little slow, but we're starting see some momentum coming into transfers. This week we are having office meetings to start figuring out transfers and plan the logistics. It's going to be a HOT MESS and we have no idea what it's going to be like. Poor Elder Means, our travel elder, is going to be completely swamped. More updates next week!
We had a bunch of missionaries come up this week for residency, which basically means that we (the office elders) have to host them for the night. 10 missionaries staying in your piso 2-3 nights in a row really gets tiring, but it was really awesome to see some old friends and meet some new guys that I've been wanting to meet. Shoutout to Elder Boyer and Walker from Cadiz zone. I also got to meet Elder Schaack! His trainer was one of my old companions, Elder Golightly, and so we had a lot of stories to share. Maybe one day we'll be companions and it'll be sick!
We actually had a really good opportunity to teach a media referral the other day, who was severely struggling with some personal issues. We showed up and immediately was like "I need help bad. I have fallen so low and I need a way to go up." We started teaching him about the gospel of Jesus Christ and ways that he could draw upon the power of God. We left him with a Book of Mormon and he really wants to come to church. He seems like an absolutely incredible guy, just struggles a lot with weakness. But that's what Jesus Christ is for! And also ironically his name is Jesús. It just seems perfect. Will update where that goes this week! We're going to meet with him again. Your prayers would be very much appreciated.
We also had a young single adult sacrament meeting in Madrid and the entire room was filled with people my age from all over Madrid. We had a beautiful fast and testimony meeting where one if my favorite testimonies was from a guy who was translating the meeting into sign language. There was one deaf sister who needed help and he gladly did it. But his testimony was really cool. He mentioned how sign language is different in almost every country, language, and people. They all have their own grammar, words, slang, etc. Yet, no matter where you go, America, England, Chile, Spain, Peru, Mexico, the sign for Jesus Christ is always the same. You touch your middle fingers to the palms of your hands one at a time, showing the marks of the nails in his hands. It was a cool reminder to me how universal the gospel of Jesus christ is. He truly is for everybody, no matter your story or where you're from. He is the Savior of the WORLD not just of a small favorite group. He was crucified for all of us, and He rose again for all of us. Just a really cool reminder that touched me deeply.
"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."
Isaiah 49:16
¡Cristo vive! ¡El Libro de Mormón es verdadero!
¡Os amo!
Elder Ritter
Fotos:
Cool street in Madrid centro
Im so sorry I've been terrible with pictures but there's just not much to foto in the office
