Hey ya’l how’s it going over in wherever you happen to be?

Hey ya’l how’s it going over in wherever you happen to be?

The last 2 days we have been in Madrid. We left yesterday at 9 in the morning to Cuatro Caminos capilla which is the 1st ward of Madrid’s capilla. So that’s where we had district meeting at 11 and then had interviews. Interviews consisted this time of a practice with questions and improving our questions with the zone leaders. Also we chatted with Hermana Farnsworth while our companions were being interviewed. She had us all signing a card from the missionaries to the former MTC Madrid president and his wife who are leaving this week. They have served 3 years, and there time is up. Then a session with the assistants for each companionship individually, about using members and helps from Preach my Gospel to urge us along with member missionary work. Overall it was a draining day. We have a zone of 24 missionaries so 12 companionships that had to rotate through all of this in the hours between 2 and 8 or so. Wow. Then after we did that we rode with the 5th ward area elders who have downtown Madrid in their area including Plaza Mayor, the palace, Gran Via, Sol, and many other awesome things in that vicinity. We worked in their area for the 45 minutes we had of proselyting yesterday.
Then today we woke up at 5 in the morning. Yep you read right, 5 in the morning after going to bed at 11 our bed time in this mission. Wow- am I tired after this long preparation day. So we went to the 8 o clock session in the temple and it was Elder Peterson’s first time in the Madrid temple. So that was of course amazing. Then we went to Sol and bought some delicious pastels or pastries at this place right out of the metro mouth in literally the center of Madrid. This is where the bear leaning against the tree is and all that. We stopped through Plaza Mayor, and then went to the Royal Palace and the cathedral right there, and then past a garden, then past the opera house and back to Sol. At the palace we got extremely lucky that on accident we stumbled across a really neat thing. The first Wednesday of every month at 12, the royal guards have a changing of the guard. This includes thousands of watchers, and a parade-like display of mounted and armored soldiers. They’re not dressed like modern day soldiers; they had cool old outfits that I can’t explain. When I say armor, I mean like shiny, silver, cool, almost medieval armor on there chests. There were also Clydesdales pulling cannons and all kinds of stuff. And a bunch of the troops with spears and then a troop that was like a band. They very orderly marched in to the palace gates and then did all kinds of riding in circles with the cannons, horses, and all kinds of completely indescribable stuff. Anyway, I guess you had to be there. But it was cool take my word for it. Then we bused back here and the zone leaders checked our piso and internet location, and took some awesome Segovia pictures, and then they headed back to Madrid. Now we are emailing and did our shopping already. But the groceries are behind us and we have to take the bus back and be back on the streets at 6:30. What a day.

Last Sunday Elder Peterson taught Sunday school and it went well. Like I told him, if he used the manual, that we went over together in language study he would be fine. Also, asking questions is the key. People have lots to say. You just have to provoke it with a good question. And then, at least with a Sunday school lesson with members, they cover what you wanted to. So it went great for him. Also, the week before, I left the Sunday school manual on the bus bench... oops, but thank goodness no one wanted to take it and learn about the Book of Mormon. So it was there when we got back, but I was kind of disappointed- not a soul for 3 hours at that bus stop even would touch a Book of Mormon manual. Maybe that would be a good finding method, or not. Also, for that lesson, the 2nd counselor to President Farnsworth came to Segovia for sacrament and Sunday school. He was just making sure everything was running well. So it’s a good thing that I was able to teach the lesson I had prepared from the student study manual. It went well, but required a fair more amount of effort than your normal Sunday school lesson.
Last Sunday, the week before, we taught Andres from Colombia with his dad. They are awesome, and have been potentials that we stay in contact with forever since like 2 months before I got here. So we finally got into teach Andres, a 16 year old futbol player and his dad. Awesome first charla, and dad, they loved your Colombian money as all Colombians have so far.
I finished my first journal last week which is pretty crazy. Good thing I was prepared and had another one I bought at the distribution center in Madrid a while back.
Also, I got a hair cut so I have a new do right now. I like it pretty well, and I am picky with haircuts. I distinctly remember the Sunday I wouldn’t go to church because of my haircut. I don’t know if you remember that mom, but I do.
Noche de hogar or family night went great this last week, with a less active who came. Her name is Ivanca and we are going to try and get her to teach with us because she speaks Bulgarian and Spanish, a translator of sorts, how cool. Also, we asked Kenneth and Clayton if they remembered any prophets in the lesson and we expected Bible ones like the classic Noah and Moses, maybe Abraham. But we were shocked to hear Joseph Smith, Moroni, and Mormon. How awesome is that.
So I typed a good 50 minutes to get this all out. I hope you enjoyed our goings on here in Segovia. But until next week I’m signing off, and I just want to say much love from Segovia.

Love,
Elder Miller

And a little extra love for the upcoming lovers day, which is completely irrelevant for missionaries. But, you can be my valentine and send me a little email if you want.