Farewell Talavera

Had to happen eventually right?


That's right y'all I'm getting transferred.


We'll talk about that later, because Talavera really wanted to send me out on a high note. Admittedly this week would look pretty slow from a scheduling perspective, but miracles never stop. 


We got a call from branch President Rios on Tuesday morning telling us that Jesús had made the decision to beb baptized. Missionaries have been working with him for months and he's finally decided he's ready. For the last few months all we've been able to do is tell him he knows what he needs to and help him to learn and grow with the branch. No matter how much President Rios jokes about it, you can't just throw someone in the font. It has to come from them.


On Thursday we went to the Madrid Temple with Thaigo to do baptisms for the dead and it went great. We loved every second that wasn't the 90 minute bus rides, and Thiago thought it was awesome. He takes everything new he learns about the gospel very seriously and is always open to learning more. We prayed together on the temple grounds and had a really cool experience. KFC afterwards didn't hurt either.


The same baptism miracle happened with President Rios' neice Milena and her son Juan Diego yesterday. They finally chose a date and will get baptized in the middle of November. In my time here I've watched their testimonies and knowledge grow from the beginning, so this is huge to me. 


Right after this appointment, still hyped for Milena and Johnny D, we walked by a woman who called us Elders right away and flagged us down. Turns out that at that exact moment she had been Google searching where the chapel was because she found the church in Colombia and wants to keep coming. Her name is Sandra and with a start like this I have no doubt that she'll be happy with the Talavera Branch.


This makes it pretty sad that I have to leave. We got transfer news on Saturday. My new area will be the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura in las Islas Canarias. My dad served for many months there years ago, so I'll need to do some really delayed follow-up work jaja. As sad as it is to leave Talavera, I'm excited for everything that's ahead!


Spiritual thought
Reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning again, you know how it is. The whole life of Nephi is just a lesson on trusting in the Lord no matter how tough things get or how little you understand or feel capable. In 2 Nephi 4:15-35 he just dumps all of his feelings into what has been called "Nephi's Psalm". I kept opening back upto it and reading it aloud this week, including in the temple, where the Spanish just clicked and I could say it much better. It's an amazing section for a missionary or really anyone who feels the need for God's help in their life. I'd encourage all of you to read it aloud if you feel like you need divine help this week.


That's all from me, I'll write from the islands next time!
Elder Curtis 


Pictures
Without captions in order it will be tough to clarify who's who but I'll do my best
1-2. Temple squad
3. Map of my new area
4. Danny, who wanted his new temple recomend in the picture 
5. Anthony, the best branch secretary I've ever met or ever will meet
6. Closest we can get to celebrating Halloween 
7. Christian, a fire service missionary from Germany, his girlfriend Abi, and her sister Amber.
8. Fuensanta, my adopted Spanish cool aunt.
9. Gomez family
10. Jenny, who moved here herself from Guatemala
11. Abi's sister Wendy by the Talavera sign
12. Elder Salas and I today with the Zurita's family











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