Christmas in Granada

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Hermana Campbell writes on Nov. 24th, 2008:

"This is an exciting time right now...CHRISTMAS!! I love the feeling of Christmas in Granada. It's starting to really feel like Christmas. It's cold. There's snow on the mountains and in Centro the Christmas lights are starting to go up. Every window is decorated for Christmas and starting the 1st week of December there is going to be a Nativity set market out in Centro. But I'm just grateful for this time adn I hope it will open the hearts of others to recieve the Gospel."

Christmas emails

This week we recieved a fun email from Jessica's Mission President and his wife regarding the missionaries in Granada Spain:

Dear parents of our wonderful missionaries:
As the Christmas season approaches we want you to know how grateful we all are to be representing the Savior Jesus Christ in this wonderful land. We bear testimony that He lives, that He loves the people of Spain and that He has and is preparing them to receive His healing message and saving ordinances. We are grateful to you for preparing and sustaining with your faith and prayers these dedicated missionaries. We love them and express our love to you and yours at this time. May the peace of the gospel fill your hearts and homes and may we all seek to share it with all those who will receive us.
President and Sister Mellor

PS It is such a delight to have Sister Campbell in this mission. She is such a hard worker and always has a smile. We love her!!

It is nice to hear from them and how the missionaries are doing there. We continue to recieve weekly letters form Jessica. She tells the best stories and always has so much to say about the country, people, and the Gospel in Spain. She loves what she is doing and continues to serve faithfully.

Granada

Hermana Campbell is now is Granada, Spain. The Sierra Nevadas are in Granada and they are the tallest mountain range in Spain...and the only place where it snows in Spain. So she is looking for some warmer clothes. Granada is at the forefront of fashion and all that is modern with the most fabulous designers represented there.

Hermana Campbell lives in a Peso, or apartment, which is on the 2nd floor of a 10 floor building in the middle of town. For hot water, she has to flip a switch on to warm the water and it takes about 10 minutes. There have been times when she has forgotten and has said that it is pretty cold. Hermana Campbell has a fabulous schedule, this is what she told us, "I wake up at 6:45 am and run until 7:30 am. I shower, eat breakfast and then at 8:30 am, I have personal study time, at 9:30 am I have companion study, and at 10:30am we go to work. At 2pm we come back to the peso for mediodia, or siesta and then eat and study until 4:30pm. At 4:30pm we have appointments or contacting. We go back to our apartment at 9:45pm and go to bed at 11pm."

"The food here is so great. Everyday, people buy a new piece of bread. There are bakeries everywhere called Panderia. The bread is so good and fresh and then you have to try a cana...amazing. It is this chocolate goodness wrapped in a pastry. And then they have the best ice cream I have ever had." Hermana Campbell talks about the food that she is experiencing and trying..and as we read her letters, we all wish we were there trying it with her!

"The language is coming. I am able to participate in all of our lessons and I can understand it pretty well. So when I say something it is not totally off. My companion has been helping me alot." Hermana Campbell has been learning the Spanish language fairly quickly and is catching on quick. She says it is through the spirit that she is able to communicate and to speak the language as well as she can.

" I love being a missionary. I feel so blessed to be here!" She is enclosing this line in most of her letters. She is loving being out there and loves the country and the people in it. She is currently teaching 2 families and loves being able to teach them and share the gospel and her testimony.

Meeting the Mission President....

Hermana Swenson, Hermana Campbell, and Hermano "Will Farrell"
Sitting with Sister Mellor looking at pictures
President and Sister Mellor with Hermana Campbell

A letter from Hermana Campbell's Mission Presidents wife:

Dear Campbell family,We are so excited to have your daughter arrive to the Malaga Spain mission today. We were so impressed with Sister Campbell. Her first area assignment is in Granada. Her preparation day is on Monday so I am sure that you will be receiving an email from her. Thanks for preparing and sending such a great missionary. Love, President and Sister Mellor

This came today and it brings so much joy to us. We are so excited for her as she is on her way to her new area...

Becky

Malaga

Hermana Jessica Campbell is now in the Malaga Mission Home meeting her new mission President and wife. She called us at 12:30 am on Monday night/Tuesday morning. She is very excited to be in the mission field and to put her knowledge and language to great use. We are so excited to hear about her adventures in Malaga.....stay tuned.....

Shannon

Various Cultures

Heres the Madrid Temple at night! This is my view from my study area!!!

Here at the Madrid MTC i have been able to experience many differnt cultures from the various missionaries that come to this MTC. The first 3 weeks i was here i was able to be with Italian elders and sisters. I made really good friends with them and most of them spoke some enlgish so i was able to communicate. After the Italian elders left, were joined with French missionaries. Some from paris, others parts of france and some Islands (not sure what they are called) but i love getting to know other people from different places. and i´m learning that Europe is way ahead of us in there languages. Most of them know at least 2 languages and some 3 or 4. I´m impressed!! Well the MTC is great! i love love love Madrid and i cant wait to get to Málaga...only a few more weeks!!!! ;)

El Parque

Every Saturday we get a few hours to go into the park and contact people. Our companionships get switched and we go talk to people about the Gospel in Spanish! Its been a really neat experience for me and hlping me become more prepared for the feild. This Last Saturday I was paired up with two sisters. One of them from th USA and doesn´t speak spanish very well and the other from Italy and doesn´t speak english or spanish but can understand english. So since both sisters felt uncomfortable with the language barrier, i had to do the approaching and then alsp the talking. The American sister said nothing, absolutely nothing all day and the italian sister would randomly say something in italian and i would just smile and say ¨Sí¨ and continue talking. It was a really good experience for me because i need to get better at spainsh and more confident in it. And we talked to this one family that was really interesting in what we think about families and i caould understand most of what they were saying and i was able to communicate back. but as soon as i mentioned anything else about they church they told me they were content and didn´t need religion and i tried to let them know this would make them happier and i bore my testimony about families in the gospel but they decided to go on their way but did take my family flyer. All day seemed to go like that but even though not too many people were wanting to know more it was nice to be with the people and learn some more spanish! well i hope you will enjoy these photos...there from the park! o and we also sing in the park as well so enjoy the pics!!!!