Can you believe it has been a month!?!

Singing on the Temple steps

 

 

Hello Family!!!!

This has been a great week!!  Last week was tough for some people in our district. Some of them got sad news in their emails. I was able to be there for them and give all 3 blessings. It was the most powerful experience in my life. It made me realize the power of the priesthood and how important it is. One of the most memorable days. Even if I don't convert one soul strengthening other missionaries could be my purpose. But I will convert souls! It's crazy how many times I've talked about Grandma Stevenson here. I talked about it with one of my investigators. I feel her love for me whenever we are in the temple.

 

How are things going at home? Dad looks happy with his toy! Concert sounds cool! Mom are you staying busy? Can you believe it has been a month!?!

 

Ok my week!!!! For p day, we went to this art museum El Prado. It was pretty cool but we got bored and went to Burger King. Sooo good after weeks of CCM food.

This week at the park was wonderful! The first man we talked to in the metro was way into the church and we got a referral. He lives down the street of the temple so hopefully I can meet with him again. we talked to like 5 other people too. Super awesome, gave 2 Libros out! Great day at the park! President Sitterud takes pics at the park, he said if we tell him our parents emails he would send the pics. So look out!

 

We have 2 new native Spanish Elders in our room!!! We have to speak so much Spanish!! Today at the temple I did it all in Spanish!! I'm growing a lot in the language. I can read the Book Of Mormon without a translation now!! I love it!

 

This week when singing at the temple, I met a man and he was the friendliest man ever! Went for a hand shake and he pulled me in and hugged me so HARD!!! It was really weird/funny/sweet. One bad thing that happened Sunday is Hermana Sitterud fell and broke her arm, but she is doing well. Also Elder Rasmussen gets very loud and passionate when he's singing and he sang in his sleep. He's stepping up his game.

 

Mom and Dad can you tell the youth to not be afraid to share the gospel with friends? I did a lot but I could have done more. I see the importance now that it is my life. wish I had done more.

 

One of the Hermanas here knows Sean's old companion Elder Marshal!!! It was so funny because I saw him in a picture on her desk with all her friends. Small world.

 

I was looking at the picture book Chad sent and I just love and am so proud of my family. You are all the best and you raised some good (and good looking) kids. You're the best mom in the world!!!

 

Well that is my week. It's going very well! 2 more in the CCM then I hit Madrid!! Way ready and excited. I love you all have a great week!!!!

Love

Elder Stevenson

 

quote of the week:

´¨Obedience is the price, faith is the power, love is the motive, the spirit is the key, and Christ is the reason!"

Elder Rasmussen and me in the MTC 

MTC classroom- studying

 

 

Real Madrid Stadium

 

 

It's P-Day!!!!!!!

How is every one doing?



Real Madrid Stadium

 

our district

This was a great week! The stadium was the sickest thing ever! We got to walk around and go on the grass and sit where the coaches and staff sit. It was rad! We also saw the KPMG building. I was looking for it and didn't think it could be the huge beautiful one but it was. it was really cool to be able to tell people that dad has done business stuff there.

Later that night, we watched a devotional from Elder Bednar. It was a great one talking about recognizing the spirit. This Saturday, the park didn't go so well but was still a great experience. I met a guy from Stuttgart Germany but he spoke English so that was nice and I gave him a pass along card so hopefully it goes well with him. Our district sang "Come Thou Fount of every Blessing" at a fireside and it went really well. We dedicated it to Hermano Larrea because he sang for us in class. BTW add him on my FB because he is our best friend and he will add pictures of us. We also sang again on the temple steps and it was really cool because we had the Area President there. We also heard from him and his wife on Monday  morning. It was a great talk. Our investigators are going pretty well. We got new ones and within 2 lessons they are going to church. Although I accidentally told my investigator I like to kill people but that was my only goof. My Spanish level is increasing really well. I can read without having to look at an English translation. Dallas sent me an email in Spanish and I understood it all.


KPMG Bldg- Madrid office



Madrid Spain Temple

 Now the funny companion stories. last night in the middle of Elder Rasmussen's sleep he starts singing and the makes a bunch of kissy sounds. I was crying with laughter. Today at the temple was super awesome. The spirit was so strong. We are going to some super cool art museum today. And yeah that's my week! I got the postcards and chad I got your package thank you so much. I love the book.  When the MTC saw it they all wanted to look at it and they love our family. Hope you have a good week and you will probably see another letter later. I love you all thanks for the love, support, and prayers!!!!

Love Elder Stevenson

 

Hey so I have a little more time. Haha! why are my shoes in the kitchen??

I love the pictures you sent there is a new teacher that knows Tyson Farnsworth so that picture was nice to show him.

 

Some other things we have been up to are just fun little things and spiritual things. Our classes are really fun. We have one teacher that is super fun and spiritual. She's the best. We have an elder who found out today that his grandmother has cancer, having been through that he asked me to give him a blessing. we turned our doffy little room into one of the most spiritual times of my life. i also gave him a blessing because he was super home sick. it was nice being district leader and helping with that but this week we got new district leaders.  I sent pics of the stadium and of the KPMG building. I hope you get them. Well, I should go soon love you!!!!!!

Love Elder Stevenson

 

 

 

 

 

Sunrise in Madrid

 

¡Buenos Dias Familia!

 

This has been a great week! Last week we didn't go to the stadium, we went to the center of Madrid instead. We saw some great sites and beautiful building,s post cards are headed your way. I got a really cool Real Madrid scarf while I was there and it hangs on my bed. Later that day, we had an Elder Holland devotional. It was great and brought a great spirit into the class room. Today, we have Elder Bednar so I'm looking forward to it. Saturday in the park was probably one of the best days of my life. We met a guy named Carlos and gave him a Book of Mormon. It made me so happy I just wanted to do a backflip. We didn't have a refearl card so we came back an hour later with one and he was reading the Book of Mormon and was already like 1/4 done! He said he really enjoyed it so we gave him a card with info for sacrament meeting. Later that day, we had a devotional with some senior missionaries and it was very awesome. They serve in the Canary Islands. Sunday was a very great day it was fast and testimony so we were able to hear some powerful testimonies. Monday-Wednesday are for sure the hardest days but they are also awesome. We have been working really hard with our practice investigators. We comitted one to baptism and we are trying to do the same with the other tomorrow. It's amazing how you can feel the spirit with a simulation investigator. It's also amazing how I can teach a full baptism lesson and say the baptismal question in Spanish when 2 weeks ago I didn't even know how to reply to como esta.

 

 Elder Rasmussen is the best companion ever. (I have to say that cuz he can see the screen cuz we are in the library with a 45 inch monitor) but yeah he is super funny and spiritual. It's amazing. The other week in the park his companion (cuz we switch for the park) accidently said noveos instead of nuevos which is boyfriend instead of new, you can see how that went. Hi! we are.... you get the point lol. He also says some of the funniest things fits me well, but then two minutes later he can say the most powerful thing. I am getting really good at soccer cuz we play like every day. Yesterday, I had so many goal opportunities but missed them all. It was frustrating. So that has been my week! It has been very good. I hope you are all doing well. Thanks for the Brianhead Family Reunion details, sounds like a good time. Chad thanks for your awesome emails and I got your letter yesterday on miercoles- wednesday no time to explain but its an awesome day. Oh and today we are for sure touring the stadium. It will be awesome. Well its time to go. You are all the best and I love you. Not a day goes by where I don't take out my pictures and stare at my beautiful family. Have a good week. ¡hasta luego!

Love

Elder Stevenson

 

While the pics load, I'm going to write this

tell the Howe's I met a Russian man going to Tanner's mission and they both go to the field the same day.

I have to go now but I just want to say I love you and you are the best mom ever! You raised me well, I was telling the hermanas (sisters) in our district how to do laundry. You did good ma. Once again i love you tons have a great weekend in Arrowhead time to go to the stadium!!!!! bye- talk to you next week

First P-Day Letter!

Hello family!!!!!
Its p day! It felt  like it took so long to get here. On Thursday, we went to the temple. I did see Elder Tenney there and I showed him the picture and he remembered it all. I see him all of the time and he and I just talk, it's so cool. Right after the temple, We went to class and just went straight to work. Then we had a little orientation and I am now district leader! It's soooooo cool! My district is absolutely awesome and so is my room. Elder Matthews and Rasmussen are my best friends. I love them! The others are hard to get along with but it's ok. But those two are my best friends, there isn't a day where we aren't laughing. Oh, Elder Rasmussen talks in his sleep. He says some of the funniest stuff: He told Elder Matthews to kiss him, (must have been dreaming of a girl at home) and the next morning had no clue what we were talking about.  It's super funny. Oh yeah, from that district meeting: our mission will be trialing that fb missionary stuff!  I'm not to sure what we do yet but I'm excited to find out. I don't have much time so I will tell the important things. You have nothing to worry about with that train crash, but the elder that was in the accident, Elder Ward is at the MTC until he recovers, he needed a companion for a couple days and it was me! I got to stay in the general authorities suite with him. It was really cool, he is a great guy. After that story, I don't want to tell you this one. Don't worry all is well. We do Saturday in the park. We go to this park that is super beautiful. We take the metro to get there but don't worry, it's safe. It was super cool, we talked to 10 people in Spanish. Yes, I am getting that good already. It was awesome! We hope they investigate the church more. We also do this thing called singing on the temple steps. I'm re you can find it on youtube or fb, at least that's what other missionaries are saying. But yeah its super awesome.  This is for Sean, for exercise we play soccer in this super cool stadium a couple blocks away. It's the coolest thing!  For p day, we are allowed to leave the MTC. Today I am going on a tour of Real Madrid's Stadium and to downtown Madrid. It's going to be awesome. So, they have this stuff called gazpacho and it is the nastiest thing I have ever tasted. Just saying. Oh yeah, I gave an elder a haircut! It turned out pretty good, Letty would be proud!
 
Well, I have 5 minutes left and I MAY get to send another later. The spirit is so strong here. Every day I feel it, especially when we teach our fake investigators. I can say things in those visits that I have never learned in my entire life Spanish wise. It's super amazing. The spirit was so strong in the temple this morning. I just love it. You wouldn't believe the how much Spanish I already know! I love you all and I miss you but I know I'm doing the right thing and I can feel the blessings from serving. Have a great week!
Love
Elder Stevenson

Links to info about Elder Ward if you copy them you can view the videos or articles:

http://www.ldsliving.com/story/73192-mormon-missionary-survives-spai-train-wreck


http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865584020/LDS-missionary-involved-in-spain-train-accident-continues-to-serve

This is the link to singing at the Temple, at minute marker 1:59 you can see the top of Bryce's head.  = ) 
On second viewing you can see his whole face when the guy in front of him puts his head down at the beginning but it's just a very quick glimpse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJYXANKh4hc

P.S. The message was from just a random girl seated next to us on the plane going to Spain for service. She offered to send you the pic. I thanked her so much for it. Oh Yeah! I also meet a guy whose brother is on the show Duck Dynasty. I've never seen it but have heard it's hilarious. I talked to him for 2 hours in the airport and gave him a BOM, it was really cool. ok have to go, love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hey! I get 15 more minutes so I will talk about random little things. First to Kent: What ward are you in cuz there are like 3 Mission Viejo people here. Looks like you had fun at Disneyland and those pictures mom sent didn't show up so what were they. The teachers here are really good at soccer. One played for Real Madrid. The food here isn't that good. I have already lost like 7 lbs from exercising and food portions but I am getting enough food. My district is super cool, everyone in it is super awesome. So with our fake investigators we did ok the first time. Then Elder Rasmussen accidentally said the pope was in the BOM. Also when we went to the park an elder accidentally said we are boyfriends instead of new cuz its on letter off.  Yesterday we bombed our first lesson then killed the second and got a baptism commitment. I just wish it was real. They are telling us to get off so I have to go soon. Chad your trip to DC looked fun. Loved the pics of the kids. Hillary thanks for the advice Elder Rasmussen needs it. I will reply to most emails with a letter and it takes about a week and a half. I'm getting stamps today so on email I'm just writing a general family letter. Once again I love it here and the spirit is super strong. I love you all and I will talk next week!
Love Elder Stevenson
P.S.  tell Nate congrats and send me Dallas' and Tanner's address if possible.

Note: just in case you're curious we asked,  Hillary's advise- 1 tsp. baking soda mixed in 1/2 cup of water soothes an upset stomach. We'll leave the rest to your imagination.  = )