Murcia 12/26/11

Well, thanks for the phone call, it was nice. I liked the picture, that was pretty funny. Thank you for the money on the card.

I discovered last night that I can put mini SD card chips into our new church phones. And i put in the one that you sent me for ´hump day´ and for christmas and was able to see the pictures and listen to the songs for the first time. Thanks for the stuff! I really liked them and enjoyed them. Now I can listen to all the songs on our phone.

Have a very merry Christmas! :)
Elders Forrest, Shaver, Bennett, and Melgarejo enjoyed a little Burger King time. Nothing like some good old American food once in a while.

The Murci/Elche Zones say Merry Christmas

Murcia 12/12/11

I´ll probably get my package on the 21, with my card, so... you´ll be getting your Belén after Christmas, if you don´t mind.

Everything is going good here. We´re having a good time. We´re probably gonna be moving to a city named Molina de Segura. Its 15 minutes north of Murcia. They´re gonna be splitting the ward, and a new chapel will be built there. It´ll be cool.

The coolest guy was baptized, last week, in less than 2 weeks. Now he´s got the priesthood, and he´s a ward missionary. He´s given us 6 references, and he´ll be giving us more he said.

Murcia 12/05/11

I haven´t got the Christmas package and I haven´t heard anything about it. I´m sure I´ll get it soon. That's pretty crazy about the 100 mile wind. Did it do anything at home?

You want a Belén? The Spanish Nativity is a super huge tradition. It's more like an art rather than something you pick up at Wall-Mart. Belén is like our next door neighbor's Christmas village. But, everyone has one! There is a man in Archena, who started making Nativity when he was 8 years old and still continues until now, he's 60 years old. And its like 1000 square meters big. And this man made everything by hand.

Belén you have to recreate the entire city of Jersualem pretty much. And you have the 3 wisemen starting their journey far away from the nativity and they get closer every day until 3 kings day, Jan 6. I´ll look around and see what I can do. I´m sure some china store would sell something for half the price of Wall-mart.

I finished the BOM. It was a good exercise. So i´ve read the Book of Mormon 4 times on my mission. 2x in english and twice in spanish. Its a good book.

I´m glad that Neil is doing basketball.

Murica 11//20/11

Almeria reunion: Elder Lignell, Elder Hamilton & Elder Bennett


I like the Jacob scripture, I read it this week. I like the cross reference in the D&C 101:
55 And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his aservants: Go and gather together the residue of my servants, and take ball the strength of mine house, which are my warriors, my young men, and they that are of middle age also among all my servants, who are the strength of mine house, save those only whom I have appointed to tarry;
56 And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard, and redeem my vineyard; for it is mine; I have bought it with money.
57 Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land; break down theawalls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen.
58 And inasmuch as they gather together against you, aavenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine house and possess the land.

We have to read the entire Book of Mormon before Christmas, and mark every time it says God, or Jesus, or Santo de Israel, or Cordero de Dios, etc... And i´m in Alma right now. I´m doing it in Spanish. I´m having fun doing it.

Gabriela was baptized 2 years ago. One of her friends name Cesar came to church yesterday, and he´s super pumped about the gospel. The Hermanas are teaching him. The only thing, is that in his Book of Mormon, he´s got a big ole´ sticker of the Virgin Maria. Cesar used to live in Archena with a Bolivian man named Jaime who is a member of the Church but inactive.

Jaime and most of his family was baptized when he was 14, but lost contact with the church when he moved to spain 8 years ago. The Father of Jaime, after years of investigation was baptized about a year ago, and he has a super strong testimony that the church is true. Missionaries never worked in Archena where Jamie lives.

When Cesar lived with Jamie, Jamie talked to him all about the church, about the Book of Mormon, and it was the true restored church. Then Cesar moved away.

Jaime found me and Elder Corradi about 3 months ago, walking on the street. He walked up to us and asked if we were mormons. We got in contact and reactivated him.
Jaime and Cesar were super suprised to run into eachother at Church yesterday. They both found the church seprately. That's awesome!

The whole town of Archena is doing good. One of the guys we taught a while ago wants to change and be baptized now. His name is Luis. he was so impressed by his buddy´s good example and also by Gabriela's change of lifestyle. He lives with a couple of menos activos, and they also are becoming excited about the church again. Archena is great. Its just far away.

Dia de la accion gracías, en Murcia!! We ate at a place called "Foster´s Hollywood"


Thanksgiving was cool. The food wasn´t the best, but it was fun nevertheless.

Murcia 11/28/11

Murcia & Alicante Zone Conferences.


Everyone agreed that the food was deliciously good!



Elder Bennett particularly loves the dessert. One thumb up for the cook!!!!

Murcia 11/20/11

I got to confirm Luis this sunday also. I had to repeat it. I said, by the authority of Melkisdec, instead of ´sacerdocio of Meldesidek.´ But, nevertheless, he got the gift of the holy ghost. His friend, Gabriela is awesome. She´s just flirting to convert. She brought another guy to a baptism on Saturday, and I think he´ll be next to go into the water.

These are some of the saints that come into Murcia once in a while and then other times the Missionaries go out to them to take them the sacrament. The wards are growing and in the near future there should be another ward in Murcia. That is great news.

This thanxgiving we´re not gonna do anything. There aren´t any american families here. So we´re gonna celebrate it today, on p-day, and go to an American restaurant. (which is super expensive, it's like 12-18 Euro meals.) but it's Thanksgiving... might as well splurge and it's the only norteamericano restaurante here in spain. (Although other missionaries tell me there is a kfc, I still have not found it yet.)

When do I have to decide to get into school?
When do I have to do my registration? its comin´ up, isn´t it?

What are you guys doing for Thanksgiving and for Black Friday?
Thanks for taking care of the credit card.

Murcia 11/07/11

I don´t really have a pday today. I´m at the mission home. There are 7 of us who are getting a son or a daughter (greenie to train).

Elder Avellar, Elder Bennett, Hna Perera, Hna Bascope, Elder Velasco, Elder West and Elder Peterson


The table is ready to sit a lot of us for a good meal.



My son's name is Elder Melgarejo (see pic below). He's waiting for his visa to come before he leaves for Puerto Rico where he's been called to serve. I'm excited to be working with him.