May 15, 2017

Hi there! 

Surprise I actually got transferred to Africa and hang out with giraffes and elephants and teach them the gospel. Just kidding haha. BUT i did get my Nigerian AND my Ghanaian names this week (Osasere amd Ekau, bet you cant say them right, because neither can I haha). We teach lots of Africans. They are so great. But we really went to the zoo today here in Valencia, because why not! It was super fun! It was a nice zoo too! And its in my area and i didn't even know. Miracle of the day: the woman in the ticket booth is a menos activo (less active) in our ward, so we got her number and need to go visit her! Once a missionary, always a missionary. 

This week was fabulous. So. Many. Miracles.

One day we decided to attempt to walk to the far end of our area, which we never made it out there, BUT by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. We tracted into so many people and gained 8 new investigators in just a few hours! Including 3 Ghanaian Muslims and a Colombian man that actually stopped us to ask where our church was, came to an activity Thursday, and church on Sunday before we even have given him a lesson. We are going to meet with him this week, I'm excited :)

Another amazing moment, our friend Angeles is a Spanish woman who works with a member, she came to the Relief society activity on Saturday  (which was spectacular, a little piece of Utah with Spanish flair) and we were able to give her a Book of Mormon. My oh my, she was prepared. That was such a sweet experience to share that with her. She committed to read it, AND SHE DID! She came to church the next day having read eight chapters. She is amazing! So excited to meet with her later this week as well!

We also taught a man in a Rock and Roll bar. That was fun. He is also a Spaniard and we tracted into him on the street. He actually owns the bar and we met with him in the morning. It actually was very clean and fun, still lots of alcohol there of course and we had some nice 80s rock in the back ground the whole time. (Dad, you would have got along with him, I thought of you the whole time. He loves Paul Simon, so we bonded over our love for 'You Can Call Me Al' haha it rocked 😉) but he is just a great man and is really open and willing to listen. 

So many many more, i wish i could share them all! 

My testimony has grown so much here. I can feel Heavenly Father shaping and guiding me every single day. I absolutely love my companion/trainer! We work hard, and laugh hard. We get along so well and are exactly obedient which is why we have been so blessed. It is amazing to see hearts soften and faith grow. I love hearing first prayers and I just love the love i feel for everyone I meet. God lives. Jesus Christ lives. He is the head of this church. He loves you so so much. Look to Him and live. 

I love you all! Thank you for your love support and prayers on my behalf! I really do feel it every single day!

Until next week! 

Hermana Read

 

Comment from Danny Read:

Lara had someone at work look up the area that Courtney is in. He found the church that she is attending on google maps and in only two weeks the picture that comes up from google associated to this church building has Courtney in it. Here is the link:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Iglesia+de+Jesucristo+de+los+Santos+de+los+Ultimos+D%C3%ADas/@39.4725668,-0.3553758,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1s-D6y9IirPLu4%2FWRcSDucUsZI%2FAAAAAAAAAaI%2FmN08fioRv_Mf1P4shGUkMBoOwMBsXZ4AQCLIB!2e4!3e12!6s%2F%2Flh6.googleusercontent.com%2F-D6y9IirPLu4%2FWRcSDucUsZI%2FAAAAAAAAAaI%2FmN08fioRv_Mf1P4shGUkMBoOwMBsXZ4AQCLIB%2Fw203-h113-k-no%2F!7i4160!8i2336!4m8!1m2!2m1!1schurch!3m4!1s0x0:0x6aa71ab8c6902a3f!8m2!3d39.4726775!4d-0.355677!6m1!1e1
and this is the picture (in case it is changed later)