La Iglesia

Okay, one last thing to write about and then I should be mostly caught up with my blogging! Look at me being all productive! Who knows? Maybe I will even do some homework.... hahaha. Yah.... not happening. 

So, I have the most AMAZING ward down here. Seriously. I have only been there twice thus far but I seriously feel like I am home when I go to church. My first week I was super freaked out. I was scared I wouldn’t be accepted and I would feel like an outsider and such, like I kinda did when I was down in Mexico. BUT I had a plan. I had decided what I could do to integrate myself into the ward and make sure I was able to include the gospel in my life while I was in Europe.

My first week I was totally late. I had been to institute on the Friday and asked where the chapel was and either I was given the wrong address or I didn’t bookmark it right. Either way, big time fail on getting there. In the end I made it though. After sacrament meeting, I started the search for Sunday School. I asked someone where I could find it and in the end I found out that there is an English class and a Spanish class in my ward! Initially, I went to the Spanish Sunday School because I understand, so why not. While sitting there, an Elder came in and introduced me to this guy, who ps was pretty cute, and asked if I could translate for him. He and I sat there and I was said, "There is an English class. Want to just go over there?" So, we did and it was awesome. After class, a group of people came over to welcome us into the ward and get to know us. This guy and I had to sort out that in fact we were not dating and that we had only just met. Desrae was a little shocked cuz we just looked so cute together. Hahaha! Her words, not mine.

I have learned there are about three English speaking American families in this ward. There is a lady who is in the Navy... I think??... Oh I am totally going to get my facts wrong. Either way she is here in Madrid doing some international relations course that the US Army offers. Then there is another family with five kids (four kids??) whose dad is doing the same thing. This family has really taken me under their wings. After knowing their daughter Kylee for about an hour and a half, I received an invitation to her wedding in Belgium and was invited over for dinner the following Sunday and the Bridal shower in the upcoming week. It was awesome and so comforting. It felt like I already had a family and friends! Oh and ps.... Kylee is Desiree Layton’s identical twin in almost EVERY aspect. It is awesome. Seriously. Maybe a cross between Des and Reese Witherspoon. Anyways, third family is here because the Dad works for NATO. Again, wonderful, open, inviting family. Oh! I am forgetting a fourth. Another Brother is here with his wife and two kids doing an internship in optometry.

Okay, yes. Now for the Spanish half of the ward. So, my second Sunday, I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting. I had decided that I was going to do Sunday School in Spanish and RS in English or vice versa so I could get to know people from both languages. After Sacrament Meeting this adorable little old lady turns around and starts telling me how much she loves my singing voice. She then goes on to tell me about the Stake choir and how I HAVE to join, etc, etc. In the end she grabs my arm and starts leading me around the church and introducing me to everyone that sings in the choir and the ward music director and on and on. It was so adorable. I was going to make my escape to go to Sunday School in English but that was practically impossible. She sat me down next to Rosio and there I stayed! It was awesome.

I went to Stake Choir and ohhhh what a hilarious situation. So, I am sitting there and the choir director is quite humorous. She is kind of a hard nose and yells at people and lectures them for not studying the music and on and on. So funny. So, she looks at me, this white American with an accent and essentially was like, what are you doing here? We sing in two weeks and I am not letting you sing with us if you can’t learn the music by then. And with all of this she gave me this quizzical look that essentially said, there is noooooo way you are learning this music but I guess I have to let you try since this is a church choir. Haha! So, we sang the first song. It had a basic alto line and I sang it. At the end of the song, she looks at me over her glasses at the end of her nose that no kidding have a jewelled chain to keep them around her neck. First, she complements me on my voice, which ps isn’t amazing. I mean, I can hit a note but I am not musical genius. Then she proceeds to get all of my contact information so she can send me all of the music and any news the choir might have. It was adorable.

Anyways, those are my church stories. My ward rocks and I love it. I will work on the YSA eventually but for now I am quite content where I am. Yay Madrid!