February 9th

Dear Family,

This week, I will have been out for 4 months! Woah! How time flies. What people say about the mission is really true. The weeks are very long, but the months are very short. I will also be finishing my training in the 12 week program after this week, and the new transfer starts next week. It will be interesting to see if anything changes. There is a chance that I could go to another area, but I could also stay here in Avilés. I will find out on Saturday, and then changes happen on next Monday. I am very excited and very nervous at the same time. I don´t want to leave Avilés yet, but mostly I don´t want to leave the people here. A change would be very exciting as well, but we will see what happens!

I can´t believe that Mark is going to be home in a month! It seems like so many crazy things are happening now that I am out here. Speaking of that, how is JB doing? Is he living with his parents now that he is home?

I love Mosiah 3:19. That scripture really sums up our purpose here on earth, to put off the natural man. I love how much the scriptures can help us our own lives. And I really understand why we are always told to read them daily. I read over John 9 this morning in my personal study, which is the story of Christ healing the blind man on the Sabbath. I absolutely love this story, and how we can relate it to our experience on earth. Just like this blind man, we are born with a veil, so that we can´t perceive everything spiritually, that we need to learn for ourselves how to put off the natural man, and become a saint. It is through Christ that we can see again, and I am so grateful for that.

That's about it family! You guys are fantastic! I carry that second photo that you sent me in my bag to show investigators and members, and they absolutely love it. I love you all. I look forward to spending eternity with each of you.

Your son/brother,

Élder Rawlinson

PS. In your next package, could you please send me something? Can you send me a copy of that Mormon tabernacle album that we have in iTunes? The one with the classical music? Thank you!

This is a picture taken above the town of Oviedo, Spain

February 2, 2014

Hello Family!

I did get that money! And when I get a chance, I will exchange it for Euros. That is so cool to hear about Donelle! I´m so glad that she got a job, and that Noah is going to PG! Tell him to say hi to some of my teachers and friends while he is there!

The past week was awesome! We had a Reigonal conference that was presided over by Elder Ballard, and transmitted to all of the members in Spain, Portugal, and Cape Verde. It was awesome! We had to take a bus to Gijon, a larger city about 30 minutes away to watch it in their capilla. All of the members in the district of León were there to watch the conference. It really focused on member missionary work, but we still learned quite a bit there. We had the chance to meet with president Jackson and have interviews. I am so grateful for him and his great example for us.

Today, we went to Covadonga, which is a little pueblo in the mountains of Asturias. It is so gorgeous, I will send pictures next week! To sum up though, we met a pony, and I drank from a fountain seven times to ensure that I will be married soon. I don´t know if it still works if I will be on a mission for the next 20 months. Haha, probably not. :)

I know I say this almost every week, but I am so grateful for this chance that I have to serve a mission. I have learned soooo much about the Gospel, and about myself. It is definitely difficult. But when I remember my family supporting me spiritually at home, it is much easier. Thank you for all you do! 

Love you so much!

Élder Rawlinson

This is Kaleb and his companion, Elder Parkinson, above the mountains in Oviedo in front of the Christo statue

Hello Everyone! I wanted to send another mass email talking about my first (and second) baptisms on Saturday! To start off, sorry Mom and Dad for not telling you anything about the second baptism. Haha, we only challenged her about 2 weeks ago to getting baptized. Her name is Miria, and she is 13 years old. Her family is from Brazil, but they have lived here for about 11 years now. Her mom was baptized in brazil as a member, but lost contact with the church when she moved to spain. Elder Parkinson and his old companion met Miria´s older brother about a month before I came to the area, and we have been teaching them since then. Miria showed the most interest, and it was impossible to meet with all of them together, so we taught her individually, and challenged her two weeks ago to baptism. Last tuesday, Miria had her interview with the district leader. She passed it with flying colors, but after, expressed some doubts about the gospel. The next day, Elder Parkinson and I met with her to help her out, and she wasn´t talking to us at all. At one point, she got up to go to the bathroom or something, and my companion and I decided to just sit there with her until she expressed how she felt about the baptism. We sat there for half an hour with her before she said anything. But, she eventually opened up, and we were able to help her with her doubts. It was one of the most amazing experiences that I have had. Our other baptism was Veronica. She has been taking the lessons off and on for 3 years, and My companion challenged her to move our of her boyfriend´s (who was inactive, now an active member) house and to be baptized. She accepted, and prepared for the past 2 months to be baptized. Overall, It was an amazing day, that I will never forget. To see two of Heavenly Father´s children take this step in their lives was amazing. I am so grateful to be here on a mission, sharing the Gospel with the people here in Spain. I know more than ever right now that this church is true. Élder Rawlinson PS Here are a couple of pictures. The First is Us with Miria, and the second is us with Veronica. Enjoy!!