March 24, 2014

Hey Family! Looks like there are lots of cool things going on at home! Congrats Dad on the ordination! I know that you and Mom will both do so amazing at your callings. 

The past week has been pretty good out here in the Islands! We are getting ready to have two baptisms on Saturday, and I will let you know how that goes next week. Haha, you are right that I always try to be positive about the mission in the emails. Like you already now, the mission is incredibly difficult, and I guess that it would be helpful to share some difficulties with you as well. Actually, right now, me and my companion are going through some rough times with our investigators, so we are spending some more time out in the street looking for more. This is something that is very hard for me at times. Naturally, I am not a very outgoing person, and speaking in another language that I don´t feel entirely comfortable in makes it a little worse. Slowly by slowly, I am overcoming my difficulty, but it is very hard some days. For me, one thing that gives me comfort are the words of Moroni in Ether 12. God gives us weakness so that we can become strong. If we come unto him he will show us what our weakness is and how we can defeat it. Keep me in your prayers, because at times, I could really use the strength.

Don´t let me get down though!!! Because with all of the hard times, come rewarding results! The mission has made me so happy! And I can hardly believe that it is almost a quarter of the way done. Good luck on the country report Devin! You have picked the best country to talk on! If there is one cultural thing that is prevalent here, it is fútbol! It is the thing that unites and divides people that have never even seen each other before. In fact, the Real Madrid, Barcelona game was on last night, and just let me tell you, people LOVE their team.

With love,

Your son and brother,

Élder Kaleb Rawlinson 

Hello Everyone! I thought I would make a group message to let you all know that I arrived in my new area. The Canary Islands!!!!!! Crazy right! I am in Vecindario, on the Gran Canaria. It is a fairly large city, and we have a ward here! It is a small ward, and very young as well. The Canary Islands Stake was formed only 6 months ago, and everything in the ward of Vecindario is finally getting settled. My new companion let me know that pretty much every week, we are translating sacrament meeting, as there are some members from Norway that live in the South of the island, and some other people that speak English as well. I had my first experience in translating during sunday school yesterday. It is so exhausting! Haha, but I know that it will improve my Spanish skills. We have quite a few investigators who speak english as well, so I have gotten to teach in English for the first time this week. Haha, so weird! I was so used to doing it in Spanish!

As you might expect, the weather is a little warmer here. Haha, not just a little, a lot. Pretty much every day gets to at least 18 degrees. (Which, I believe is in the high 60s?) The members actually say that it has been rather cold lately, but to me, that is a lot better than the weather in Asturias. I sure do miss Avilés, and especially the people. But, I know that they are in good hands with that awesome branch. 

Well, besides that. Not much else to report. I know why it is called the canary islands, as we can pretty much always here birds chirping. Hmmm, what else is different. Oh, there are cockroaches! Haha, that took a little while to get used to. The first night I was here, I opened a drawer in the bathroom, and saw one just chillin there. Haha, that scared me quite a bit, but I am understanding a little of what my dad experienced in the Philippines on his mission! Uhm, the buses are called guagua´s instead of buses. Haha, and we have a car! It´s a little strange, but I have been able to drive again! (It is a manual, thank goodness.) Since I have been here for less than six months, I can use my US drivers licence. Also, my companion doesn´t really like driving stick, so I get to drive pretty much everywhere!

Well, I think that's about it. I love it here! It is so gorgeous, and me and my companion are already having success with our investigators. 

Until next week!

Élder Rawlinson

Here are a few photos of the past little while:

The first is a picture of the plane from Madrid to The Islands.

The next two are pictures of Vecindario

And then one of me with a cute little cucaracha on my shoe.

And the last three are pictures of a small town called Santa Lucia that is in our area.

Kaleb's first transfer....wait for it...

Hello family!

I don´t have very much time, because I have just arrived in the Islands! From what I can tell, the weather is fantastic, and the work as well. I just wanted to let you know that I have arrived safely in vecindario, on the island Gran Canaria. It has been a very long day of flights and train rides, but I am here and ready to get to work mañana!

Thank you so much for your support! I love you!

Élder Rawlinson