¡Feliz Navidad!

Hola everyone!!

     They were right!!  Christmas really is magical in the mission. When I first came to my new area, here in the center of Madrid, I really thought Christmas Day would be so cool, walking around seeing all of the cool events during Christmas.  Well today, as we walked around Madrid for a couple of hours bored out of our minds because everything was closed, it reminded me again what really the true meaning of Christmas is!!!  I know you always hear that, but wow have I felt the true spirit of Christmas this year.  I have been feeling very overwhelmingly blessed that I've had the opportunity to share the Love of Christ with the church's Christmas video this past month. Today was really great seeing and talking with my family!!  Yesterday we had a great devotional with the President and all of the other missionaries.  It was fun singing and feeling the spirit there. I hope you guys all had a great Christmas spending time with family and really remembering the true meaning of Christmas.  I'm so grateful for all of the things I have been able to do this year and most importantly I'm grateful for the birth of Christ, my Savior.  It has been full with love, laughter, tears, and unforgettable memories in my mission. I love all of you guys so much!! And have a happy new year!!!
FELIZ NAVIDAD!!🎄🇪🇸🎁

Hermana Berry





 

 

Never felt so Italian living in Spain. :)

FELIZ Navidad everyone!!

    I hope everyone is feeling the Christ like spirit this month!! Can you believe that it is almost Christmas?? Last December I was home so this just seems so weird to me.  But oh I am so pumped for next week to have Christmas as a missionary.  We are going to have a big Christmas meeting with all of the missionaries in Madrid and with the President and is family on Christmas Eve.  For Christmas Day me and my companion are planning on making an Italian Pizza... (Gasp) Oops I almost gave it away about my companion!!
    My new compy (or should I say daughter) is from the South of Italy and she is absolutely adorable and has a heart made out of sugar. We've only been together for a week but we get along just great and I'm excited to be with her for longer.  Even though she doesn't think so, her Spanish is already basically perfect.  And she has great desires to work hard out here in the mission field.
     Ok, let me give you a run down of my week...
     Tuesday I picked up my trainee at the Church and we headed for a new area.  I will be honest..  When I was sitting there in the leadership meeting I most definitely thought I was being PUNK'D. Haha but no really.. I did not want to train and I did not want to go to Barrio 5.. So I really didn't know why this was happening to me.  Well anyway, the Elders from Barrio 5 came and helped us with our suitcases because they are just so nice...well we get to the piso and somebody forgot to get the key from the other Hermana who lived there before, (oops)  So about 2 hours later after waiting in Sol to get the keys and running back and forth from metros.. We arrived in our piso!!
     Wednesday we had district meeting and got to know are new district. Then we had two lessons with some members and they are all so great!!  We had a lesson with Javi, an 18 year old recent convert who is awesome!! He literally knows every missionary because he is so involved in helping out with them. I would know this.  Because he helped us in a lesson when I was in Barrio 8!  He is such a great kid!! And I'm so grateful for all the help we can get since we are both new here.
     Thursday we had a Noche de Hogar (family home evening) in the church so that was fun to meet more members. And we also had a lesson with a very special guy named Francisco.  Francisco is a Spaniard from Madrid and has been deaf for all of his life.  He wants to get baptized so we are going to work some of the things he needs help with.  We had a lesson with him right in front of the Royal Palace of Spain.  As I was sitting there, marveled of the fact that we were able to communicate with someone who is cannot talk, and also the historic scenery surrounded me.. I couldn't help and think to myself how very blessed I am to be here in Madrid.  This moment was really cool, because I don't think I've been so happy in my mission.  Oh not to mention he is teaching us Spanish sign Language!! So that, Español and maybe a little Italian will keep me busy learning for a while. :) yay.
     Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we stayed busy meeting new people learning new things about our area.  Sunday was super weird because wehad stake conference so we had to go to the chapel in Pavones and so in other words I saw more people from Barrio 8 than Barrio 5.  It was cool that I got to see some of the members from my other area! We are very excited to work hard this week to find new investigators and get to know the barrio more.

I have gained such a big testimony this week that Heavenly Father really does know us.  He knows what is best for us and he has blessings waiting for us, all we have to do is be obedient and patient!! I'm so grateful for this chance I have to be here, train a new missionary and enjoy my amazing experiences in Spain.  I hope you all have a great week and I invite you all to really focus on the life of Christ to prepare for LA NAVIDAD!! 🇪🇸😇🎄🎁

Les quiero muchísimo!!!

Hermana Berry

¡Plot twist: She goes to Sol with a daughter!

Hola mis queridos!!!

  I hope everyone has been enjoying the wonderful spirit of Christmas this past week!  Can you believe we are already one full week into December!? And then one month later I will turn a year old in the mission.  Holy. Cow.  Well speaking of aging in the mission, I have been pondering and  praying lately of what can I do to feel like I'm a better missionary.  I've been having a feeling that the Lord had something big in store for me, however I did not expect this..
Well, we got transfers call and I'm going to go to the center (touristic part of Madrid) and I'M GOING TO TRAIN A NEW MISSIONARY! I cannot believe it.  In fact the last two days I have been slightly majorly freaking out inside.  So of course that night I had a real long chat with Heavenly Father,  wondering why he would give me such a big responsibility.  Instead of feeling scared I want to be  excited and happy about such an incredible opportunity so I prayed to help me feel more excited and motivated.  Because honestly things are about to get pretty crazy.  Well good news, a couple of hours ago I just had all these thoughts why that is going to be so great.  I'm glad that the Lord is comforting me and has faith in me.  I know that this next transfer might be hard but honestly I'm actually really excited to grow so much and teach a new missionary.  Tomorrow I will pick up my "daughter." ☺️ Yay.

  This whole week Hermana Birnbaumer and I were thinking that I was going to leave the area and she would stay.  Well other plot twist is that they are closing our companionship here in Barrio 8.  So my companion was sent to the North to Oviedo, and she is really excited about that. We are really,  really sad to both have to leave all of our incredible people that we visit here, but we leaving them in good hands to the other Hermanas and Elders here.  I can't believe my 2 transfers here with Hermana Birnbaumer are already gone.  The time went by so fast.  We had fun and learned lots of things and made lots of good relationships here with members and investigators.  She taught me a lot, and I'm grateful for her example of being a teacher.  I have absolutely LOVED Barrio 8. The members here are great and I have really appreciated there love for us.  I have been very spoiled the last 16 weeks to get to use a chapel right next to the SPAIN TEMPLE which is beautiful.  Although I will miss being so close to the temple, I'm glad that I am staying in Madrid this next transfer.  I have learned so many things here from new vocab and grammar in Spanish, how to wisely calculate time using metro and the train all day long to many many things spiritually.  I'm sad to leave here but I'm excited for my next new adventure.  Oh yeah, not to mention, Barrio 5 was Hermana Birnbaumer's first area so she has already gave me some tips and advice about that area! 😃

    18 more days until Christmas!! Every December you always hear about the importance of focusing on Christ's birth rather than presents and money. Well this has never been more real and important until I have been a missionary teaching and studying more about Christ.  I wanted to make this Christmas especially special because it's my first Christmas as a missionary!  So everyday I try to study something new about Christ's life and then write a note about it.  On December 25th I'm going to re read all of my notes and I think it will really strengthen my testimony about my Savior.  I have really liked it so far.  We have also been sharing the new Christmas video with everyone "A Savior is born" and sharing our testimony of why Jesus Christ is important to us.  If you haven't seen this video yet, go watch and then share it with a friend!! Last night in the church we had a really cool Christmas concert/devotional.  We heard beautiful uplifting music and saw the lights around the temple they finally lighted with the Nativity in the front!! It was a really special way to end my time here in Barrio 8.  I'm so grateful for The Savior's humble example he gave when he was on the earth.  I feel his love everyday and I hope you guys will think about things you can to do show your love to him this Christmas season.

I love all of you guys so much and thanks for all of he support!!!
¡Misiones son lo mejor!

Hermana Sydney Berry 🍓🇪🇸

Sorry for the photo overload but that's just what happens when we have transfers!
1- Deicy an investigator :). She made me wear her cool hat from Ecuador.
2- Carmen a member that is less active with her grandson who is upside
down on the couch 😋
3- Yapa Family
4- Gisela, recent convert
5-Victor.. He is going to get baptized soon!
6- Nancy and Carlos and Family
7- Jared, recent convert
8-Stefany and Avelino
11-Dora, Edison, and Rosa
The others are of the temple and pretty lets from last night :)