Easter, Pioneers, y Piñatas!!

FELIZ PASCUA! 🐰🌷😊

I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter Sunday!! Here in Madrid it seems to be more of an excuse to eat more food and leave the country for vacation.  But luckily for me as a missionary, I got to feel the true significance of Easter.  The Lord has risen and this is a powerful message that we got to share with people this week!!  I continued studying from Jesus the Christ about his death and resurrection and I feel that I have learned and felt a little bit more this week. We are also very excited for general conference this next weekend! I feel so happy and grateful for all of the opportunities I get to be
spiritually uplifted on a daily basis.

Hermana Modugno and I were just talking how we don't really remember a lot that happened this week.  And not to sound like a broken record but wow the weeks go by so fast!! The days can be long, but when you look at the end of the week, I don't know where the time went! Sometimes it scares me because I know how important it is to use the Lord's time wisely. But when things don't go as planned I have to remember that as long as we did our part being faithful, obedient, and diligent, that's all that God expects of us.  This week is Hermana Modugno's 20th Birthday! Hopefully she doesn't read this email because I'm planning on make her chocolate strawberry pancakes for breakfast.  🤗🍓

God's timing even in little tiny moments is always perfect.  We taught Josefina the Plan of Salvation on Tuesday and she understood it pretty well! On Thursday she when she came and met with us to go to a family home evening in a members house, she received a phone call that her friend had died.  Fortunately we (and a 17 year old member who was with us) were there to help comfort her.  I know that she really needed us in that moment.  Not only did we teach about the plan of Salvation beforehand but something else that was interesting happened to.  When we were waiting to meet with her on Thursday, we came out of the wrong exit of the metro and ended up having to be a little late to the family night.  But what we realized was that it was kind of a mini miracle that we were outside when she received her call because it would have been worst if we were already in the house for her to receive the news.  This reminded me that God knows all.  He's knows what might happen to us in the future and uses little moments that same to be bad timing in the moment actually a blessing in the end!! We met again with our other investigator Gianina.  She told us more about her life and the struggles that she's going through with her son.  But she also told us that she's grateful for the peace and tranquility that she has felt since meeting with us.  I know that Heavenly Father puts us in people's lives when they need it the most. The gospel changes and blesses people!!

On Saturday we celebrated with the Relief Society the anniversary.  We watched a little skit of the history of how it first got started and then we watched some cute little Latinas dancing like pioneers and then........ I hit the piñata!! Haha it was great! Yesterday we took some of our investigators and a member to a really cool Easter concert in Pavones.  It was fun to some of the members that I know from my last 2 areas.  The music was really pretty and I felt the spirit pretty strong!  I'm so grateful for Christ's atonement!  He has risen from the tomb.  He conquered death and saved us, that is why he is our Savior.  He is waiting for us to come unto him.  I love this gospel. Spain is great.  Have a really good week and pay attention to conference!!

Love you ALL!!!
Hermana Berry

 

 

 

   

 

El poder de la expiación

Hola!

This week was great!!  We worked a lot harder and received many blessings.  Some of those including NEW INVESTIGATORS! Yay, we are so happy. ☺️.  Right now it is raining outside which means bring on the Spanish Spring weather! (I know have no right to complain because I am not serving in Northern Spain, but Madrid has its ups and downs.). This week I have been  focusing/studying on the atonement and resurrection to prepare for Easter.  My testimony continues to be increased as I read the Book of Mormon everyday and also the power of prayer.  The church released its new Easter video called Hallelujah that we've been sharing with people and it's such a beautiful message about the resurrection!  I hope everyone will be able to focus more on the real meaning of Easter this weekend.

New investigators!! Last Monday we found an interesting man outside of the church.  So we saw this this older Español gentleman walking by the church and looking out the church sign. And so we went up to him started talking.  We ended up talking for about 30 minutes and he was super nice.  He didn't ended up giving his number but I think was very grateful for the conversation we had together.  I hope we can see him again soon!  Antonio, our investigator that I talked about last week wasn't able to meet with us because he is traveling, but he is reading the Book of Mormon and is still messaging us questions. Yay!

Other miracle investigators... Josefina! Well the other day two ladies came to the door of the church and one of them told us that she was really interested in learning more about the gospel!! (This never happens so miracles #1) She is Dominican and super sweet and funny. So we met with her like two days later and set a baptismal date for April.  Her sister lives in Utah and she's planning on going to General Conference there.  And we are planning on having her getting baptized when she returns.  Tonight is our second lesson with her. 😊

Yesterday we met with a new investigator who is a Mother from Peru with a little son.  She was contacted by Elders from the MTC in Retiro Park and she wanted to learn more about the Book of Mormon.  We met with her yesterday and lesson went really well!! I've been trying to work on being more bold with the Spirit, so I invited her to be baptized and she accepted!! I have really seen miracles happen when I boldly follow the spirit.  This week was awesome to finally have more investigators after hard work without easily seeing success.

Just like many times in my mission, my testimony in prayer really has been strengthened so much!  Sometimes I have little trials during the week that seem like things will NEVER CHANGE.. But then after a simple prayer with faith I am able to see/feel God's love and protection in my life.  On Friday, we had a super good zone conference with President and Hermana Pack.  They talked about how we can be better at "finding" new people to teach.  This is what I needed to learn more about so I was grateful for the messages there.  I have been reading in the Book of Mormon about Captain Moroni, and I am astonished that his faith and strength he has in Christ.  I want to be more like him.

I love being a missionary!! Today we went to Retiro Park and played soccer with the Elders, and some youth and I was reminded how blessed I am to be in Spain and I get to be around super awesome people!! I love my Savior Jesus Christ, and I know that he was resurrected. Thanks to Him, all is possible.  I love you guys so much and hope you feel the Lord's calming peace this Easter.

Con MUCHO cariño,
Hermana Sydney Berry 😘🇪🇸🍓

¿Dónde está mi English?

¡Hello a todos!

     This week started out a little strange let me explain why... Well Monday Hermana Marsh went home, and so now that makes 3 of my companions already home and which means I have only 2 transfers left after this one.  But that won't be for a whillllle so for now I'm going to continue enjoying Spain and being a missionary.  Right? Okay. Anyway, on Wednesday we had to find an orthodontist because my poor companion broke her retainer and was super stressed out about that.. But like I have always seen in my mission, God always provides.  And he did because tomorrow she's going to pick up her new one! :) So when we were looking for the orthodontist, I didn't realize we were out of our area until we were suddenly in front of the REAL Madrid soccer stadium, so that was kind of random haha.  (Oops sorry President.).  But we did end up finding it and my Comp's teeth are still perfect.

     Tuesday we had a cool lesson with a new investigator named ANTONIO. Antonio not only is legit looking for the truth but he is A) a Spaniard. And B) an old Spaniard.  Let me just tell you that this is a rare case to find. He is super great and is super willing to listen to our message and find out for him self if it's true.  I think that's probably one of my favorite things about being missionary of this gospel.  Our message about God comes with a complete 100% Guarantee. Wanna know why? Because we don't tell people to take our word for it, we invite them to ask Heavenly Father to receive an answer for themselves through the Holy Ghost.  And I love that, and so does he. So anyway, tomorrow we are going to meet with Antonio for the second lesson. He has already texted us asking more questions about the restoration. :) He was a reference contacted by the Hermanas in Barrio 9 in the metro. He told us that he was sitting down and saw two missionaries (shoutout to Hermana Olsen and Hinton. ) and felt like he had to talk to them for some reason so he asked them to come over and that's how they got his number. During the lesson he told us that he's been praying and praying to find the truth but God still hasn't answered him. (Because he hasn't seen God in other words we are working with his faith) but then we were like hello!!! God has answered you, he sent those two Hermanas in the metro.. I guess sometimes it's harder than others to recognize and answer to a prayer.

     Hmm what else has happened this week?... Oh, I am forgetting my English, (hence the email subject.) The other day we contacted a Philippine lady sitting in a bench and when she said, "Lo Siento, no hablo Español.." I was like shoot what do I say in English? Haha, I'm getting so awkward in my native language. Ha.

     "The people don't want to talk to us in the street, but they will talk to the pigeons.." -Hermana Modugno.  So the other day we sat down on a bench to make some phone calls and there was a little poor pigeon that was plopped down because it was stuck.  And a lady passed by, stopped talking on the phone to talk to the pigeon. The people are a tiny bit crazy, haha.

     Yesterday we had a lesson with Javi, a menos activo that we meet with.  He is lo mejor. (He's the one who drew the pictures of last week.) Anyway, for some reason it's really easy for me and Hermana Modugno to receive revelation when we teach him.  Every time we share what we feel like the Spirit is telling us to teach, he always tell us that it's exactly what he needed to hear.  So the other day he told us because of that, he knows this church is true.  Also yesterday, he was telling us about when he left the church for a while. (He's a recent convert but then was inactive for a while.) He said that the reason that he came back is because it didn't make sense to leave something so good to go to a life that is worst.  And so that's why he came back to the church, because it has helped his life so much.

     Here is a scripture that I really liked this week:

Alma 34:41 "But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions."Even though the mission can be hard sometimes, it's so wonderful.  I am so very grateful for so many things that I have been blessed with here in my mission.  The other night as I was lying in bed, I had this overwhelming appreciation for all of the blessings that I have received here these last 14 months.  Just to name one in specific is the fact that these last 3 transfers here in Barrio 5, Heavenly Father has blessed me so much to organize my time as we have to arrange our time everyday to meet with people. I'm so grateful. I love this gospel. I hope you have a great week!!

Con MUCHO cariño,

Hermana Berry 🇪🇸

Photo 1- the sad pigeon. 2- Yo y mi compy. 3- I ran into a lady that came to English classes clear back in Alcorcón! How small this world is even in gigantic Madrid! 4- My cute area. :)

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Es un Tío muy majo.

Hola Todos!!

   Today is a new transfer and I'm staying here in Barrio 5 with Hermana Modugno for a 3rd transfer! Woohoo!!  I was sure that I was leaving Barrio 5 but I guess there is someone here that we still need to find!! The weather is pretty cold but we can't complain too much because before we know the Madrid summer heat will be here.

   Yesterday we had a lesson with one of my favorite recent converts, Ana from Paraguay.  We asked what she though about Enos in the Book of Mormon and she said hmmm. "Pues es un tío muy majo.." Jajaja.  And for those who don't speak Spanish, that basically means: He's a pretty cool dude.  Haha I love the people we visit with here. .  Everyday I learn things and strengthen my testimony as I have been studying the Book of Mormon.  I love the Book of Enos because it really is an incredible example of the power of prayer and the atonement.  I know that Heavenly Father listens to our prayers and all we need to have faith and patience.  

     This week we got to go to the Temple and every time I am so grateful that I'm lucky enough to have the temple in my mission.  It really is a beautiful experience to know that I'm doing what the Lord wants me to do and be where I am.  I have learned so much from going to the Temple and very grateful for he peace that I feel there.

     This week as I have been pondering about some things that have happened in my mission, a scripture came to mind.. D&C 18:10: "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."  And if I could summarize the "why" of a mission- it would be this.  On a daily basis we teach people the concept that we are all children of God.  Which might seem like a simple concept but so many people may don't know this. This scripture really explains why we must help others come to know of the gospel.  It's because God is literally in favor for every single living creature on this earth. Now think about that for a moment.  So anyway I think about the members and investigators I have met so far and the impact they have made in my life.  And I know it's because I am feeling a small portion of the love that God has for them.

     Other thing I have learned this week is diligence and humility.  Sometimes when things seem to go not the way it was planned, I have to remember that this really is the work of he Lord.  Sometimes we are called to only do a small part and that we should be happy if we did what he wanted us to do.  I think it's easy to get caught up thinking about missionary success in the eyes of the "missionaries," but I know I that we will be more happy if we accomplish what he has planned for us and his children.  I've also learned that great blessings come from following the Holy Ghost.

Well not much happened this week, but we are excited to work hard to start out a great new transfer!! Love you alllll and thank you for all the support!!

Hermana Sydney Berry

🇪🇸

Pic- a menos activo that we meet with finished his drawing of us.  He is such a good artist!