Day 20

Thus terminates the first 1/3 of my trip.

I walked to church in the rain, but got there on time this week! I forgot how loud the ward is, and the noise isn’t coming from babies or little kids. A high councilman spoke who several times asked the ward to pay attention, so they quieted down a bit. He spoke slowly and clearly so I actually understood his talk. I felt a little embarrassed when the Sunday School teacher kept calling on me to read out loud. I feel like a kid trying to sound out the difficult words. The nice thing about Spanish is that unlike English, everything is pretty much phonetic and sound-out-able.

I love the hymns. I love that they bring the spirit no matter what language or how off-beat/pitch they are sung. I realized during the intermediate hymn Grande Eres Tu (How Great Thou Art) that I had a little (or a lot) of lachrymation going on. How amazing it is that I am so far away from everyone I know and love, and despite moments of feeling so alone, I haven’t travelled any distance from my Heavenly Father or the angels that he has promised to help bear me up. I see His hand is working just as much in my life and the lives of His children here in Spain as I saw in the lives of those I love at home. “I am confident that our Heavenly Father’s arms are constantly extended, ever ready to embrace each one of us and say to each one with that quiet, piercing voice, ‘I love you’ (Elder Koelliker).” Thanks for all the expressions of love from home, it means a lot to me to hear it.

The family returned tonight. Hugo still expects and insists his father will be back to give him his bath or join us for dinner. These are the only declarations from Hugo that actually evoke some sympathy from me. Now back to work.