Letter dated 8Mar2012

[Dear friends and family, here is Weston's letter from Madrid that we received this morning! As you can tell, he is doing well and greatly appreciates hearing from you! He has included his Barcelona address below. If you want, simply respond to this note - and I will get your note to him ASAP! I hope everyone is enjoying some spring-like weather! We were in the 60's yesterday here in Michigan! Weston's editor - BWS] Dear Family, So of all the things that I´ve gathered from you is that most people back in Michigan are wondering when I leave the Madrid MTC. We are currently waiting for the process of our residency here in Spain to process through and the final date when we go to City Hall is the 15th or 16th, and I will be one my way to my first area in the Barcelona Mission next week. One thing that I´ve heard but I´ll be sure to let you know is that Barcelona will be very humid. Here in Madrid we have had very nice weather. The people of Madrid wear jackets because it´s a bit chilly to them but it feels nice and fresh to all of us! Most every day we have clear blue skies and on the other days the sun is always out. I´ve heard some of the other missionaries talk about how at sometimes it feels like we haven´t left the USA because it is just a big city and there are quite a few things that are similar, but that is not the case for me. It is very similar at times, but then one look at the traffic signs in Spanish and the buildings remind me that I´m in a brand new place. The buildings here are all red and it´s an awesome contrast from the white Temple and the red buildings surrounding it. http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/madrid/ [Follow this link to see a picture of the Madrid temple - which is next to where Weston is staying. ] But as for some of the other buildings I´ve seen... wow! So far we have actually gone to a park in the middle of Madrid and have started meeting the people of Spain and sharing the Gospel with them. And so far I´ve learned one thing. I have a lot more Spanish to learn. Most people we meet do know some English but if anything I see that as a crutch for my own learning here in Spain. And the first time we went to the park left me in awe of everything going on around me. It was the first time I took one of the metro trains and all the buildings around the park and the statues and architecture within the park are absolutely fantastic! I probably won´t get pictures of the park, since I´m only in Madrid for one more week but I will be taking lots of pictures today on my P-Day [Preparation Day]. After lunch we are going to head into the heart of Spain and explore a part called Sol, where they have lots and lots of shops and other awesome things to see! One other place I´m planning on seeing today is the King´s Palace (¿Palace de Real, posiblimente?) but I´ll be waiting to see one of the huge Fotból arenas when I´m in Barcelona, since they are the best team in the world! I´m in the process of looking for some decent cheap fotból shoes since we play a lot during our actividad fisicá (physical activity). The kids here, hardly older than Chris and Nick, are amazing at soccer! I hope I get better by the time I´m finished but I won´t make any promises. I will let you know when and if I ever make a goal when I´m playing. ¡Estoy una bromista! Sadly a few days ago we said goodbuye to some of missionaries from Russia and Italy who were here at the MTC. They were all awesome people and it was awesome to get to know some of them. A good number of them knew English and they were all really great to be around. They definitely had the Spirit around them. Also our teachers are fantastic as well. One of my teachers, native to Spain, served a mission in Boise, Idaho and he is the funniest person I´ve met here! A phrase they have in Spain is something along the lines of ´´down the tube´´ and he talks about how with our missions we have blessings coming ´´down the tube´´! It was so nice to hear from everyone who wrote me between Monday of last week up until now! I have not quite been able to get around to mail anything quite yet but I do have the address of the Barcelona mission home. I think that if people who send me letters use this address it should be the best way for mail. If any other way ends up being better then I will inform you as soon as I find out. Elder Alexander Weston Schindler Spain Barcelona Mission Calle Calatrava N 10-12, bajos Barcelona 08017 Barcelona Spain Phone (for certain packages I believe) 34 932-116-762ç [I believe this would be for packages that require an address in Spain. This would not be a personal phone number for Weston.] Also, in personal study, I´ve found two scriptures I´d like to share with you all. the first is in Ether 4:11-12 ´´...for because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good. And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good...´´ The second is found in 2 Nephi 31:20 ´´Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men...´´ These have been great missionary scritpures for me to read and I hope you think they are as awesome as I do! I love you all and pray for the best of everyone one of you, Elder Alexander Weston Schindler