Lots of People Getting Ready for Baptism!

Note from Mom - It sounds like Gabe and Elder Adams have a couple people on schedule to be baptized this Sunday! Both of them are women that they've been working with over the past few weeks and their names are Carla (aka: Dubraska) and Gina. Gabe also got to visit his first area of Aranjuez on an exchange (he talked a little bit about that last time, but he was just starting the travels there, so this tells a bit more about it). Also, Gabe was telling me that he doesn't really feel like his companion, Elder Adams, is getting any better with his health problems. He's still really forgetful and can't really take care of himself in a lot of ways, so Gabe mentioned on the phone that he's a little worried Elder Adams may get sent home on the next transfer. Gabe is hoping to get transferred somewhere else too, it sounds like, but the are has been picking up so they're staying busy, which is good. I asked him what he would do if he got the phone call in a couple weeks that said, "We have decided to keep you there with Elder Adams in Alcazar for one more transfer," and he said, "I'd have to come home..." (Just kidding...) But that's definitely not what he wants. 

**Also, note about the picture. We started school here in Idaho on August 25th. Avery is starting 8th grade (with me!) and Caleb is starting his senior year, so I told Gabe I needed a picture of him in front of the door holding up a sign that said something like, "13th Month as a Missionary" so he did. I loved it. ;)

Tuesday, August 19 - Tuesday, August 26, 2025

(Week 9 in Alcazar)

1. Gina and Carla +Alexander 

2. Aranjuez exchange 

3. Amigos

1. Gina and Carla are both looking good for their baptisms on the 31st and Gina also brought her son to church on Sunday. We also had a lesson with a guy who called and told us out of nowhere that he wanted to meet and have a lesson, so we hurried to the church and had a hype first lesson and he is now reading the BOM. He also accepted a baptismal date in September!

2. Our time visiting Aranjuez for our exchange was amazing. I got to see Reine and Smith (Reine was an old man who was a member from the ward; Smith was the man I baptized). The Dagimar family was busy though😔 so we didn't see them. We had a really good lesson with Smith and a guy named Andres who the Elders there are teaching. We were having this lesson in the park🏞 and mid-lesson, a guy and his dog starting lingering behind us and kinda seemed like he was listening. He was in fact listening and was a D1 basher. After Andres accepted a baptismal date, this guy started screaming at us and shouting about of Anti stuff. I stood there continuing to talk to Andres and just ignoring the guy until he started getting in my face. I told him "Gracias hermano" and that he could leave, but then he started screaming saying, "I'm not your brother😾" then he paused, and I said, "Gracias Tio," which basically means, "Thanks homie," then he raged more. I starting talking to him while leading him away while the other Elder finished the lesson with Andres. Then when he noticed Andres was escaping on his scooter after the Elder finished up the lesson he, screaming some more, chased Andres for a couple feet. But it was still probably my favorite exchange. Andres still is getting baptised as well. Despite the D1 basher.

3. Our other amigos are all still hype. We are trying to get one of them to stop smoking and she says it's getting better. But either she has really bad luck or it's in fact not getting better because we keep running into her around town while she's smoking. 

Day-by-Day notes:

Tuesday, August 19: We had one of my favorite exchanges today. We were in Aranjuez, my old area! We started with some street contacting and we got some numbers. One lady we were contacting stopped me while I was talking and said:

 "Why are you smiling? The liar always smiles while lying." 

me : "because Jesus makes me happy" 

lady: *walks away without giving number*😭.

Then we had some good video calls with Gina and Dubraska (Carla), who both live in my current area of Alcazar. They are both ready for baptism on the 31st. Then we had a hype lesson in the park with a guy the elders are teaching named Andres and Smith Gift! Then after Andres accepted a baptismal date, a random guy came up in the park and starting yelling about how we were from Satan and how the guy needed to run away. I pulled the guy aside and starting talking to him while Elder Brinkerhof finished the lesson and sent the amigo on his way and the guy starting raging when he saw the amigo escaping. Wild guy.

 

Wednesday, August 20: We had a bunch of lessons set up for today back in Alcazar and they all had to reschedule except Heyder. We had a pretty good lesson with him about the gospel of Jesus Christ and we think if he actually reads the Book of Mormon this time he could progress. Afterward, we did street contacting and then had to travel to Valdepeñas to pick up the car from the Hermanas and that took the rest of the evening😭.

Thursday, August 21: Today was very high quality. We had street contacting this morning and found a couple people later as well. We found 5 people just today! Then we had a really good lesson with Nicolas and Belen (his member girlfriend). We found out they're both moving though, so imma cry. Then we had a hype lesson with Gaby and Jorge and Jared(member) came with us. We talked about the Restoration. Then we met with Carla(Dubraska) and talked about the commandments which went great. She thought they all made sense. Antonio(member) was also there for that one.

Friday, August 22: We had some hype street contacting this morning(pretty normal) then we had a lesson with Gina which was great. Still looks good for the baptism the 31st. Then we had a hype lesson with Luis and Leo. They are going to try and come to church on Sunday. The only problem is they're 17 and can't get up early💀. Then we found Anabel (a girl we have been teaching and trying to prepare for baptism) smoking again😭. 

Saturday, August 23: We did some street contacting this morning and it wasn't too exciting. We went and visited Angel, the recent convert, and he's going to bring a friend to church tomorrow so he's gas. Then we visited a member named Oscar who hasn't been going to church because he stopped going for a month because he said he was sick and "nobody checked on him" he was interesting. Cool Peruvian convert though. When the lesson ended he asked if he could "test us" by asking us "hard and conplex church questions" it was just early church history stuff. The fact I had read the Book of Saints saved out career🙏🏼. 

Sunday, August 24: We had a hype day at church with Gina (and her son that she brought to church) and Carla. It was a good day at church and then we had a lesson out of nowhere because this guy called and said he was on his way to the church. His name is Alexander and we put him on baptismal date even though it was his first lesson because he's elect. I also called and talked to my family.

Monday, August 25: We had a lesson planned with a Brazilian guy, but he canceled so we spent most the morning street contacting. Then we had our studies and we had to start the journey to Madrid for Pday and the temple trip tomorrow. We stayed with Elder Gil and Malachowski which was fun. Today was a normal "work" day because we switched our Pday to Tuesday (tomorrow) so that we can go to the temple in Madrid tomorrow.