Week 72 - CHRISTMAS

This is what they have traditionally - without a Christmas tree. They
call it a Belen, and I know it as a Nativity on steroids. That is all
handmade by a member, handpainted, held together by glue and wire.

Pretty cool, right?

Week 71 - Preparing for Christmas

I've got Skype on my IPad all set up already with you as a contact and
I don't have P-Day next week. So I won't be able to email until
Christmas. Is there any reason why we shouldn't plan on what we did
last year? I call you at around 8:00 your time, or 4:00 mine. We can
talk for 45m to an hour, because this time my companion's parents
aren't divorced and I won't have a bunch of time to burn. Send me any
additional instructions cause I'll have wifi intermittently throughout
the week. Oh, and I do have news about my package - its here, and it
cost 40€ to get it out of customs. Dang Spaniards. I'll get it and the
bill Christmas Eve at the Madrid-wide Christmas devotional.

You're right about the need to work extra hard at Christmas - all
though people are a little more open during this time of year, they're
a lot more pressured to be moving here and there and fast and presents
and buy and sales and get out of my way I love Jesus but I don't have
time. It reminds me of the first little bit of the "He is the gift"
vídeo. Maybe it's the mission, but I didn't think that back home we
were so materialistic at Christmastime. I mean, we're not perfect at
all, but think about it this way - ask all the kids what they got for
Christmas from Santa last year. Even better, ask what they ASKED for.
And then ask them what we do for Christmas every year. I'm fairly
confident that even Charlie, who's had the least amount of experience
with the Maxfield Family at Christmastime, could tell you all of our
traditions - which are either Christ-centered or family-centered or
both. And I just don't see that in the average Spanish folk, which is
really quite sad. They need the gospel.

We had a family home evening the other night, and we talked about
giving and receiving. And in the Elder Maxfield Christmas message,
here's my thought on giving and receiving, take right out of the mouth
of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "What can I give him..... I can give
my heart."

Elder Maxfield

Week 70 - A crazy week

Wow! This week was nuts. I think I worked in Alcalá a total of 10
hours. Monday, after P day, I had a planning session with The Elder
Bailey and we worked out ideas for Zone Meeting. Then, we got
up early and went to the mission home. It was a great concilio! We
talked the whole time on how to be good leaders and how to enable
those we serve. Really a stellar meeting. Hermana Pack had the winner
thought when we talked for a while about feeding the flock - and after
we had several non-committal responses on the need to be sincere and
to love et. Etc., she pulled out the big guns - "Elders and Hermanas -
specifically, HOW do you feed His sheep?" And then we had an excellent
discussion that gave me lots of great ideas on what we really needed
to do.

After that, Elder Bailey and I kept planning in Alcalá and got some
Dominoes to make the planning go faster, we went to the
temple, and that was great - An excellent session. I know it's the
same every time, but I learned a lot. After that, we had some lunch
with some Canarians in Azuqueca, and then, FINALLY, I got to work in
Alcalá again. We spent our time with Maria, who got baptized a month
or so ago, and in a Family Home Evening with some amazing
Argentinians. The Gurreas. We came in, and I could tell that something
was off. Nothing crazy, but it had been one of those days, you know,
when the kids are a little crazy and not all the errands got done and
not everything goes the way it should, and to top it off, you're
coming off a cold and people are coming over? Maybe I'm wrong, but it
seemed like a day where everyone was a little short on temper. I'd
like to say our special spirit and a scriptural thought changed it
all, but no. I've learned that the best way to help people is to do
what's expected, and then a little more. We had showed up with 30
fresh chocolate chip cookies for the appointment, and that is what
made the difference. A good cookie in the right place at the right
time is powerful. Anywho, it changed the whole dynamic and we were
invited over again. Wednesday night, we slept over in Azuqueca, and it
was a party. 4 elders in one apartment is always a good time.

Thursday morning, we filmed a video about how NOT to teach to use in
Zone Meeting. That went great - it was pretty funny. We were going to
explain some things about how to teach (not that we're perfect) but to
do so, we filmed a charla that probably many missionaries have had -
Decent explaining, but without questions or effective understanding on
either part. Our goal in Zone Meeting was to change that. It worked
well - the meeting was fantastic.

Then, I went on an intercambios with the office elders again -
including Elder Weiss! I love that guy. We talked a lot about
prioritizing and time usage, which was the main goal, but we also
spent some time in the office. I just shredded papers and pretended
not to hear about the transfers they were all waiting for. And then,
Saturday, we had transfers! I will be staying here for another 8 weeks
(which means Christmas with the Schwartz... Yessss) and Elder Avila as
well. What's great is I'll be able to work with Elder Bailey again
this transfer, and we have a lot of great plans. This makes 3 areas in
12 transfers, or 6 months per area. I am one lucky duck. But I'll
probably be gone next transfer, but I guess you never know. This
transfer they took out a set of Hermanas and are going to put in some
Elders, so I'm excited to have some fun with those guys.

And, I confirmed Lizandro, Maria's boyfriend, a member. It
was a great blessing, and all signs are that he'll continue strong in
the church. Afterwords, we had a Christmas concert at the temple, and
THAT was great. There was one old Spaniard that played the piano so
well, and it was all Christmas music.

And in short, that was my week. I slept in Alcalá with my own
companion 2 out of 7 days. But it was great, and the Lord blessed us.
Sorry about last week - we just didn't have time after P-day to get
any decent letters out. The church is true, and next transfer will be
nice and tranquilo.

Who am I kidding.
Elder Maxfield