Weekend in Pals

Hello all! The highlight of my weekend was definitely finding the lds church in Girona, Spain. First of all, let me give you a little background. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE MORMON church is. No one even knew the street the church was on. So, on the weekends, the family I'm staying with goes to Pals (It's a refurbished city from the 1400's--gorgeous beyond belief, it's an hour and a half north of Barcelona. So, before I came here I knew that I would be attending church in Girona which is about an hour (east, by car) away from this so called "Pals" place. Well, Sunday rolls around and we had all gone to bed very late the night before, I wake up at 7:00 am. I get out of bed at 7:20. I get dressed and try my hardest to look decent... I have my very own daily self-esteem booster-Aina. Yes, Aina calls me "lleig" (pronounced "lecha" meaning ugly in catalan) at least five times daily... So I don't even bother anymore haha. Anyway, I think I ate some greek yogurt and grabbed the famous spanish "Prince" cookies.. They are delicious. Pau (the dad) was kind enough to drive me to the Palafrugell bus station (a fifteen minute drive) when I caught my hour and ten minute bus to Girona at 8:30. The bus stopped 20 times- more or less- to pick up other passengers of course. Then I finally reached Girona at 9:40 give or take. Very beautiful city actually. Carmina (the mother of the children) is a planner. She is awesome so she drew me a map and the day before we followed how to find this church (which is not your typical giant church, no, not at all). So I am walking...walking walking.. and realize.. Okay I for sure must have passed this Bersier Villana (or something like that) street... Well, I did! These people there led me astray!!! So, I asked again. This very nice old man said you have to go back all the way to the station almost.. His directions were very vague and before I knew it he was crossing the street and was on his way. By this time it was about 9:55 and I started to panic. I prayed that somehow maybe some missionaries were running late to church and could help me find it, but realized in that moment that was probably too much to ask. Nevertheless, the Lord did not forsake me! I was led... literally by the spirit down this somewhat scary road... Nowhere did I come across this "Bersier Villana" (or something like that) street, but, I found the next best thing. A gold sign that read "La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias." Both in Spanish and Catalan. I felt so much happiness at that moment. All I could do was smile and for the first time in 8 days I felt like I was home! Yes, something familiar. Not really because I knew no one, but the hymns, the structure, the sacrament, the lessons, and the spirit that I felt there...these things were all so familiar I fell in love with the Gospel, and how perfect it truly is, all over again.

Well, I have so many other stories I should tell, but I really need to get to bed. I'll post some pictures though. This last weekend Pals was super rainy and Barcelona was too, actually. I keep telling Carmina that I just brought the rain with me from Utah.. haha. I really enjoyed the rain in the city though. Carmina said, "No, no this is awful, when it is sunny you will be telling us how much you love the city when it's sunny." This week is supposed to be sunny, so I guess we'll see! I'm a rain lover though, so the sun is gonna have to put up a good fight! ;) Psych, let's be honest all he'll have to do is peek his little nose out and I will surrender to his beauty ;)

Ready to go!

Pau's weekend girlfriend- Julia. She is adorable.

The little pathway to the pool. It is just so beautiful.



and last but not least, the beach.



Oh and I can't forget the rain :)