9.18.17: BEST day of my life

Ok, so today was the best day of my life! We went to a place called Tarragona, which is one of my comp's old areas, and it is ON THE BEACH! I think that was the longest I have EVER gone in my life without seeing the ocean. I didn't even realize how much I missed it until I saw it again. We ran on a trail on cliffs above the ocean to a light house, and I think I died of excitement! We are not allowed to go on sand in our mission; but I will take the cliffs. The Mediterranean is so blue and I think I am obsessed.  Although, it doesn't have waves, which is a major fault in my eyes. (Probably a good thing while I'm on a mission though!)

The rest of this week was filled with some more classic adventures of getting lost :/ and talking to lots of people who commented on how bad my Spanish accent is... haha.  Still working on that one! On Friday, it rained ALL DAY and all of our citas fired so we were walking in the streets and we got soaked, hahaha.  So many people looked at us like we're crazy and told us we are locas (...what's new?).  But I adored it! I was wearing a coat that I had from BYU and once it got wet, I started smelling like bonfire, hahaha... so many good times.  ;)

I adore teaching people about the plan of salvation because it is always such a good reminder to me of how short and precious our time on this earth is! I think the world would be really different if we all had an eternal perspective. The reality is that in the long run this life is too short to spend dwelling on the imperfections of life and being sad or gossiping and fighting with people. If we could get a glimpse of the way that God sees the world, I think we would spend a lot more time on the things that really matter and with the people who we love, because before we know it, we will move on. It is so easy to get caught up and distracted in this crazy world.  But I hope you all take time to think about the things that really matter!

I love you ALL! STAY GOLD <3
- maddy barton

From Maddy's email to Dad:
...Love hearing that the old SC ward has a new convert! It really is the best to get some fresh energy once in a while to remind everyone really how blessed they are to have the gospel in their lives. I think a lot of times it becomes so familiar that we forget how important it really is and become too casual. When Paco blessed the sacrament he put a new definition on "fervent prayer."  He really put his heart and soul into it, which was definitely unusual and odd.  But I thought that it was actually really good for all of us to remember how vital the sacrament is to our lives! 

Sounds like the classic Saturday run around to everyone's sports! You are the best for supporting us ALWAYS. And thanks for doing me proud at the market and making the most of the samples! You have to find the recipe for eggplant salsa! The other day the Africans made us dinner and they made an eggplant stew with yams because they know I don't like meat, haha.  But in Africa they call them garden eggs,  haha so random. It took me forever to figure out what they were actually talking about!

Anyways, I love you and pray that your eyes will heal soon so you can get back in the water! Two of us not in the water is just too many. The ocean might just dry up without us! Haha.






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