9.5.17: Mariscos

Well I have officially made it through my first transfer! Hermana Harris has been transferred and my new companion is Hermana Martens. She is super sweet and is the only member in her family! I am excited to get to know her. Marten and Barton are taking on Martorell... the poor members are going to have such a hard time saying our last names!

Usually we do not have a lot of eating citas [dinner appointments], but this week I ate paella for the first time. It is a typical Spanish food that is basically rice mixed with every kind of sea creature imaginable. It is cooked with all the shells mixed in, and usually you just pick them out because they are big, but little pieces break off and you end up crunching them in your teeth....  I have to say, I have eaten my fair share of sand, but this was my first time eating shells! Oh, I also ate one of those little octopus things and I could feel the tentacles in my mouth--let's just say it was a literal blessing from God that I was able to stomach all that! 

Also this week someone told me my face looks Asian, hahahahahaha, I was dying! That is so random... I have gotten some odd comments before, but never that! Not sure how to respond to that one...

Overall, I am loving being a missionary and all of the new cultures and people that I get to meet. It is such a blessing that I get to be a representative of Jesus Christ. It brings me so much joy to be here in Spain spreading the restored gospel because I know that it can change people's lives. Growing up in the church it is easy to take it all for granted.  But seeing the confusion and loneliness that people have in their lives when they don't have a knowledge of their Savior Jesus Christ has strengthened my testimony so much. I know that Jesus Christ suffered for everyone of us individually and that He is always ready to help us if we turn to Him. 

I love you all so much and adore all your emails! Thanks for all the love and support!

- maddy barton 

The blue eyed African again...

SC pride everywhere I go...

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