Espana

Feb. 7, 2013

 

Okay sorry It has taken me so long to email. I only have a few minutes to do this email because we have to go to an appointment soon. I landed in Barcelona Tuesday morning and it is amazing. Customs wasn´t bad, none of the hermanas were questioned by security but of course I was haha. It´s a good thing I know enough spanish to communicate some what. There are so many different types of people in España. It was pretty overwhelming at first. President and Sister Pace are so amazing. I love them so much already. We went to the mission home and dropped off our luggage. Afterwards we went with some Elders who work at the office to put my forms in for my tarjeta de residencia. On the way I did my first contacts with Elder Escobar. He is from Guatemala. We contacted random people on the metro. I then got to each my first lunch with the Paces. Enchiladas! Which apparently aren´t found often here. But anyways I worked a lot that night even though I was so tired. The next day I met my new companion, Elder Dixon. He is from Vegas and has been in the mission for 20months. Before being paired with me he was a zone leader. He knows his stuff. We are in Valencia, which is beautiful. The weather in Spain is great. Its in the 60s and apparently thats freezing to them over here. I will be able to email more on my preparation day, which is monday. Oh I ate with some members today for lunch from Bolivia. Some great food! But yeah, we don´t have much time. I love you all!

Élder Sharkey

It's VISA time!!

 

LAST WEEK IN THE JOINT (MTC)

Feb. 2, 2013

 

AHHHHH. Yes. That would about sum up this week. I guess I should jump up to the best part. Wednesday, January 30th, I got to host again! It was super fun and I met a ton of great missionaries. Hosting really is fun tho, but it can be sad watching families cry. After I finished hosting, I returned to class. Every class has an intercom that can be paged at any time requesting a missionary for something. For weeks I have been dreaming of it calling for me to come to the travel office. Well, I walked in with my big coat on (it was snowing outside) and the intercom beeped. They said my named and asked me to come to the travel office right away. What happened next was moments I don't think I will ever forget it was so great! I threw off my jacket, and put my stuff down. I went to go pick it up, but Elder Mason told me he'd take care it and just told me to go haha. Me and Elder Tanner ran to office, where they told me I had to meet with Spanish consulate Friday because my visa had arrived. I almost started crying I was so happy! It was the best gift I could've asked for. Every time I prayed, I prayed for my visa if it be God's will. Faithful prayer works. My visa coming the DAY I was supposed to get my reassignment was a miracle. Only me and one other missionary here at the MTC got our visas. The rest were for missionaries who have been reassigned for quite some time.

Unfortunately, my companion did not receive his visa. He was reassigned to serve in the Salt Lake City mission, and will be there for at least 6 weeks. This isn't a bad thing, just bummed because he really wants to get to Spain. He has a better attitude than me tho and is looking forward to his experiences in Salt Lake City.

I will be leaving the MTC Monday morning at 5am. My flight leaves Salt Lake at 8:30am and I land in New York at 3:00pm. I then have a 3 hour lay over in which Im going to search with all my might for a taco bell. It will be my last chance for it for 2 years :O. I then will leave JFK at 7:25pm and arrive in Barcelona at 9:25am. It is quite a lot of traveling, but I could not be more excited. I met the two sisters I'm traveling with to Barcelona with, and they are hilarious/awesome. It will such a fun trip.

Friday all of the Spain missionaries with visas got to go to the Spain Consulate. He teaches at UVU so we went there. All of the missionaries are hilarious and such a fun group. I felt bad for some, especially one elder who has been in the field for 6 months and just now getting a visa. There's a reason for everything tho, and I know he is better off for it. We went to UVU and met the consulate. He was a very funny guy and he told us all about Spain. We then had to sign forms in front of him. After that, we got our passports with our visas! We then all went to the foodcourt and ate Pizza hut/Costa Vida haha.

This week has been hectic, but definitely the best one yet. I am so ready for Barcelona Tuesday! Oh and it is super expensive to sent packages to Spain, so if you arent my immediate family don't send stuff! It's too expensive, and I will be able to get most stuff in Spain. If I need anything I'll let my parents know. Love everyone very much! Next letter will be from Spain!

Elder Sharkey


All of the Spain missionaries on their way to get visas!

 

with Consulate of Spain

Signing papers for the visa

with Elder Bivens who's going to Germany

with Elders Mason and Dougal

with Sister Allman- a friend of Alexis's

with Sister McCall--Alexis's roommate

Nose Pics & Birthday

 

On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 3:00 PM, Brandon Sharkey wrote:

Thanks so much for organizing everything. I bought another phone card, and I also withdrew 60$. Im cleaning all my clothes right now. Ill call the house first for sure. I received a card from Grandpa Isaac with a 100$ check in it. I signed the back, and Im sending it in a letter to you and dad to cash it. And yes today is all prep prep prep. I was able to go to the temple, which was amazing as usual. Such a great birthday so far, and yes it has been the best. Im not sure if any gift will ever beat my visa. And I dont know if YOU know how insane it is that I have a visa right now. It is quite a miracle. Everyone else here is going to Salt Lake City for 6 weeks while they wait. I got my visa, and it is a huge testimony to me. Every single I prayed for my visa and if only it was His will, or en espanol, si es su deseo. love you

elder sharkey

before surgery

after surgery....oooohhhh scary!

after surgery


 

Happy 20th birthday Brandon!!!!
 

 

He's in SPAIN!!!

Here is the email we received telling us Brandon made it safely to Spain.

Dear families of our new missionaries,

We are pleased to inform you that your son has safely arrived in the Spain Barcelona Mission. Hermana Pace and I, along with the two assistants, met him at the train station. The group of missionaries we received are wonderful young men and women, ready to go to work. Their enthusiasm reflects their love for the Savior and we are grateful for the privilege of guiding them along as they serve the Lord.

Every area in the Spain Barcelona Mission is unique and beautiful, rich in history and tradition. More importantly, each city is full of children of our Heavenly Father, waiting to hear the glad news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for the trust you have put in us to shepherd your son. Please know that we feel a great responsibility to guide and protect “our” missionaries. We love your sons and daughters as if they were our own. With the Lord’s help, we intend to make their mission experience in Barcelona the most memorable time of their lives.

Sincerely,

President and Hermana Pace

Here he is in Spain with President and Sister Pace and three sister missionaries.

AHHHH MY VISA IS HERE!!!!!!

January 30, 2013

AHHHH MY VISA IS HERE!!!!!! It got here today! Mom and Dad, I am calling at 6:05ish Utah time...so 8ish your time. Siblings please let them know to be home when I call. For everyone else I can give some brief details. I leave Monday morning. Im flying to NY, my flight leaves at 8am. I get to NY at 3pm. I leave NY at 7 25pm and arrive in Barcelona at 9 25am. This is a miracle!!!  Only one of other person at the MTC got a visa today other than me. My companion is still without one, pray for him and his visa! I meet with the consulate friday to sign my visa. I love you all! Call mom and dad and let them know Im callign the house tonight around 8. Thanks!

From a few more emails that arrived later that night:

Hey actually I wont be able to call tonight, I need to buy a phone card first. I will call tomorrow. Let me know what time works best tomorrow ASAP

When I know my address I will tell you. I got Chris and Jessicas package, got yours as well with the cake. Get the Jake cologne. My package will be forwarded. I will call tomorrow night, and as well Monday morning at the airport. Id take a day off if I were you. After I land not sure, it's up to be my mission president. I sent it to both you and dad. Some reason It didnt work for you. I also emailed you back, sometimes it doesnt work I guess. Ill try to fix it.

Need to run, by the way my companion just got reassigned to Salt Lake City. He will be there for 6 weeks.

My Last Real "P-Day" Hopefully

From the January 29th email:

Alright this might be a little short since I'm gonna go grab some
lunch.  Not too many new things happen this week so that's good!


I got to host missionaries Wednesday, and I am hosting again tomorrow. 
It was really fun being able to help them get around and stuff.  I dont
remember being as scared as they were tho haha.  There was one time
when a big family got out and they seemed happy.  Then they all started
crying and a little girl came up and asked me if I would take care of
her older sister.  So that was fun..It's pretty weird how long I've
been gone.  Almost at the 2 month mark.


Still no word on the visas.  I do know I will be out of here by the 5th
or 6h tho.  This wendesday or thursday I will have a temporary place
that I will be reassigned to go to just in case my visa doesnt get here
by next week.  They are doing this because they need the room here so
they need us out by our departure dates.  We've been told chances are
if we do get reassigned it will be somewhere close because they expect
our visas to come very soon.  Once it comes, I will need to return here
and sign my visa infront of the consulate.


But it's all good!  My visa will be here soon.  The Spain consulate has
even guaranteed spain missionaries coming to the MTC in the future are
guaranteed their visa before their departure dates.  So it will be less
than a month AT MOST before I get to Spain.  I see this as a blessing,
because now I can eat some fast food before I leave for Barcelona. 
Most missionaries miss friends and family...i miss food.  Kidding!  I
miss you all very much.  Thank you all so much for your support, it
really helps me work harder knowing I have so many great friends and
family cheering me on!  Next week I should be on a plane.  My parents
will know in the next couple days my fate, so ask them if you are
curious.


Elder Sharkey


Posing again. The nose is good! Whew!

waiting.....check out the nose!  It looks okay!

in the hall

The guy in the yellow is Dayna's boyfriend!

in class

Week7 in the books

Here's his much longer Jan. 22, 2013 email he sent later in the evening:

 

Good evening everyone! I'll jump right to it and let everyone know i got my nose cast off today haha. It was insanely itchy under it so you all have no idea how great it was getting it removed today. I can also blow my nose again! Hoooooorah. And gladly I do not look like Owen Wilson.

There is a real sense of urgency in our district right now. It's kicking in that in 2 weeks we will be in the mission field teaching real people in spanish. We are all dying to go haha. Oh some peculiar visa info, the consulate meeting with missionaries has been rescheduled from today to thursday. The reason this is signifcant is because they are expecting more visas come tomorrow. If this happens, mine could come tomorrow and I could be meeting with the consulate thursday. I know it's very wishful thinking but I am just about dying to get my visa right now!

I get to host missionaries tomorrow. I didn't get to last week because of my surgery but we've been asked to again this week. Dad knows what I'm talking about. It's the missionaries that help brand new missionaries who are leaving their parents. I'll take them to get their books and show them around. And this is pretty funny because i've heard that a certain person is coming tomorrow. Dayna's boyfriend haha.

Another cool thing that's happened is a bunch of people who were reassigned came back to the MTC. I made many friends who are going to Spain that came back so that they can meet with consulate this thursday. Elder Oldroyd, a friend of daynas, is one of these elders. It's awesome having them back on our floor.

I guess I'll wrap this email up with the best part. After I got off the phone with my parents last tuesday(I got to call because of my surgery) we went straight to the devotional. We sat super close. Now the way these devotionals work is whoever gets their first gets to pick where they sit. They also don't say who's speaking until right before it starts and everyone is already there. While waiting for it to begin I noticed a lot of different things. There was a ton of mission presidency on the stand. There was a lot of police around. Also, the first bishopric was on the stand. And once everyone was there, the doors opened and the MTC president and Jeffrey R. Holland walked in. Everyone stood up and you could hear whispers of excitement in the room. It was seriously incredible! The reason so many people were on the stand was because the MTC presidency just changed. Jeffrey R. Holland gave an incredible talk, and I mean incredible. There were moments when he was tearing up, he was super nice, and then ofcourse he got in our faces haha. We loved it. And then at the end he re-dedicated 3 buildings in MTC that were remodeled. I am so thankful I was there for that prayer. It was absolutely amazing and it strengthened my testimony so much. Jeffrey R. Holland carries a spirit with him that is overwhelming. So yes, that was last week. Still think about it a lot.

Well, hopefully I know my fate of where I'll be flying here real soon. I really just want to know and get started. I know I have a lot more preparation to do but I need to start teaching! I love what I am doing and I love my calling. In no way has this felt like a sacrifice or a burden. I really do enjoy every minute of it and it is so exciting knowing I'm just starting. I have to run to devotional now! I hope everyone is doing well. Oh yeah so since I'm super prideful my birthday is feb 2! that's right, send me presents! hahaha im kidding! i love you all!

Elder Sharkey