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.