Oh, Happy Heart

Hi loved ones,

My heart is so happy it´s going to explode! I just love my family.

Things are going so well here in Spain. It´s amazing how I thought I knew what happiness was before my mission... Now, it doesn´t even compare. So many blessings!

So last week I sent Hermana Heims off to the Canaries (she is doing SO well) and I was waiting to meet my new companion. Well, she has arrived and guess where she is from?!

Drum roll please....

ITALY!! Yes, I have the most beautiful and wonderful little Italian companion. Her name is Hermana Costagliola. And yes it did take me a full week to learn how to pronounce her name well. But now I am fluent in Italian so it´s fine.

She really is a little Italian dream and our first day together we went out to get Gelado and she taught me how to pray in Italian. I am so excited to learn a new language! It´s happening.

Also, in just one week I have learned so much more with her than just Italian. This girl came pre-trained and 90% of the time I am learning way more from her than she is from me. We´ve had a busy week with A LOT of contacting and teaching new lessons and it´s been so amazing. Hermana Costagliola has a way with explaining and teaching in the most powerful and clear way. We´ve has some really incredible lessons together so far and I am so excited for these next several weeks. We´ve set a lot of ambitious goals and I can´t wait to see what´s ahead.

This week has been so exhausting, yet so rewarding. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be training a new missionary because it gives me a chance to give it my all and really show the Lord how hard we are willing to work. New missionaries always bring such an energy and excitement for the work and SO MANY MIRACLES.

For example: Saturday night we got a call from some Sisters serving outside of Madrid and they told us that they had a reference for us from one of their investigators. They told us that his name was Augustine and that he was reallllyy interested in the church and wanted to meet with missionaries as soon as possible. Well, we called him that night, invited him to church, and met him the next morning. He stayed all three hours and then we had a quick lesson after sacrament meeting so we could get to know him a little more and set up a return appointment. We learned that he is from Guana and has known about the church for years and has never had the chance to get in touch with missionaries. When his friend (investigator of the other sisters) told him that he was investigating the church he jumped on the opportunity to learn more. After we finished the lesson and testified of how perfect God´s plan is (seriously, so perfect) we asked him if he has any questions. Well, he did have just one. Wanna know what it was?

"How long do I have to wait until I can get baptized?"

Talk about miracles! Missionary work is the best. The church is true and Heavenly Father is so aware of each and every one of His children. We also have another new investigator that we are working with from the Philippines and he is so cool! He´s a young 17 year old artist and he is so prepared. Hermana Costagliola and I have been so blessed.

As far as working with the members here in Barrio 5? It´s still a process. But we have a plan to make people brownies and stop by their homes this week to help win them over. We´re heading to the store after this to buy 10 lbs of chocolate bars and a whole lot of cocoa powder!

In summary, all is well. I have a good six months left and I´m ready for the final stretch. I love this work. I love this Gospel. And I love all of you! Thank you so much for all of your support. *ehem* Sky, I am sorry for the early morning wake up call from Allie, but I am still waiting on an email!

Have a great week! Don´t worry about me, I´m just over here loving life.

Love,

Hermana Scheu 

Why I love Spain...

Because you can look out your window at this view every morning

Gotta love Europe <3

Valentine Lovin'

Hi loved ones, 

So, the day has come. Hermana Heims has left me and I am here to fend for myself here in Barrio 5. 

Transfer calls came late Saturday night and our fate for the next 6+ weeks was confirmed. Hermana Heims is off to see the sunshine in the Canary Islands and I am here to stay in the Freezing Tundra with so many wonderful people to love. We were both SO excited to hear the news. Hermana Heims nearly lost it when she found out she would be catching a PLANE on Monday morning instead of a bus. And then really lost it when she found out that she would be opening a new Island and the nearest missionaries would be hours away. Her and her new companion will have some serious bonding time...stoked for her. She will do wonders, that girl, but I will miss her wayy too much. Last night we came to the conclusion that by the time she´s on a plane back to Madrid I´ll most likely be on a plane home. Did we sleep at all last night? Not a wink.  

As for me? I am so happy to be staying here in my area. I have really grown to love the city and love the people even more. I´ll be training again this transfer and I am so excited!! I go to the MTC tomorrow afternoon to meet my new companion and couldn´t be more content. I am looking forward to some new energy and a transfer of a whole lot of prayers and love. Annddd I am secretly praying that she is a native spanish speaker so I can perfect the language these next few months...fingers crossed. 

At the end of the day all is well. Happy heart and serious excitement for the months to come. I love this whole mission thing. I cant imagine being more thankful for this opportunity. The church is true and I love you all. 

Have an amazing week! Februrary (#stillhavetolookuphowtospellthatword) is almost over and my favorite holiday has come and gone. Live it up, people! Or more fitting, Love it up, people :) 

Thought for the week:

Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall

Men´s Hearts Shall Fail Them

Besitos, 

Hermana Scheu 

p.s.

I really hope everyone had the best Valentines Day! Hermana Heims and I definitely did. A day full of love and A LOT of laughter.l Basically a day full of taking ridiculous pictures and LOSING it every time. I figured out the "smile app" on Hermana Heims camera and we had way too much fun for a good 24 hrs before she left me. Yes, we realize that our families might not appreciate this as much as we did, but they have to be shared. 

I couldn't help myself.....

Wait for it....

Look closely...

Don´t worry, there is more. I will never not think this is funny. 

loveyoulots.

Souls to Love

Happy Monday, Loverlies! 

It´s been quite the roller coaster of a week. Let me tell ya. 

First off, it is well into Winter here in Madrid and I can definitely say that being cold as a missionary is not my thing. Hermana Heims and I were determined to find new people to teach this week and one night we scheduled 3 hours of street contacting. THREE OF THEM. It was raining and wet and freezing and yet...so wonderful. Yes, somehow it was one of my most favorite mission memories. We met some incredible people who are so prepared to receive the Gospel. We prayed as we went and the Lord carried us. We were lead to families to be taught and souls to love.

Also, moments like these make me appreciate how blessed I am to have a wonderful companion. And how thankful I am for a companion who appreciates Reece´s Peanut Butter Smores as much as I do. 

photo explanation: the realization that taking pictures at the end of an exhausting, cold, winter night is never a good idea. 

The rest of the week went well, with only a few hiccups, and ended with a miracle baptism! 

JAVIER! 

You have no idea what we have been through with this sweet soul. Javier is just theee best. I would try to explain the process leading up to his baptism, but there is no way I could capture it all. However, let me use a few pictures tobreifly describe our weekend with Javi.

So, two hours before his baptism we get a call from his sister. His sister that we´ve never met, I might add. She tells us that He is sick and wont be able to make it. We try calling him. Phone´s off. We panic (only a little) and then we pray. We then dropped everything and race to his house hopefully finding him there. Well, he wasn´t. So we ended up calling everyone and letting them know the baptism was off and then we continued to pray. An hour later we get this sweet sweet message from Javier. 

  Translation: "I got really nervous and made myself sick. It can be tomorrow or another day I believe I´ll be better by then."

We sent him a message back and set a time for the next day and he agreed. After a few more nailbitingmoments Javier was baptized Sunday afternoon and it was beautiful. He was so much more relaxed and happy. He told us later that he was SO nervous the night before that he literally was sick all night. POOR GUY. 

Later that night we got this message from him. 

Translation: "Thank you for everything today was a beautiful day." 

So many prayers and fasting went into this one, but worth it over and over. 

Again, I love this work. 

Javi´s baptism! 

Recongnize Danny? He was baptized right before Christmas! Our recent converts in this ward are amazing.

p.s. Asian eyes? It´s a new thing I picked up on. 

Overall, another great week down and many more to go. Today marks our last week of the transfer and most likely Hermana Heims´ last week in this area...what am I going to do without her?! 

I love you all! Mom, I LOVED your pictures. I just really love my family. Thank you for all the love and support! Have a wonderful week and enjoy a little California sunshine for me. I´ll be here. With my freezing toes, but happy heart :) The Church is true. 

ALSO, Happy Valentines Day! Aka my favorite holiday. Make it a good one! If you need us, Hermana Heims and I will be out to lunch at the cutest Spanish Cafe you can find. 

Love, 

Hermana Scheu

p.s. Went bowling again today...I should probably start letting the Elders win.

 Or they should just learn to not put me on their team. #braggingrights

So it snowed

Hello loved ones, 

Are we all enjoying my favorite month? I woke up to snow this morning, which was a sweet little gift. Who knew it snows in Madrid?? Granted, when I say "snow" I merely mean a few wet flakes that barely make it to the ground before turning into cold drizzle. However, it was a nice surprise and the sight was beautiful. I tried to take a picture, but the view we have outside our apartment window would kill the moment for you. Just try to use your imagination. 

This week was...well, challenging. But still so wonderful. I was just simply reminded of how much our Heavenly father is in charge and really does know what is best for His children. All I can be is an instrument in his hands and pray to align my ideas with His. I love this work and I love this Gospel.

Here is a little update I sent off to my president: 

Hi President! 

Well, we had a successful week, but defnitely a challenging one. A lot of our investigators are going through a lot of serious trials. It has really been a humbling last few days and I have been reminded of how much we need to rely on the Lord. Epecially while serving in His vineyard. Without the Spirit this work would be impossible. I was reminded over and over again of how grateful I am to be set apart and promised the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us carry this work forward. It is definintely not an easy task, but it is well worth it a hundred times over. 

Hermana Heims and I have been working well together and figuring out how to really help Barrio 5. The members here have been helping us so much and the  other set of missionaries are gems. Also, we absolutely loved stake conference yesterday! It was incredible and so inspiring. We brought our investigator Javier (getting baptized this Saturday) and he really enjoyed it as well. I am so grateful for the leaders of the Church and I am really looking forward to our mission tour coming up! I know it will be a great opportunity to learn and be motivated to be a better missionary. 

I had the opportunity to work with Hermana Braithwaite and Hermana Olsen this past week. As always, it was such a treat. Hermana Olsen is finishing strong! We worked a lot on contacting and finding good solid investigators. We also talked about the importance of having investigators come to sacrament meeting. We came up with a few good ideas and ended by discussing how we know when to"dejar" an investigator with the faith that the Lord will help us find others who are more prepared. 

With Hermana Braithwaite she always helps me way more than I can help her. She has great insight and has the ability to really put plans into action. She has a quite confidence and a contageous love for the scriptures. I learned some great tips with her and a few fun lesson plans! 

Overall, the work is great, President. I never thought I could get over leaving Barrio 2, but I am really loving Barrio 5. Thank you for the opportunity I have to be here.  I have also really grown to love and appreciate Hermana Heims. I am sure she will mention this to you in her weekly emails, but this past week she´s had a couple members of her family pass away. It´s moments like these when I feel so hopeless and inadequate. I just pray that I´ll be guided in some way in which I can be of comfort to her. She is so strong and her faith is immovable. 

Thank you for everything and I hope you have a great week! 

Love, 

hermana scheu 

I love you all! Have a great week! 

Besitos! 

 P.s. Latino food is the best. Dont worry, I am working on some serious Latin cooking skills.