Home at Last

We left Burgos at 4:00 a.m. (Spanish time)on 11-25-09 and drove up to our house 26 hours later at 9:00 p.m.(Utah time). It was the trip that never ended. We were worried about traveling the day before Thanksgiving but it didn't seem to have an effect. 

First impressions:

I miss Madison!

It was great to see my dog.

Oh yea, it was great to see McKenzie and Ladd.

It was really nice to drive an automatic Truck.

People here are much more casual, and more friendly.

Weston got home brushed his teeth, changed his clothes and then went to his friends within 15 min. of being home.

What a great adventure but it's nice to be home. 

Last Sunday in Burgos Talk

The Paradox of Free Agency

I’m grateful for the opportunity to speak today. When we knew we were coming to Spain one of the first things we did was go onto the churches website and find the ward or Branch in Burgos. When we saw that there was a branch here I imagined the typical struggling branch with a few part member families and even fewer priesthood holders. What we found was a strong branch with strong members and a strong body of Priesthood.

We admire you all. It’s not easy to be a member of the church in Burgos Spain where the whole culture is centered on the traditions of another Church. You inspire me to be more diligent and faithful.

Before I came to Spain I wanted to be able to give a talk in Spanish. I thought 3 months would be enough time. I need to report to you that I don’t have the gift of tongues yet. It is a gift of the spirit I will need to work harder to get. So when President Calderon asked me to speak my first task was to find a translator. I thought that Sarah could do a good job but she is a woman and maybe a man's voice would represent me better. Then I thought of Jared but thought that maybe he’s to in love to do something that takes this much concentration. My next thought was Elder Holmes but if the translator is going to represent me I needed some one more handsome. So I asked Elder Esteves-Garcia. He’s handsome, smart and a man.

I would like to talk about freedom and more specifically freedom of choice or free agency. Free agency is one of the foundations of the Church of Jesus Christ. Without free agency there cannot be accountability. Without accountability there can be no rewards or happiness.

Before this life there was a war in the pre-existence. Satan wanted us to have no choice but be forced to live the gospel and therefore return to god without sin. Christ knew that the happiness we gain in this life and forever comes from the choices we make.

The principal of free agency is a Paradox. The gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with paradoxes. A paradox is when something appears to be one way but is really another way. For example in Mat 16:25 it says 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. To me this scripture means that if we are busy paying attention to our own selfish needs and wants we will lose our chance for eternal life. But when we lose ourselves doing Christ’s work, which is serving others, we will find eternal life. The paradox is that only after we lose something will we find something even greater. Another related paradox is one of service. I have heard it said this way. We give and we give and we give and we give until we have it all!

Perhaps the greatest Paradox in the gospel of Jesus Christ is one of free agency. Heavenly Father gives us freedom to choose on one hand but on the other hand gives us apparently restrictive commandments. The paradox is that the more we obey or submit to the will of the Father the more freedom we have. As we submit ourselves to the will of God, He gives us more knowledge and choices than we could ever imagine. When we gain more knowledge and choices we gain more freedom. In this way we learn and grow precept upon precept as the scriptures say.

In John 8:31 and 32 it says: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. In other words as we follow the words of Christ we will gain knowledge and truth which makes us free to make choices. The more knowledge we have, the more choices. The more choices we have the more freedom we enjoy.

What an amazing paradox Freedom by being submissive.

(if we have time)

I think it is important to point out the things that prevent us from having freedom of choice. Anything that keeps us from hearing and following the will of God limits our freedom to choose. Things like pride, addictions, selfishness and hatred are a few of the obvious things.

One thing that I have thought a lot about since I have been in Spain are the traditions of men and how they often limit our freedom of choice. They become such a big part of our culture and way of life that we don’t even consider how they can limit our understanding and thus limit our choices. A man who has done things one way all of life and his father did things the same way all of his life and his father before him, has a hard time even recognizing that there may be a different or better way of doing things. In this way traditions of man sometimes keep us from even looking for truth and thus limit the freedom that comes from truth.

In closing I would like to bear my testimony in Spanish.

Yo quirero compartir mi testimonio hoy. Estoy muy agradecido estar aqui en Burgos con ustedes y sentir de su espíritu y su gran ejemplo. Yo testifico que este trabajo es verdadero. Estar en Burgos me ha ayudao a reforzar ese conocimiento. Yo sé que Dios vive! Lo sé! Yo sé que El nos quiere! Lo sé! el evangelio de Jesucristo es evendencia. Yo testifico que Jose Smith fue un profeta de Dios. El vio a Dios y Jesucristo. Yo testifico que Presidente Monson es un profets verdadero. Amo a Jesucristo! Yo sé que El vive! Testifico que el Libro de Mormon es verdadero y es un Segundo testigo de Jesucristo. Estoy muy agradecido por mi familia.

Les vamos a echar de menos. Por favor, Cuidar a Madison por Nosotros.

Digo estas cosas En el nombre de Jesucristo. Amen

T.P. Around the World

Now that I have used toilet paper in 6 of the 7 continents (The seventh being Antarctica and I think they don't use TP there. They just hold it), I consider myself an expert on the subject of TP around the world. One does not need to travel around the world to get a feel for the various cultures. A less expensive and almost as accurate way to experience the world is by using the various lavatory parchment from around the world.

We have just returned from the African continent and the subject is fresh on my mind (or somewhere else), let me explain what I mean. Africa is a continent that is full of energy and is very stimulating to the senses. The people there are very resourceful and can make a little seem like a lot. Using their restroom sheepskin is an experience in African culture. Upon use the senses are brought to attention. The posterior is immediately made known that it is in a wild and unpredictable environment. The roll is loosely wound so that you get the impression that there is a much larger amount of onion skin than there really is.

Here in Europe things are much more refined. In fact, in typical European fashion the lavatory vellum is too posh. In an effort to show the world that they are more cultured then everyone else the TP has been made to give the derriere a sleek and civilized experience. However as usual, this experience lacks substance and thus the need for the bodet. The restroom tissue looks and feels well-bred but in the end (ha ha!)needs an even more swanky solution.

In South America the comparison is also true to form. South America is a developing continent and so is the toilet tissue experience. They have not yet mastered the art of softening the parchment. The TP is so rough there that you are encouraged to through it the waste basket next to the bogg because the high fiber paper is high in clogging properties. So when I say developing I mean it it 2 ways. One must develop a tolerance for the lack of softness and seeing used papyrus while sitting on the throne.

I have not been to Australia but I have been to New Zealand. Weston who is studying geography tells me that New Zealand counts as the same continent. The people of New Zealand are practical and there is a back to nature feeling when visiting. The bogg parchment reflects these same characteristics. There is a simplicity and woodsy feel that comes with your water closet experience down under (pun intended). There's just no fluff or bluff when swiping the buff.

A whole book could be written about the privy parchment in asia. But I want to make a couple of comments. In Asia your experience can range from the basic 1 thin sheet at a time to the most exotic material you could imagine. It just depends on what your willing to pay for. However, the everyday traveler can have a wide variety of experiences when it comes to utility stationary. The one thing you can count on is that the privy experience is unpredictable. You can go into a squatty-potty and use paper as nice as silk. Or you can go in the nicest Hotel and find parchment that tears when you breath on it let along sweeping the crevice. To sum up the Asian experience both in and out of the john you can say that you get what you pay for except when you don't.

Now to the North American Experience. It seems like the comparison holds true here more than anywhere. First there is this thing called capitalism. If there is a buck to be made by having nice paper than nice paper it is. But if there is a buck to be saved buyer beware, The slick nonabsorbent sheets can be a nasty experience. But for the general population the TP in the USA is efficient. Maybe a little overindulgent when it comes to texture but all in all the job gets done comfortably and without a mess. The one thing that should be said about the lavatory letterhead in the US is that there doesn't seem to be a shortage (just take a look in the closet of anyone who shops at Costco), that is unless it was a man who last used the bathroom.

Runner's Theory Proven

I know that it takes a lot of imagination to call what I do in the morning running, but in my secret moments that's what I call it. This morning when I was "running" a women passed by and gave me the international sign for "man you are slow!" This is how it happens. As soon as the faster runner passes you, they look at their watch. They don't really care what the time is. It is a signal to tell you they ran by you and it only took such and such time, or in other words "what is taking you so long?" They don't care how far you have already ran or how far you are going, it's just a signal for you to look at your watch and see how slow you are going. I now know this happens all over the world.

I have to admit that on the rare occasion when I pass someone while running, I do the same thing. I look at my watch in a way the other runner is sure to see. In fact, I have to admit that I enjoy sending the message mainly because I don't get to do it very often.

When I got home this morning, the first question Lynette asked was, "Did you only run six miles today?" Sounds innocent enough, right? However, that is also code for, "you mean to tell me that it took you that long to only go six miles?" Sometimes I wonder why I run! If you want to call it that!

New "Euro" Jacket

Today while Madison and Weston were in seminary I saw a used furniture and clothes store near the church. There was some very cool furniture in the window so I went in to take a look. While I was looking I noticed a rack of dress jackets. The one that caught my eye looked very "euro" of course I tried it on (there was no mirror so I couldn't do the check out the rear thing). It seemed to fit so I asked how much it cost (yes, in Spanish. (I know how to ask the price in many languages)). She hesitated then said "one Euro". I didn't even hesitate. It was too good to be true a "euro-jacket" for 1 Euro! There can be no dispute I now own a ""Euro"-Jacket".

I Miss My Dog

I know it sounds lame but I miss my dog. I'm not sure where dogs fit in here in Burgos, but I do see a lot of dogs when we go out. As I have mentioned there is a parkway several miles long that runs through the center of town. It is a very common site to see people walking there dogs. From all appearances the dogs here are very well taken care of, unlike many countries we have been in. Al least they aren't food (Korea). They seem to be part of the family, maybe even too much sometimes just like at home. The first day we were in Spain I stopped a man that was walking his Brittany and tried to tell him I missed my dog (he didn't understand because I wasn't fluent in Spanish back then). Now every time I see a dog with features or coloring similar to Izzy my hearts leaps a little and aches a little at the same time.

But here's the deal, my friends and family can keep up to date with how I'm doing by reading my blog or better yet reading Lynette's blog. And if they care at all they can write a comment or send an email. Izzy is a smart dog but she has not acquired those skills yet (she just turned one). So she has no idea what is happening to me. Even though McKenzie and Ladd walk or run with her almost everyday I know she has time to wonder if I'm ok, and when I'm coming home.

It's going to be hard to leave Spain but coming home to my dog will make it a little easier.

A Few of My Favorite Spanish Things

The Round-a-bouts:

Roundabouts just make so much since. It allows for a good flow of traffic even when conditions are crowded. I love to ride bikes through them.

The Ice Cream:

I don't know why but I didn't expect the ice cream to be so good. There is a chocolate variety here that is like eating a candy bar without the sick syrupy taste.

The Chocolate:

I knew European chocolate was good but I wasn't sure if that would reach into the Iberian Peninsula. The chocolate is great.

The Bidet:

That's right I'll admit it! Sometimes that extra little cleaning is needed. Bishop Rife you were right about this one.

Doner Kabop:

These are sandwiches that originate in the middle-east, Turkey or somewhere. They are made with bar-b-cue meat on a pressed and toasted bread and have a yogurt sauce. They are big and cheap and taste great.

The Missionaries:

It's hard to be a missionary in Spain. At 2:00 in the afternoon until 5:00 the country comes to a stop. This time is sacred. Don't mess with the Spaniards Mediodia (siesta). The missionaries we have met are positive and eager to do the work. They just can't do it between 2:00 and 5:00. If I had to describe the Spanish lifestyle in two words I would say "tradition" and "schedule". Both are obstacles for missionary work.

The Members of the Church:

I've said it before, It's hard to be a member of the Church in Spain. I admire the members here.