The Good Samaritan

Happy February everyone!

No, they don't celebrate groundhogs day here, but there really isn't
any need for it; winter never really started. It is already short
sleeve weather and I think the "winter" included one day where I wore
a jacket. Definitely different from the Utah winter that will welcome
me back to the states.

This week was really great. It has been sad because my companion will
be leaving this week, but we enjoyed our last week together. I will
miss being able to pawn all contacts off on him. I just walk up to
people, say hi, and ask where they are from. If they are from Spain I
say, oh, my companion is from Spain, and then just let him take it
away. If they are from South America, then I say, hey my companion is
from Peru, and let him take it away. And if we meet an African, I say
hey my companion is learning English, and let him take it away. I'll
have to change up my whole game plan.

We had an amazing experience this past week. We were talking to a
woman in her home, and we asked her why she believed in God. She began
to tell us about a time in her life when she had just gone through a
divorce, left her two children In her country, and came to Spain to
look for work. She couldn't find anything, didnT have a place to stay,
and ended up sleeping two nights in the bus stop. She decided that she
didn't want to live anymore and planned how she would take her life.
As she pondered her decision, she began to cry. A woman walking by sat
by her on the bench and asked her why she was crying, and in that
moment our friend broke down and began to tell her her situation. In
that moment, the woman took her to her home and told her to wait there
as she went back out. An hour later, she came back, told our friend
she had a job for her and that she would start working the next day.
She took her to a hotel where she stayed the night and then began to
work the next day and within a year she had enough to bring both of
her sons here to Spain and buy a house and get her life on track. Now,
this experience was incredible to hear, but it is even more incredible
as we understand that it is evidence of the truthfulness of the bible.
Let's remember the parable of the Good Samaritan, which not only
teaches us that we need to help those in need, but also promises us
that when we have been emotionally robbed, beat up by the trials of
the world, and left on the side of the road to die, the Lord will
always send us a Good Samaritan who will take us to his house, pay for
our recuperation, and help us back on to our feet.  Surely it will not
always happen exactly like this, but I was so taken aback by the
clarity in which her experience resembles the teachings of Jesus
Christ.  I know the promise of the lord is true, "I will not fail
thee, nor forsake thee."

I hope that you all have a great week!

Elder Jenkins

Things different from Spain
1. They have elevators only for the even and only for the odd floors.
2. No one uses crutches, they all use these poles that have handles
and hook around the forearms
3. Doorknobs are in the middle of the door
4. Escalators have a sensor and don't start until you step on them
5. 100 times the amount of the people smoke
6. Bidets
More to come...