16 months

Family and Friends,

I can't believe it's been another week! This transfer already end this week. It's flown. Anyway, I am still doing well. It's been a pretty normal, but good, week. We have eaten with more members, and even investigators, than any other. It's been great getting to know them on a more personal level. We also had great lessons with less actives. We had a great experience with one as she explained to us how her life has changed recently since we've come to visit. I have come to realize that the Lord does not only prepare people who aren't members to accept the gospel, but also those who have fallen away to return. That was the case with this lady - she was prepared and ready to come back, just needed a small nudge.

I got to go to the temple today! With being in the north and the way transfers worked, it had been about 6 months. I had an overwhelming feeling of peace going in. I'm so happy I'm in a mission with a temple I get to attend. I'm even more grateful for the priesthood that has been restored and the ability to make covenants with our Heavenly Father that will allow us to return to His presence.

I love you all lots! Thanks for all the love and support!

Love,

Hermana Bingham

Elder Bednar visit

Family and Friends,

What a great week it has been to be a missionary here in Madrid. I have been privileged to be in many amazing meetings, be very aware of the Spirit helping me daily, and receive tender mercies that confirm to me my Heavenly Father is aware of me personally. On Wednesday we had interviews with our mission president. He always helps me out and has great things to say. Him and Hermana Pack stayed for our district meeting. We talked a lot about the importance of using and studying the Book of Mormon in our personal lives as well as all those we are in contact with. On Friday to Saturday morning the hermanas from Alcorcón were with us for intercambios. I had the opportunity to work with Hermana Duffin, who has been out for 3 weeks. I related to her a lot and we had an awesome day together. She's a great example of service, diligence, and giving our all. We didn't have any planned lessons for the morning but decided it would be good to pass by for a few members. The visit to a young, new mom was just what she needed and after building more confidence she openly shared with us about a friend she's been trying to share the gospel with. In the evening we taught the little boy, Leo, and once he understood we were talking about tithing (in Spanish DIEZmo) and not the 10 commandments (DIEZ mandamientos) and the slightly advanced math for him, he offered to give us his money on the spot. Haha. How great would it be if everyone was so willing to keep all the commandments so willingly?

Between Saturday and Sunday I was able to attend 3 meetings with Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles - one with the missionaries, one with the stake, and one with the youth and young single adults. It was an amazing experience. During the meeting with the stake Elder Bednar specifically addressed those who aren't members of our church and basically taught the Restoration of the church of

Jesus Christ in the most powerful way I've heard it. Amazing. The meeting with the missionaries and youth/YSA was more of a discussion with Elder Bednar. And lots of question and answer time. I learned a ton, way too much to write here. Some of my favorite things were talking about our personal conversion - it comes little by little. And how we should take our questions into the Book of Mormon. I'm grateful for all I learned from him and all the impressions I personally received.

Another highlight of the week was getting to have an old companion visit me. Hermana Maza, who I trained, went home (south of Spain) for knee surgery. She got permission to come to Madrid for the meetings with Elder Bednar and... To stay in our piso Saturday night!! It was awesome talking to her and seeing how she was doing. It basically was the best weekend I've had in the mission between that and Elder Bednar.

Love you all!

Hermana Bingham

Hermana Maza

Hermana Smith

Concilio and Mother's Day week

Family and Friends,

On Tuesday we had concilio in the mission home. It was a great experience as always.  We talked a lot about the importance of reviewing the basics and watched parts of a worldwide missionary training again. I was reminded of not only the important of teaching people how to repent and really be converts themselves but also what the atonement means in my personal life. The mission presidents wife made a comment that I loved. She talked about how the atonement is all about change and becoming better. She also mentioned how Christ died even just so that we can have better, happier lives. I am so grateful for every aspect of the atonement.

Thursday to Friday we had intercambios. We were here in Leganés and I was with Hermana Karlen. We had some great experiences together as we followed the Spirit and were able to realize we were in the right place at the right time because of it. She's a new missionary but I still learned so much from her. One of my favorite parts of being STL is getting to work with many other Hermanas and learn from them.

I also had a tender mercy/answer to prayer this week. It has nothing to do with missionary work, but it reminding me that my Heavenly Father cares about everything in my life. I was pretty sick this week, with the worse sore throat I remember having. It was really hurting Wednesday evening. I knew we were going to visit someone who always gave us a snack, and I prayed it'd be something to help my throat feel better. After the lesson she brought in big glasses of fruit smoothies. Seems like a little thing but I was so grateful for the daily blessings I receive that show how much Heavenly Father really cares about me individually.

I hope you all have a fantastic week. Love you!

Love,

Hermana Bingham

Had a great time skyping the family yesterday!

Here in Leganés

Family and Friends,



I've had a good first week in Leganés. The people here are very kind.  
In fact, at church, many people were anxious to introduce themselves
 to me. I know I'm going to love it here.

  

I've met a lot of new people this week, I'll tell you about a few of 
them. Our most progressing investigator is Eloisa, a cute 73-year-old
Spanish lady. She already believes everything is true. Although she
 has trials in her life she truly recognizes the peace the gospel
 brings her and loves studying the scriptures. She has a great desire 
to learn more. She's preparing well for her baptism at the end of the
 month. We are also teaching a genius 7-year-old boy (mom's just coming back to church and dad isn't a member). He's amazing. The other
 Hermanas gave him a children's version of the Book of Mormon two days 
before and he had already read almost the entire book and could tell 
us his favorite stories with names and details I surely didn't know at
7. He's teaching me a lot, doesn't even need us. His example of
 patience with his younger brother is also amazing. He already is an
 amazing little missionary and will continue to bless the church. I
 also met a lady from Portugal who was baptized here a few weeks ago.  
Her story of finding the church is long but basically the missionaries
 were completely led by the spirit to find her. She has lung cancer and
 has been given 3 months max to live. It was a blessing to hear the way
 she spoke of how grateful she is to have found the gospel. Jenny is 
another recent convert here in Leganés. A recent returned missionary 
gave her number to the missionaries a few months ago. She acts like
s he's been a member her whole life (she's 17) and has been a great
 blessing already to this ward. I know the Lord has hastened His work 
here recently and will continue to do so.  



I'm excited to work in Leganés! And to talk to my family Sunday! Love you all!



Love,


Hermana Bingham



What happens when you play soccer without shoes

Love the colorful wall art here