Victor's baptism!‏

Family and Friends, 

Another week, can't believe it. It was a great one. The beginning of
the week was pretty normal missionary work, still great. 

On Thursday to Friday we had intercambios, but we are doing them
different in the mission now. Hermana Maza and I both went to the area
of the sister training leaders for the day. It felt weird leaving our
area 'naked' for the day, but was a good experience. I do always learn
from intercambios. I was with Hermana Staker, who I absolutely love. 

Victor was baptized on Saturday! He's a great kid. It was a beautiful
baptism. His great-grandma, who is member, had the cutest, biggest
smile the whole day. The Spirit was really strong during his
confirmation Sunday. I'm really excited to see the great things he
does in his life! 

Sunday we had interviews with President Pack. He's a great President.
I always feel so inspired to become a better missionary after meetings
with him. 

This week I also learned where chocolate comes from, a fruit! No, I
didn't know. I'll attach the photo. The chocolate is inside the seeds,
that have to be dried out. The white part is the fruit you can eat.

I hope you've all enjoyed your week! 

Love you!

Hermana Bingham 

Dilenny- one of my favorite little girls



Jairo, Victor, Hermana Maza, and I

Victor with his mom and
great-grandma 



Some of the great Young Men of Barrio 8

Dora and Samuel



Manuel, Otilia, Gema



Cacao – where chocolate comes from

Feliz Día de Reyes!‏

Family and Friends,

As I'm trying to think of what happened this week, the truth is I can
only think of how weird of a week it was. It started off returning to
our piso last Monday night to the smell of gas. Almost a full day
later of having to stay in the piso while different people came and
went to resolve it, we were alive and well and without gas leaks. It
was Dia de Reyes on Wednesday and the tradition is to eat this cake
called Roscón which is more like a game. There are two things inside -
one means you win and are King, other that you have to buy the cake
the next year. We've now done it three times this week with different
people. We also went to a lesson Saturday and as we walked into the
piso, Hermana Maza turned around running. She literally couldn't
breath. We think the family was cooking with a type of nut she's
allergic to, the smoke and smell was strong. She was fine in the end,
just a bit of shock for awhile, and we obviously had to turn around
and leave. 

Between the 'near-death' experiences and eating a lot of Roscón, I
promise we got some missionary work in as well. Half of our lessons
this week were with children. I know I say this a lot, but I've come
to absolutely love teaching them. They're so sincere and we always
have so much fun too. Victor is prepared for his baptism this week. A
few others are progressing well also. Every week I love this area and
the people more and more. I'm really blessed to serve here with
Hermana Maza. We are so blessed with many miracles. 

Hope you all have a great week! 

Love, 

Hermana Bingham 

Hermana Maza made me Ecuadorian food, fried plátano, delicious!



Roscon

Happy New Year!‏

Dear family and friends,

I've had a good week. Hermana Maza and I visited many members this
week. We also have Gerbert and Yonathan that are progressing and doing
well. And an old (from a few months ago) investigator Dayana was able
to meet again. She's awesome! Very prepared. With awesome questions.
We had another miracle with Victor. He's a 12 year old kid that has
come to church for a long time with his great-grandma. He now has
permission to be baptized! January 16th. He's a great kid. I really
loving teaching kids. 

Also, this week started a new year! The tradition here in Spain is eat
12 grapes for each 12 seconds before the new year, and if you
accomplish it, you'll have a lucky year. Well, sadly, I was way too
tired to wake up again at midnight to eat my grapes... Hopefully it's
still a great year. :) I've loved reflecting on this past year and the
things I want to change this year. Things I need to improve, talents I
want to develop, etc. I've learned how important setting goals are
during my mission. 

This week I also was looking through my journal. I like to put a
'title' each day so I can quickly look through and find things. I was
enjoying it way to much reading titles and a few entries. I was
reminded of so many things I've experienced, miracles I've seen, good
days, hard days, and in general how blessed I am to be here on a
mission. I love it. I'm so grateful for all who have impacted my
decision to come on a mission. 

I love you all tons! 

Love, 

Hermana Bingham

Helping out with the RS gifts

Hermana Maza's mom sent her Christmas present with her stake that was visiting the temple this week, so we had our second Christmas. And couldn't wait to open in piso.

New Years Eve dinner

A great Christmas week.‏

Family and Friends, 

I hope you've all had an amazing Christmas. I didn't really write that
much last week, but here's a summary of the last two weeks. I've had
some big testimony builders recently. Hermana Maza has been a huge
example to me. Last Wednesday (1 1/2 weeks ago) morning she found out
that her older sister passed away from cancer. Obviously a big trial
to deal with, especially being away from family. We spent a day in the
mission home and by Thursday afternoon were back to work. It was
amazing to see and feel her testimony strengthen even more. I could
feel the Spirit really strong during the lessons we taught the
following days, a few even on the plan of salvation. I know Heavenly
Father gives us trials so we can grow and progress. Sometimes it may
be hard to understand in the moment, but He has a greater plan for us
and knows what we need. 

Another testimony builder happened Christmas Day. I started getting
sick Christmas Eve, and by mid-morning on Christmas I had completely
lost my voice. I was so nervous that I wouldn't be able to talk and
communicate with my family over Skype. One of the elders kindly asked
if I'd like a priesthood blessing. They gave me one, and I was able to
speak with my family. The next day it was gone again besides a faint
whisper. I'm grateful for the tender mercies of my Heavenly Father and
for the restoration of the priesthood on the earth.

As far as Christmas celebrations go, we had a lot of fun. Actually a
small fact first is that people from Spain celebrate 'Día de los Reyes
Magos' - wise men day- the 6th of January more than Christmas. That's
when they open gifts. Christmas is still celebrated, but it's not as
big. We had a Christmas dinner the week before at the church. We ate
and had a talent show. There were a ton of people, many friends and
family of the members. On Christmas Eve, all the missionaries from
Madrid (100+) had an activity. We first had a spiritual devotional
with scriptures and musical numbers and after food, white elephant,
and caroling (singing on the steps of the 'temple square'). That
evening we had Christmas Eve dinner with the Guzmans. Then Christmas
Day we basically visited people and ate with them all day and Skyped
family. 

Yesterday we saw a cool miracle. We went to Arganda, one of the
pueblos. On our way back home we past a churrería that a
friend/investigator works at. He called us over and we talked for a
minute. Then his boss came, and the truth is we were a little nervous
because we were not sure if we should be there (we were on the back
side talking while he worked). I looked at Hermana Maza and said,
"should we go?" And she, always in tune with the Spirit, said, "I
think we need to talk to his boss first." So we did. And turns out she
is a member, with almost all her extended family members, but her
immediate family no and has been inactive for over 20 years. She
hasn't owned a Book of Mormon for years and was happy to accept one
and set up a time to meet again. 

I'm really grateful for all the experiences I have. I know our
Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and we must learn to follow
the Spirit and do what He wants for us. That is what will make us
truly happy and prepare us for the eternities. 

Love you all! Happy New Year! 

Love, 

Hermana Bingham

With the Guzmáns

With the Martins

Christmas pancake breakfast

Our district

Before Christmas

...and after. Thanks everyone!

Love you all!

Christmas in Arganda

FELIZ NAVIDAD!‏

Hola Familia y Amigos! 

Feliz Navidad! Today is my pday instead of this past Monday. The truth
is we have some fun things planned- one Skyping my family soon :) - so
I'm not going to write a whole lot. Just wanted to wish you all a
Merry Christmas and share a quick thought. This week I was reminded of
my Spanglish with the word Christmas. Más in Spanish means more, so
more Christ. :) I've loved focusing even more than normal this
Christmas season on our Savior. I'm grateful for His birth, His life,
His miracles, the establishment of His church, and His Atonement.
Love you all! Hope you have a great Christmas! 

Love, 

Hermana Bingham 

Christmas selfie with the Guzmáns for Christmas Eve dinner.

Another week has passed‏

Family and friends, 

This week has been a little crazy and stressful. We have a ton of
people to visit, yet we had many lessons fail so didn't meet with many
people. We found many obstacles with the people we actually could meet
with. It's been a week of trials, but sometimes I learn the most
during those weeks. 

We did have a huge blessing this week. We met a lady the other day on
the bus and she gave us her number. When everything Friday morning
failed we called her and she said she could meet right then, and we
were 2 minutes from her house. We taught her The Restoration and she
loved it and asked us to come back the next day to teach her 2 kids.
We did. Her 11-year-old daughter was away living with her aunt for the
summer. Her aunt is a member and the daughter has had almost all the
missionary lessons. They're really cool. 

Even though this week was stressful for me, I've felt the love my
Heavenly Father really strong. I know he knows and loves each one of
us and is aware of our circumstances. I'm looking forward to another
week serving Him here in Madrid. I love you all. Hope your week is
great! 

Love, 

Hermana Bingham 

Pday in Segovia

Christmas lights!

Dear Family and friends,

This has been another busy week. Hermana Maza and I have been very
blessed in having lots of work, and we love it. We taught a really
cool new guy from Cuba this week. He's visiting Cuba for about a month
and a half so won't teach him for awhile but he is prepared. Had a lot
of good questions. Although we were busy all week, it's hard for me to
remember exactly what we've done. Haha. I know we had lessons with
Yonathan and Gerbert (who's keeping all the commandments :) ), the
kids, Leo, a few menos activos, zone training, choir practice,
intercambios (I went to Barrio 2 with Hermana Barkle), and I'm
probably forgetting a few things. A pretty normal, yet still great
week. 

Last night there was a Christmas concert in the capilla and they
turned the Christmas lights at the temple on! It's beautiful. And the
concert was beautiful as well, a lot of talent. I love Christmas time. 

Today we also had transfers. Hermana Maza and I are together another
transfer! Three transfers together. We are excited. And have a lot of
work. They closed the other companionship of Hermanas in our area.
We've already been super busy and now are going to have to be even
more efficient in our work to fit in the people the Hermanas were
teaching as well (some to the elders as well). We are excited to work
hard and stay busy. We are also going to miss the other Hermanas a
lot. The piso is going to feel really empty without them. 

Hope you all have a great week! 

Love, 

Hermana Bingham

A majority of our zone

Giraffe rice with Daniel

Bye to Hermana Birnbaumer and Hermana Berry

Christmas lights at the temple!