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

Me voy a Leganés‏

Family and friends, 

I don't even know exactly where to start, but it seems like a lot has
happened this week. It started as a pretty normal week- some pretty
rough times and miracles all in the same day. Hermana Hill and I spent
lots of time trying to find some new investigators that would
progress. Our most creative activity was using her artistic talent and
using chalk in the park to draw superman and Christ and strike up
conversations with people then ask what superheroes and Christ have in
common. Some had to really think and some immediately said they both
save people. It was a fun activity. We also taught the special sabbath
day devotional to a few other members and I felt the spirit strong. I
think two of those lessons were some of my spiritual highlights from
the whole week. 

On Friday we had an awesome 1st annual Styrofoam Derby activity with
the branch. It took quite a bit of preparation, but was completely
worth it. There was a great turn out and the branch had a blast. 

Everyone took good care of me on my bday Saturday. Hermana Hill woke
up in the middle of the night to decorate the piso with balloons and
birthday signs. Members called. The Bakes made dinner and a birthday
cake for me. And after dinner we found out about transfers. Everyone
stayed, but me. I'm headed to Leganés, a small town to the southwest
of Madrid. My new companion will be Hermana Smith. I already miss
Santiago and the people. A short 12 weeks didn't seem like enough. And
to realize I have my 11 more weeks in Leganés then home is even more
crazy. I'm excited to get to know and love more people here in Spain! 

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

Love, 

Hermana Bingham 

Umbrellas don't help too much when the rain comes at a 90 degree angle

Susi, Gabriella, and Laura with their styrofoam derby cupcake car

What do superman and Christ have in common?



Do I dress for the black stormy side or sunny blue side?  haha that's Santiago





Birthday cake



1st Annual Santiago Styrofoam Derby

Visit to farm and James grave‏

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was good. We had some good lessons with a few of our
investigators and members. Hermana Hill and I were talking about all
the people we visit and the privilege it is. Literally about 2/3 of
the people we teach are special in their own way- psychological
problems, depression, addictions, etc. We could easily look at it as
how hard it is, but we feel honored that the Lord trusts us to take
care of these children of His. Each one of them literally has a need
for the gospel and the healing effects of the Atonement of Jesus
Christ and we get to be the messengers of the wonderful news. 

On Tuesday night we went out and visited the branch president,
President Goyes, and his family who live out about and hour in the
country on a farm. We had a little family home evening. After, Hermana
Goyes asked if we wanted some fresh milk and eggs. We said yes, then
realized a few minutes later she had left to go get it right off the
farm. President Goyes invited us to go look and gave us a small tour.
It was pretty cool. And I found out I like fresh milk. 

This week I also had the opportunity to meet a less active member who
was the first man baptized in Santiago. Him and his wife are so sweet
and kind, great people. It breaks my heart when the rush of life keeps
people from making it to church and enjoy all the blessings of living
the gospel. He had some amazing experiences to share. It was also his
simple testimony to a friend years ago that converted the biggest
active family - kids/grandkids- of our branch here. We never know what
the affect of sharing a simple testimony could be. 

Yesterday in church we talked a lot about love. I have seen how
important love in missionary work is. Two great blessings came from
showing this love. Hermana Hill and I have been trying to get ahold of
two members and haven't been able to for quite awhile and were sad we
couldn't. We went to both of their houses about two weeks ago and left
them a little nice note with our number. Yesterday one of them called
us to let us know her phone had been stolen and the only way she could
get ahold of us is from that note which had our number. The other has
just been really busy but found the note in the back of her mailbox
and just helped her remember we're here and love her and sent us a
text to be able to come visit her. I know as we show little acts of
kindness it really softens people's hearts. 

For pday today we went to the cathedral here and visited where the
apostle James is supposedly buried. Also, the Bakes went to Madrid
this weekend and there's a Costco there now so they brought us some
delicious treats. And I keep forgetting to mention this, but they
speak Gallego here. Almost everyone speaks Spanish as well, but I'm
getting to learn some Gallego - very little. All the signs are in
Gallego so I learn random phrases. It's a Spanish and Portuguese mix.
I think that's about it for the week. Hope you all have a great one! 

Love you! 

Love, 

Hermana Bingham

Goyes farm

Our friend Jose

James grave

Costco!

My building! (Quimica=chemical) There is a university here.

Miracles keep coming‏

Family and Friends, 

I had another wonderful week. Heavenly Father continues to bless us. 

The saddest part of the week happened Monday evening. We were supposed
to go back to Alcobendas, my first area, to work before going to the
mission home. I was sooo excited to work there and visit a few people,
but we had a delay getting there. On the renfe train we were at one
stop where we had to change trains and after 3 trains coming by then
saying it was out of service we heard there was an 'obstruction' on
the track (never found out what) so we went in metro which took a long
time and we got to Alcobendas just in time to leave for the mission
home. It was a bummer, but hopefully I'll get another opportunity. I
did get to talk to Karen (recent convert) and her kids on the phone
for a few minutes and they're doing great!Hermana Hill and I with 4
other hermanas from the north and islands slept at the mission home
then we had concilio on Tuesday. I love concilio. It's a huge blessing
to be a part of. This month we talked about the importance of our
teaching skills and how to improve them. I had another moment where I
realized so many of my experiences now will be a huge blessing for the
rest of my life, not just these 18 months. 

We got back to Santiago really late Tuesday night. We had a few really
good lessons on Tuesday. A new man we have been teaching is doing
great, and it is partially thanks to a member who has been helping us
out. Belinda (the member) is awesome. She's taken time to show him
where the church is, just be his friend, and bear great testimonies in
the lesson. I'm grateful for the help we receive. We also taught a new
man where the lesson opened my eyes a bit. Long story short, I am so
grateful to be raised in the gospel and understand the importance and
need of living the gospel.
 

Wednesday we went to A Coruña for zone training. They just got a new
chapel there that is beautiful! And huge! Can't wait for the day when
Santiago has a chapel. The work is slowly progressing and we pray to
be able to get a stake up here in the north. The training went well. I
learned lots from all the comments made. After we came back to
Santiago with the A Coruña hermanas and we had intercambios. I was
with Hermana Robertson, who's been in the field for a month. I love
new missionaries. Even without understanding everything they give such
a powerful, pure testimony during lessons that really help. We saw
miracles together, including meeting with a less active that I've been
trying to meet with since I've been here and set some great goals. 

One more great experience was a lesson we had with another new,
Alexander. We met on Sunday in a park area because we couldn't find a
member to meet inside. We were under a covering, but it was pouring
and cold. He invited us to a cafe for hot cocoa. He has a cousin
that's a member and knows quite a bit about our beliefs. He knew we
wouldn't buy it, but said that's why he would. We felt bad because it
was so cold bit we explained WHY it was so important to us to keep the
sabbath day holy and why we felt uncomfortable doing that. It ended up
being a great teaching and learning opportunity, and he patiently sat
in the cold for 30 minutes. Shows his commitment to me as well. 

Sorry I didn't even express how well the week really went in this
email, but it really was great. I'm loving Santiago and my mission in
general more and more each week. 

Love you all! 

Hermana Bingham 

Breakfast crew for Concilio

Concilio

Belinda

Visit to Vigo for pday

That storm coming in...We didn't quite make it out of the hike to the car in time

Ellie (our good GPS friend) took us on quite the backroad adventure