Semana Santa (Holy Week)

Semana Santa (Holy Week)

This past week was very interesting.  It was Semana Santa, which in English for Holy Week.  The entire country pretty much took the week off; at least the Government workers had a holiday.  On Friday, which was Good Friday, everything was definitely closed.  I will give some more details later in the blog.

There is a member who lives in a small pueblo called Jaraíz de la Vera.  This pueblo is about 120 kilometers from Cáceres. There are approximately 7,000 people who live there.  We went there as a MP quorum to visit a member named Angel. Seven of us went to visit Angel to support him and encourage him.  Angel is the only member that we are aware of who lives in Jaraíz.  It is difficult for him to attend church because of the distance and expense so we wanted to spend some time with him and let him know that we love and support him.  As a side note, Angel went to the Madrid Temple this week and was endowed.  What a great blessing for him. 

Jaraíz de la Vera

We spent several hours with Angel and ate lunch near a river in a lovely spot.  After lunch we met with the vice mayor of Jaraíz de la Vera who gave us a tour of the town.  The pueblo is definitely Old Spain.  I met a couple of the local “Policía” and gave them each a shoulder patch that I brought from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Dept. and the CHP.  They invited me into their locker room and each of them gave me one of their shoulder patches.  So I now have a “get outta jail card” in Jaraíz.  The vice mayor also took us on a tour of the “pimentón (paprika) museum.  They claim that the best paprika in the world is grown in Jaraíz.  I had no reason to doubt it because it seemed it to be a super big deal there.  The vice mayor took us to his office in the city hall and gave us all gifts.  He was extremely gracious and attentive to all of our questions.  A member of our branch (Mauricio) is the vice mayors’ campaign manager and has been a big help in his ascendancy to office. 

It is a REAL BULL!

We are certainly settling into our role in the branch.  Our role is: if you need anything just ask Elder Gibson!  Not really but I have to be prepared for just about anything.  Here is a great example: 

Narrow streets of Jaraíz

 Last Saturday was the 174^th anniversary of the Relief Society (at least that is the number I heard from the hermanas).  There was a RS activity at the branch, commemorating this date.  I walked Linda over to the “capilla” or chapel and came back to our piso.  Perfect timing, as the baked chicken was just coming out of the oven.  I was hungry and ready to dig in. Linda had also just made come cookies and I was going for it.  Suddenly my phone dinged with a message that the hermanas urgently needed me at the capilla.  I just had to laugh because the unexpected that is quickly becoming expected was happening again.  I put the steaming hot chicken on the counter and waved goodbye to the cookies as I stuffed one into my mouth on the way out the door.  When I arrived at the church, the hermanas were all seated, waiting for my arrival.  As I entered they all gave me a great big smile and started the meeting.  Apparently I need to improve upon by ability as a mind reader.  Neither the branch president nor the 1^st counselor was there to represent the Sacerdocio (Priesthood) and I had not been asked to represent the presidency.  I was more than happy to preside over the meeting.  The hermanas held a wonderful meeting, bearing testimony of the great Sisterhood of the RS.  Did I mention that as I entered the capilla I was asked to give a talk to the hermanas?  Well I was and I did.  Fortunately I am getting over my shyness as you might imagine, ha-ha.  Speaking is something that I actually enjoy which is a blessing in a branch in the mission field.  My scheme, if I can call it that, is to tell a few stories that relate to a gospel principle, expound upon the blessings one receives by living the gospel and to bear testimony.  A couple of well-placed (and appropriate) jokes, good eye contact and there you have it.  This is my recipe and it has carried us so far.  A little forewarning would be nice but we are working on that aspect.  One thing at a time.

RS Celebration

We had a branch conference two weeks ago.  Our area Seventy, Elder Obando and his wife along with Presidente Rodriguez and his wife came to be with us.  Presidente Rodriguez is the 2^nd counselor in the mission.  The Obando’s are from Costa Rica and the Rodriguez’s are from Cádiz, which is on the south coast of Spain, close to Gibraltar.  On Saturday evening Elder Obando gave a charla foganera (fireside), which was very well attended.  We had a nice activity after the charla foganera.  The majority of the members are from several different Latin American countries and brought “platos tipicos” or dishes from their home countries.  It was excellent and a lot of fun.  On Sunday the attendance was the largest since we have been here.  I believe the attendance was 52.  It was interesting because they ran out of sacrament water and had to fill some additional cups.  I guess that was a good problem.

Elder y Hna. Obando (70)

During the branch conference I was called and sustained as the 2^nd counselor in the branch presidency.  Since I am a set-apart missionary, it was not necessary to be set-apart as a counselor.  I look forward to working more closely with the presidency in the work of the branch.  There are many needs that need to be addressed.  I think the hardest part is to make suggestions slowly and with love.  We have to be careful not to create a “water hose” affect, if you know what I mean.  The nice thing is that the members of the branch really do look to us for advice and direction.

Our Branch President just purchased his first car, but he is terrified to drive.  I had to laugh this past Sunday as he drove away from the capilla.  His family piled into his car and off they went.  As he entered the first roundabout next to the capilla, he almost stopped in the middle of the first turn.  I was thinking, Presidente, step on it!  Even though he had the right of way, he was taking no chances.  It reminded me of the drivers in Rocklin who stop in the middle of the roundabouts on Rocklin Rd. The BP safely made it through the roundabout and he must have made it home because I just spoke with him on the phone and he sounded fine. 

Remember my “new best friend”, José Antonio that I chronicled in my last blog?  Well a couple more encounters with him, one which included a plate of cookies, and we are certainly good friends.  He wants to sign-up for the English class we are planning and he has made himself available for any help that we may need.  I’m not sure where this is going but I am certainly pleased the direction this has taken.

José Antonio

Linda and I have challenged each other to achieve a “daily success”.  This can be as simple as having a pleasurable exchange with a stranger or helping someone in need, whether a member or non-member.  We are making new friends everywhere we go.  Our new friend today is Francisco who works at the post office.  He was extremely helpful and even recommended some interesting places in nearby towns that have historical significance.  After we part ways with someone, I jot down their name so we will know it on our next encounter with them.  I have found in life that this is extremely helpful in developing relationships.  The time will come with each of these new friends when we begin them to tell them our message. I feel this is one of the reasons we have been sent to Cáceres Spain.

We are now official “Documented Aliens”.  Some people still look at us as if we were actual aliens but we are getting used to that.  We picked up our “Permisos de Residencia” today and are now possessors of official Spanish Residency cards.  Unless Linda says something I can’t get us out of, we are good for one year at which time we will need to renew the permisos.

OK, I know this is getting extremely long so you might want to go get yourself a Diet Dr. Pepper and raise your glass to me.  If you at least email me a picture of a Diet Dr. Pepper, I will be extremely grateful.

I promised you a few words about Semana Santa.  Well it seems everyone here is Catholic although we did have an interesting discussion with a couple of Jehovah Witness missionaries.  Semana Santa is a big deal here in Spain.  It is the week leading up to Easter Sunday.  Of course Easter for us is indeed a very special time of year as we remember the life, crucifixion and resurrection of our Savior.  Hopefully our remembrance and reverence for the life of our Savior is a daily event for us and not just an annual ritual, which I believe is the case here.

It appeared this week that everyone was outdoors watching the different processions that the Catholic church presented.  Every day there was a different procession.  The processions are somewhat like a parade that starts at a church and slowly, and I mean slowly, completes a circuit.  On Friday night, which was Good Friday, we went to the old town and watched one of the processions.  It lasted for about an hour and was very interesting.  If you look at Brent Moore’s Facebook posts you will see some of the pictures he uploaded concerning the procession he witnessed.  We positioned ourselves close to the front of the procession and were close enough to reach out and touch the participants.  Of course we keep our hands to ourselves.  The path of the procession in the old town was on a cobblestone type road that was approximately 20 feet wide.  As the members of the procession slowly marched past us we could see their eyes move to Linda’s “chapa” (missionary badge) and remain there as they read the inscription.  This happened more times than we could count.  I thought it was awesome, two Mormon Missionaries in the middle of a Catholic procession on Good Friday, in the heart of Old Spain. Even the “curas” or Catholic Priests  couldn’t keep their eyes from looking at the chapa.  Linda was standing in front of me so I don’t think they could see mine.  I’m not certain if the Catholic Bishop, who was dressed in the best processional clothing, took a peak at the chapa.  I was hoping he would at least make eye contact with me.  I do have to appreciate the many people who came out to honor the Savior in the way they did.  These are good people and we wish we could teach the Gospel to each of them.

Well my blog has come to an end.  I know many of you may be saying whewwwwww, but I promised I would keep you posted.  Since Terry Meinzer let us all down (ha-ha) by only posting a couple of times, I feel pressed upon to keep the fire kindled.  I think Terry, in quest of perfecting his Cambodian, has forgotten his English.

Next blog coming soon...........

Hasta Luego

Dennis and Linda

Elder and Hermana Gibson

Misión España Málaga

Spanish Street Walkers