We're Not in Kansas Any More!!

We live on the 7th floor, in a really nice piso, right in the middle of downtown Santiago.  We probably have the best piso in the entire Spain Mission!!  It is fancy and actually has color (not like the blank white walls of our former place.

Madrid is in the rear-view mirror, and we have landed in a place called Santiago de Compostela.  Santiago is the destination spot for many who walk the Via (The Way) on their pilgrimage to this place. They come to see the supposed "remains" of the New Testament Apostle James (Saint Diego) (San Diego).   Santiago is green and lush, not at all like Madrid.  We are only a half-hour drive to the western coast of Spain, right up in the far northwest corner, above Portugal.  We love it here!

In Madrid, we were working in the Self-Reliance Center that served the entire country of Spain. , , we were visiting with our new mission president, and told him that we lots of free time and was there something else we could do to help in the mission.  It took a little time for him to figure out where he needed us the most, and finally, here we are.  At the moment, til we interview with him tomorrow, we are assisting the local 2 sets of missionaries that work here.  (one set of Elders, and one set of Hermanas).  We are having fun helping them teach lessons to investigators.  I have already given a talk in Sacrament Meeting, and taught the Priesthood lesson.  Sister Bake has given a prayer in Sunday School class, in Spanish!!!
We are both making  progress in the language department, as there is no other way to do the work here, other than to get in and "talk the talk."  Let me say  good-bye to Madrid, using a few pictures, and then I will try to get you caught up on our new assignment.

On a good evening, right after a storm, the temple really stands out!!

This one is Sister Bake's favorite.

We will miss some of the places where we used to go to walk!

From a little hill, in a park, from one of our favorite places to walk.

I think that Grandma has been sneaking out at night with her
can of spray paint!!   We have seen this one several times!!

In the car, on the way to Santiago.  You can see the time of day,
the date, and the white knuckles of the driver!!
You can also see that the landscape is changing.  Here, everything
is so much more green and lush.  There are hills, and wild things--
you see "red stag crossing" signs all over the place!!!

We still do not have our own internet installed yet--we go to the church to get a few things done and the bills paid.  Hopefully, within the next two weeks (it's been two already, and Mary Anne told me it took them a month to get theirs installed) we could have our own thing going on.  We have to get out of here, walk back to our piso, and be ready for the Hermanas to bring one of their investigators to our place, in order to give him a lesson.  Teaching them out on the busy street where we live is not the most conducive for the Spirit to be present.  

We will write more, and send more beautiful pictures as soon as we get our internet up and running.  For now, just know that we are good hands, and are loving where we are, and what we are doing!

President Pack has a lot on  his mind for us to be doing--we find out what is actually will be, tomorrow.  Also, the president of the district has his sights on us!!  Look out Santiago!!