(We received this email late in the morning, with the email title:  Long email.)

Haha, just kidding, I don't really have any time at all today, but suffice it to say, that our Smoke alarm and CO detectors work, and we are working really hard here. This week I am going on splits with the Zone Leaders up in Castilla la Mancha, so we'll see how that goes. 

I may be able to come to the Locutorio late tonight right before we go to bed and fill you in on some details of this last week.

Love you all, a lot!

Elder Oliver

Sorry for such a short email, I didn't have a lot of time to begin with, and I spent most of it emailing people from old areas that I haven't heard from in a long time

(Then later in the day we received this:)

So, going along the lines of the special training with president, I will fill you in briefly in an experience that we had just a moment ago.

So, we got back from Fuengirola today, got dressed, and headed out to work. We had appointments scheduled for the entire evening today, and we were expecting to be pretty busy up till the end of proselyting time. We popped on over to the first family, and nobody answered. We passed by the next family, and nothing. We quickly went through all of our backup plans, and guess what! Nothing. So, as we were heading away from the last family that didn't answer their door, we got a phone call from a senior missionary working in the office.

''Hi Sister C. This is Elder Oliver, how may I help you?''

''Hey, Elder Oliver, do you have a bit of extra time?''

   ---I look at my agenda with all of our appointments crossed out.

''Actually, yeah! We have plenty of time! What's up?''

And it turns out that one of the senior couple Elders (Coombs) had gotten sick, and he was staying at a hospital here in Marbella. So, we stopped by the hospital and had a great little while chatting with him and his wife. They are from AZ too! And they know people that I know!

Anyways, we got to know them really well, and as we left, Sister Coombs was crying. They were so grateful for the visit, and we really felt good afterwards. We knew that had those families not fallen through with their appointments, Elder and Sister Coombs would have spent the entire night in the hospital alone.

We really can see the hand of the Lord in all things. He sometimes works in not so mysterious ways.

Anyways, I love you all! I hope Cooper and Brodie have had a great birthday, and that you will all have missionary experiences this next week!


Os quiero mucho!

Elder Oliver