I served in Spain from August 1972 to December 1973. Sabadell, Madrid, Sevilla and Cadiz.

Some experiences in life are unforgettable. A mission provides many of those. I don’t know if you received these from Elder Fox or Sister Valentine, this version contains more detail.

Sister Hardy and I served as the first sisters in Sabadell. When we arrived first in Barcelona, the Zone leader told us the elders were only able to find a place to rent for a month from the nuns.

Later in Madrid, a red-haired lady came up to me and reminded me that she had been at the apartments the nuns rented to young women working in Sabadell. Although we were forbidden by the nuns from talking to the other ladies about the church, this lady– after watching us, became interested in the Church, although we did not know it. At the time I saw her in Madrid, she was taking the lessons. Though we did not say a word about the Church to her, she was touched by the Spirit. (An “I don’t know the end of the story” story.)

On our first contact of Ursula Ramos, a humble housewife of Sevilla, we were invited to come back when her family was home. We taught a lesson to the Ramos family and invited them to a branch activity. The elders had planned a chartered bus trip to the mountains. The activity included the filming of an old western movie with a rented 8 mm camera (One of the elders was fascinated with Native American lore and customs) The branch would make the scenery while in the mountains. Families would bring a picnic lunch.

When we arrived at the Ramos apartment on the appointed day, the Ramos family was on the porch waiting with their picnic lunch. Mari Teri, their daughter, was chosen as the Native American princess. All the branch seemed to enjoy the day. Sister Ramos did not really join in and talk much to others, but quietly watched.

Later, when we were teaching the family the discussion on the Word of Wisdom, we challenged each member of the family individually to live the Word of Wisdom. Each said they would try. To our amazement, Sister Ramos said, “When we went to the mountains, I knew the Church was true, so I started living the Word of Wisdom from that day.”

On a Preparation Day before Ursula’s baptism, we took her, her six-year old son and Mari Teri to the ancient Roman ruins outside Sevilla. When we returned from the ticket office after buying the return tickets, Sister Ramos was in the midst of a charla with some other people who were returning to town. She bore a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel.

A testament that it is the Spirit that teaches and converts, especially the humble. (besides Sister Ramos, Mari Teri was baptized. Later Sister Ramos’s young son and her mother were baptized. We also taught a lesson to Mari Teri’s boyfriend who eventually was baptized and in time became her husband.)