European holiday, Part 1

So let's get this travel log started!

We traveled for 11 days to London, England and to Barcelona, Madrid, and Cuenca, Spain. We spent 4 and a half days in London with J's parents who are there serving a full time family history mission and then 5 days in Spain where J served his mission 11 years ago.

J with his parents

The true highlight of the trip was being with full-time missionaries and surrounded by memories of J's mission and it accentuated the wonder of anything we did or saw. Truly, seeing members of the church across the world who live their faith the same way we do was very inspiring and assuring that this is Christ's church on the earth. He is the same, His gospel is the same, and the people who accept it are striving for the same things no matter where they live.

My missionary in-laws

I think this trip made me more grateful for missionary work than I had been before. It was such a blessing to be with my sweet husband as he walked the streets and reconnected with people he'd known as a missionary.  It made me aware of just how much his mission has blessed his life and made him the person that he is today. It accentuated all that is good about him and strengthened him through trial. It helped me remember my own missionary service in Venezuela and recognize how my life was forever enhanced through that experience. And being with my in-laws and seeing them sacrifice the comforts of thier home, the proximity to their children and grandchildren, the ability to be there for their aging parent, and the ease of retired life to serve people, alive or passed on, in London affirmed to me that missionary service brings more blessings to ourselves and to our families than we could ever anticipate.

The members of the Rama Cuenca in Cuenca, Spain

So, for me, the most impressive and memorable part of our vacation  was seeing first hand how missionary work really does change lives for the better.