Preparation Day for the Mallorca missionaries brought quite a surprise.

The elders from Palma and the sisters from Inca wanted to play tennis with Los Thompson and the Manacor elders. June 13 was our day. The Palma and Inca groups arrived by train and we decided to try the old clay courts where Nadal developed his talent. To our surprise, Nadal was there practicing. He recently won the French Open, but had been defeated in a grasscourt tournament due to exhaustion. The missionaries watched him practice and then played for a hour. When Nadal was ready to leave, the missionaries greeted him and he allowed us to photograph him with all our Mallorcan team.

Cleaning the Inca Branch

Here are more photos of the Inca Branch workers preparing with gusto the new branch for worship. The sister missionaries are shown below with the branch member Rosanna Larrubia cleaning the barthroom. Also shown is Elder Thompson with branch members cleaning the chapel.

The Inca, Mallorca Branch moves to a lovely new facility

In the Fall of 2010, the Inca Branch had to move out of their rented space because the neighboring judicial offices needed more room. For six months the branch has met in a rented temporary building. Saturday, June 4th, branch members gathered to move furniture and clean the new facility. In four hours the new space was ready for members to use. Sunday, June 5th was the first time the Inca members worshipped in this light and spacious place.

A different kind of preparation day

Transfers brought major changes to the Baleares Zone. Two elders left the Palma area, one sister the Inca area, and one elder from the Manacor area. Even the Menorca elders were given new assignments. Sister Thompson was assigned to serve with Sister Martin for the day until her new companion flew to the island from Barcelona. In order to accommodate the waiting elders and be a companion to a sister for the day, Sister Thompson had to leave Elder Thompson at home in Manacor. She drove to Inca, picked up the sisters, continued to Palma to meet the elders. One sister and three elders left to fly to Barcelona. While three elders and a sister waited for their new companions, we enjoyed some sightseeing together. Valldemossa, Soller, and the Port de Soller were beckoning to us. Sister Thompson drove the little Opel filled with missionaries to these exotic spots.

Mallorca District meeting is our last with these angels.

May continued to be a busy time, driving elders and sisters to appointments far from their assigned cities. We have just finished our district meeting held in Manacor so we can use Skype to add the Menorca elders to the meeting. Elders Egan and Farley work in Manacor, Hermanas Martin and Bennion in Inca, and Elders Hadley, Thompson, Bodily, and Bennington in Palma.

Back in Africa with our friends

This is catch-up time for the busy Los Thompson. In April, Elders Hadley and Thompson in Palma invited us to an evening with their Nigerian investigator and his family. As soon as we came to the door, we felt like we were back in Africa. Owen said to us, "You are Welcome", a phrase we heard often when we served our first mission in Accra, Ghana. This dear family was most welcoming. They had prepared a large meal with fufu, rice, and a spice soup. We prepared a notebook with conversion stories about the Nigerian and Ghanaian members for Owen. We wanted him to know of his wonderful heritage through church members in West Africa.

A feminine touch has been added to our zone

During February, los Thompson had the assignment to find a piso (apartment) in Inca. President Hinckley was going to send us some more missionaries. The Inca Branch was particularly grateful to hear of this plan. After finding a piso owned by a member, we brought two lovely young sisters to fill it--Hermanas Martin and Bennion. Having these sisters here assigned to Inca makes life more manageable for the Manacor elders. They can concentrate on their own area and allow the sister to perform miracles in Inca. We are pictured at our zone conference which includes the Menorca elders and on our p-day on the Palma tennis courts.

Celebrating with the Scharsigs

The Baptism of Bro. Scharsig was not only eventful for Los Thompson. Sister Scharsig couldn't believe it was actually happening. She and her daughter have been waiting for many years for this day. Pictured are los Thompson, the Scharsigs and our three elders presently working together in Manacor--Egan, Greep, and Farley.

A German Baptism in Spain

February has been a memorial month for Los Thompson. We have been working with a couple from Hamburg Germany, the wife was a member, but her husband, Rolf was not. We met them on their vacation in Mallorca last February, 2010. When they left for Hamburg in March 2010, we encouraged Rolf to read The Book of Mormon. Bro. Thompson bore his witness of its truthfulness and I wrote my testimony to him in an email. When they returned in November, we began our visits again, without too much progress. We decided to give up, but Bro. Scharsig became serious about studying the Book of Mormon. Elders Egan and Greep joined us in our meetings with them. They encouraged him to listen to his feelings. That made the difference. He accepted a baptismal date of February 19th.Elder Greep did the baptizing--in German, no less with Brother Thompson's coaching. The following day, Brother Thompson confirmed him in German. Pictured are elders Egan, Greep,and Farley with Rolf Scharsig.

Ancient Ruins of Mallorca are fascinating

Our friend and recent convert, Augusto, took us on a sight-seeing tour of ancient ruins on the island. These ruins are likely to be 3000 years old, similar to the Stone Henge in Great Britian. The first could have been a place of safety when invaders came to shore. The second is part of an small pueblo where a group of island inhabitants lived. These are both near the town of Arta. Augusto's friend Marty, a Mallorquin was our guide and teacher. We are all together outside of the safe haven site. Los Thompson are standing at the entrance to the small stone village.

Elder Thompson's friend Iris is baptized

Elder Thompson visits a Repsol gas station regularly. He became acquainted with some of the employees, inviting them to attend our English class. One employee, Iris, accepted the invitation. From the first time I saw Iris, I thought she might also be interested in learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ. She was a good English student who eventually became a good gospel student. She knew of the Mormons in Uruguay and felt comfortable with them. Her baptism was held in Manacor on January 29th. She is pictured with branch member Ashley, the elders Egan and Greep, and Los Thompson.

Three King's Day

We were invited to visit with the Scharsigs, our friends from Germany, on Spain's holiday, Three King's Day, Jan. 6th. We watched four boats come to shore, each containing a Wise Man led by a person representing the star. They landed to the applause of a large crowd and to a band playing a welcoming selection. With a large parade of people dressed as guards to the Kings, they made their way to the Catholic Church in the center of Colonia St.Jordi. The Kings paid respects to a woman representing Mary carrying the baby Jesus. Gifts were given to children who attended. It seems to me to be a worthwhile holiday where Bible stories are reinacted and remembered.

Los Thompson had an adventure over New Year's Eve (Noche Vieja - old night). The elders in Menorca were moving to a new apartment where they had to buy supplies for the kitchen and bath,and put up light fixtures themselves. We decided this was a good time to visit them so we could give them a hand. We took a ferry boat from Alcudia, driving our car onto the ship. It was an hour's ride to the city of Ciudella, a port city on Menorca. We drove to Mahon at the other end of the island where we met the elders. They are shown standing in front of the branch chapel, a lovely space on a very nice street.

Inca Branch performs for senior center

Combining all forces from the Inca Branch--the Primary, the Relief Society, and a choir--the members performed a puppet show of the Nativity with Christmas songs interspersed. Sister Larrubia wrote the script and directed the singing. The theater at the right was made by a member who allowed us to use it. The Relief Society presented 12 lap quilts for the residents to use.

The grasses of a Mallorcan finca look like a golf course

We have had lots of rain coupled with cold winds, but often the sun comes out and look what happens. Things start growing and Mallorca is on its way to Spring. At least the grasses make it look that way. Any one for a golf game?

Elder Egan finds Nadal's ferrari

A little added excitement for our p-day was seeing Rafael Nadal's ferrari parked at the Municipal Sports Complex in Manacor. Elder Egan can't believe he is so near to something that belongs to the famed tennis hero.

Preparation Days are cold, but clear enough for a game.

Here we are playing tennis at the Manacor Municipal Sports Complex. Pablo is with us, his last time, before returning to Santiago, Chili. We had both singles and triples being played. Hermano Thompson was asked not to hit balls against a ballwall connected to an enclosed tennis court because Rafael Nadal was practicing inside and it was distracting him. We were so near to the world champion!

White Christmas in Manacor, Mallorca

It is Christmas Day. The Baleares elders are elated to have two Spaniards be baptized in Manacor. The Palma elders--Bennington and Cannel--first contacted Augosto on the street. Then he moved to take a job remodeling an ancient farmhouse. That is when the Manacor elders--Egan and Greep--took over. With the help of Elder Thompson driving them over backroads and lanes, they convinced this thoughtful young man that the gospel is true. At the same time, Elders Egan and Greep found Francisco on the train one day. Francisco asked them to teach him about their religion.

Each zone performs at Barcelona Conference

Los Thompson always like to meet our former missionaries at the Barcelona Conferences. This time we got to watch Elders Henrie and Bodily do some actual dancing. We loved watching each zone perform a skit that they had 10 minutes to prepare using Disney songs. Our Baleares zone sang about Los Thompson driving them here and there, so we felt good that they appreciated our efforts for them.

Menorca elders holding up the branch

Since our team of elders in Menorca can't meet with us regularly, they took a picture of themselves in front of the branch located in Mahon to add to the collage gift. We were able to visit them just recently and can testify of their determination to do their job well. Elder Bajana and Elder Rhead are a good team--one can cook and organize and the other meets people so well. The small branch has a good spirit with lovely members.

Christmas Preparations

In preparation for a Christmas conference in Barcelona, each zone was to prepare a gift for President and Sister Hinckley. Since our islands are so lovely, we decided to make a collage of scenes of Mallorca and Menorca to fit in a frame. We added pictures of branch activities and a picture of us --the hardworking missionaries--along with views of the sea and sky. Here we are at our best...