Tender mercies in Ibiza!
Wow, we were so blessed to go to Ibiza! We were able to check on the members, an apartment (piso), the JAS (Jovenes Adultos Solteros) group, and of course, the beach. We asked to go because an apartment had been empty for a couple of transfers, and we had a free minute in our summer schedule. Our mission leaders, President and Hermana Heckman, are so kind and loving. They encouraged us to go and asked us to check on things. We felt many tender mercies along the way as the Lord guided us through a fantastic visit.
Getting There
When we first arrived, we took a taxi to find the car, but the car key from the office didn't work. Fortunately, the sister missionaries had connected us with a local member, Manu, one of our "ministering angels." He had been given a spare key and went above and beyond to help us all week. Tender Mercy!
He and his wife came over, but the second key fob didn't work either. We learned that the car's hybrid battery was dead—a common problem if it sits too long. Since the apartment keys were locked inside, Dave researched how to get in. Tender Mercy!
The instructions said to pop a small piece off the door handle to access a hidden keyhole. Just then, another "ministering angel" walked by and showed us the trick. With a quick "POP!", the piece came off, we got inside the car, and found the apartment keys. Tender mercy!
Manu offered to drive us, but Dave's research revealed that the hybrid had an electric start button. He pushed it, the alarm blared, and the car started right up. We are so grateful for the tender mercies we experienced in getting to the apartment, and we knew the Lord was helping us. It's hard to describe, but so many things went wrong, yet at every single step, someone was there to help. We are so grateful for all the tender mercies we received."
The Apartment and around town
We knew the apartment had a parking spot, but we couldn't find the garage or even confirm which building it was in. It was another huge tender mercy when Dave, on a hunch, followed someone into a small, outdoor parking space, and it turned out to be the right one! We discovered that a small fob on our key ring actually opened the parking area gate.
After a quick detour up the wrong staircase, we found the right one and entered the apartment. It was a spacious, beautiful, two-bedroom unit located near the downtown beaches. We rearranged the furniture so we could sit on the couch and enjoy the harbor view from the window—it was wonderful. We absolutely loved the location, and getting to use the mission couple's car was a bonus—we were definitely spoiled!
It's a good thing we came, because the electricity to the fridge and freezer had been off for a while, and the smell was quite sour. We ended up hiring a wonderful young woman—another tender mercy—who helped us clean for three hours. The apartment hadn't been lived in for a while and needed a thorough cleaning of all its nooks and crannies. It felt awesome once it was done!
The Members
Manu invited us to the branch's Friday night Family Home Evening at the church. The members were so kind and excited to see the “new” mission couple. It was sad to tell them we were only there for a quick visit. We assured them that a new couple would be coming soon. The new couple will be so loved! We listened to a beautifully prepared lesson, then had some snacks (pica pica) and were we are use to playing games afterward they danced! They even taught Dave and I some new moves—it was so much fun!
We also hosted a JAS (YSA ) night at the mission couple's apartment. We expected maybe five people to show up, but about 13 came. It was so much fun! We shared a spiritual thought, ate fruit and yogurt with toppings, and played games. We stayed up playing until about 11:30 PM before everyone started heading home. The young adults are amazing and so grateful for the opportunity to gather together.
Sunday was wonderful as we saw even more of the branch members. Dave got to speak Dutch—a huge tender mercy that he loved! They announced from the pulpit that we would be speaking, so we did. This happens pretty frequently in our mission. Studying the scriptures and Come, Follow Me helps us to know what to talk about in the spur of the moment. Following the prophet brings tender mercies. One day coming out of the elevator, we met Isabella. She was so excited to see a new mission couple. She had served in the Barcelona mission and now is housed in the same building as the mission couple from her work. She was a huge tender mercy for us. Helping with coordination of keys, dinners, taxi´s, etc!
The Sisters
The mission president arranged a P-day (preparation day) for us to spend with the sisters, and we had a great time. One of the sisters was also from the Netherlands, so Dave got to speak Dutch again. We learned that there are a lot of Dutch people living on the island, not just tourists. In fact, many menus are printed in English, Dutch, Spanish, and French.
We drove with the sisters to the other side of the island to see a beautiful lighthouse at the northernmost point. We stopped at several scenic overlooks along the way and spent hours soaking in the beauty of the island. What a blessing to go to IBIZA!
