Casa de Colon

I got to take a quick trip down memory lane when I saw this photo on Facebook today.

This is the last place Christopher Columbus stayed before he crossed the Atlantic and discovered America. It is now a museum called Casa de Colon (there is an accent over the 2nd 'o' but I can't figure out how to do it) - Columbus' house - and is located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. I went there a couple of times during my mission and it was fun to see something so historical.

I love the architecture and history of Spain. I can't wait to go back with my camera and document the beauty of the islands. Until then, I have to rely on photos I find on the Internet to remind me how amazing the islands are.

I also heard from one of my very favorite companions today, Hermana Oliveira. She's from Brazil and is so awesome. I haven't talked to her since the mission (keeping in touch with people is not a talent of mine), but we chatted on Facebook today and it was so good to hear from her.

This is her FB profile picture. I'll dig up more pictures of us from the mission soon. We had so much fun together. We laughed a ton. She's awesome. We lived with some crazy old lady who had dentures -- actually, she wasn't even that old. She would go to bed every night before we even got home and would leave her dentures on the kitchen counter. We would eat dinner when we got home at 9 and had to work around them every night. It was so gross but we just laughed about it. I'm glad to hear that Hna Oliveira (Elisa) is doing well. A life-long friend for sure...even though we haven't talked. I think those are the best friends ---> ones where no matter how much time has passed, you can talk and feel comfortable like you talk all the time.

So, Elisa speaks Portugese and Spanish and I speak English and (barely) Spanish so it took some work to communicate with her. I really wish I still spoke super well, but I don't. I just don't have the opportunity to speak it at all anymore, so I am forgetting it. I need to take classes or something so I don't forget it completely.


Something super cool has just happened in the islands. The very first stake for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized last week. It's so exciting that the work is going forth and the members are faithful. I'm so thankful for the opportunity I had to serve a mission there and to know and love the wonderful Canarian people.