First Area Assignment!

We were anxiously awaiting word on where Elder Harris would be assigned for his first area in Spain. He emailed us on Monday, Memorial Day (May 25th) and said he would be leaving the MTC on Tuesday, go to the mission home, get an iPAD, get some additional training, receive a new companion, get an area assignment -- and head out!

Here's the last photo of his group at the Spain MTC. Some of them are heading out to other countries, as well as his group going to  different corners of the Madrid mission:

We got an email this morning (May 27th) from his Mission President's wife, Sister Jackson, saying he has been assigned to Aranjuez, a little "pueblo" (old community, small town/village) about an hour south of Madrid.

His first companion will be Elder Norrell, from Texas. Sister Jackson says Elder Norrell is a "happy, obedient missionary who will be a good companion to your son."

We welcomed your son into our mission Tuesday morning. We brought him to the Mission Home and fed him lunch. We gave him an overview of the mission and some of the rules and expectations, and spent most of the day with him. He was excited, and seemed ready to get to work...We look forward to getting to know him and working along side him in this great work here in the Spain, Madrid Mission. We have confidence that he will be a great missionary. Thank you for sharing him with us! We already love him.

 

Here is a photo of him with President and Sister Scott T. Jackson at the mission home:

 

The rest of his MTC group at the mission home before they head out to their first areas in the Madrid area:

 

 

 

Of course, I Googled Aranjuez and found out some great information and beautiful pictures!

 

 

Aranjuez is just a little smaller than Franklin, TN at about 55,000 people. There are many palaces, museums, churches, theaters, estates, parks, gardens and historic sites in Aranjuez.

 

In 1178, the area was acquired by the Order of Santiago. Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic Monarchs, converted Aranjuez into a royal site, and it has been a spring residence of the kings of Spain from the late 19th century.

 

It will be a BEAUTIFUL area for Elder Harris to enjoy while he learns to really work with the people of Spain and teach them about Christ!

 

His "Preparation Day" (P-Day) will now be Monday, so that's when we'll get his emails. Look forward to his first one next week so we can see what he thinks of Aranjuez!