Barcelona Attacks

August 17, 2017 

5:00pm (Spain Time) A terrorist attack took place in Barcelona on La Rambla street which is an extremely popular and very busy tourist area.  We had a few frightening hours as we watched the horror unfold and worried about Calli and fellow missionaries.  I was glued to my TV the rest of the day. Within a couple hours we had heard through the grapevine that the missionaries were okay, but we were still anxious to hear official word. 

La Rambla

A white van tore through the streets swerving and hitting as many people as possible resulting in 13 deaths and over 100 injuries.  As the story unfolded throughout the day it was clear that this was not a isolated incidence.  This attack was followed by two other attacks in neighboring cities and a bomb the previous day was also linked to this terrorists as well.  They arrested 3 and killed 4 terrorists. The driver of the first van was at large and a massive man hunt pursued. People were asked to get off the streets and lock themselves in their homes.

 La Rambla is 21 minutes from the mission home

 and 51 minutes from her area. I was so thankful it wasn't P-Day because who knows where all the missionaries would have been.  Each week they have been traveling all over visiting palaces, cathedrals and popular tourist attractions. However, the Barcelona Mission is so large that it is necessary for the missionaries to travel by train and buses on a daily basis  Calli had just traveled to the mission home on Monday for interviews. So we were still quite stressed until we received official word.

 Fox News



 Timeline of Events

Christian who was in New York at the time he heard about the attack sent me these pictures from the 9/11 monument.

 I kept checking my email religiously for any word...finally around 11:00pm our time we received an email from President and Sister Dayton. (We believe the email was written within a couple hours of the attack due to the facts and for some reason we didn't receive it for more than 9 hours later)  

Spain Barcelona Mission<2011255 ldschurch.org="">

Aug 17 at 11:09 PM

Dear Families of Spain Barcelona Mission missionaries,

   By now you may have heard that today there was a tragic event which occurred at the Plaza Cataluña near Barcelona's City Center.  A van plowed into a crowd of people on the famed Rambla causing serious injuries to more than 20 people; CNN reports at least one death in the attack.  Immediately after I was notified of this by Church Security, my Assistants made calls to every single companionship in the Barcelona, Badalona and Hospitalet Zones (more than 70 missionaries in our mission) which are all in the Barcelona area.  Gratefully all missionaries are accounted for and none were involved.  If your missionary is not in one of those 3 zones, it would be highly unlikely they would be affected since they need permission from the mission president to leave their zone and none had requested said permission.  We are so grateful the Lord has watched over His missionaries and protected them once again. We love them very much and feel honored and grateful that we can serve side by side with them in this great work of bringing souls to Christ. We pray for the victims of this senseless tragedy and ask the Lord's blessings to be and comfort them during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Presidente and Hermana Dayton 

They also sent out a letter to the missionaries:

Beloved Missionaries,
    Hermana Dayton and I have been saddened by the tragic events of the last 24 hours in Barcelona and Cambrils.  How sad that this beautiful country with its warm and gracious people have been the victims of such senseless brutality.  We are grateful that the Lord has protected ALL missionaries in this mission from any injury or harm.  We want you to know that His promises to protect His missionaries are true today as they were in all dispensations.  D&C 84:88 says, "And whoso receive the you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."  I am so grateful for this promise from the Lord. 
     
We would continue to admonish all missionaries to stay away from large groups of people--usually the profile targeted by terrorists.  This includes celebrations, fiestas, political rallies and other large gatherings.  Be alert, be wise, and don't put yourself in potentially dangerous situations. 
   
Unless we hear otherwise from the Missionary Committee of the Church, missionary work in all areas will continue uninterrupted.  The Zone Conferences in Hospitalet and Barcelona will continue as planned.  As D&C 1:5 states, "And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them." 
     
We are so grateful that you are all well and safe.  We love you and pray for you daily.  Please continue to be safe and take care of yourselves.
     Much love,
 Presidente and Hermana Dayton

So thankful to get official word that all missionaries were safe and accounted for. Prayers to the victims and their families and the good people of Spain that Calli has come to love so much!!