Seeds of faith
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NERJA, Spain — Located in the Axarquia region of Malaga, Nerja is one of the most picturesque spots on Spain's Costa del Sol. With origins of habitation going back to the 11th century, its rocky and steep shoreline of red-orange cliffs frame numerous coves and stretches of beach. Immediately behind this coastline, mountain peaks dominate the panorama. Nestled on the slopes of these mountains are unspoiled hill villages, such as Frigiliana and Torrox, within the white walls of which Spanish peasant life goes on as it has for hundreds of years.
Amidst this beauty lies the little Nerja Branch of the Church, a small but growing presence in this tourist haven. The branch began with one woman's seeds of faith.
Native-born Maria Carmen Atencia Cabalin — affectionately known as Sister Maria Carmen — was the first member of the Church in Nerja. Her first contact with the Church was in 1981 when she was invited to a baptism in the city of Malaga by a Church-member cousin. "I felt the Spirit really strong and began to cry. I was crying like a fountain and couldn't leave the building until I had managed to stop," said Sister Maria Carmen, who explained that at the time she had a number of domestic problems and was in poor health, with two young children, ages 7 and 3, to care for.
Staying with her cousin that Saturday night, she found that she couldn't sleep. "Every time I closed my eyes, all I could think of and see in my mind was the Savior and the apostles. This kept going through my mind." When her cousin came in she informed her that she desired to join the Church.
For many years Church membership was a struggle for her. There was no branch of the Church and no other members in Nerja. The nearest Church meetings were in Malaga, an hour's bus ride away. She could afford to take herself and her two children to Church only a couple of times a month. Even that was a big sacrifice.
Notwithstanding those early challenges, missionary work has always been dear to her heart. All those years ago she began by simply but boldly telling her neighbors and family relations in Nerja about the gospel. Over the years, her mother, father, sister, husband and children all joined the Church. Her brother was baptized on March 1, 2003.
Blessed with a genuine feeling for those around her, Sister Maria Carmen has been a remarkably successful missionary, though she is reluctant to talk about her missionary endeavors. "I went knocking on doors with the missionaries. When people were not at home I went back to see them," she said. In each of the first three homes on whose doors she knocked, someone joined the Church. It was only then that missionaries were assigned to live and work in Nerja. Other members say that Sister Maria Carmen has had a hand in every baptism there has been in Nerja.
From the days of bus journeys to Malaga, to meeting in a rented room, the branch now has its own meeting rooms and a small chapel in a purpose-built shop-front conversion in downtown Nerja.
"My testimony is so strong that at times I feel weak. I'm grateful to the Lord for everything that's happened. I feel great about the Church," she said.
How does Sister Maria Carmen, who serves as the Nerja Branch Primary president, feel about missionary work today? "I feel it's going well in Nerja," she said. "We've seen a lot of growth recently. The branch has grown and become stronger and stronger. I'm always praying for the Church to keep growing."
Cesaltina de Jesus Millinlios David, branch Relief Society president, was also introduced to the gospel by Sister Maria Carmen. "I don't know what I'd do without the Church," she said. Every day, she and Sister Maria Carmen meet together to read the scriptures and pray for missionary work. "When we started doing this the branch started growing," said Sister Millinlios. "We can see blessings coming from this." The two remain best friends and meet or call each other at least twice a day. "I feel as though she is my sister," Sister Millinlios said.
Jose Dona Bravo, a construction worker and elders quorum president, was one of those introduced to the Church by Sister Maria Carmen. A life-long resident of Nerja, he lived next door to her 15 years ago. She introduced the missionaries to him and he soon joined the Church. The six or so active members met in a room below the missionaries' accommodation. He later married Nieves Herrero Moreno, who also joined the Church. "I was touched by the faith of my husband and the love of the members. I also found that the gospel answered the questions I had," she said. She serves as a Primary teacher. The couple have three children: Desire, 15; Efrain, 6; and Maria Raquel, 4.
Brother Dona has served previously as president of the Nerja Branch. "Missionary work is a major emphasis in Nerja," said Brother Dona, who estimates that 80 per cent of the Nerja population know something about the Church here. "But there's still some confusion as to who we are. I feel that the Church is growing here; not rapidly, but the members are working with the missionaries to make it happen. It's growing because of the faith of the members."
He continued, "It's my desire that my son will serve a mission. Maybe he will be the first to serve from Nerja; we've never had a missionary serve from here."
Since Nerja is a busy tourist and retirement area, missionaries' contacts come from all over Europe, particularly Germany, the United Kingdom and The Netherlands. Referrals from visitors to Nerja are forwarded through the Spain Malaga Mission office to home areas for further missionary contact. The branch is multi-national with English, Ecuadorian and Argentine, as well as native Spanish members.
A rainy day in late Februrary finds few people on narrow streets that usually bustle with tourists who come to Nerja, which is in the boundaries of the Spain Malaga Mission.
Town of Nerja is nestled on hillside with view of fields alongside Spain's Costa del Sol.
Jose Dona Bravo and his wife, Nieves Herrerro Moreno, are rearing children in the gospel; in the photo are: Efrain, 6, and Maria Raquel, 4. They have another child, Desiree, 15.
With a background of palms, a sign extends warm welcome to one of Spain's popular tourist towns.
Colorful flags accent typical whitewashed buildings in Nerja.
Elders Matthew Pierce and Dana Kincaid teach Jose Clemente Quilumbango Quilumba, a member referral, from Ecuador living in scenic Nerja, Spain.
