He's Home!!!!!

After a trip to the temple and goodbyes at the airport with President and Sister Severson, Elder Spencer was on his way home. We are so proud of him and so happy to have him here and our family all together again!!

The crew eagerly waiting his arrival

Best hug ever!!!!

Koda sure missed him!

Some Great Lessons This Week, Plus a New Street with Lots of Contacts

Hola Mamá! I’m doing very well. Everything is going great with my companion and I! Last Monday after p-day ended we had an appointment with Fabiola, and had a great lesson with her about the Plan of Salvation! My companion is still trying to learn how to teach it and explain it well because it is pretty extensive, so I taught most of it and my companion was able to learn more about how to explain things that are more clear. Fabiola is progressing great as well!

Tuesday in our district meeting we talked about making sure the spirit is there when we invite people to do commitments so he can help us resolve doubts or concerns they may have. All from Chapter 11 in Preach My Gospel, but we are going to focus on sharing personal experiences when we invite them to do commitments and do so referring to our calling as representatives of Jesus Christ. Later in the afternoon we went contacting and found some good contacts. One of them is a guy named Omar who has a friend who is a member so he’s heard a bit about the church. He was busy at the time we contacted him, so we were going back. We also had a lesson with Fabiola about the Law of Chastity which is always an interesting lesson but it went really well!!

Wednesday when we went by with Omar, he was busy and told us to go back later but when we went back he didn’t answer the door or his phone. We’ll keep trying though. We had appointments with other people but they fell through so most of the day we went contacting.  We found a street that is all buildings with apartments so we found a lot of new contacts – 14 in total for the day! A couple of the people had talked to missionaries before so they know some things but were happy to let us set another appointment with them for another day! In the evening we went with Fabiola. All we have left to teach are the commandments and laws and ordinances, which is still quite a bit, but she is understanding everything perfectly.

Thursday after weekly planning we had an appointment with Martha where we were planning on inviting her to be baptized and teach her about the Plan of Salvation but she was really busy so we were only able to give her the pamphlet and a brief explanation and invite her to church to which she accepted! We went and visited Claudia and talked with her for a bit. She’s thinking about moving away to get away and start new, which might be the best thing for her. We told her to pray about it first. In our lesson with Fabiola we taught her about the commandments. She told us she has some concerns about fasting but we didn’t have time to talk about it so we were going to explain more the next time.

Friday in the morning we were able to find 8 contacts before we went to lunch! We went to the same street we went before with apartment buildings. In the afternoon we had a lesson with a guy named Miguel Mendoza who Elder Cruz and I found and started teaching a while ago but we haven’t been able to meet with him again until then. We talked with him about the first time the missionaries visited him and he had some issues where he didn’t like it when he went to church. For one, the missionaries didn’t explain things to him very well about what would happen, where to go for classes, etc. so we talked about that and asked him to give it one more chance. He couldn’t come with us on Sunday but is willing to give us another chance.

Saturday we had a really awesome first lesson with a couple named Loralai and Felix. Elder Cruz and I found them 2 cambios ago but weren’t able to ever find them to teach, but I called and set up the appointment and we were actually able to find them! They have a friend who is a member and because of it they really respect the church. We taught them about the Restoration and they accepted it. We invited them to be baptized and while they didn’t accept a specific date, they still accepted to one day when they learn and know more. We also had a lesson with another guy whose name is also Felix. He believes very much in the Bible and in the Holy Trinity. He has some misbeliefs about what we believe in so we did our best to explain things to him and invited him not to take our word for it all but pray about it.

Sunday Fabiola didn’t go to church, well actually nobody did. We talked to Martha Saturday and she said there’s some big family issues going on they are trying to deal with. Claudia decided to do things with her family instead and Fabiola was really sick with a sore throat and other cold symptoms. The poor girl couldn’t even talk, only whisper. But because she didn’t go we have to postpone her baptism to after I go home. We visited her later in the afternoon and finished teaching her the commandments and talked about her baptism with her. It’s not her fault but it’s sad because she said she wants me to either come back and baptize her or at least come back to see her be baptized. It's all good though. I'm just know she'll still get baptized.

Thank you so much for the thoughts you sent! I love you guys and hope you have a great week!

A delicious crepe that a sister made for us!

One of my friends from Las Alamedas. We baptized his cousin!
It was an awesome surprise to see him.

At our Stake Conference (pic courtesy of the Mission President)

Interviews with Presidente and a Great Temple Trip

Hola Mamá! I’m doing good, how are you? This last week was pretty good. On Monday after p-day ended we went to visit Guillermo who we found the day before but he wasn’t home. We were really looking forward to meeting with him and his family, but we're just going to go by or call another day. I also forgot to tell you that on Sunday (the week before) we met a woman named Elba who was visiting her grandma who is in our ward but Elba is now living in Utah with her family! They live in Logan and she gave me her information so when I go back home I can talk to her. She’ll share recipes with me too. After we visited with them on Monday, we visited Fabiola and everything is going great!

Tuesday we had district meeting where we talked about how to gain confidence with people so they will trust us and be more willing or open to talking to us. After the meeting we had intercambios which was my last time having them. We sadly didn’t have time to do much contacting though because of other stuff we had to do (empty the baptismal font in the church because the pump was broken and then go do baptismal interviews) which took quite a bit of time.

Wednesday we had interviews with Presidente and Hermana Severson as well as the teaching evaluation and they all went really well. President asked me to share with him my testimony of Jesus Christ and that was really cool. I love the feeling after sharing my testimony, well during and after my testimony. The feeling is incredible. We also spent time calling former investigators and contacts to invite them to go to the temple on Friday. We had to have 4 people going in order for us to go as well. Fabiola said she is going and Claudia Valdez also said she was going. She also told us she is back living with her mom and would like to start talking with us again!

Thursday we were trying to visit former investigators or really solid contacts to invite them to the temple. We found one other person but were not very sure they would actually go. We didn’t have other success though and I think partly or well most of it was because we put so much pressure on ourselves to find 4 people that we didn’t do much else. We did go to ward counsel and had a short lesson with Fabiola though. After we got back to the casa I decided not to worry if we couldn’t go to the temple on Friday. If we couldn’t go, we would just work in our area contacting and teaching new people and preparing/planting more seeds!

Friday during our studies we tried calling quite a few people to invite them on the temple trip but had no success. We even left the house to go looking for people. We went to the church to make sure Fabiola and Claudia got there and then see them off with the others but we decided to use our last resort and call President. We talked with him, explained the situation and after talking for a good bit with him he let us go too! It was a fantastic experience for everyone! Everyone had a great time and felt the spirit with the message from the sister missionaries in the visitor’s center. I know that it really helped Fabiola and Claudia, along with everyone else, feel that they are on the right path and helped confirm to them that they want to be baptized.

Saturday we had a lesson with Fabiola that went really well. She told us that when the missionaries were teaching her before that she didn’t feel ready to be baptized. But now with us, and only God knows why, she wants to and feels like this is the right time to be baptized! We still have a bit to teach her and she has to come to church 3 times but we are going to do all we can to help her be baptized! We also tried visiting Joselin because we haven’t seen her in a while but she wasn’t home and neither was Javier. We were able to go contacting a bit to find some new contacts and that was good!

Sunday – Fabiola came to church! It was super awesome and she loved it too. There is a member that she knows from before so he was able to help her feel welcomed. Later we found a great street when we went contacting and found some really great new people! We were supposed to have a lesson with Fabiola in the evening at the Bishop’s house but she didn’t get back in time so instead we went and visited the Familia Cruz Roa. I love them so much!

Thank you guys for everything! Love you!

Elder Curran and me with Fabiola at the Temple Visitor's Center

Our Temple trip group. Fabiola is in front holding the little boy,
and Claudia is standing next to her.

 

Cool stuff I found at the shopping center near the visitor's center.

Great Lessons this Week, Plus Last Zone Conference

Hola Hola! Sounds like a really calm week you guys had but that’s good sometimes. My week was pretty good. Monday was a really great day! After p-day we had an awesome first lesson with a guy named Javier and his girlfriend Karla. I contacted Javier on Saturday when my companion was sick and I was calling people. He told us that lots of times missionaries have contacted him and set appointments to go by but then never actually did so he was very surprised when we showed up! He’s a super cool guy and believes in God but doesn’t profess a faith. He also believes very much in Christ and thinks he’s the only one we should believe in and follow because that’s what it says in the Bible. His girlfriend was also there and knows quite a bit about the church because her aunt and a bunch of extended family are members.

Tuesday was great as we were able to visit Fabiola and were able to finish a fantastic lesson with her. We were able to help her understand more about baptism and the remission of sins, then about the Gift of the Holy Ghost and why it is important and a grand privilege! She understands very well about that and is even more excited and wants to be baptized! She is funny because she was telling us her plans for escaping her house Sunday morning so she can go to church. We just need to teach her more lessons and she needs to go to church! After our lesson, we were out contacting and struggling a bit but after saying a prayer in the street and doing our best, we were able to find 11 new contacts!

Wednesday was fantastic for many reasons but the first was I finally finished reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish! I should have finished a while ago but at least I finished before my mission ended and that was my goal! Another reason it was fantastic was because we had a second lesson with Marta Garcia. It was a really great lesson about the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, what happens in church services and classes on Sundays, a little bit about tithing and also about temples. She was very interested in the Book of Mormon and understood everything we explained but she told us she doesn’t want to join any religion or church. We thought she was going to tell us she didn’t want us to come back but she told us she likes learning about the church and wouldn’t mind coming to church to learn and see a bit more. She’s a super nice lady and we hope to be able to soon invite her to be baptized.

Thursday we had a lesson planned with Javier and some other people but they all canceled. At least Javier said we could come by the next day. Then when we went to visit Fabiola, she said she had some problems before we had gotten there. Unfortunately, we got there later than expected because we had to go to ward council. I think it was a trial moment for her but we are doing what we can to help her.

Friday was our zone conference and my very last one. It was a really good one too! We had a lesson from President about faith then Sister Severson about being clean and the 10 commandments of health. For those whose last Zone conference it is, they have to share their “last testimonies”. Even though I was a bit nervous it was a great time and I felt the spirit very strongly. We also had a training by the assistants and it was super awesome altogether! After zone conference, we went with Javier and his girlfriend and had a super awesome lesson about the restoration. Lessons with them are super great because we can feel the spirit. He helps us teach and say the things we need to and because they participate by reading scriptures, asking questions or sharing their comments.

Saturday we did our best to verify with every one of our investigators about going to church. Marta, Javier and Fabiola said they were going to be there. We were also able to have a lesson with Fabiola and review the lesson of the Restoration which went really well. Thankfully she still remembers quite a bit from when the missionaries taught her before. We were able to find a few contacts throughout the day too.

Sunday only Marta came to church and that was super awesome but we were really hoping for Fabiola and Javier too. We have no idea what happened with Javier but Fabiola said she had a huge migraine in the morning so she wasn’t able to go. We did have an activity in the evening where we watched Meet the Mormons and she was able to come to that and really enjoyed it! During the day we had a quick appointment with a guy named Gonzalo Cruz who is an ex-boxer and has a picture on his wall of when he met Floyd Mayweather! That is way cool and so is the guy. He has a grand desire to learn more about the church and God. While we were walking in the street, my companion started talking to a guy named Guillermo who is a super cool guy. He told us that about a year or so ago, the missionaries were visiting him but they got transferred and the new missionaries never went by. But they influenced him and his family a lot so they don’t drink coffee or tea and even still read the Book of Mormon! We set up an appointment to go by and visit them after p-day ends!

Thank you for your thoughts! Thank you guys for your love and support and prayers! I hope you guys have a great week!

He was so excited for Mtn. Dew!!! :)

Plugging Along with Missionary Work and the Importance of the Spirit

Hola Hola! Things here are good, and well this week was okay but not the best. And with your question, what have I learned from my new companion, I’ve learned how to just have fun and be happy no matter what! After p-day ended last week it started raining really hard and there was a crazy thunderstorm. Sister Roa told us we could go by so I could get my birthday cake she made for me. I love her family so much! The cake she made was awesome and they all sang for me too. We had a good time! After that, because of the crazy storm we went back to the casa to call people to try and set appointments.

Tuesday was district meeting and we talked about how important it is that we have the Spirit with us. If we don’t, it won’t matter what we teach or say because that is the most important element of missionary work. We really can’t do anything without the Spirit. Later we passed by to visit Fabiola in the evening to see how she is doing and so far, so good. She has a strong desire to be baptized. There’s just some problems with her mom because she doesn’t support her talking with us but we are trying to help her. We invited her to attend a baptism that Elders Parke and Gonzalez were going to have on Sunday. Plus we are planning a trip to the temple on the 23rd and she said she would really love to do both!

Wednesday was really good. We had a couple lessons and were also doing a fast for Fabiola and our other investigators. The first lesson we had was surprising because last week we knocked on a door and contacted a girl who gave us her name and number and told us we could come by. It turned out that the name and information she gave us was for her mom whose name is Martha. We were very confused but figured it out and were able to talk to Martha and teach her about the restoration. It was a really great lesson and she invited us to come back another day to teach her more. The other lesson was with Fabiola and she really opened up to us to share some things that happened in the past that she’s never shared with anyone before. We talked with her about the Atonement of Christ and Repentance and assured her that no matter what has happened in the past, with Christ we can overcome those things through baptism. It was very special to me that she trusted us to share those things with us and even more special that she wants to improve her life and become closer to God.

Thursday was rough just because of how I felt physically. I don’t know if it was because of the fast but I started out with a headache that got worse and worse and I had body aches too. Even after we ended our fast I still felt like crap, but I tried my best to keep going. The fast was definitely worth it though. In the evening we visited with Fabiola and really focused on faith in Christ, repentance and the Atonement of Christ to help her understand that she can be free from her past sins. We ended the lesson by inviting her to be baptized on the 7th of September and she accepted! Now we have to focus on getting her to church every week until then because it’s only 4 weeks away.

Friday we had intercambios and I was with Elder Gonzalez. I don’t know what it is but every time we have intercambios, I feel like contacting people is so much easier in the other Elder’s area. Normally the appointments they have go smoothly, but it was actually the first time they fell through. Elder Gonzales is very outgoing and pretty knowledgeable. We had a good day and I thankfully felt better than the day before. At one point, we were trying to figure out where we could go contact and just then a guy walked up to us and said he’d talked to the missionaries before so we started talking a bit with him. He isn’t sure if God exists but is willing and wants to meet more with the missionaries.

Saturday my companion and Elder Parke were both sick from the food they ate the day before. Friday night after we got back to the Elder's casa, my companion threw up a couple of times, then a few more times during the night and in the morning so we just went back to our casa Saturday so he could rest and recover. While he was sleeping, I looked through our area book, called a bunch of people and set appointments with them too.

Sunday no one came to church, even though we called the night before and that morning. We event went to Fabiola’s house and she said she would be at church, but apparently, she had an argument with her mom and then wasn’t able to come. Personally, I was frustrated and discouraged; but when I realized in the evening what I was doing, I decided to say a little prayer to ask for forgiveness for allowing those thoughts and feelings to enter, and to ask for help to improve. My companion and I set goals and made plans so that this week is better.

I really like the quotes you sent a lot! Thank you so much! I love you guys! Have a great week!

Birthday cake!!! (which he said was delicious)