This week was so awesome, I've seriously learned so much and it's the best.
So last Tuesday, Elder Santiago and I took a bus to Quito so I could drop him off and get my new comp. I got to see Elder Azabache in the bus terminal, it was a tender reunion.
Tuesday afternoon I spent the day with an Elder Sherman from Colorado. I love that man, he's a super solid missionary. We went out and contacted and met a man that was very firm in his Christian beliefs and chatted with him for a while. When we told him we needed to go, he asked if he could offer a prayer. We said yes, and he then proceeded to give a very kind prayer asking that the Lord would protect us and bless us with success on our missions, then finished the prayer. He then asked to say another prayer, but this time he prayed that we would know that we are sinners and in the incorrect path. I was quite confused by the rather contradictory prayers, but it was an interesting experience nonetheless.
Wednesday morning, all the trainers went to a chapel in downtown Quito to get our new companions. After a few meetings, we got our assignments. My son is an Elder Gutierrez, from Chimbote, Peru. He's a total stud and is super excited to be a missionary and really wants to be the best he can be, I've already learned a ton from him. He did Judo, a martial art, before the mission, so I'm trying not to make him upset or mad so he doesn't destroy me. Haha just kidding, he's an awesome guy.
Some cool experiences from this week that made me like my companion even more:
We were walking to go visit a member and we saw a different member in a barbershop. We went to go say hi, and as I was talking to the member, Elder Gutierrez contacted a young guy that worked there and set up a lesson with him! It was his first day in the field and I didn't even have to say anything to him. We met with the guy, Johandry, a few days ago and he's super solid.
We were eating lunch one day and the hermana brought out the soup and plate and it was a fish soup and the plate was a plate of rice and fried fish. I was quite sad, but I ate all of the soup just fine because it didn't taste like fish. E' Gutierrez knew that I don't like fish so he just said, "for me," and took the fish off my plate and ate it. I didn't even have time to react, but I wasn't complaining haha.
We made a Christmas tree out of paper and it looks amazing, I will attach a photo.
The other day we went out and contacted a whole neighborhood, and when we finished we still had a little bit more time. I was trying to think of who we could visit, and the name of a less active member came to my head. We decided to go visit her, and when we got there, we found out that she was sick and was wanting a Priesthood blessing, but didn't know who to call. Elder Gutierrez and I were able to give her a blessing and invite her to church, and she came the next Sunday. It was a really awesome experience and it helped me learn the importance of following every prompting we receive from the Holy Ghost. I love the mission.
There's a scripture in The Book of Mormon that I really love, it helps us remember our dependence on God and our own weaknesses. It's in Alma 26:12. It says, "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." This scripture really applies in the mission because I really am weak, but with the strength of the Lord, I have been able to work miracles here in Ecuador. Just remember that when we rely on God and not on ourselves, we can do great things.
Well, that's all I've got this week. Thank you to all those who wrote to me last week, I loved hearing from all of you.
Hope everyone has a great week, love and miss you all!!
Elder Spangler
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