Bautismos y Huaraches

HELLO EVERYONE 

This has been a truly blessed week, miracles and awesome experiences for days. 

First things first, THE PEÑAS GOT BAPTIZED!  Man it was so awesome.  We had a small service but the spirit was so strong.  I love that family so much, they're the best.  They also brought some of their family and friends who aren't members of the church and they want to listen to the missionaries!  Having experiences like that really just make all the craziness and difficulties so worth it.  

We visited some members and they told us that they sell these awesome Mexican Sandals called Huaraches.  We told them that we both had a pair and that we loved them, so the members were like, "oh here you guys can take a pair for free."  Haha I have really assimilated to the Mexican culture, it's fun.  Except in Spanish, I still speak like an Ecuadorian, there's no way I'll go Mexican. 

We also finally got to have church in person!  Literally the last time I've gone to church was when I was in Ecuador, so it's been a hot minute.  It felt so good to be there and see all of our friends there. 

We met a new friend this week!  His name is Jose and he's hilarious.  He always has super good questions and is reading in the Book of Mormon.  Also, Lily, the 9 yr old girl, is ready to be baptized, we just have to plan it all with her parents.  We also have a man we're helping get divorced so he can get married, then he can get baptized.  We also went by a member's house to let them know about church, and when we walked up we started talking to their neighbor.  When the member came out, the neighbor went inside, grabbed his Bible, and then came back out and waited for us to finish talking to the member.  He then opened up his Bible and said, "I don't really understand what this scripture means, can you help me understand it?"  We were able to explain it and we set up a lesson with him for tomorrow!  The Lord really is preparing people to hear this message of joy and it's so cool to be a part of it. 

I was reading some teachings of a former prophet and president of the church and he said something that really called my attention.  He said, "Christ walked and talked and counseled with his friends when he came down from heaven over 1900 years ago.  Is there any reason why he could not come again, why he should not visit this earth once more and talk with men today?  If there is I should be glad to hear it."  The coolest part of this quote is that Christ DOES talk with men today, and we can listen to all those men, THIS WEEKEND.  General Conference is when we get to hear the voice of God and hear the counsel He has for us in our day.  I'm so excited to hear what He has in store for us. 

Well, this past week sure was neato, I hope it was the same for you all.  Go out and make this week even neater.

Love and miss you all!

Elder Spangler

Santa Ana is Coming to Town

HEYO 

It's good to be back, I hope you all haven't missed me too much. 

This week was NUTS. One of the busiest and most stressful weeks of my mission, but I learned and grew a ton. I'll give some highlights. 

So first, we had a "Mission Tour" with two elders from the Quorum of the Seventy!  We got to meet with Elder Whiting and Elder Villanueva, they were awesome.  It was all over Zoom and Elder Willis and I were in charge of getting the broadcast all set up for the three zones that were meeting in our chapel.  Technology is great, but it can be really frustrating sometimes hahah.  But yeah, we learned a lot of really cool stuff and it's made a big difference in the way we teach. 

We also had to do a lot of writing this week.  We were asked to speak in sacrament, so we had to write our talks.  I talked about the Book of Mormon.  I think it turned out pretty good.  It's in Spanish, but I'll add it so you can read if you're interested. We also were asked to help with a video about the first vision and I had to write the script for it. I'll keep you all updated when it gets released, it's going to be sweet. 

Elder Willis and I are now the Zone Leaders of the newly created "Santa Ana West Zone."  It's a zone with only Spanish missionaries and I am so excited for it.  I am stoked to do everything in Spanish, that's one of the things I really miss about Ecuador.  But yeah, we've been figuring all of that out with our Stake President and Mission President, it's been crazy. 

The Peña's are doing just swimmingly.  They're all really excited for their baptism this Sunday, and we are too.  We also got a referral from some other Elders for a guy named Jose.  He is so cool.  We went over and taught him about the Book of Mormon and he was really intrigued and excited to read it.  When we invited him to read it and pray about it, he just said, "Well I have you as my witnesses that this Book is true, and I trust you. I'm going to do it." He's right, THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE AND I'M A WITNESS OF IT!  So cool. 

I was reading a talk this week from President Kimball and he said something that really stood out to me. He said, "Motherhood is near to Divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels."  I think I really liked this because I have best Mom in the world and being on the mission has made me so much more grateful for her.  Give your Mom's a hug this week. 

Alrighty then, that's all I got this week.  I sure do love being a missionary, it's the best.  Share your testimony with someone today. 

Love and miss you all!

Elder Spangler

Spiderman and Orangeman

HELLO EVERYONE 

Boy oh boy this week was pretty fantastic.  I think I say something like that every week, but that's because it's true. There's nothing quite as rewarding as being a missionary. 

Anyway, update on the Peña Family.  So we went over on Tuesday and we finally got to teach their daughter, Desteny.  We were casually talking about their baptism on the 20th and Desteny said, "Oh yeah, I was going to tell you, I want to get baptized with my family, I've prayed about it and it feels right for me."  HA man we were so stoked, she's super awesome.  We hadn't even really talked about baptism with her or invited her to be baptized, but she just took that step on her own to find out the truth.  We moved their date to the 27th so they can all be ready together. 

We were calling members the other day and I called one Hermana, but her 4 yr old grandson answered.  I knew that he loved Spiderman, so I told him that it was Elder Peter Parker and he went nuts.  We set up a lesson with his grandma and when we went to their house, he said, "Hi Peter Parker, I'm so happy you're here."  He then proceeded to bust out some spiderman/breakdance moves, then asked me to show him my spiderman moves.  I told him I could only do it in my spiderman suit haha.  In Spanish, spiderman is "hombre araña," but my companion got confused and said, "hombre naranja," which means "orange man." It was quite funny. 

Something cool about being a missionary is that everyone watches you, literally everyone.  We stand out.  There's a verse in 3 Nephi 18 that I really like that helps us know how we should be.  It says, "Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world.  Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do."  Just be like Jesus.  Easy as that. 

I've really slacked on my journal writing this week, so I don't really remember a ton from this week.  Major bummer. 

Hope you are all thriving, read the scriptures. 

Love and miss you all! 

Elder Spangler 

5 for 5

BUENAS TARDES A TODOS

This week was a doozy, I was wiped out when we finished.  Lots of great stuff happening over here in Anaheim. 

First things first, WE HAD TRANSFERS.  I am staying here in Rio Vista, which I'm really happy about, I really like this ward.  However, Elder Mortimer has left and I was quite sad to see him go.  We got along really well and worked hard together, but it's all part of the plan.  My new companion's name is Elder Willis and he's from Indiana, he's a great guy.  We're going to have some fun this transfer and work like crazy.  Fun fact: Elder Willis is my fifth companion in 5 transfers, that's not super common. This is the first time I've stayed in an area for 6 transfers.  Change is fun. 

Okay La Familia Peña continues to blow me away, they're the best.  We visited them a few times this week and also got to partake of the sacrament with them in their home.  They loved it and are just the best kind of people.  They're really excited for their baptism too, I can't wait.  We were talking with the mom and she told us that since she started meeting with us and saying her prayers and reading, she's gotten promoted to the best position she's ever had, her family is a lot more united, and her husband is the happiest she's ever seen him.  The gospel really changes lives, and she's recognized all of these things as a sign from God that she's on the right path.  So cool. 

A few weeks ago I wrote about Lily, a 9 year girl we were teaching.  We had to postpone her baptism because her family wants to do it at the chapel but it's closed because of COVID.  She's doing so good though, she understands our teaching so well and always has really thoughtful responses and questions. Missionary work really is the coolest thing ever.  You should all try it sometime if you haven't before. 

Elder Mortimer and I heard of a spot in our area from where you can see the whole mission, so we decided to go up to it on one of our last days there.  We went right at sunset and man, it was so pretty, I'll send some pictures. 

Sometimes I really miss Ecuador and wish I was still there, but when I think about it, I have learned so many important things here that I wouldn't have learned if I had stayed there.  I know God really has a perfect plan for all of us, even though sometimes it's not what we want.  I was so sad to leave Ecuador, but in hindsight, it's been a big blessing.  Just remember that God knows best. 

Unfortunately, this email will now come to a close.  I do hope that you enjoyed it. 

Love and miss you all!

Elder Spangler