Well Ladies and Gentlemen, the day has finally arrived. Almost. Next Tuesday I will finish my service as a full time missionary and will return home to my family who now live in Utah. This will be the last group email I write, hopefully that doesn't make any of you cry.
My mission has been quite a wild ride; started in Texas, then to Utah for the MTC, then to Portland to await my visa, then to my original assignment in Ecuador, then home to Maryland because of COVID, then to Anaheim to finish off the last bit, now going home to Utah. I've also been blessed to serve with 4 different Mission Presidents and their awesome wives and I really have learned so much from each of them. I know this was all part of God's plan. For some reason He needed me in all of these places with all of the amazing people I have met, and I can honestly say that I am so grateful my mission tuned out the way it did. It was MY mission, perfect for me and my needs and it led me to those people who needed to hear the joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ from me.
I'm really grateful for the experiences I've had with prayer on my mission. Looking back, it has been the source of countless miracles and conversions and I could list off so many examples. In Portland we prayed to find someone to baptize before I left, and my friend Moses got baptized 3 days before I headed out to Ecuador. In my last area in Ecuador we prayed that COVID wouldn't affect the baptisms of the four young Almache cousins, and 30 minutes later we got permission to hold the baptism. Here in Anaheim I've had many personal experiences with prayer that have helped me grow closer to my Father in Heaven. My testimony of the power of sincere, earnest prayer has been significantly strengthened.
I've also come to learn how to let God prevail in my life. I've really had to turn my will over to Him and let Him guide me. I love in the Book of Mormon when Jacob says, "Seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from His hand." I had to take that to heart. As I've taken the back seat and let Him lead, I've really seen so many blessings and miracles that wouldn't have happened had I tried to do things my own way.
Another significant lesson is the power of a positive attitude. The best days of my mission were the days when I chose to be happy, regardless of the circumstances. It makes such a huge difference.
I'm really going to miss my mission and all the friends I have made and places I have come to love, but I'm also really excited for this next chapter of my life. It's going to be awesome to be able to use and apply all the things I have learned out here to all that I do.
The biggest blessing of my mission is the relationship I have made with my Savior, Jesus Christ. I studied the word, "Redeemer" this week and it literally means "to win back." Christ did everything to win our souls back because He loves us so much. No matter the sins we commit or mistakes we make, He can win us back, He can bring us home. I've come to understand His life and His majesty so much better over the past two years and wow, there is still so much to learn. I love this gospel, I love the Book of Mormon. The only reason I know who Christ is, is because of that book. It has changed my life forever. It truly is 'the most correct book on earth and a man will grow closer to God by abiding by it's precepts'.
Thank you everyone for all of the love and support you've shown me over the last two years. I have felt the power of your prayers and am so grateful for that. I'm excited to see all of you soon!
With love,
Elder Davis Spangler
-some quality photos of me, that black name tag makes every picture so much better.
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