christmas MIRACLES

MY DEAREST PEOPLE-

Well, yesterday was the BEST because I talked to 6 of my most favorite people but here I am once again to give you the rundown of the week!!!!!!  This has been a crazy week because we've only actually worked about 4 days ((due to conferences and holidays)) but nonetheless, there are miracles to share!!!!

The first and biggest miracle is that we have a set baptismal date with someone!!! TALK ABOUT A MIRACLE.  Things have been going pretty slow in Jerez but it's all turning around.  On Thursday, we went to our pueblo and had a cita with a man named Vicente.  He is so so so prepared.  Basically the first thing he said was, "So what steps do I need to take to be a member of your church?"  We talked a little bit about prayer, scripture study, church attendance and YES, we definitely invited him to be baptized :)) He's working towards the 4th of January!!!  He's already read the Book of Mormon completely through and he just started it again.  He prays every day and is more than willing to listen to us.  The only hard part is that he lives about 2 hours away but we will figure this out!!!

This week we had our Christmas conference with president.  We were just 3 zones but it was super fun and so nice to see people.  I even got to see my girl Hermana Wood!!!!!  Our district did a song for the talent show and it was pretty fun.  President and Hermana Andersen talked a lot about setting goals and what "gift" we can give the Savior this year.  We reflected on this last year and what we gave and what we

gained.  It was great to look back on this year and see how much I've learned and how much I've grown.  I can honestly say that I am a completely changed person because of the mission.  I have learned how to trust in my Savior more.  I've learned how to love others as the Savior would.  I've learned what role the Savior plays in my life.  I don't think I would ever be able to put into summary what I've learned

this year but I hope that others will be able to see it through the way I live my life.  I have lots of goals for the next year to make me stretch and grow.  AND IN BIG NEWS, Hermana Højholdt and I get to stay together for another transfer!!!!!  I'm so happy because I just love her to death :))  We've got some big things planned for Jerez.

I have learned that God is merciful with his miracles-even with insignificant things. Yesterday, on the way to church, Hermana Højholdt and I were carrying tons of really heavy bags.  The walk to the church from our piso is about 30 minutes so we were not excited about that.  While we were walking, I said, "I would cry if some members just drove up and asked us if we wanted a ride to church."  Not kidding, 2 MINUTES LATER we hear, "hey hermanas, wanna ride????"  Talk about a Christmas miracle!!!!!!

DONT FORGET HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU ALL,

Hermana Spangler

when life gives you lemons, SHARE THE GOSPEL

MY DEAREST PEOPLE-

This week has been FULL of miracles ((I think I'm seeing a pattern in every week)). We taught a RECORD of 21 lessons this week!!!!  I'm not going to lie, Jerez has probably been my hardest area so far.  The hardest with the members, with finding futures, with teaching lessons.  But slowly, we are seeing miracles!!

There is one specific miracle that I would like to share.  A few days ago, I was putting someone into the area book app named Ana.  Her registro seemed interesting and I was saying to Hermana Højholdt that we needed to find her but we didn't have her address.  Later that night, we were visiting a less active member and there was

another woman there.  Well, after talking to her a little bit we found out that it was the Ana we were wanting to find!!!!  ((It was the mother of the girl friend of the less active, does that make sense??))  She said we could come visit her and gave us her address and she was super sweet :))  Later that week, we passed by her house and she was there!!  She told us that her brother in law had passed away earlier this month and that they were going through a really difficult time.  We read in Mosiah

18:7-9 which says,

"7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.

8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."

We testified of the father's plan for us and told her that she would see him again.  We told her that there was not much we could do but that Jesus Christ knew what she was going through and she could turn to him for help.  We asked if we could say a prayer together.  I offered a prayer pleading with Heavenly Father to fill her and her home with love and comfort during these hard times.  We were just praying right outside her door but the spirit came in so sweet but so strong.  After the prayer she touched her heart and started to cry.  She said, "That was a beautiful prayer, I don't word to describe how I feel but I feel good.  I feel peace.  Thank you."  It was such a special moment and I felt so much love for this woman I didn't even know.  I gave her a hug and she just cried in my arms for a little bit and then thanked us over and over again for bringing peace into her home.  Jesus Christ really is the light of the world and he can bring that light into any situation, no matter how dark it is.

This really is the most wonderful time of the year & the most wonderful place to be!!!  I feel extremely blessed to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and especially grateful to be a missionary and share this beautiful message with all of the world :))

I love love love you all more than I can say.

MERRY CHRISTMAS,

Hermana Spangler

let us all press on

MY DEAREST PEOPLE-

This week went by SUPER fast but when I look back at all the things that happen, it feels like it's lasted weeks. I guess that's a good thing, right??

GUESS WHAT- so today is iris' birthday so for pday today we came to San Fernando and I surprised her!!!  It was fun to see her and hug her and laugh with her.  She's doing really great :') However, I am the worst because I totally forgot to take a picture with her :/

Also, Chela((from Alcalá)) GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!  She finally did it!!!!!  Pics below :-)

First things first, we had consejo this week!!!!! Ah, what a seriously beautiful and uplifting experience it was. The APs ((assistant to the president)) and SUSHEs ((SHEs for the sister training leaders)) all spoke and we got to listen to President and Hermana Andersen as well :)) I learned so much about how to be a better missionary and how to trust in the lord.  I was actually moved to tears because the spirit was so strong.  President played a video of the Mormon tabernacle choir singing "let us all press on" and we all just felt a BURST of animo and a desire to be better.   I love remembering that we can have COURAGE because the lord is always on our side.  He really is always on our side and I can testify of that.  So many times this week Hermana Højholdt and I would be at the point of not being able to walk one more step and God would send us some little miracle to keep us going.  One night we came home and agreed that when we got up we didn't think we were going to get through the day, but that it actually went a lot faster than we thought it would. Heavenly Father is so so good to us.  Whether it's putting someone in our path that will actually talk to us or just a house that's all pretty and decorated for Christmas or a song that comes on an EFY CD from 2009 that says just what we need to hear.  He

pushes us and encourages and keeps us moving forward and then when we can’t do it anymore, he picks us up in his arms and carries us the rest of the way.

After consejo, that meant that we and the zone leaders were in charge of the zone meeting.  ((Yikes)) but no, it actually went a lot better than I thought it would!!!!  I gave a taller ((lesson/workshop)) on setting goals and I think I learned a lot more writing it than the zone did listening hahahahaha but it's okay it went good.  The elders and Hermana Højholdt each talked about something as well.  We made hot chocolate and muffins and ate it together and it was a good time.

This week, we passed by the house of a less active man that we have never met.  The door opened for the first time ever and a 17 year old girl came out.  We talked to her for a little bit and then showed her the Christmas video ((it's a big hit out here)).  She said, "Can you guys come back again when my family is here?  I want them to see it too."  Ummmmm OF COURSE.  So we're hoping she's the key to coming in contact with her parents.  The Christmas video is bringing us crazy miracles and we've been using it in every single contact hahahaha no shame it's beautiful.  People are opening up a lot more-that's just what Christmas does to ya :))

I love Christmas.  I love the gospel.  I love being a missionary and I LOVE YOU ALL.

Besitos,

Hermana Spangler

PS-If you guys wanna write me, I won't complain :::)

Ronda del Peliron N.53, edif.2, 1°D

Jerez de la Frontera 11405

España

the good shepherd

KÆERE FAMILE OG VENNER

((Dear family and friends)) ((Yes, I can speak Danish))

Pues, this week has actually been SUPER great.  Hermana Højholdt and I made lots of new goals for our obedience and we have been working really hard all week.  We are still getting along really well.  She's such a good, hardworking, obedient missionary and she makes me want to be better.  With every transfer, I can really see the way God has been working in my life and in my mission.

We are on a train right now, headed to Malaga!!!!!  We have consejo (a council with all the zone leaders and sister training leaders) this week with president!!!!  I'll let you know how it goes next week.

We had intercambios with the SUPER she's ((they work with the whole mission, while Hermana Højholdt and I work over a specific zone)) it was great!!!!  I learned a lot from them :))  We also had our intercambios with two native girls in our zone.  It was fun to speak Spanish for two days straight-I saw a lot of improvement.  I absolutely adore the girls in our zone.

This week, while Hermana Højholdt and I were walking, we came across a whole flock of sheep!!!!  They were just standing and eating in a big field right next to the road.  At first, we were laughing about it and then we came across the Shepherd.  We talked to him for a really long time and we found out he was actually a member!! Unfortunately a less active but he had a lot of really good memories from his missionaries and from the church.  We gave him the new church tarjeta and he said he would look at the website!!!  At one point, the sheep were walking too close to the road, so the Shepherd called out for them to move and they all moved away immediately and came closer to him.  This Shepherd told us that he had 300 sheep and he knew them all by name.  The comparison of the Savior and the Good Shepherd really came alive for me.  These sheep had learned to trust their Shepherd and follow his voice.  The Shepherd warned his sheep of the dangers that were coming (the cars in the road) and they were protected.  If the sheep had never learned to follow the voice of their Shepherd, they could have been hurt.  This applies to us more than I ever realized.  If we learn to trust the voice of the Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ) he can protect us from physical and spiritual danger.  Christ really knows and loves all of us in a very personal way.  He knows us by name and he knows what we need to be protected and to be happy.  We only need to do our part to learn how to trust him and learn what his voice sounds like to us.  I know that Christ is really our Savior.  He spends his whole life trying to rescue us as his lost sheep.  It doesn't matter in what circumstance you find yourself, he will rescue you.  I've seen him rescuing people every day out here in the mission but the most evident rescue I've noticed is the one he's done with me.  The mission is changing me in more ways than I thought were possible and for that I will forever be grateful.

I love the mission and being able to see miracles every single day.  God is just so merciful and so loving.  I'm also grateful for how patient he is with me as a missionary and for all the trials and blessings he gives me in order to help me learn.

I love love love you all!!!!!

Besitos,

Hermana Spangler

our true potential

HELLO TO ALL MY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

This has actually been a crazy week and it went by soooo fast.  My mind is all jumbled up today so bear with me.  In summary, this is what happened:

Tuesday- We had a district meeting.  It was fantastic!!!!  We talked about what we can do to work with the members and find more people.   Our mission is starting a new plan to work with the members and IT IS SO COOL.  The SHEs((sister training leaders)) and zone leaders are doing a test run on in this week and then we'll try it with everyone.  I'll let you know what it is and how it goes a little later in the

future.  Then we went straight to the train station and headed out to Fuengirola!!!  I had to do some residency stuff there so I got to see my group :-)

Wednesday-the residency stuff was actually Wednesday morning and then we spent the whole day traveling back so there was no time to do much.   We contacted a bunch and passed by a few houses and then it was time to go home.

Thursday- thanksgiving!!!!!!!  We had plans to go to a member’s house and eat but last minute he failed so we ended up having an American thanksgiving in the church as a district.  We had mashed potatoes, chicken, salad, brownies and homemade rolls.  It was wonderful :))  We talked about what we were thankful for and it was a pretty great time overall.  I just want to put it out there that I am MORE than thankful for all of you, my wonderful, favorite people.  Thank you so so much for all your support and love.  I couldn't do it without you.  Thursday night, we had a cita with a woman named Lola. She's actually a reference from a member family and she is AMAZING.  She is seriously golden!!!!!  She's been reading the Book of Mormon and we invited her to pray about it.  She said she would definitely do it by the next time we saw her.  Keep her in your prayers please!!!  She's recovering from a super big surgery because she has cancer :(

Friday-my first intercambio!!!!!!  Hermana Lamb and Hermana Stilson came and stayed with us until Saturday afternoon.  Hermana Lamb is from my group so that was fun to work with her.  We just walked a ton because it was raining and everything we had fell through but it was great to catch up with her and talk.  We talked a lot about our true potential the fact that we can never really reach our full potential in this life but that the church is definitely a church of progression.  We can always try as hard as we can and even if it's not enough we will still get credit for trying.  We should try to be a little bit better tomorrow than we were today and naturally our potential will keep rising and we will have to keep working at becoming more like our savior.  If we use the atonement more fully in our lives and use the power of repentance and the strength that Christ provides the act of perfecting our imperfections becomes more possible.  Hermana Stilson is a brand new, one week old missionary and she is a rock star!!!!!  We had a SUPER great time and it was fun to work with someone that is so brand new and so pumped with animo.  It was a really good intercambio overall and it made me really excited for the ones we will continue to have this transfer :))

Saturday- I have officially hit 10 MONTHS ((what???)) these months keep going by faster and faster and it's kinda freaking me out a little bit.  We had a ward activity for thanksgiving and it actually turned out great!!!!  The bishop just kinda threw the whole responsibility on us so we did the activities, the spiritual thought, the food, the decorations, and the cleaning.  Needless to say, we were very stressed but it was a great turnout and super fun :)) there's some videos and pictures attached so you can appreciate these crazy Spaniards.

Sunday-I was sick and feverish all day and it rained like crazy this week so that didn't help :/ We laid low but we got to talk to all of our hermanas and have a district lunch so it was a good day overall.

The new "light the world" video came out this week!!! ITS SO GOOD GUYS, GO WATCH IT. It's on www.mormon.org :)) There's also a list of 25 things you can do in the 25 days of Christmas.  If we all make an effort to serve the people around us, this might just be the most special Christmas yet.

Hermana Højholdt and I are BEST FRIENDS.  Ah, we seriously have so much fun together and we're always laughing.  I'm so excited for this transfer to continue to unfold and see all the miracles God has in store for us.

Until next week,

I love you all!!!!!!!

Hermana Spangler

miracle savings

                                                                                                            November 21, 2016

MIS QUERIDOS-

Bueno, here we are with another week come and gone!!!!  This has probably been one of the longest weeks of my whole mission with not as much visible success as we'd like to report BUT it's okay, we've still seen miracles.  God is so good to us.

Leaving Alcalá was really sad ): I was only there for about 6 weeks but it was just so easy to fall in love with the people.  I'm ESPECIALLY grateful for the time I had with Hermana Wood.  She's an actual angel and I am positive that God sent her to me for a reason.  I think that's probably one of the reasons I loved Alcalá so much.  God just likes blessing me in the companion category, what can I say :))

I'm officially settled in and here in Jerez.  Hermana Højholdt and I get along really well and she's an absolute doll.  I'm the worst and didn't take pictures, forgive me :/ BUT there's some videos and rainy pictures.  Hermana Højholdt and I have seriously WORKED our brains out and we come home absolutely exhausted from walking so much but we are really just soaking it all in.   Whenever transfers come around, I always pray that God will put me with someone that has a specific attribute I want to be better at.  For example, I've been praying that God will put me with someone that contacts A TON. ((I can contact pretty well, but I want to be better))  At one point I was thinking about it, and I thought, "Wait, why do I have to wait for a companion that does that? Why can't I just start doing it?"  What if someone was praying for that kind of companion too?  I decided to be the companion I would want to have and it's really been an eye-opening experience.   I have been contacting like a crazy person and even though we aren't seeing many results, I feel a lot better about myself as a missionary overall.  I want Heavenly Father to feel like he can trust me.

At one point, we had contacted for a straight hour without a SINGLE bit of success.  I just kept waiting for the miracle to come and then Hermana Højholdt said, "We're just putting work into our miracle savings today."  And I realized that sometimes we don't see miracles right away, but we are showing God that we are prepared for what he will send us.  If we do our part, he will always pour his blessings upon us.

This is a short one, again, but I don't have a lot of cool stories.   I'm still in the process of meeting the ward and the investigators.  I have to go to Malaga this week to do my residency and then we have intercambios ((wish me luck!!!))  I'll have a better/more detailed email next week.

I LOVE YOU ALL MUCHO,

Hermana Spangler

wait what

MY PEOPLE-

Well, let's just start off with the transfer news why don't we?? I AM LEAVING ALCALÁ. I have only been in this beautiful place for 6 weeks and now they're ripping me away from yet another home. I have absolutely loved Alcalá and all the people here. Hermana wood and I have become the best of friends and I'm really sad to leave her ): But I'm excited because she's training this transfer!!!!! She has to leave

tonight to pick up her new companion which means I have to be cleaned, packed, and out in a few hours. ((I have done nothing yet)). This is going to be yet another really short email, sorry guys :/ I have zero time to be able to respond to all your emails, so you'll have to wait another week.

I have been assigned to work in JEREZ. Which means I am going back to my lovely zone of San Fernando!!!! I'm going to be with Hermana Hojholdt!!!!  She's a girl from Denmark that I was at the MTC with and I LOVE her so I'm pumped!!!! This next transfer is going to be a lot different because I am going to be a sister training leader!!!!! For those that don't know, a sister training leader is like a leader of a

zone but focuses more on the hermanas. She's the one that does the intercambios and the zone meetings and things. Heavenly Father definitely has different plans for my mission because I feel very unqualified for this assignment. BUT, like my mother always reminds me, "The lord qualifies those he calls." I'm really excited for this

new journey and I'm going to learn SO much.

Quick story: so this week we had interviews with president!!!! He's such an inspired man and I love being able to meet with him. He gave me a blessing and it was so perfect for me. I am learning more and more on the mission how much Heavenly Father really knows and loves us. He said something that I that I think can apply to anyone. He said, "I bless you with the confidence to know that Jesus Christ has

been before you on this path. He has paved the way and tested the ground. I bless you with the confidence to know that even though he has been before, he will be next to you throughout your journey. You will be able to feel him at your side in every moment." Isn't that a beautiful???? Jesus Christ has been through it all and he's felt it ALL but he will never ever leave us comfortless. He is right next to us, step by step, taking it with us.

Like it says in Alma 7:

"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

I know with all my heart that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.  He truly has the power to help us and succor us and comfort us because he has already done it all.

I love you all!!!!!!

Hermana Spangler

tengo prisa

MIS QUERIDOS-

I'll start out with my apologies that this week's letter is going to be very short. Today, we went to Sevilla to do some sight seeing so you'll get lots of pictures!!!!!

Quick update on all my people:

Bella- Ahhhhh my sweet Bella is doing SO well.  She came to church this week ((she hasn't been able to come for the last two weeks)) and loved it!!!!!  Hermana Wood and I taught gospel principles and we talked about the atonement.  We actually had 4 investigators in that class so it was a great day for us.  One man started complaining about how hard life was and how he didn't understand why he had been through everything he had to go through.  Bella raised her hand and then just bore this POWERFUL testimony about God’s plan and Christ's atonement.  It was seriously like an Elder Holland moment-we all just sat there in awe.  The spirit came in so strong as I watched Bella pour out her heart to this man.  It was a really proud missionary moment :')  We're still working towards the 18th so please please keep her in your prayers because she doesn't know if she's really prepared.  She's prepared lemme tell you.

Chela- We couldn't see her this week because she's been super busy with school and family things BUT she came to church on Sunday!!!!!  The bishop bore his testimony and said something like, "a few people in here have baptismal dates and that couldn't make me more happy" and she turned to us and said, "ooh me me."  So we're still helping her progress to the 26th :))

We haven't seen Loe in 2 weeks so there's not much of an update with her.  Please pray that we'll be able to meet with her soon.  We have some other somewhat progressing investigators that we are working with and they're all doing super well!!!  I'll give more of an update on them next week.

If you can believe it, next week is ALREADY transfers.  They'll call us on Monday to tell us what's happening.  It's most likely that I'll be staying and Hermana Wood will be leaving me because she's already been here 5 months. ((But you never really know)) I'll let you guys know what happens.

Sorry this is the most uneventful email yet, I'll send some videos to make up for it.

 I LOVE YOU ALL SO SO MUCH

Hermanita Spangler

halfway gone

MY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE-

Well, I've officially hit my halfway mark!!!!  It's crazy to look back and realize that I'm halfway done.  I've had moments of bitter sadness and moments of pure joy.  I have grown more than I ever thought I could in 9 short months.  I am so incredibly grateful for what I've learned up to this point.  I have come to love Spain, the people, the language((yes, it's surprising to me too)) and I can honestly say that I am coming((it's a process)) to know my Savior and the role he really plays in my life.  I know without a doubt that he suffered for me on the cross.  In fact, he suffered for all of us.  In a song I heard once, it says:

"How can he know the heartache I feel when he lived a perfect life?

From Gethsemane to Calvary, was it really for me that he died?

Then the spirit whispers these words ringing true,

From the garden to the cross, he walked a mile in my shoes."

He's my older brother, my best friend, and my Savior.  We can feel His love every day if we do what He asks.  I am so incredibly grateful for Joseph Smith and his courage to ask a question.  I LOVE the Book of Mormon and being able to share it with the world.  I may be halfway through the mission, but I'm only halfway started. I have lots of things to improve but I'm so blessed to be able to share this gospel with the people of Spain.

This week was SPECTACULAR and just another reason to want to finish strong in the next half of my mission.  We saw countless miracles ((as always)).  In exciting news, we received a new area book app on our iPads so we can easily access all of our information without having to haul a huge book around.  Area book is our big binder that has the info of our investigators and the lessons they've had and their needs and things.  So the app will be really nice for people in the future to find everything.  It's super cool but it'll take forever to put all of our info from the book into the app so we're still working through that process.

Last week, I mentioned that we had were having a lesson with our sweet Bella.  We did, and it went great!!!!  She was telling us that she wakes up at 6 every morning and reads like 3-4 chapters in the Book of Mormon. ((!!!!))  She said she just wants to read it and know what happens, and wants to know if it's true.  We read Alma 32 together and talked about the comparison to a seed.  We basically told her that

since she has that desire to read every morning, it MUST be a good seed and it MUST be true.  I think it really clicked for her because when we invited her to be baptized, she accepted!!!!!!!  We are working with her for the 18th of November :-)

And the miracles don't stop there!!!!!!  We had a super great lesson with Chela this week :))  We talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the steps we need to take to follow him ((faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, endure to the end)). We used giant footsteps to help her understand that all the steps were necessary to

get to the celestial kingdom ((photo attached)) She may be 12, but she's actually so mature and has a lot of insight.  I asked, "so why do you think we need to take these steps?"  She said, "to be able to live with God and be happy."  I said, "so which steps are you missing?"  She said, "baptism, but that's something I want to do."  So we told her that we thought she was prepared and invited her to be baptized on the 26th of

November.  She kept saying she was nervous but we told her to pray about it and she said she would!!!!  At the end, she said a really sweet and sincere prayer, asking Heavenly Father if it was the right day.  She said, "Heavenly Father, thank you for sending the hermanitas to me to help me get baptized on the 26th of November.  Is that a good day for me?"  A really sweet spirit came into the room and we could all feel it.  After the prayer, Chela kept saying "I just feel so happy I don't know why." So we're working with her towards the 26th!!!!!!!

ISNT HEAVENLY FATHER MARVELOUS??  Sometimes I just sit in awe as I think about how much He loves his children.  On Wednesday, we went to a residency home to visit a member that can't come to church anymore.  We ended up adopting like 15 grandmas that just wanted to talk to us too.   One old man kept trying to kiss me but I had to turn him down hahahahaha.  At one point, I just looked around the room at all these sweet old people.  Some were coloring, some were sleeping, some were just sitting there and staring into space, but as I looked at them I felt the most powerful rush of warmth and love through my whole body.  I was able to feel a glimpse of how much Heavenly Father loved them.  Age doesn't make a difference in Heavenly Fathers eyes, he loves us all equally-with a PERFECT love.  That's why I'm out here, in Spain. I'm trying to help everyone feel Gods love for them.  Someone once said, “One of the sweetest messages the Spirit will relay is how Heavenly Father feels about you.”  If you are feeling lonely, you might try praying and asking God what he thinks about you.  It'll be an experience you'll never forget.

But in the meantime, remember that this crazy missionary out here loves you too.

Besitos,

Hermana Spangler

pig feet

ALL MY FAVORITE PEOPLE-

I genuinely cannot believe that another week has come and gone, yet here we are!!!! This week was full of miracles, POURING rain, citas, and any other good things you can think off :))

SO, Loe is doing great!!!!  Still progressing, still reading and praying every day but still hasn't come to church)):  She went a long time ago but it's been hard to get back because of her husband.  On Wednesday we had a fantastic lesson and made promise after promise and used our testimonies and scriptures and she said she would for sure be there on Sunday.  She was saying that she didn't want to come

because she thought she would get home and her husband would get mad at her ): Her husband is just the nicest guy ever though so we were asking how she knew he would do that.  And she said, "You're right, I have no idea what he's going to do.  I need to go to see his reaction."  She prayed at the end and it was so sweet.  She just pleaded Heavenly Father to make everything happen so that she could come to church and that her husband would open his heart.  Well, Sunday rolled around and she never showed up)):  We were crushed because she had promised she would be there.  We called her and she said she got up on time and got ready and told her husband she was about to leave for church and he said, "Can't you just go another day?" And that broke her so she stayed home.  SHE WAS SO CLOSE and she felt sooooo bad.  We knew that Satan was going to tempt her in some way and he knew her exact weakness.  He knows what he's doing and that's what makes missionary work so hard.  I don't know if she's just scared of him or if that's really what happened but Satan used his best tool and it worked.  Hermana Wood, Loe, and I fasted yesterday for Ivan's heart to be softened.  Loe just needs to understand that she has to stand her ground and fight for what she wants.  She wants this so bad

and NEEDS it.  So please please keep her in your prayers.

Okay, our other progressing investigator is a cute little lady named Bella and she is MY FAVORITE.  We are best friends :))  We are going to have a lesson with her tonight and invite her to baptized so I'll let you guys know how it goes!!!!  She's reading and praying every day and always coming to church but she wants to move through this whole investigating process slower than we'd like.  She knows it's all true and loves it all so we're just gonna help her realize that baptism is the most essential part to help her faith grow.

From Friday to Monday, it's been POURING rain.  A nice lady in our ward gave me some rain boots so it hasn't been too bad :")  Also, Hermana Wood and I just have way too much fun laughing and getting all wet.  Yesterday, she totally slipped and rolled down a hill hahahahhahahahahahaha we were CRYING ((she's fine, don't worry)).  It’s actually been a little tender mercy because Spain people are so nice and always let us in because they don't wanna leave us in the rain.  We made sure and visited all of our not yet progressing families and actually had some success!!!!  We have a family right now that we are just trying to work with because they are so precious!!!!  So far we've only been able to teach the dad but it was the wife that gave us the information to come back so we're hoping to teach them all soon.  Levi and Alicia are the parents and then they have 3 kids, Elsa and Mayra ((twins, 8 years

old)) and Lucas((7)) THEY ARE SO SO CUTE.  Every time we pass by, the kids talk to us but we always seem to pass by at busy times.  We will get them soon, please pray for them to be willing and open!!!!

So, in Sevilla, there are these dances called Flamenca dances and all the girls get alllll dressed up and pretty and the dresses are CRAZY.  An investigator lady we have right now let us try on one of her old dresses so that was pretty cool :))  pictures provided, of course.

We had so many great citas this week and Heavenly Father really just let us have a lot of chances to work with people and find people and see miracles.  I seriously love this work and I love seeing the gospel work in people's lives.

Until next week,

LOVE YOU ALL MUCHO,

Hermana Spangler

love with your heart wide open

MI QUERIDOS

Well, it's been a week!!!!!  I swear I just sat down yesterday to write you and it's that time again.  I am absolutely loving my time out here and I just ADORE Hermana Wood.  A little info about her, because everyone is asking:  She's 20 ((her birthday was yesterday)), from Farmington Utah, has about 5 months on the mission, loves to dance and sing, has the BIGGEST heart and is just an absolute angel.  I have seriously been so blessed in the companion category, I don't know what I did to deserve this.

The ward members here are super great!!!  The bishop is a young guy with a nice family and they're actually waiting for their visas to move to Utah!!!!  So we're sad about that, but for right now, he's really good at pumping us up to do the work. Hermana Wood and I have spent a lot of time with the primary kids these past few Sunday's because we are helping out with the primary program!! I'm playing the piano and Hermana Wood is leading the music and we have SO much fun.  There are only 5 primary kids right now and 2 of them turn 12 this month so we are going to find some families soon to fill it up.

So, right now we are teaching a woman named Loe. She's from the Dominican Republic and she's about 36. She's a DOLL and I just love her to death. She just wants to grow her faith and do anything she needs to come closer to God. The last 2 lessons we had with her were so so good. The only thing that's holding her back right now is the fact that her husband really doesn't want anything to do with the

church so she doesn't come on Sunday's because he always comes up with other activities to do :/ HOWEVER, we are working and fasting and praying together that his heart will soften and we promised that if she does everything she needs to do, his heart will soften. We also invited her to be baptized the 12th of November, so please keep her in your prayers!!!! It was super cute because we asked her to be baptized to take a leap of faith and let it grow and she totally accepted and then we said, "we've prayed a lot and we think you'll be ready and prepared by the 12th, will you be baptized that day?" And she said, "Yes, wow, thank you, I really appreciate that. I have the faith that I can be ready." No one has ever thanked us for inviting them to be baptized but it was super sweet :")

We are also working with an 11 year old named Chela and she's progressing really well!!!! Everyone in her family is a member but then went inactive before Chela was born ): They got baptized in Peru but then came to Spain and stopped going. But it's okay because hey are giving her the chance to come to church and investigate and she loves it!!!! We had a REALLY good lesson on the plan of salvation because she had a lot of questions but we were able to answer them.  Also, Hermana Wood said that she has never seen the family open up but I starting talking to them about Peruvian food ((thank you Hermana Vigo)) and they said they would make some for us!! So yesterday, for Hermana Wood's birthday, we went over there and they made us food!!!!  It was really yummy :)) we also shared a little spiritual message with

them and the dad said that in his own time, he wants to start coming back to church!!!!!!! I almost cried!!!!!! So we are definitely going to be working with them :))

Okay funny story: This week, Hermana Wood and I were given a bag of almonds, peanuts, and walnuts by a less active man. We didn't really want them so we were just thinking it would be cool to find a homeless person to share our message give them our little gift. I said out loud, "it would be really nice to find a homeless person right now." ((There are homeless people allllll over San Fernando but in Alcalá I never see them)) So then, we turned the corner and THERE WAS A MAN RIGHT THERE. We just passed him because we were freaking out about how quickly it happened and then realized we should definitely go back and talk to him. We started talking to him and HE WAS SO NICE. He really didn't have a lot of interest in our message because he believes in energies in the universe and things like that but he let us sit down and answer some questions and teach him a little bit. We had a great conversation about prophets and a few other things. Then, when we were about to go, Hermana wood said, "this is pretty weird but do you like walnuts or almonds?" And he said, "yes, I'm a vegetarian and I was just thinking I needed to buy some nuts for some extra protein." Hermana wood showed him the bag and said, "well, you're in luck, we'll give you a bag right now." His face lit up so much hahahaha it was so cute :"") He said, "wait, what? for me?" He then proceeded to tell us that we were angels that fell from heaven because he didn't have enough money to buy anything and that's just what he needed. It was a really sweet moment. It just goes to show that Heavenly Father loves his children so much that he sent two little American girls to a Spanish homeless man with a bag of almonds. It strengthened my testimony that EVERYONE, no matter who they are, can always use a little bit of love.

Go out there and love with your heart wide open, the world could use a little more!!!

Love you all,

Hermana Spangler