We are doing a great work and we cannot come down

TO MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD-

This week, we worked SO HARD, harder than I have ever worked before.  In zone meeting last week, we made goals by district to find new people.  We split up the next 3 weeks into categories: futures (people that we contact that give us their number or address), news (people we teach a lesson to and they tell us to come back and teach them again), and baptismal dates.  Our district goals were 60 futures in the first week, 30 new people the next week, and 20 baptismal dates the last week. Considering that we only get an average of about 4 futures each week, you can see how high these goals are.  This week was the week of futures.  We wanted to get 60 futures as a district so that's about 20 futures per companionship.  Satan obviously didn't want us to have success in this because this week ended up being an almost impossible week to work with finding futures.  We had intercambios this week, so that eliminated a day and a half to work in our area. The elders in our district also did too.  We also had an activity in Chiclana yesterday, eliminating another day for us all.  Not to mention that the other hermanas in our district had to stay in piso for a good 3 days because one of them broke their foot.  So basically, Thursday rolls around and we have 2 futures as a district.

So, it pretty much depended on Hermana Villamar and I the last 2 days.  We decided we were gonna work super hard and talk to EVERYONE. So we did.  We talked to so many people and knocked on so many doors and walked around for hours trying to find anyone.  The past few days have been work and work and no stopping at all. The kind of days that you just come home, plan, and crash into bed because your body won't let you do anything else.  It's been hard but it truly has been great.  Getting completely lost in this work is what we're supposed to do out here and it truly feels rewarding.  Hermana Villamar and I found 15 futures in the past 2 days, and for us, that's a HUGE success because we can never find people that want to talk to us in this area.  Our motto for this week was, "we are doing a great work, and we CANNOT come down."  When we work hard, God pours out his blessings upon us so miracles are about to come to pass here in San Fernando.

The truth is, San Fernando is a lot slower than Cartagena because the people here are a little stubborn.  We don't have anyone we are teaching right now BUT we have 15 futures now so we are going to get to work on trying to meet with these people. However, I love it here and I love being a missionary.  I'm happy all the time, despite the rejection.  At first, I used to not want to contact people because it feels kinda awkward but now I have absolutely no shame walking up to people and telling them who we are and what we're doing.  The only contacts I ever regret are the ones I don't do. If people say no, it's okay because they have their agency. If people say yes, it's GREAT because we have a beautiful message that can change their lives.  And it really does change lives, I've seen it first hand.

It's starting to get hotter here and we're slowly dying.  San Fernando summers are like Texas summers so it gets pretty hot.  I'm getting a pretty quality farmers tan and I have a tan line on my neck line from where my bag goes, it's great.  Of course, along with summer comes mosquitos :::::::) I'm being eaten alive out here but it's ok!!!!!  It's worth it for the lord!!!!!

We had intercambios this week which is always a blast.  Our sister training leaders out here live about an hour away so we have to take a train to go visit them.  Tuesday night, I was companions with Hermana Whaley-a super sweet girl from Arizona.  She was so cute and we had a lot of fun together.  I learned a ton from her about the importance of service and how to teach from the Book of Mormon.  Funny story: we went to visit this women in her home and she came to the door and started telling us about how she had just broken her arm so we said "oh hey can we help you with anything?" And she said "yes please, I want to make some gazpacho but I can't."  Let's talk about gazpacho for a second.  Gazpacho is a super popular drink out here and it's technically like a green smoothie with a couple other random things.  This is how we made it: tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, vinegar, basically a whole bottle of oil, a literal HANDFUL of salt, tomato paste and some soggy bread. Then you take all those ingredients and mix them together like a smoothie.  Hermana Whaley and I were gagging like the whole time we were making it hahahahaha AND THEN SHE MADE US DRINK IT.  I promise I felt like I had contaminated my whole body and I tasted garlic/onion/vinegar the whole day.  She gave us the recipe if anyone is interested :-) Wednesday I was companions with Hermana Silvestre-an amazing missionary from Spain.  She served in Argentina for 6 months and then broke her leg, had to go home, and then got reassigned to serve in Spain.  She has so much faith and I learned so much from her.  She's really outgoing and bubbly and loves to talk to everyone.  Needless to say, we had a great time spending those 2 days with the sister training leaders.  We all got along super well and had so much fun talking and teaching and serving the lord.  The mission really is fun.  There are times to be serious and to work but there's definitely time to have fun and enjoy everything around you.

Sorry this is probably my most unexciting email yet.  Hopefully next week I'll have some people to report on and miracles to tell.  We have miracles every day, whether they be big or small, we can find them.  Missionary work is the best :-) I know this church is true and I know it's Christ's church on the earth today.  Come see what we're all about and feel the happiness we feel.  Or come back and receive the blessings that God has waiting for you.  Heavenly Father loves us & He's truly mindful of us.  Take the time to notice His hand in your life and it'll be a rewarding experience.

I love you all,

Hermana Spangler