The only thing that's progressing is my tan line

MI QUERIDA GENTE HERMOSA-

Well, another fabulous week in the Lord’s work.  We've laughed and we've cried and we've seen some crazy cool miracles.  Also, I hit 6 MONTHS yesterday!!!!!  That means I've already been here for 1/3 of my mission and I cannot tell you how fast it fleeeeew by.

I hate to be the one to have to break the sad news but we're gonna start with that.  On Tuesday, iris' sweet mother passed through this life and onto the next.  It's been a pretty tough time for all of us, but Iris seems to be the one holding all of us up with the knowledge that we'll all see her again.  The ward out here had been so supportive and so helpful.  Iris came to church on Sunday and shared a small

testimony in relief society.  She talked about how she literally had no family but she has never felt alone because she has found a family in the ward and found comfort in the Savior.  We're going to meet with her this week and get everything settled.  She told us that her older sister wants to start coming to church and be baptized as well.  That's a miracle in itself because this new covenant will give them SO much peace and make it possible for Jesus Christ to carry the burdens and the pains that they've had for so long.  That's what's possible with baptism, it unlocks the keys to the atonement and the ability to be free from anything.

On Wednesday, we had interviews with the president.  He's SUCH a good man.  We talked about a lot of things and he gave me some much needed advice and words that I know will carry me throughout the mission.  He shared a story with me that I want to share with you:

"Sometime ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures and make them the subject of conversation.  While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse.  "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."  One lady's opinion was that it was intended to convert the view of the sanctifying influence of Christ.  Then she proposed to visit and silversmith and report to them what he had said on the subject.  She went accordingly and, without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.

"But sir," she said, " do you have to sit while the work of refining is going on?"

"Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith, "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for the refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."  The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."  Christ sees it needful to put His people into the furnace; but His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and his wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them.  Their trials do not come at random; and they are only as intense and last only as long as is necessary for the refining process- "the very hairs on your head are

all numbered."

As the lady was preparing the leave, the silversmith concluded by saying that he knows the process is complete when he can see HIS OWN image reflected in the silver."

Just love that story and love the idea that we can be refined in Christ's image through our trials.  To me, it makes perfect sense that we need to have trials to learn and grow and become the people that God wants us to be.

Hermana Bailey is my new favorite person (shocker, huh?) and we get along great.  She is SO funny and just fun to be around. Not to mention, she has no shame with talking to people even though she can't speak a word of Spanish.  We are having so much fun together and STILL in the finding process but STILL working hard.  This week we've found a few more people so we'll see how that goes.

Training is hard but it's definitely fun.  I've failed this week because unlike my trainer, I allowed a boy to give Hermana Bailey besitos.  This is a live and learn kind of experience.  The boy happened to be Iris' 18 year old boyfriend which made it all a little more awkward hahahahaha.  Iris and I just watched it happen and then died laughing because there was nothing we could do about it.

I wish I had more stories to share about new people but unfortunately, all the prepared people are hiding somewhere.  God has another idea of what he wants to happen here but pretty soon the miracles are going to EXPLODE.  I'll keep you guys posted.

Anyways, I love love love you all.  Thanks for being my favorite people out there.

Lots of love,

Hermana Spangler

Little tender mercies

TO MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD-

Well I guess everyone's probably wondering the same thing, I'm officially training!!!!!!  My sweet little trainee is Hermana Macey Bailey.  She's 19, from Northern California, and one of the funniest people I've ever met.  She went to BYU for a year so she actually knows some of my friends from there!!  We've only been together for a good 4 days but I love her to death and we're having tons of fun.  She came here to WORK and it's perfect because that's what we do as missionaries :)) ((There's about a million photos attached from our trip to Malaga))

I'm SO excited for this transfer because we are going to see so many much needed miracles here in San Fernando.  We've already been able to see God's hand in this work every day.  Something Hermana Bailey and I are doing is writing down at least 1 miracle every day when we come home and it really opens up our eyes to how loving Heavenly Father is.

First things first, an update on Iris.  So, a few weeks ago, we called to see how she was doing and how things were looking for a baptism on the 20th.  She informed us that she was currently in the hospital with her mom ((they found liquid leaking out of her lungs that they needed to take out)) and that she needed to be with her mom all the time.  We didn't mention anything about the baptism, we just let her know that we were there for her and to call us if she needed anything.  We kept in touch over the next few days and then she informed us that her mom was doing a little better and in a few days was going to be able to go home.  Iris told us that when her mom comes homes and feels better she wants to, and I quote "get baptized as soon as possible."  I think spending time in that hospital with her mom made her realize how important those saving ordinances are.  So we planned to have an interview as soon as her mom was home and choose a date then.  Then, on Wednesday (Hermana bailey's first day) I called Iris to see how everything was. Right away, I could tell something was not right.  She said, "Hermana, the doctors just told me that my mom is in her last days or even hours and she's not gonna last much longer."  I did not even know what to say and I just didn't have the words to comfort her in that moment.  I basically just tried to bear my testimony of Heavenly Father's plan and told her to keep us updated with anything that was happening.   Sunday afternoon, we felt like the best thing to do would be to go visit Iris and her mom in the hospital so around 5:30, we headed over there.  We brought her treats and notes and scriptures to lift up her spirits and it was a much needed little reunion.  I forgot how much I loved that girl and how I really missed our lessons.  At first, we were just talking about her mom and the situation and she told us that at this point, everyone is surprised that she is still alive.  She hasn't eaten in days and she's just in a state between awake and asleep.  Iris said she can't speak but she's conscious of everything that's going on.  She said, "I told my mom that when she passes through this life I want to be baptized.  I told her that I can do a baptism for her in the temple and that there was a way that we could be together forever."  She told us that her mom smiled and nodded with tears in her eyes.  We realized that when its one year of her mom passing away, Iris will have been a member for a year and can be sealed to her mom in that same time period.  Just a little tender mercy of the Lord.  Iris is by far one of the strongest people I have ever met, she keeps her whole family on her shoulders and she's only 20.  I asked her how she was holding up and said, "Not too well, but I have to be strong.  I'm so grateful that I know I'll see my mom again or this would be a lot harder."  I couldn't hold back the tears as I watched this sweet girl, going through trials that people should never have to experience in this life, hold her head high and keep moving forward.  She's so strong and so ready to get baptized, we're just waiting to see what happens with her mom.  Please keep her and her sister in your prayers, they really need a lot of strength in this time.

I shared a scripture with Iris that I want to share with you all as well.  3 Nephi 9:14 "Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life.  Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."

His arm is ALWAYS and continually outstretched to everyone no matter the situation, whether you're struggling with pains or sickness or sins or a death of someone you love or watching someone struggle.  He says "whosever will come, him will I receive."  Turn to him.  You don't have to suffer alone.  I know for a fact that He loves and wants the best for us and is MORE than ready to help us.

All right, this has been kind of a sad email with all this news about Iris but the good thing is that she's still going strong!!  And THERE IS HOPE.  She's still our only progressing investigator but we're starting to find people and work with more people and hopefully they will find that same happiness in the gospel that I've found.

Now, being the companion that has to lead everything, I am realizing more and more how much I LOVE the mission.  My Spanish is improving a lot more and I feel more comfortable talking to people.  I'm having so much fun, and despite the difficulties, I'm learning to keep smiling :))

I love you all so so much.  You're the best people in my life and don't ever forget it. Keep smiling, keep relying on the lord, and keep on killing it!!!

All my love,

Hermana Spangler

quick update

MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND FRIENDS-

Wowza, this week has been a wild ride of miracles and emotions and seeing God's hand working in people's lives.

I guess I should begin with the biggest news:  I don't know if I'm going to have sufficient time to write anyone emails because I leave in a little bit to go pick up my new companion from Malaga.  Why do I have to go all the way to Malaga you ask??  Because my companion is braaaand new aka IM TRAINING AND IM FREAKING OUT.  I cried when President called me on Thursday, definitely don't feel ready for that. You're gonna have to wait until next week to find out everything about her because I don't meet her til Wednesday but please pray for me and pray for her and that everything goes okay.  I still don't know yet if she's American ((probably)) or speaks Spanish so we'll see!!!!

This new adventure is gonna stretch me and teach me and I'm SCARED out of my mind but I'm excited to see how much we grow together.  I say goodbye to Hermana Villamar in one hour as well and I've already cried like 6 times just talking to her :/ so wish me luck.  She's literally taught me SO much and we've become best friends. The thing I have most learned from her is that the atonement of Jesus Christ is a real thing.  That Jesus came down with the one purpose to die for us and suffer so that we can be FREE from sin, guilt, sadness, sickness, pain, you name it.  He made it possible for us to live with you families and loved ones forever.  I'm extremely for his sacrifice for me and for every single person on this earth.  I know that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that HE LIVES.  He's there for us with his hand stretched out in every single moment, ready and willing to help us.  All we need to do is humble ourselves and ask for his help.

One HUGE miracle from this week is that we had 6 investigators come to church on Sunday!!!  6!!!!!  We've never had more than 1!!!!  It was truly a tender mercy from our Heavenly Father.  Hermana Villamar spoke and it was wonderful.

This week has been hard because poor Hermana villamar has these insane migraines and also practically broke her knee.  We've only been able to work a couple hours each day but we've WORKED.  We've found some really special people with a lot of potential a I'm excited to see where they end up.

SORRY, super short email with not a lot of information but I'm off to Malaga!!!!  I love and miss you guys with all my heart.  Keep on killin it out there!!!! :))

Besitos,

Hermana Spangler

Work hard, pray hard

MY WONDERFUL FAMILY AND FRIENDS-

This week was a long one in terms of weeks.  We are still working super hard to find people--contacting, knocking on doors, asking for references, and talking to as many people as we can.  We still haven't found ANYONE.  Any potential people that we find are either always "busy" or don't actually want anything.  Hermana Villamar and I have been talking lately about sometimes it's hard to understand why we work and work and WORK and still can't find anyone that wants to listen to our message.

I was reading a story of a missionary and his experiences and I found something that COMPLETELY changed my point of view.  One experience that a missionary had was that at one point on his mission, he was in a really hard area.  He ended up being there for 7 months and still hadn't found anyone interested.  At one point, he watched a super disobedient couple of missionaries have baptism after baptism and he was getting frustrated.  He said a prayer and he said to Heavenly Father, "Father, you are almighty,  I pray over the map every day, I stop our bike rides at the slightest prompting to rethink what we are doing, where we are going, all to  prove that I am listening,  and you still send me to neighborhoods where there  is  nothing but vile, mean, personal rejection”.  He prayed for a good 45 minutes just trying to figure out why he wasn't seeing any success.  And this was his answer: “Elder  Humphrey, I am here.  I know who you are.  I sent you to those neighborhoods, the very ones where you experienced nothing but  rejection.   I prompted your changes in direction to even more difficult neighborhoods.   I know where each of the elect in your area resides.  I know their names.  I could send you to those addresses only, and save you the time and sacrifice looking for them.    BUT ELDER HUMPHREY, WHAT GOOD WOULD THAT SERVE YOU?   The mission experience is to do what you are told, when you are told, to go where you are asked, and know that the blessing comes  from enduring what I ask of you.   This is not about you; it is about opening your mouth at all times in all places.  Doing my will without thought to the end result or consequence… this is what serving a mission is."

The more I thought about it, the more I realized WOW Heavenly Father really is in everything we do.  For those reading this that are missionaries, we aren't here to baptize people, we are here to do exactly what God wants us to, when he wants it, and how he wants it.  The success is in the perfect obedience and responding to the promptings we receive.  For those at home, in school, studying, with families, with jobs; Heavenly Father is in everything you do!!!  He gives us trials so we can grow. We have hard times so we can learn.  And more then anything, the hard times we have help us appreciate the good times SO much more.  So in a moment of frustration, don't ask why things are going hard in your life, just appreciate that Heavenly Father's plan is better.  All we need to do is align ourselves up with his will.  That's the only way we'll be happy and the only way we'll find success.

This letter has been pretty short and become more of a journal entry for me to express my thoughts but I hope it touched someone.  I hope you all have a FANTASTIC week and a fantastic 4th of July!!!  Be safe, be happy, and trust in Heavenly Fathers plan. It's the best plan there is :))

PS very important notice-this week I ate octopus!!!!  I'd have to say it's probably the most crazy thing I've eaten on the mission but it wasn't all that bad.  We ate it in two ways.  One, with potatoes and spices.  And two, with tomatoes and onions and peppers in a pasta salad type dish.  It really was actually pretty good.

Also, this is Hermana Villamar's last week with me and last week IN THE MISSION. Luckily, she still wants to work hard and do everything she can to help this area.  We are going to put everything we have into this week and see some crazy big miracles!!!!  I'm so sad that she's leaving me, she's become like a sister to me and I've really enjoyed our time together and learned SO much.  Next week, I'll know who my new companion is and everything so stay tuned!!!!

Love you all super much,

Hermana Spangler

D&C 6:33-36