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