MI QUERIDA GENTE-
I think this has been about the fastest week of my entire
mission!!!! However, when I think
about what we've done this week, it feels like a LIFETIME ago. Heavenly Father has been very, very
generous with his miracles this week. Let me just give you a little glimpse into my life this week.
It's been hectic and stressful but
it's also been one of the most rewarding. I think that's how the mission really should be.
SO, to start things off, on Tuesday we met with a reference
we got from the new elders. They
had contacted him a few days prior and said he was great. And WOW was he golden!!!!! His name is Lorenzo and he has a son
named Rueben. He's also married to
a woman named Alejandra but we haven't met her yet because she works a lot. We did a lesson with them talking a
little bit about what we believe. We
gave him a Book of Mormon and he just ate it all up!!!!! He was SO interested and
so prepared and so ready. I'm so so excited to keep working with him and his family!!! We have a cita with them on Tuesday.
So on Wednesday half of our mission went to Malaga to listen
to Elder Zwick, an area 70. We all had set plans to meet at the church at 5:05 am
for a private bus to pick us up and take us to Malaga ((yes, I know, it was
early. I woke up at 3.)) Everyone
from San Fernando arrived nice and early so that we could be on time for the
train. Well, 5:10 passed and still
no train. We called the mission
secretary and he said it should be coming soon. So 5:30 passes and then 6 and then 6:30 and still nothing. Meanwhile, we are calling everyone and trying
to figure out the problem. By the
time 7:30 hit we realize that the secretary actually forgot to call the bus in
the first place and it's not actually coming. The conference was starting at 9 sharp because Elder Zwick
had to be on a plane by 2. The
whole thing was a mess and we weren't going to be able to go because there were
no trains or buses that would make it there in time. There were 8 of us missionaries in San Fernando, stressed and
waiting to see if we would be able to go or not. So I said, "wait guys, let's say a prayer." And all 8 of us stood in a circle and
said a quick prayer that we would be able to figure out the situation and get there on time. I can't even describe how much power I
felt in that little circle of missionaries, praying with all the faith we could
muster. Not even a minute later, the
secretary called us and said he had a solution!!!!! We ended up taking a 3 HOUR taxi ride all the way to Malaga
that cost us 1,000 euros. ((in total, we needed 6 taxis for our zone)) but we
got there!!!! Safe and sound!!! And we got to listen to a chosen servant
of the lord. There were about 100
missionaries as well so I got to see a few people from across the mission :'))
The zone conference was phenomenal. Elder Zwick talked a lot about hastening the work and gaining
the trust of the people around us, but most importantly from
Heavenly Father.
Saturday night we had a stake conference with the adults. We
have a less active man named Antonio that hasn't been to church in 8 years. We visit him about 2 times a week and
he's such a good man, he's just never wanted to come back to church. On Friday we passed by his house and
basically just told him we were going to pick him up before the stake
conference and walk with him. He
said he would be ready. We got
there Saturday night and he came out all done up with his suit and tie and I
don't think my heart has ever been so happy :') he saw so many people he
remembered at the conference and he said he loved it all. We're hoping that he'll keep progressing
into the church but as of right now, this was a HUGE step.
Sunday was a day of MIRACLES. We had stake conference and the church was packed to the
brim. People came from Cadiz, Chiclana,
Algeciras, Puerto, Jerez, San Lucar and basically just all over. Not to mention, Lorenzo and Reuben
came!!!! We went and picked them
up and walked together to the church. The members and the other missionaries were so great and
welcoming. They absolutely loved
it!!! Lorenzo kept saying, "this is so beautiful, I love how I feel."
:):):):))::)):) We introduced him
to the stake president and mission president and bishop and he loved them all. AND GET THIS: so while were picking our
seats and everything, I told him that on Sundays, usually we have about 40 members
instead of the 500 or so that were there. He said, "don't worry, next week, you'll have 42 because
we'll be here." ISN’T THAT SO GREAT? I WAS SO HAPPY :-) needless to say, we're hoping to see some
big miracles with this family as they start progressing and making the necessary
changes to have the spirit in their lives.
AND GUESS WHAT ELSE???? Maria had her baptismal interview and passed it with
flying colors!!!!! This is actually
a crazy story, too. So Tuesday, we
had a lesson with Maria that went really well. Maria is MORE than prepared to be baptized but she just has a
lot of fears of taking that big step. She wants to feel sure and ready. We've been trying to do everything to convince her that she
IS ready and that sometimes you don't know you're ready until you actually take
that step. We decided to move her
baptismal date yet again to October 1. It's been hard because she's just
getting into the habit of moving her date and that's never going to help her
progress. Well, something in stake
conference touched her heart and she came up to us afterwards and she wants to
get baptized this week!!!!!! We
didn't want to kill her animo so we decided to do it as soon as we can. We have permission from the president
and we are going to do her baptism on Thursday!!!! She's ready and excited and we have everything planned out. Keep her in your prayers and pray that
everything runs smoothly.
Sorry that was so so long but I just can't contain how much
I love missionary work!!! We haven't had as much time as usual to find people to
work with but God has somehow always placed people in our path whether it be in
the grocery store or on a train or even in the taxi on the way to Malaga ((I
gave that guy a Book of Mormon hehe)). I love watching the gospel work in people's lives, but most
importantly, I love the way it's working in mine. I would not even be half the person I am
today without this gospel and for that I am truly grateful.
Sending all my love and animo to anyone out there that needs
it!!!!
Hermanita Spangler
PS-today, we are going to an American military base!!! So I
basically
only have enough time to write THIS email and that's it :(
just know I
love you all and I will write you guys next week!!!!
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