we're all in this together

TO ALL MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD-

Well guys, here we are again.  Another week has come and gone.  Time is FLYING. I've heard it only gets faster from here, which makes me really sad.

Let's start off with some BIG NEWS.  Last week, president called us and told us that we were going to have some changes in our area.  In San Fernando we have 2 wards and 1 set of missionaries for each ward.  Well, the new change is that president sent us another set of elders!!!!  They are going to be working in between the two wards, which means they have a little bit of our area and a little bit of the elders area.  Crazy right?!!!!  SAN FERNANDO IS READY FOR SOME BIG MIRACLES.  The new elders are super fun and way ready to work.  We went to the bishop’s house and had a mini meeting and basically just pumped ourselves up with animo and went to work!!!!!!

This week, we were walking home from the church and found a guy just sitting on a bench.  I always see this guy out of his window and I've always wanted to contact him but he's just up way too high.  WELL, this day, he was just sitting right out in the open.  Perfect.  We started talking to him and he was super nice.  His name was Alejandro and he just totally let us talk his ear off!!!  He didn't believe in God and he had never prayed before in his life so we taught him how to pray and did a little practice with him right there in the street.  At first, he said, "there's no way to actually KNOW that there's a God."  Well, after a few minutes, I think he understood that it IS possible and that we knew because we had asked.  Really, there is no other way to know.  The only way is to ask.  I know with all my heart that we have a father in heaven who loves us and knows us and listens to us.  After talking for a little bit, we asked him if he would be interested in hearing more.  He said, "you know what, sure.  I actually feel really good sitting here and talking to you girls." !!!!!! He gave us his information to come back and sadly, we had to pass it to the elders ((because it's in their area now)) but it doesn't really matter where people hear the gospel as long as they can hear it somewhere :))

Hermana Bailey and I hit a record for finding a street with the LEAST amount of interest.  Out of 21 doors, 14 people said they didn't want anything and the other 7 weren't home.  Hahahahaha it was great!!!!  Pretty soon, we're going to have passed through everyone so that only the elect few are left.

Recently I've been studying in Jacob 5-the allegory of the olive tree.  I absolutely LOVE it.  Especially right now as a missionary.  I found a quote today that I want to share: "You have come to the earth when the foundation has been laid for this great work.  The gospel has been restored for the last time.  The Church has been established in almost every part of the world.  The stage is set for the final dramatic scenes to be enacted.  You will be the principal players. You are among the last laborers in the vineyard.  This is the yoke that is set upon your necks.  This is the service for which you are chosen.”  This doesn't just apply to me, it applies to all of you!!!  We are in the LAST DAYS.  We have been CHOSEN.  It's our duty to help bring the gospel to all the world; and what an extraordinary responsibility it is that we have.  I love this gospel and I love this work.  We are all in this together!!!!!  We are on the greatest team the world has EVER known!!!

Go share the gospel with someone today.  Go make someone's day.  Read your scriptures.  Talk to your Heavenly Father.  Don't let a minute pass by to soak in how WONDERFUL this life is and how BLESSED we are to have the gospel.

As far as culture differences go: I've noticed that when two people ride a motorcycle, the person on the back is NEVER holding on to the person driving it.  They're either texting, eating a bag of chips, putting on makeup, or they just have their arms awkwardly hanging on the side.  Also, the normal nap time around here is about 3-6:30 so if we're knocking on doors at 5 there isn't a single person in the streets or someone that will talk to us.  They say, "I'm busy resting right now, come back another day."  Resting just meaning that they're sitting on their couch or watching TV.

Okay, that's all for this week!!!!  Thanks for everything :-)

I love you all,

Hermana Spangler