halfway gone

MY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE-

Well, I've officially hit my halfway mark!!!!  It's crazy to look back and realize that I'm halfway done.  I've had moments of bitter sadness and moments of pure joy.  I have grown more than I ever thought I could in 9 short months.  I am so incredibly grateful for what I've learned up to this point.  I have come to love Spain, the people, the language((yes, it's surprising to me too)) and I can honestly say that I am coming((it's a process)) to know my Savior and the role he really plays in my life.  I know without a doubt that he suffered for me on the cross.  In fact, he suffered for all of us.  In a song I heard once, it says:

"How can he know the heartache I feel when he lived a perfect life?

From Gethsemane to Calvary, was it really for me that he died?

Then the spirit whispers these words ringing true,

From the garden to the cross, he walked a mile in my shoes."

He's my older brother, my best friend, and my Savior.  We can feel His love every day if we do what He asks.  I am so incredibly grateful for Joseph Smith and his courage to ask a question.  I LOVE the Book of Mormon and being able to share it with the world.  I may be halfway through the mission, but I'm only halfway started. I have lots of things to improve but I'm so blessed to be able to share this gospel with the people of Spain.

This week was SPECTACULAR and just another reason to want to finish strong in the next half of my mission.  We saw countless miracles ((as always)).  In exciting news, we received a new area book app on our iPads so we can easily access all of our information without having to haul a huge book around.  Area book is our big binder that has the info of our investigators and the lessons they've had and their needs and things.  So the app will be really nice for people in the future to find everything.  It's super cool but it'll take forever to put all of our info from the book into the app so we're still working through that process.

Last week, I mentioned that we had were having a lesson with our sweet Bella.  We did, and it went great!!!!  She was telling us that she wakes up at 6 every morning and reads like 3-4 chapters in the Book of Mormon. ((!!!!))  She said she just wants to read it and know what happens, and wants to know if it's true.  We read Alma 32 together and talked about the comparison to a seed.  We basically told her that

since she has that desire to read every morning, it MUST be a good seed and it MUST be true.  I think it really clicked for her because when we invited her to be baptized, she accepted!!!!!!!  We are working with her for the 18th of November :-)

And the miracles don't stop there!!!!!!  We had a super great lesson with Chela this week :))  We talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the steps we need to take to follow him ((faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, endure to the end)). We used giant footsteps to help her understand that all the steps were necessary to

get to the celestial kingdom ((photo attached)) She may be 12, but she's actually so mature and has a lot of insight.  I asked, "so why do you think we need to take these steps?"  She said, "to be able to live with God and be happy."  I said, "so which steps are you missing?"  She said, "baptism, but that's something I want to do."  So we told her that we thought she was prepared and invited her to be baptized on the 26th of

November.  She kept saying she was nervous but we told her to pray about it and she said she would!!!!  At the end, she said a really sweet and sincere prayer, asking Heavenly Father if it was the right day.  She said, "Heavenly Father, thank you for sending the hermanitas to me to help me get baptized on the 26th of November.  Is that a good day for me?"  A really sweet spirit came into the room and we could all feel it.  After the prayer, Chela kept saying "I just feel so happy I don't know why." So we're working with her towards the 26th!!!!!!!

ISNT HEAVENLY FATHER MARVELOUS??  Sometimes I just sit in awe as I think about how much He loves his children.  On Wednesday, we went to a residency home to visit a member that can't come to church anymore.  We ended up adopting like 15 grandmas that just wanted to talk to us too.   One old man kept trying to kiss me but I had to turn him down hahahahaha.  At one point, I just looked around the room at all these sweet old people.  Some were coloring, some were sleeping, some were just sitting there and staring into space, but as I looked at them I felt the most powerful rush of warmth and love through my whole body.  I was able to feel a glimpse of how much Heavenly Father loved them.  Age doesn't make a difference in Heavenly Fathers eyes, he loves us all equally-with a PERFECT love.  That's why I'm out here, in Spain. I'm trying to help everyone feel Gods love for them.  Someone once said, “One of the sweetest messages the Spirit will relay is how Heavenly Father feels about you.”  If you are feeling lonely, you might try praying and asking God what he thinks about you.  It'll be an experience you'll never forget.

But in the meantime, remember that this crazy missionary out here loves you too.

Besitos,

Hermana Spangler

pig feet

ALL MY FAVORITE PEOPLE-

I genuinely cannot believe that another week has come and gone, yet here we are!!!! This week was full of miracles, POURING rain, citas, and any other good things you can think off :))

SO, Loe is doing great!!!!  Still progressing, still reading and praying every day but still hasn't come to church)):  She went a long time ago but it's been hard to get back because of her husband.  On Wednesday we had a fantastic lesson and made promise after promise and used our testimonies and scriptures and she said she would for sure be there on Sunday.  She was saying that she didn't want to come

because she thought she would get home and her husband would get mad at her ): Her husband is just the nicest guy ever though so we were asking how she knew he would do that.  And she said, "You're right, I have no idea what he's going to do.  I need to go to see his reaction."  She prayed at the end and it was so sweet.  She just pleaded Heavenly Father to make everything happen so that she could come to church and that her husband would open his heart.  Well, Sunday rolled around and she never showed up)):  We were crushed because she had promised she would be there.  We called her and she said she got up on time and got ready and told her husband she was about to leave for church and he said, "Can't you just go another day?" And that broke her so she stayed home.  SHE WAS SO CLOSE and she felt sooooo bad.  We knew that Satan was going to tempt her in some way and he knew her exact weakness.  He knows what he's doing and that's what makes missionary work so hard.  I don't know if she's just scared of him or if that's really what happened but Satan used his best tool and it worked.  Hermana Wood, Loe, and I fasted yesterday for Ivan's heart to be softened.  Loe just needs to understand that she has to stand her ground and fight for what she wants.  She wants this so bad

and NEEDS it.  So please please keep her in your prayers.

Okay, our other progressing investigator is a cute little lady named Bella and she is MY FAVORITE.  We are best friends :))  We are going to have a lesson with her tonight and invite her to baptized so I'll let you guys know how it goes!!!!  She's reading and praying every day and always coming to church but she wants to move through this whole investigating process slower than we'd like.  She knows it's all true and loves it all so we're just gonna help her realize that baptism is the most essential part to help her faith grow.

From Friday to Monday, it's been POURING rain.  A nice lady in our ward gave me some rain boots so it hasn't been too bad :")  Also, Hermana Wood and I just have way too much fun laughing and getting all wet.  Yesterday, she totally slipped and rolled down a hill hahahahhahahahahahaha we were CRYING ((she's fine, don't worry)).  It’s actually been a little tender mercy because Spain people are so nice and always let us in because they don't wanna leave us in the rain.  We made sure and visited all of our not yet progressing families and actually had some success!!!!  We have a family right now that we are just trying to work with because they are so precious!!!!  So far we've only been able to teach the dad but it was the wife that gave us the information to come back so we're hoping to teach them all soon.  Levi and Alicia are the parents and then they have 3 kids, Elsa and Mayra ((twins, 8 years

old)) and Lucas((7)) THEY ARE SO SO CUTE.  Every time we pass by, the kids talk to us but we always seem to pass by at busy times.  We will get them soon, please pray for them to be willing and open!!!!

So, in Sevilla, there are these dances called Flamenca dances and all the girls get alllll dressed up and pretty and the dresses are CRAZY.  An investigator lady we have right now let us try on one of her old dresses so that was pretty cool :))  pictures provided, of course.

We had so many great citas this week and Heavenly Father really just let us have a lot of chances to work with people and find people and see miracles.  I seriously love this work and I love seeing the gospel work in people's lives.

Until next week,

LOVE YOU ALL MUCHO,

Hermana Spangler

love with your heart wide open

MI QUERIDOS

Well, it's been a week!!!!!  I swear I just sat down yesterday to write you and it's that time again.  I am absolutely loving my time out here and I just ADORE Hermana Wood.  A little info about her, because everyone is asking:  She's 20 ((her birthday was yesterday)), from Farmington Utah, has about 5 months on the mission, loves to dance and sing, has the BIGGEST heart and is just an absolute angel.  I have seriously been so blessed in the companion category, I don't know what I did to deserve this.

The ward members here are super great!!!  The bishop is a young guy with a nice family and they're actually waiting for their visas to move to Utah!!!!  So we're sad about that, but for right now, he's really good at pumping us up to do the work. Hermana Wood and I have spent a lot of time with the primary kids these past few Sunday's because we are helping out with the primary program!! I'm playing the piano and Hermana Wood is leading the music and we have SO much fun.  There are only 5 primary kids right now and 2 of them turn 12 this month so we are going to find some families soon to fill it up.

So, right now we are teaching a woman named Loe. She's from the Dominican Republic and she's about 36. She's a DOLL and I just love her to death. She just wants to grow her faith and do anything she needs to come closer to God. The last 2 lessons we had with her were so so good. The only thing that's holding her back right now is the fact that her husband really doesn't want anything to do with the

church so she doesn't come on Sunday's because he always comes up with other activities to do :/ HOWEVER, we are working and fasting and praying together that his heart will soften and we promised that if she does everything she needs to do, his heart will soften. We also invited her to be baptized the 12th of November, so please keep her in your prayers!!!! It was super cute because we asked her to be baptized to take a leap of faith and let it grow and she totally accepted and then we said, "we've prayed a lot and we think you'll be ready and prepared by the 12th, will you be baptized that day?" And she said, "Yes, wow, thank you, I really appreciate that. I have the faith that I can be ready." No one has ever thanked us for inviting them to be baptized but it was super sweet :")

We are also working with an 11 year old named Chela and she's progressing really well!!!! Everyone in her family is a member but then went inactive before Chela was born ): They got baptized in Peru but then came to Spain and stopped going. But it's okay because hey are giving her the chance to come to church and investigate and she loves it!!!! We had a REALLY good lesson on the plan of salvation because she had a lot of questions but we were able to answer them.  Also, Hermana Wood said that she has never seen the family open up but I starting talking to them about Peruvian food ((thank you Hermana Vigo)) and they said they would make some for us!! So yesterday, for Hermana Wood's birthday, we went over there and they made us food!!!!  It was really yummy :)) we also shared a little spiritual message with

them and the dad said that in his own time, he wants to start coming back to church!!!!!!! I almost cried!!!!!! So we are definitely going to be working with them :))

Okay funny story: This week, Hermana Wood and I were given a bag of almonds, peanuts, and walnuts by a less active man. We didn't really want them so we were just thinking it would be cool to find a homeless person to share our message give them our little gift. I said out loud, "it would be really nice to find a homeless person right now." ((There are homeless people allllll over San Fernando but in Alcalá I never see them)) So then, we turned the corner and THERE WAS A MAN RIGHT THERE. We just passed him because we were freaking out about how quickly it happened and then realized we should definitely go back and talk to him. We started talking to him and HE WAS SO NICE. He really didn't have a lot of interest in our message because he believes in energies in the universe and things like that but he let us sit down and answer some questions and teach him a little bit. We had a great conversation about prophets and a few other things. Then, when we were about to go, Hermana wood said, "this is pretty weird but do you like walnuts or almonds?" And he said, "yes, I'm a vegetarian and I was just thinking I needed to buy some nuts for some extra protein." Hermana wood showed him the bag and said, "well, you're in luck, we'll give you a bag right now." His face lit up so much hahahaha it was so cute :"") He said, "wait, what? for me?" He then proceeded to tell us that we were angels that fell from heaven because he didn't have enough money to buy anything and that's just what he needed. It was a really sweet moment. It just goes to show that Heavenly Father loves his children so much that he sent two little American girls to a Spanish homeless man with a bag of almonds. It strengthened my testimony that EVERYONE, no matter who they are, can always use a little bit of love.

Go out there and love with your heart wide open, the world could use a little more!!!

Love you all,

Hermana Spangler

hermana spanglish ((what everyone calls me))

MY FAVORITE PEOPLE

This has been quite the week!!!!!! It's had its ups and downs but it's safe to say that I am now happily situated in Alcalá with my new companion. Hermana Wood is an absolute angel. She's also a máquina (machine) and ready to work hard. I just adore her and am already learning so much from her.

Leaving San Fernando was also one of the hardest things ever ): It didn't really feel real until I was on the bus, reading what Hermana Bailey wrote me in my transfer journal that I realized I was just leaving my home((again)). San Fernando has been the MOST special place ever and a part of my heart will always be left there.

Before I left San Fernando, we had an AMAZING lesson with Lorenzo and Andi. ((The family from the Dominican Republic)) We wanted to teach them lesson 2, the plan of salvation, but felt like something else was necessary. So we planned to talk a little bit about reading, praying and coming to church. When we got there, we found that they hadn't finished the chapter we assigned them in the Book of Mormon, so we decided to read it together. We had challenged them to finish reading 1 Nephi 1 so that's what we read together. The end of this chapter really doesn't have much apart from lehi preaching to the people and almost being killed. However, I really like the last part of verse 20, which says, "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."  This says that we can receive tender mercies, ACCORDING to our faith. We then asked them what we can do to strengthen our faith. It was a perfect transition to our plan. We talked about how important it was to read and pray and come to church and how that would strengthen our faith. I asked them, "what is your biggest concern/preoccupation right now? spiritually and physically." ((A question completely led by the spirit))  Andi paused for a second and said that physically, she was worried because they didn't have jobs and didn't know what they were going to do to pay for everything. She then said that spiritually, she was feeling like she was growing farther away from God and wanted to feel closer to him. I said, "well, I can tell you right now that we have an answer to your problem." I promised that reading and praying EVERY DAY and coming to church would bring them closer to God and strengthen their faith more than they could imagine. And then I promised ((completely by the spirit once again)) that if they read and prayed every day, but EVERY DAY, that they would find work soon. I didn't know when or how, but I felt one hundred percent that that was a promise made by the lord through me.  The spirit was seriously so so strong. Then Lorenzo said, "well, when can I start reading?" :')) AH GUYS IT WAS SO POWERFUL. The spirit is a real thing and it testifies of truth and leads us to say things and do things and we will always be blessed when we follow its guidance. I'm sad to leave them when they're progressing so well, but they're definitely in good hands with Hermana Bailey.

I've met some fantastic people out here so far. Hermana Vigo((my trainer)) opened this area so everyone knows her and talks about her. We have some pretty good progressing people right now so I'm excited!!!!!! Hermana Wood is a hard worker and has this guiding the area thing down so I really just kind of follow her lead in everything, even though she is so new in the mission. Feels like I'm really just in training again!!!!!

I love the mission and I love this gospel. I'm happier than I've ever been and you can be too. Just do the 3 main things(pray, read, and go to church) and watch your life fill up with real happiness. If you don't believe me, try it :))

LOVE YOU ALL,

Hermana Spangler

Some goodbyes included:

My main girl, Hermana Bailey, who I miss way too much ((she hates hugs

hahahahahaha))

it's a small world after all

AH MI QUERIDA FAMILIA-

Well, I guess I'll just start off with the news everyone is waiting for:  I’M LEAVING ): the time has come for me to leave my beautiful home in San Fernando.  I am leaving on Wednesday for Alcalá de Guadaíra.  I'm greenie breaking a girl from Hermana Bailey's group named Hermana Wood and I don't really know her but I've heard she's just an angel so I'm excited :') It's going to be really, really hard to leave San Fernando but I know I'll be sent where I'm needed.  I have learned so much out here from my companions and the members and the people I've met.  I have seen SO many miracles and so many tender mercies and this place and these people will always have a really special place in my heart.

Quick shoutout to my girl Hermana Bailey who has literally been my best friend out here :')  I didn't even train this girl, she came pre-trained and then basically just trained me.  She has a big heart and a sassy personality and she is exactly what San Fernando needs right now.

Wasn't Conference amazing??  If you haven't seen it or have no idea what I'm talking about, go to lds.org and watch it.  What a blessing it is to have living prophets and apostles that can lead us and guide us the way God would if He was on the earth.  It was a privilege to be able to hear words from the prophet himself.  I loved when he said, "We are blessed to have the truth, we have a mandate to share it."  These are words from a PROPHET of God.  We have the sacred responsibility and privilege to share the truths we know with all of the world.  Conference gave me such a boost of animo to share the love I have for the gospel with everyone around me, specifically those of southern Spain.

In other news, IRIS WENT TO THE TEMPLE ((yes, you already know this information)) but we were able to see her this week so she could tell us all about it. It was so so special.  She was genuinely glowing.  I can't even describe the happiness that was just radiating off of her-it's the kind that only comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.  She told us every single detail.  She said walking into the temple was like walking into the gates of heaven.  I agree, especially because the Madrid temple is just so beautiful.  She was able to do a baptism for her grandma and another friend did it for her grandpa.  Later, some of her friends did the sealing for them because Iris is going to have to wait a year to do that.  She was just gushing with all the details of everything that happened and she said, "I just can't wait to go back and do it again, especially for my mom."  What a special day that will be :")

Now, in regards to my subject line, LISTEN TO THIS. When Iris went to the temple this weekend, she also got to see her boyfriend up in Madrid. He's not a member and he's in the military so she hasn't seen him for awhile. She said she took him to the temple and he loved it. They were sitting on one of the benches outside and she said a man came up to them and said, "I felt like I needed to bring a Book of Mormon today to give to someone. Can I give you this book?" Iris told him that she was already a member but that she could give it to Manuel ((her boyfriend)) and so he did. She said he testified about it and that it was a really really powerful experience. Then she said, "oh yeah, he was like a president of something so that was cool too." And after a few questions we found out IT WAS PRESIDENT PACKER aka my mtc president aka the man who is like a prophet to me. I could not believe it!!!!! It was a really special experience and a little connection from across Spain that I got to have with president packer. Especially, because now Manuel wants to start reading the Book of Mormon!!!! He said, "well, if a president felt like he needed to give it to me, I should probably read it." !!!!!

Also, we have a BEAUTIFUL lesson on Tuesday with Lorenzo and his wife, Andi. We decided to start level 1 and begin reading the Book of Mormon with them. We brought a return missionary/convert member(Carlos) with us too that helped out a lot. At the end, he asked, "Why do you think God sent you the missionaries right now?? Why right now?" Andi said, "Well, the world is kinda of scary and it's hard to raise our son in this world. We don't have jobs and we don't have a lot of light right now. Maybe that's why." It got quiet and then Carlos said, "That's exactly why. I promise you that these missionaries will help you learn how to protect your son and how to find true light that will fill you with happiness." The spirit filled the room so strong as Hermana Bailey and I committed them to reading and praying as a family. Andi prayed at the end and it was the sweetest and more sincere prayer I have ever heard. She asked God let them know if this was true. I know, with all my heart, that God will answer her prayer. The best thing for their family right now is the gospel and it will bless them so much. Lorenzo and Robert((we found it was Robert and not Reuben hahahaha)) came to conference on Sunday as well!!!!! Andi was working but today is her last day of work so now they are all with out jobs :/ but they came and they LOVED it!!! It was also Lorenzo's birthday so we brought him a card and a chocolate and he was so happy :')

Sorry, my emails lately have just been so long but I love details and I just LOVE the mission. I cannot think of a better way to spend my time than to be out here dedicating 24 hours of my day, 7 days a week to the Lord. It is the most rewarding experience.

I love and miss you all tons and tons!!!!

Til next week,

Hermana Spangler