dos angelitos

MI PRECIOSA HERMOSA GENTE-

Whaaaaaaaat a week!!!!!!!!  In average, I only spent a short 3 hours working with my lovely companion because the other time was spent on intercambios, in meetings, conferences, and...... A BAPTISM.

Let me just give y'all the rundown of the miracles we've seen:  We had been teaching Rosa and Rocio and prepping them these whole past few weeks and they just kept getting more and more prepared ((they've come a loooong way)) and then we found out that Rosa's husband (Jose) didn't know anything about their baptism !!!????? And that they were scared to know his reaction.  So we told him that they had to tell him to be able to do their interviews.  We did a group fast and then they told him and MIRACLE #1 it was totally fine!!!!!  He wasn't necessarily happy but he agreed to let them do it.   Then we headed to the church the next day to have their interviews and MIRACLE #2 they both passed with flying colors!!!!!!  We went to check out the baptismal clothes and found out we didn’t have any :/ So called around the zone and MIRACLE #3 found a few people with possible dresses that would fit Rosa.  Last minute, Rosa was called in to work on Sunday which was a huge bummer because she never works Sundays but after church we headed over to their house to teach the last lesson and grab all their things and go.  However, we realized that Jose needed to sign a paper giving permission to Rocio to get baptized.  He was sleeping and both of them were terrified to wake him up.  We said a prayer all together and Rocio went in to try and he got super mad and yelled and she came back crying ): So Rosa went in and tried again and calmed him down and MIRACLE #4 he signed the paper!!!!  So we gathered up all their clothes, towels, papers, dryers, shoes and everything and ran out the door.   We helped them put on their clothes and it was kinda crazy because Rosa ended up having to wear two dresses hahahaha but

MIRACLE #5 both the dresses fit them perfectly :)) Rocio kept dancing around and saying "I'm super super super super super super happy."  It was precious :') Then we took a million pictures and prepared everything and then started the program.

And here comes MIRACLES #5-1028392  It was the most BEAUTIFUL, special, magical thing I have ever been a part of.  Hermana Taggart spoke about baptism and Adrian ((our recent convert)) spoke about the Holy Ghost.  Hermana Taggart and I sang "Nearer my God to thee" and it went surprisingly well considering the fact that I don't sing.  Then we headed over to the font and got them all ready.  Elder Ramirez baptized the both of them and it was so so special.  Rocio went first and the spirit was so strong as Elder Ramirez said the blessing.   When she came out of the water she was smiling SO BIG and we were ready right there to give her a towel and a hug. Before we could even ask her how she felt she said "I'm so happy right now."  Rosa was baptized next and she actually had to do it 3 times because her foot kept popping up but she was so happy afterwards :')  We were helping them get dried off and changed and asked them how they felt and these were the answers they kept shooting off:

"Happy"

"Clean"

"I feel like a baby"

"Wet"

"This is so special!!!!!"

"I feel like I was born again"

"So so good"

My personal favorite from Rocio was, "I feel happiness from the top of my head to the tips of my toes." Me too Rocio, me too :-) Then we headed back to the chapel and they asked me to share a testimony and I talked a little bit about how we met them and the change I've seen since we started and how happy I was.  Rocio gave the SWEETEST testimony ever next and talked about how happy she was and how we were like a second family for her.  Then Rosa gave a perfect testimony about the gospel and how much it changed her.   All in all, it was the most beautiful service I have ever been to and I feel so incredibly blessed to have been able to be a part of it. I love being a missionary-it makes me SO happy watching people change.  The smile on Rocio’s face the whole entire day was just a testimony that the gospel really does bring true happiness.

Satan was trying really hard this week to mess this up but this MIRACLE with Rosa and Rocio really strengthened my testimony that God is all powerful.  In the words of President Andersen, "We have no enemy to fear, God’s power which is in our hands is greater than all things!!!"

I know this work is true and it is the work of God.  The MIRACLES I see every day are evidence of that-keep your eyes open because I'm sure you'll be able to see them too.

LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo,

Hermana Spangler

God is good

QUERIDA GENTE-

What a fantabulous week I have had!!!!  Hermana Taggart and I have been working really hard and seeing MIRACLES.

This week, AROA GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!  Oh my goodness it was the most special day ever.  Aroa showed up and changed and looked so pretty in her cute like white dress.  We took pictures with the family and friends and then started the program.  A member, Rocio Vasquez gave a really sweet talk about baptism-she got all emotional while talking about it and the spirit was really sweet.  She said that baptism is like a door.  If you image the door to your house you just have to open it to be in your nice comfortable home.  That's how we start on our way to living with our father in heaven again.  I really loved that.  Then I spoke about the Holy Ghost and how it's like a best friend that God has blessed us with.  The primary kids sang a really beautiful song about following Christ that I'd never heard before.   It was so precious to watch those little ones up there, Aroa included, just BEAMING.  Then we headed over to the font for her to be baptized :-)  It was so beautiful!!!!!  I loved that her dad was able to do it and that he got to be a part of her conversion.  That'll make it all the more special in the future and help her to keep progressing right now.

Rocio is still progressing towards her baptism!!  She's reading and praying and writing her testimony to share at the baptism :)) but we saw a REAL miracle this week.  We had been talking about what we could do to help Rosa progress and we thought we needed to visit her in the morning, by herself, so that we could see what was holding her back.  But this last week, we had no mornings free to be able to pass

by her house.  So we passed by Thursday night for our set cita a little bit earlier than planned and she was there by herself!!!!!  It was a miracle!!!  We talked to her for a long time and just set everything out on the table and then we all got down on our knees to ask if she should get baptized and had a really beautiful experience.  She officially decided she wants to get baptized on Sunday with Rocio!!!!!!  I am SO excited for them to be able to do this together :))  Please send prayers!!

Sorry this is short, I'll send pictures and things-so enjoy :))

I LOVE YOU ALL

Hermana Spangler

30 day challenge

MY LOVELY HUMANS-

WHAT A WEEK!!!!!!  Hermana Højholdt and I ran around getting everything done and saying goodbye and teaching last minute lesson before it was her time to go ): She went on the complete other side of the mission but I have been so so blessed to have been her companion.  She taught me so much more than I ever would have thought when we started here in Jerez.  She taught me so much about how to love, how to testify, how to find, how to trust in the lord, how to teach and how to really be a missionary.  It was sad seeing her go but it was nice because I just got to say, "see you on Monday!!!"  And I will get to see her later today :-)

HERMANA TAGGART IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE.  We are having waaaaay too much fun and we are already best best friends.  She's really obedient and diligent but also CRAZY so you can bet we're having a grand time.

We've seen so many miracles!!!!!!!  Hermana Taggart has an obsession with contacting ((especially like young adults)) so we've been talking to everyone and seeing real fruits from it.  We have a lot of futures that have a lot of potential and we will definitely be visiting them this week.

Aroa passed her interview and is all ready to go!!!!!  She's so nervous but so excited so we are really pumped for her :))  Her baptism will be this Saturday at 6:00.

Rocio is also ON FIRE.  I truly believe she is a 30 year old trapped inside a 10 year old’s body.  We went over to their house this week and she told us she had read 1 Nephi 10 and that it "really inspired her."  She said she felt something really special and then heard a voice that said, "Rocio, you're ready to get baptized.  You know it's true." !!!!!!!  She is 100% prepared and set on getting baptized so we are

putting her in white and making it happen next Saturday.  We were going to do it this week with Aroa but that turned out to be complicated so we pushed it back a week.  We are trying to help Rosa but she's having a harder time feeling sure about it.  She wants to know it’s true but isn't doing her part in reading and praying every day to receive an answer.  She could use extra prayers!!!!  We're hoping that Rocio’s baptism will give her a little more animo.

I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life.  I love being a missionary.  I love the gospel and the happiness it brings me.  I love watching the change that happens in other people.  I know with all my soul that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world and he lives.  He can bring light and love into anybody's heart if we just let him in.

I love all of you and I don't think I will ever be able to express my gratitude for your love and support.  The only way I can really say thank you is by inviting you to read the Book of Mormon to feel the same love and joy that I feel every day.  I read a talk the other day and it invited everyone to do a 30 day challenge of reading the Book of Mormon.  I started doing it and I want you guys to join me :)) Here's what you have to do:  Daily kneel and thank your Heavenly Father for the scriptures.

Tell Him the one question you most need to have answered that day.  Plead to have the Holy Ghost with you as you read.  Then open your scriptures anywhere, and read until you find the answer.  Try it for 30 days and see what happens.  I have found SO MANY ANSWERS.  My companion gets so excited every day for me to tell her what I found in the "magic book of answers."  It's true!!!  All of it!!!!  And I promise there is not a book on earth that is more true.  Just read it and find out for yourself.

Besitos,

Hermana Spangler

a monkey held my hand today

HELLO ALL MY LOVELY PEOPLE

This will be my shortest email yet because we are in Gibraltar!!!!!!  BUT LOOK AT THESE COOL PICTURES ((sorry for the overload))

BIG NEWS: transfers are this week!!!!!!  Unfortunately, the adventures of Hermana Højholdt and Hermana Spangler are coming to an end )): BUT my new companion will be Hermana Taggart aka my favorite person in the history of the world!!!  She'll be coming here to the lovely Jerez and Hermana Højholdt is going to Murcia.  I'm sad because it's been the best 2 transfers ever but I'm excited to see what plans the lord has in store for me.

I LOVE YOU ALL,
Hermana Spangler