his arm of mercy

MY DEAREST FAMILY AND AMIGOS,

The weeks seriously just keep going by faster and faster!!!!  I don't really know how it happened but we are already in the last week of the transfer.  On Sunday, we find out what happens for transfers.  Half of the members have told me that they're praying I finish the mission here but after being in Jerez 6 months, we'll see what happens.  It's most likely I'll be leaving BUT you never know.  Keep your fingers crossed that I stay :))

We've been working A TON with the members.  Getting them involved in lessons, introducing them to our investigators, planning family home evenings, etc.  We even started piano lessons and we are teaching some of the members!!  It's actually been way fun and my love for these 'jerezanas' just grows every day.

This week, we had the opportunity to do a little contacting with Rosa and Rocio, our recent converts.  We took them to a cita (that ultimately wasn't there) and decided to do some finding on the way back home.  Cute little Rocio was so excited but so nervous :')  We stopped literally everyone in our path and only ran into people that wanted nothing to do with us.  It was pretty hard to watch the people reject even sweet Rocio.  But she was so positive and kept saying "I bet the next person will want a Book of Mormon."  She's going to be such a great missionary.  We stopped one man that actually didn't speak Spanish but understood a little English.  So we said, "don't listen to what we're saying, think about how you feel."  Then we asked Rocio to bear her testimony and she bore the SWEETEST, simplest yet boldest testimony I've ever heard.  The spirit was 100% present.  We asked the man if he understood what she said and he said no, but that he actually felt better.  He didn't end up wanting anything but I think it was an experience that Rocio will never forget.  She told us after that she was so nervous but when she started talking she didn't feel scared at all :') I think it also helped Hermana Malterre and I remember to always open our mouth and let it be filled with the words God wants us to say.

This week, I got frustrated because a less active family that we've been visiting for SO long still isn't coming to church.  We've taught every lesson, we've felt the spirit and recognized it, we've read scriptures, watched videos, said prayers and made extra special promises and still nothing.  I was upset because I just love them so much and they aren't doing what's necessary to receive all the blessings God has prepared for them.   Then I realized how frustrated Heavenly Father must be with me, every time I don't do what he's asked me to do. He's helped me and encouraged me and sent me people and answered my prayers and I always seem to fall short of what he asks.  But he loves me and keeps on pushing me and encouraging with the hopes that one day,  my will, will be a little more in line with his.  I'm so grateful for a loving and patient Heavenly Father that will never give up on us.  He knows our potential and he knows what we're capable of.

I was studying a little bit about Christ's "arm of mercy" that is extended to us all day, every day.  (2 Nephi 28:32) I was thinking, when you extend your arm, what do you see? Your hand.  And what's on Christ's hands? The marks from the nails, signifying his atoning sacrifice.  So if Christ's arm is extended all the days of his life, he's looking at his hands every day, and ultimately, ALWAYS thinking of us.  He literally cannot forget us.  I know he loves us and thinks about us and prays for us and worries about us. His arm is always extended just waiting for us to reach up and grab his hand.  But how can we reach him?  It's easy: have faith, repent, be baptized, be worthy of the Holy Ghost, and then KEEP TRYING.  Read the scriptures, say your prayers, go to church, serve your neighbor, forgive, love everyone.  All the basics that we've learned since primary are what will bring us closer to our Savior and our Father in heaven.  I know it because I've seen it in my life and in the lives of these lovely spaniards.

Hey, I love you guys.  Thanks for the constant support and prayers.  Just know it's coming right back at you from yours truly.

Love and hugs and kisses and all those good things,

Hermana Spangler