grateful

ALL THOSE WHOM I LOVE THE MOST-

I am ALL emotions as I write this letter- knowing it's my last letter as a missionary of the church of Jesus Christ.  Spain has become an actual part of me and I never want to leave, but I feel at peace knowing that I did all I could and hopefully changed a few lives along the way.

I have learned SO much but I've summed all my knowledge and experiences into the five biggest things I have learned on the mission:

1. God is present.  His hand is in every single part of my life.  It's not only there, but it is there and working miracles.  I've gone through weeks where our numbers were at the lowest of lows, but when it came time to sit down and write you, all I could remember were the millions of little miracles I had seen!!!  My favorite quote from my mission president goes like this: "miracles happen because God loves his children."  The areas I've served in, the companions I've had, are all evidence that God is PRESENT and working in my life.  This week we taught Jonathan 3 times and he continues to progress every time.  On Monday, he cried because he had never felt the spirit so strong.  On Wednesday, we invited him to be baptized August 17th and he accepted!!!!!  And on Sunday, he came to church.  That's what joy feels like, I'm pretty sure.

2.  The gospel makes me happy. I have cried, been yelled at, rained on, cussed at, and ridiculed. I have had my legs 'broken' from walking so much, my spirit broken from so much rejection, and my heart broken watching people I love make wrong decisions.  BUT I have never been so happy.  I have come home every single day, exhausted, and crashed into bed with a smile on my face and heart full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the experiences He's allowed me to have.  The gospel is part of God's marvelous plan and what's the ultimate goal of that plan?? OUR HAPPINESS. "Men are that they might have joy."  He knows us so perfectly inside and out and He knows exactly what we need-which is why He gave us the gospel of Jesus Christ, the KEY to happiness.  It's not a list of rules to make us miserable.  It's a giant book of BLESSINGS and what we must do to receive them.  Anaís, one of my very best friends, taught me that when I was in Cartagena.  She went from being lost and lonely, to becoming confident and radiant and happy.  I saw it change in her face and in the way she acted.  The little things we do every day (read, pray, serve, repent) are the things that lead us to real, true JOY.

3.  The Book of Mormon has brought me closer to God than any other book.  I have no doubt in my mind that that book is TRUE.  I can't even number the amount of times I've mentioned this in my weekly email, but it's true!!!!!!  It's seriously like a magic book full of animo, and answers to my questions, and stories, and insights. I've gained such an appreciation for it and I can't imagine my life without reading it every day.

4.  The atonement of Jesus Christ is for everyone and everything.  He loves us SO much that He came to earth for the very purpose of being killed and mocked and whipped JUST because He loves us.  Just so that we might have a chance to make it back to Him.  Just so that we would have someone that understands us and can walk with us in our trials.  The atoning power of Jesus Christ truly heals.  My sweet friend Iris helped me learn that more than anything.  I watched the power of the atonement physically CARRY her when her mom passed away and she was left with nothing.  She had no where to go and no one to help her, expect the power of Christ's atonement which led her to making decisions that would change her life forever. One of my favorite moments is just after her baptism, dressed in white, soaking wet, and dancing because she felt so light and clean and new.

5.  Faith is an action word. I can believe in Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul but it doesn't make any sense until I get up and DO something about it.  It makes me think of Rosa and Rocio, those two angels from Jerez, and how INCREDIBLY prepared they were.  They had questions and doubts and they didn't find those answers to their questions until they did something.  Rocio received her answer reading the Book of Mormon.  Rosa received her answer while praying.  They had that desire to know and they worked until their faith turned into knowledge.  Every experience, every cita, everything that happened led them up to their baptism day-which is still one of the most beautiful days I have ever experienced.

I know that God loves us with an infinite love.  I know his son, Jesus Christ, is the Savior of the world and I am eternally indebted to him.  I know that His gospel was restored through Joseph smith.  I know that the Book of Mormon is physical evidence of that.  I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that will give us real joy and ultimately lead us to salvation.

I have learned and changed and grown in ways I didn't know were possible.  I'm still Ginger Dee Spangler....just a better version of her.  My time as a set apart missionary may be over but I will forever be a servant of Him who saved me, even Jesus Christ.

PS-I love you all!!!!!!!!!  I can't even begin to thank you for the support and emails and prayers and things that have helped me every day.  I will hug you all very soon :):):):):)

Hermana Spangler