Week 21- Everything Happens for a Reason

Well, just completed the halfway mark of my 4th transfer. What is life. I feel like I have 1 week in the mission. Anyway, this week was a really good week, and we witnessed many miracles. In the consejo that we had with Presidente, he told us that we need to make goals everyday to find families that the Lord has prepared. It was an eyeopener to say the least, and so we started to faithfully make goals everyday to find families. We have found 5 families so far, 2 of them have not accepted, but we have 3 right now that we are working with. I know that the Lord gives us miracles, and we just have to have our minds open enough to receive them. 

Friday and Saturday we had divisions with our sister training leaders in Pergamino. For those of you who dont know, Pergamino is about a  hour bus ride south of Rosario. It is in the province of Buenos Aires, and it´s just a little south of my first area, Ramallo. We went to the terminal on Fridayto buy our tickets, and the bus was full, so we had to buy tickets for anther bus that left two hours later. Long story short, (too late) we had to wait in the terminal for two hours. It was okay though because we bought cookies, asado flavored lays, and we made a contact of a really sweet girl that is studying farmacia and has like 3 friends who are mormon and some of them are returned missionaries. She is super sweet, and we have her address and phone number, so we are going to visit her when she gets back from vactions. Then we had divisions, and I was able to go with an hermana that is from Mexico, and was in Ramallo before I was. She is really nice, and I learned about having a good attitude while I was with her. Saturday we had a zone meeting with the hermanas in Pergamino, and then went to the terminal in Pergamino to take the bus back to Rosario. When we gto there, we found out that we had missed the bus by like 4 minutes, and we have to wait 2 1/2 hours to for the next bus. When we finally got to Rosario, we had to take a taxi to the church because we were supposed to have a lesson there, and we ended up contacting the taxi driver. We got his address, and he has two kids and a wife (Sunday was their anniversary, actually). BUT, the miracles don,t stop there. Becuase we were late, the appointment we had wasnt there, so we walked home and had 30 minutes before our dinner appointment. We decided to go to the house of a contact we made a few ago, and when we go there, the husband answered, and came down, and we thought he was going to yell at us, but he apologized that he ahd not been able to answer the phone before and was sooo nice. We have an appointment with their family on wednesday. Message of the week, everything happenes for a reason.

Sunday we had the zone meeting for our actual zone, and when we go to the church bulding there was a crowd of people around one of the sister missionaries in our zone. She had been feeling like throwing up. and had a headache, and then, all of a sudden, she passed out and wasn´t responding for about 3 minutes. It was really scary, but they took her to the hospital and she is okay. Also, after lunch, we were walking home, and I ran into a wall, and got a battle wound. I was really brave, and I didnt even cry!

Tonight we have the opportunity to go to to the house of a person who is of another faith, but wants a blessing. It will be a great opportunity to tech them about the priesthood and we might get another investigator out of it! 

I am so greatful to be serving a mission for the Lord. I know that my Savior lives and that in reality, he suffered for our sins. I know that through the Libro de Mormón, we can find peace and know of the love that He has for us. I know that this church is true, and if we follow the commandments of God, we can and we will, live with Heavenly Father again.

Everyone have a great week!

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Spencer

Pic 1- My battle wound

Pic 2- I put these in the oven thinking it was off, but sadly, it wasn't

Week 20- "La Conferencia Genial" -Elder Johns

This week was so amazing! On Tuesday we had a lesson with a reference that Hermana Nelson got from her other area. His name is Santiago and he is 19 years old with a 2 month old baby named Emma and his girlfriend is pregnant again. He came out to meet us and it was a little awkward at first, as all lessons are, and then we started talking about the Plan de Salvación. It was really powerfull, and I felt like I should ask him to be baptised, so I asked him, and he said that he was already baptised, but if our church has the true priesthood of God, then he would be baptised. It. Was. Awesome. We made a return appointment, and when we came back, we taught the restauración. Hermana Nelson was bearing her testimony about Jose Smith, and I could tell that Santiago wasnt really paying attention. All of a sudden he said, "We have to go. Someone just told me a bad word, and I dont get along really well in this neighborhood, so we have to go. It´s more for your safely then anything. I´ll walk you to the corner."  Then we walked to the corner and left. It was really strange. The spirit was so strong before that, though, and I have faith the he will get baptised.

On Wednesday, we had a really awesome meeting with the President to do interviews and consejo as a zone. It was so spiritual that both Hermana Nelson and I had a headache for the rest of the day. When I am in the presense of my mission president, I feel like he can see into my soul; it´s a really disconcerting feeling, but it is so amazing at the same time.

Then, Saturday and Sunday, the best two days of my life so far, I got to watch general conference. It was sooooooo good. I have never before appreciated conference. I thought that the people who said that they liked it were lying, and that they only pretended to like it. But I learned this weekend that they most likely actually liked it. I got to watch it in english; all of the yankee missionaries and a few of the natives that know engish got to watch it in an upstairs room all by ourselves. There was somthing to be learned from every talk, and I especially liked the talk that talked about the sunflowers and the one that talked about the Prodegal Son. (I have no idea how to spell that) You should all look them up :) I dont know who gave them because I dont have my notes, and the talks aren´t online yet, but they were really really good. As far as people that came, we had an investigator, and two menos activas come to the conference, and we didnt even know! The Lord works in mysterious ways, and most of the time, we dont even notice.

I hope that all of you had a beautiful Easter and that you remembered that Savior. It is because of Him that we are not simply wandering around this world hopeless and lost. I encourage you to look up the video #GraciasaqueElvive (sorry, I dont know it in English) and watch it. It is a simple 3 minute long video about the reason we have Easter. Share it on your social media sites, so that even though Easter is over, we can still remember Him.

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Spencer

Pic 1-Nelson, my ring

Pic 2- A text we got at 1 in the morning: "You sleep, let´s go to the casino"

Pic 1- We ordered delivery!

Pic 2- Got some presents from the senior couple :´)

Pic 3- Comp bonding

Week 19- Trabajando, Trabajando, Trabajando

This week was SO fast! As you know, I got a new companion last week, and we have been trying to get to know all of the members so that they can have confidence in us and give us references. References are the BOMB! Every reference that we get is the chance to teach someone who the Lord has been preparing. Hermana Nelson is extremely hard working, and she always remembers to ask the families if there is anyone that they know who we could visit. It´s really inspiring because I always forget; it´s a problem. We are working extremely hard to mejorar this ward and to help the members get excited, and so far it´s working!

In the search to find and visit members, we found an hermana that has a sewing store, and she offered to fix our dresses and other cosas that we need fixed for free! I accidently dyed another one of my dresses, and she told me that she is going to try to fix it. I am really excitied to see what she comes up with! The members here are really willing to serve the missionaries, and it is really awesome because when a person serves other people, they are serving Heavenly Father, and Heavenly Father gave us everything that we have. It´s the least we can do.

One thing that going on a mission has taught me is how to be a better member of the church. #1- We need to give the missionaries the names of the people to come into our heads, even if it´s uncomfortable, and even if nothing comes of it, at least we followed the spirit, which is lo mas importante. #2- When new people come to church we need to sit with them, and help them to feel welcome. It is uncomfortable, but extremely nessesary. #3- We also need to READ THE BOOK OF MORMON EVERY DAY. Seriously. It is so important. Through the BoM, we can receive answers to our questions, problems, and receive peace and tranquilidad in our hearts. I testify of this.

In other news, I bought a ring today off of a guy who was selling them in the street, and it is an elephant that I named Nelson (after Hermana Nelson). I dont have a picture of him, but hopefully, I can take one, and if you would like to see it, I can send it next week. 

And if anyone is interested, I live in Zeballos 1200 in Rosario, Argentina. Run a google maps search if you want. It´s free! haha 

Love you all, and wish you the best!

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Spencer

Week 18- And Now...It´s Winter

Okay, so I know that the title of this email pretty much stinks, but I don´t really want to come up with another one. :)

This week went by really fast. We found out on Friday night, instead of Sunday or Monday about transfers. I stayed here in Parque Urquiza, and Hermana Galan went to Pergamino with the companion of her former companion...A little confusing, I know, but hey, es vida. My new companion is named Hermana Nelson and she is form American Fork, Utah. She has uh-mazing hair, and she is super sweet, and ready to work. I am so greatful to have her for a little while!

This week, we were able to find a menos activa that told us she wants to go a mission, but it´s hard for her to get up for church. We are going to start trying to call her on Sundays so that she can get up, and start preparing for her chance of a lifetime! We also found out that our investigator Gloria left to live with someone, and so she is not in our area anymore :( We don´t know exactly where  she went either, so we cant send anyone a reference. It´s so sad when we can´t help someone to find the happiness of the gospel. BUT, we were able to fijar una cita con una investigadora que es de Brazil, and she has told her member friends that she recieved an answer about the Book of Mormon and wants to be baptized, so that is super exciting!! I hope we can teach her with the spirit, and help her gain a real and true testimony!

SHOUT OUT to Stacie Ann Silva and Taylor Lynn Bobbitt. What is with this silent treatment?? I feel like I´m the people of Isreal wandering around in the desert over here for 40 years. Are you people alive? Healthy? Eating the right foods? Are we friends anymore? :´( That is all. Others: Keep reading. You two: Stop reading this right now, and email me. Please. Thank you. 

Now that that´s overwith, I would like to tell you about the beautiful present I got from a senior missionary couple. They had to go back to the states for two weeks because the mom of Sister Wheatly passed away, and they brought me back PEANUT BUTTER and Reeses and a snickers!!!! :) I almost cried. I am so happy. Seriously. I have three whole pounds of PB on my desk.

One last thing. Right now at this very moment, our fridge is in our bathroom with our fan on, and pointing at it. Our fridge for a long time didn´t shut, and so the freezer part got like a foot of ice in it, and we have a super old tupperware and some milanesa trapped in the ice. It´s like another ice age. Today, my new comp and I got tired of it, and pushed the fridge into the bathroom (the only room with a floor drain), and it is now defrosting. This is our life, and it´s glorious.

Hope you all have a great week, and remember the Lord and Savior this Easter. I think it´s this Sunday, at least. And even if it´s not Easter, remember Him anyway. :)

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Spencer

P.S. I turned 4 months this week!

Week 17- Robin Hood, or Something Like That

Another week come and gone, and it is so wierd. So wierd.

Last week, I had a procedure for my toe, and it is doing so much better! The doctor didnt have to give me any shots, and I didnt even cry! It was pretty much awesome. Things are looking up.

On a day after that, I dont remember which, I was reading in my missionary book, Predicad Mi Evangelio, and I got to really hard paragraph for me to understand. I was sitting there trying to read it, and I thought to myself, ¨I can´t read this, it´s like it´s in another language.¨ -_- It IS in another language. This expirience told me that I actually am learning the language and it´s coming more natural to me :) Whoo hoo!

I do have some sad news, though. On Saturday, my companion and I were robbed. We were walking down the street at 11 o´clock in the morning, and we saw some 18/19 year old boys that had beer and were fighting a little bit. We kept walking and we were looking for an address of an old contact, and I stopped to read my agenda, and I looked up to one of the boys bothering my companion. I didnt know what was happening, and so I walked up to her, and the next thing I saw was she took off her bag and handed it to him. He then turned to me, and told me to give him my bag and started poking me in the stomach with a barely sharpened metal stick. I can´t really remember what happened right then, but someone told me to take off my bag and give it to him. I dont know if it was my companion, or the Holy Ghost, but I took off my bag and handed it him. He slung both our bags over his shoulder and took off running. We watched him go. The super good thing was neither of us had our cameras or a lot of money, (I had like 24 bucks of American money) and he didn´t stab us. The thing is, that that morning I had my camera in my bag, but I took it out. I feel really blessed that I had taken it out, and nothing worse happened. The biggest loses were our cell phone and our keys, but the keys didn´t have any identifying features, so I think we´re safe in that regard. Afterwards we went to the house of a member that lived nearby, and they were able to help us call the people that we needed to call. 

I know that the Lord protected us. I know that the Holy Ghost was guiding our paths. I still dont know what I have to learn from this, or if this expirience kept us from something worse, or what, but I know that we were protected. I know that the Lord loves us, and we are in his hands. 

Have a blessed week, and stay safe!

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Spencer

Week 16- Apparently I Miss-Labeled my Emails and I´m In Week 16

This week was... both super fast and super slow, but it´s over and I have a brand new week to look foward to! :) These past couple of weeks, I have been having symptoms of a parasite and an ingrown toenail. Whoo-hoo! I have medications for both, and an appointment for the toenail tomorrow. Hopefully I can get that taken care of, and be as good as new!

We didnt have many appointments, but I have hope that we will be able to contact our hard to catch references and make appointments wtih them! Our new convert lost his job, and has been mildly depressed because of it, and didnt go to church yesterday. I have hope that he will be go this next week though!

Today we were able to go to a buffet called Las Tanajas or something like that and it´s an international restaurant, but it only had food from Argentina and Argentine versions of Chinese food. It was really funny, but the food ws pretty good.

Keep on keeping on, and pray every day. Prayer really is the medicine for everything. Talk to God like he doesn´t know what you´ve been up to, and tell him eveything. He wants to hear you and he wants to bless you. Let him help you.

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Spencer

I Don't Have A Title - Week Fifteen 3/2/15

This week was good, in general. We had a baptism!! The water was cold, everything was spelled wrong on the program, and they said the wrong name in Sacrament meeting, (twice) but we had one!! It was really special. The Lord has helped Luis in so many ways, and he was prepared for this. We did nothing, really. It is so amazing to see how the Lord has his hand in people´s lives. We also have another investigator that is a miracle too. His name is Luciano and he was looking on the internet for answers to the question, ¨How can I be happy in this life?¨And found our page, and filled out a reference form, and now we are teaching him! Hope it goes well! I would love to hear how the Lord is helping in your lives! Let me know!!

The baptism of Luis

Last week, I wasn´t having a super good day because... dun dun dun! I was getting the flu!!! :D Whoo hoo! I got really sick Tuesday night. Half the night I was freezing, and my body was shaking uncontrollably, and the other half I was sweating my eyeballs out. I had a fever of 100 plus, creo. I ended up laying in bad the entire day, but it´s okay becasue I´m good now, and ready to work!

Oh, and we only have 1 hour to write now, so my emails will be shorter from now on.

Love you all, and hope you are having exito and happiness in your lives! I read every single one of your emails, and I love them. Keep writng, because even though I dont always respond, I read ém!

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Spencer