What I am Learning

Mother,

This week has been really strange... So many weird things have happened--so many things that is is hard to remember them all. But I will try my best. I am learning a lot here in the mission. I have been able to break out of my shell and stand for what is right. With the Peruvian people and the missionaries that are here in the mission, I have learned how to keep a cool head in the heat of adversity. I have learned patience. I have learned how to communicate so that they understand. I have learned the importance of the Atonement of Christ. I have learned the importance of his ministry. I have learned compassion and love. I have learned that the scriptures are the gateway to a healthy life with Christ. I have learned the power of prayer. I have learned that the Spirit wants me to learn so many things. I have learned that God is not far from us but is with us. I have learned how to put my trust in Him. I have learned that when there are problems there always is a solution.  I have learned how to put off my personal desires to complete the desires of others. I have learned how to care for everyone. What I have learned you can only learn here.

This Christmas we are going have a Christmas activity as a mission! It should be fun... I hope! We will see. I hope all is well with you all I know and I have learned that God is looking after you all. I know we can receive His guidance if we do what is right! I will be emailing you guys next week to coordinate the Christmas call that we have all been waiting for!!

Elder Spencer

Challenges

Mother, 

This week has been a roller coaster. It has been filled with the Spirit and filled with disappointments. Well to start off the week we were teaching really well and all was well in our zone. We were finding people to teach and we were doing interviews and everything was just great! Come around Thursday we arrive to our apartment and we get a call from one of our district leaders. And he says that we need to come over ASAP! So we grab the keys and go down the stairs in our complex, go out to the main avenue, and grab a taxi. We arrive at the house that is about 6 min away form our house. We arrive to the apartment, we sit down and ask them what is wrong. We look at the district leader and then we looks at his companion. He tells us, " Don't look at me. He is the one you need to talk to," pointing to his companion. So we start talking with his companion and his comp starts telling us the weirdest thing I have ever heard in my life. He starts off my telling us that he had a vision. And that he had seen the"Eternity". We asked him a little bit more and then is just got weirder. He started telling us that after he saw that, that during the lessons he could control time and obligate the people to accept the Gospel through the Spirit. But he told us that he couldn't do it because he understood Agency. We gave him a blessing and called the President. 

The next day we had to go to the offices and he just got crazier. We talked with the asistentes and with a psychologist and the president. And they all said that he can't be here. So they sent him home. 

It was really sad to see. He only had 3 months in the mission. 

Elder Spencer 

Being Led by the Spirit

Mother, 

As I have explained before I have to fill out forms and that takes a while. And sometimes we don't have time to write our families. But I am trying really hard to find time to write you all. Also the time is takes to write this letter also takes time. But Hey when you are in the service of God you are in the service of your fellow beings. 

This week went really well! We were almost able to reach our goal as a zone of the baptisms for the month. We came short by one!!!

But there are some experiences that I wanted to share with you about last week and this week too! 

Well last week I get a call from a missionary that tells me that his person that was going to get baptized didn't come to church. And something inside me tells me this phrase, "He is in his house" and so I tell him to pass by his house and so they went by and he was there! They brought him to church we went and did a interview with him and yesterday he got baptized! That is crazy right! 

Also yesterday we got a call form a old investigator and he told us that we wants to get baptized. He has some troubles with drinking but has told us that he has not had a drink for 15 days and so today we are going to go by and help him get baptized! 

I am STUDYING The Book of Mormon and there are so many interesting things! I hope to keep discovering more!!!! 

Elder Spencer 

Fear Not!

This week has been full of surprises here in my area. I know that the Lord looks after his children and has an endless love for each and every one of us. 

But to start off we found a family that is really amazing. They want to know the things that we are teaching are true. We invited them to come to church.. haha and the funny thing about that is that they live like right in front of the church and guess what.... they didn't come... But they aren't married and need that and all so they will be a nice family for DEC if we can get them to come to church. 

The zone here is really good. The missionaries are excellent and love to work. They never settle for the easy way. They always want to get better and work for what they deserve. I am seeing a shift in the way the zone is working. We are putting more emphasis in the verification that we are doing as a zone. 

Well this week there isn't really much to tell. Only that my comp is dying or in other words he is ending is mission and is really, really wanting to go home. But I am putting firm in the schedule. I am not going to let him rest. I want to help him work till the last day! That is my plan and goal. 

Hope you all are well here is a scripture that I love. 

This week I gained a deep love for the pioneers that crossed those plains to get to the Great Salt Lake. We can't understand what they went through or how they did it but we can thank God that he loves His children and looks after them in their time of need. 

 17 Go thy way and do as I have told you, and fear not thine enemies; for they shall not have power to stop my work.

Pictures!

This family waited for a year to get baptized and then did it!! The guy in the white tie was the first elder to teach them. He already ended his mission but came back 

we went to eat tacos one day... they were terrible

 

my shoes are a little worn out don't you think! 

Futsal Shoes

Church Shoes

We did a fun teaching activity with eggs!

the baptism that we had this last Saturday

Adventures of a Zone Leader

Hola!

How are you all? Hope everything is going well! Well there are some things that happened this week. Hope you all enjoy this message.

Well this week we had to go and help a sister missionary because she was really sick. So Monday we didn't work, which was really disappointing for me. But the next day I thought that we would be working but I was wrong. One of the missionaries in our zone called us and told us that in his bathroom there is a hole where you can see from the roof into the bathroom where they shower. He told us that a girl saw him. I called the president and he told us that we had to move them ASAP. We found a room and after an hour and a half negotiating with the land lord we finally got to a price that works for both of us. The room that they had picked out was about half a mile away. And to make it more worse we couldn't rent a truck to help us move all their stuff. So to do it Peruvian style we carried it all to there new house that was up like 2 hills. It was the most exhausting thing. And that day we also didn't teach.

Also this Saturday we had a little get together with the missionaries that had birthdays this month and I can tell you that it got a little out of hand. I won't say much but I will say that cake was thrown. And just imagine that....

But we had a really good week believe it or not. We are able to baptize a little kid from the family that we baptized a while back. I am sorry that I don't have pictures I am going to ask that people to send me pictures.

Well that was the highlight of my week. Hope you all are well and reading your scriptures everyday!

Elder Spencer

Short on Time

Mother,

I am a little short on time. I have to do some forms to send to the President. 

And then at a 11 I have to leave early from internet to help some missionaries write-in their family so they can get married. So Just wanted to let you know that I don't have much time to send pictures or write. This is how it will be for a while. I while always strive to write you guys the little details that I can about my week. But don't expect anything else please.

We had a great week. We reached our goal of 85 contacts. It was the first time since I got here to this area that we made our goal. I always did more than that in my other area but here my companion hates contacting. I make him do it anyway. heheh.

But the past Saturday we went to help a family get written-in for the wedding that we are planing this month. But we got in a little fender bender and we had to stop on the side of the road for 3 hours and fix the car. It was a disaster.

Well that is about how much I am going to be able to write. Love you all and hope you all have a great week!

Elder Spencer

Magnolias Zone

Well this week has been a little bit better and I will tell you all why!

This week we didn't have a pile of things do to! It was really nice to focus on my area for a little bit. As Zone leader we hardly have time to think about us. We always have to be thinking of the other missionaries. But we had more time than usual to be in our area so that was nice.

We had to help some other missionaries sand the walls in their house because the lady got all up tight that they were going to move. So we did a service project sanding walls for 2 hours. That was fun! (Sarcasm added) But no I really enjoyed it. At the end we had a big water fight! It was awesome!

This week my companion and I don't have transfers! But there are 5 people in our zone that do! It is sad to see their names there but hey that is what God wants! I am sad and happy that Elder Niño will be my comp I still have lots to learn from him! I know God has a plan for everyone and he knows the good that we can do here! We are on our way to success here in Magnolias Zone!

We are getting ready to baptize a family this week! They are amazing! They have been investigatores for a while now! I am glad to see that they finally are going to get baptized this Saturday! I know this letter is short but i just want you all to know that I love helping other people and bring them the truth of Christ to their lives so that they can have enternal families!

I promise that today I will send pictures!! I am sorry for the delay!!

Elder Spencer

Awesomely Amazing Week!

Hey mother,

This week has been awesomely amazing!!!! There is so much to say and so little time to say it all! I am doing really well! I am learning lots and having fun doing it!

This week we, in the zone, were able to baptize 22 people and also help 5 families get married! I have a ton of photos to send that explains everything that we went through this Saturday!

But we are happy here. Today we are going to eat in a restaurante and after we are going to play soccer. It is paradise for me!!

But just a little bit about what happened this Saturday. We arrived to the park where the families were going to get married and our family wasn't there. So I had to go back with an elder in my zone to find them. It was a 25 min bus ride. And they had to be there in 45 min. We went and practically ran to their house. When we got off the bus we ran up a huge set of stairs and when we got to the door of the house their little kid answered the door and we asked them where they were and he told us that they left. I knew that they had arrived to the park where they were going to get married!

The ceremony was really weird. There was a guy that had the microphone making bad Spanish jokes. It was terrible to hear.

But right now I am going to send pictures! 

Elder Spencer

(from mom:  Sadly, he did not send pictures. We keep hoping. He does sound busy and happy. What more could you ask?)

No Time!!

Hey mother!

Don't have much time to write! Hope you are all well! This week was a little better! We are progressing so much! My comp is good... sometimes.. But I have learned to have infinite patience! Don't have much time to write because I had to do some reports. This is how it will be for a while. Please don't think that I don't want to write you guys... it is only part of the price. Make sacrifices to bless the lives of others!

Love you all!

Elder Spencer

Busy, Stressful, Fun!

Mother

Well this week has been sooo stessfull and so busy! I  am learning lots about myself and the things that I am capable of! I am learning lots of things about how to help others and forget about myself!

Well sadly I don't have any photos because my camera died and that I left my charger in my other house... so I don't have anything to send you guys! I am truthfully sorry!  But hey this week has been a really good week! Time is passing by soo fast. The days seem like minutes and the weeks... I don't feel them pass.

But a little about what happened this week! Well we did a work visit! It went really well! And I have implemented a new way to verify and follow up with every one! We are now see more obedience in the Zone

It is way fun to get to interact with so many people in the Zone! We are planning as a Zone to help 8 couples get married this month and the get baptized!! I are trying to help every one!!!! It is sooo crazy! We have to go and find their birth certificates and everything!! But we are planning on dong a white night this 26th in the whole Stake!

Well this is really short but just wanted to let you know that I am alive and well and always praying for you guys! Thanks for everything!

Humbling Week

Hey Mother!

Just want to share with you that this week has been a really humbling week for me! All that I have done I have done for others in ways that I never would have imagined that I would do! Now I am Zone Leader... and this week has been crazy getting to know my area and my zone!

But this week was crazy! I will start from the beginning to you can understand all of it.

Well Tuesday we had changes! And now I have a new companion! His name is Elder Niño! He is the funniest guy I know! We hit it off really well! But that same day we went to visit people that day also! I was soo lost! We live right next to the Stake Center!!

But Wednesday was a little better! We taught and I got to know some members!

Thursday was amazing!!! We had a special training with Elder Bednar! His training was amazing! I learned to much about myself and about how to treat other people like Agentes and not objects! I will never forget that experience! I also saw Elder Wallace (Note from Mom--this is a Sparta soccer teammate)! We had the training with the East Mission!! 

Friday and Saturday.... were the most stressful days I have had in a while! We had to go the building were we had to take out the birth certificates of the people that are going to get married! And we also had to help some sister in the zone move! And we had to store all of their things in our room

We had a baptism this Saturday! It was soo crazy! We had to do so much to prepare everything! And something funny that happened is that we had to return to our room to pick up something last minute! And we were in our room and I look down at the shoes of Elder Niño and he had his dress shoe and a sneaker on. I asked him what happened to his other shoe half laughing. And we just burst out laughing I was on the ground laughing so much! 

We have also bee doing lots of interviews with people who are going to get baptized--lots of divisions! 

Elder Spencer

Baptisms!!!!

Mother! 

Well today we will find out who will stay and who will leave! We think that my comp is going to go! He has 6 months here in this area! He is dying! And we think that I am going to train a newbie...again. What a privilege.  But no I am excited to see what happens! I need a change! 

But this week we are going to receive a training by Elder Bednar! That is right Elder Bednar! The 27th! I am soo excited! 

But hey enough about that! This week was awesome! Full of stories and BAPTISMS!!! 

Well to start off, one of the things that happened to us we have to back to the future like the movie... hehe.. But we contacted a lady like 3 weeks ago.. and this week we finally found her and her pareja (boyfriend). We were teaching the First Lesson like always and we invited them to baptism. They said that they would love to! And after we explained that to arrive to that point we need to keep all the commandments of God! And we explained marriage. They said that they would be willing to get married also!!! That was soo awesome to see two people with the same mindset and goals to build a family! 

We had a work visit this week with the Zone Leaders. It was the worst visit that I have ever had with them. I don't know if is it just me or what but whenever they want to do a work visit everything that could go wrong does go wrong! Almost all the the lessons fell through I was walking aimlessly through the street contacting and teaching. It was a very interesting experience. 

Well we also had some baptism this Saturday! Which was awesome! 4 people got baptized. My whole district baptized this month! And we and the sisters still have people that we are going to baptized the 29th! 

Hope you are all well! 

If I can I will send pictures of the baptisms!! 

Elder Spencer 

Baptisms!

Week Exitoso (Successful Week)!

Successful week! 

This week has been one of the best here so far! UGhh so many things to say and so little time! But I will start with the person that is going to get baptized! She is amazing she loves it when we come over and teach her! She has such big heart! We convinced her husband to come to the baptism this Saturday! He said he would go without fail! ;) We are also in cahoots with him! He are planning on inviting him to baptism this coming week! He just doesn't know it yet!! 

We are also in cahoots with a young lady! She has all the desires that a person need to get baptized! And also we are talking with the father and the mother of the two girls that got baptized a while back! Their mom wants to get baptized! But she wants to get baptized with her husband! And she is trying to convince him!!! 

Well we have been here in my area working soo hard! I can't believe that all this time has passed already! Wow where does the time go!! I don't have my USB with me so I can't send pictures! But we have been teaching sooo much! This week we were able to shoot the goal of lessons by 8! It was awesome! I feel as if everything is coming naturally now! 

I am adjusted hard core here! Everything for me is normal! Sometimes there is something strange but I am used to it! And with the language.... oh my don't get me started... my English is just down right terrible. Well not terrible.. but yes terrible. I can talk English but it is more comfortable for me to talk in Spanish! I know that is weird! 

But hey what can you do!! 

I know that what I am doing is the right thing! Even though sometimes I don't want to... because I will be honest! It is hard! But through these times I think about the JOY of God! And How great He is! And will be forever! That He will always love us no matter what! And helping everyone see that is the best blessing that you could ask for! 

Today we are going to eat in a restaurant for Pday! THanks for all the people that read this and also for all the prayers that you send my way! I feel them! 

Elder Spencer 

Grateful to Serve

This email is going to really short but I will try and put a lot into it! 

This week has been great! I know that God is helping us in all that we do. We have been teaching lots of people. And we are helping lots of families return to the Church. Specifically we are helping a family that their Dad is not a member and he has come for the past 2 weeks! We are excited to see what happens with him in the end!!! 

We have been contacting a lot recently! I feel like our efforts are being strengthened everyday that we do the will of the Lord! I am so grateful to the Lord for giving me this chance to serve! And if it be his will I will continue! I know we wants us all to continue pressing forward! But we also have to put in our part! I know He can help each and everyone of us fulfill what we need to do! 

I am grateful for this time the Lord has given me to devote myself completely to him! 

Elder Spencer 

Broken Bridges were Rebuilt

Mother,

This week has been so great! Full of experiences and full of the Spirit! 

This week we have been teaching a lot. But lets rewind for a bit... Last week we were teaching really well. But sadly the people didn't understand or something and we invited tons of people to attend church with us. And what do we get.... nothing. 

I was feeling a little bit discouraged with the outcome. That was the first time that I had experienced such a thing. I felt that I had failed God in a way not bring anyone to His Church. I felt that I wasn't doing everything that I could do to help the people understand. I started the last week a little discouraged. I was like a broken bridge I couldn't see a way to get a across to conquer this problem. 

But then I started reading The Book of Mormon. I really started to ponder and write down my feeling and thoughts and inspirations that came to me last week. I started then to read in Alma 43. In verse 4 it says that they were preparing themselves for the war. I started to ask myself. Am I prepared? And how could I prepare myself?  in the 17th verse it hit my that I need to be like Moroni and take charge of the situation that was happening. I started to read how they prepared themselves. They put on amour and wanted to defend everything they had unto the shedding of blood. 

This chapter really helped me see how prepared I thought I was. And through out the week I could see tiny miracles as the people started to be a little be more receptive to the message. 

And this week in Church.... They came!! And a message in church really hit me. A returned missionary said, ''When we are obedient we bring blessing into our lives but when we do it with EXACTNESS we can perform miracles''  I love that phrase! 

We also had the privilege to go to the temple this past week! Wow so beautiful! The experience was sooo personal! I loved every second of it! 

Elder Spencer 

Crazy Week!

Well this week has been a crazy roller coaster!! They are so many things to say but not much time to say it all. 

Well to start off, We have found 5 families that want to hear and learn about the Gospel! (That is what they say anyway) But we have been working soooo hard here in my area completing with the goals that we set. And at the same time helping the District and the Zone and Mission progress to build up Zion here in Peru.

This week we have been able to teach a lot of people and help them feel the spirit. But the highlight of the week was by far the 3 baptisms that we had this Saturday! I know that this letter is really short and doesn't have a lot of details but I just wanted to let you know that my perspective of the Gospel have been changing for the better to help the people feel the love of God through His Holy Spirit. 

The fellow who got baptized is in the middle. 

Faith Discovery

Just want to express my thanks to all of your prayers. Each day I feel them. I know that God is watching over each one of us to put us in the best situations to be able to be successful in this life. 

Well this week I have been studying a lot. I have been able to understand a lot more about the Gospel. The gospel  can enter in the hearts of the people and help them feel that God wants them to follow his teachings. I really recognized this when I was reading in Alma 32 earlier this week.

Alma 32:8  

I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye.

This first scripture is really short but really powerful for me. If we submit ourselves to the will of God we will be blessed. We all know this Chapter when Alma is preaching to his town and he is helping them gain faith to praise God not only in their temples but in all places. First, the people in the town were forced to do this. He then says, 

Alma 32: 16

Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.

He then helps us to understand the faith. That it is not having a perfect knowledge. He then compares Faith to a seed. That is if we plant it and nurtuer it, it will grow. 

But what will we recieve? 

Alma 32:28

...it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

And even though the good seed has grown inside of us he says somthing very profound...   

Alma 32:29

Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

He helps us and know HOW to take care of the seed once it is planted.

41.But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

 42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

Apart from this we have been able to set a date with our Investigator that is going to get baptized this Saturday! And we also have to baptize a member again because his information wasn't found.! Pictures soon! Love you all. 

Elder Spencer 

Ups and Downs

Hola Buenos Días! (Hello Good Day)

This week has been full of ups and downs for me! I know the Lord makes us deserve his eternal blessings. They don't just come will nilly. 

A little taste of my area! 

This week we had the coolest lesson. We found a family. We have been looking far and wide to find a family like this. We knocked and the father let us in!! That like never happens. He explained to us that he wanted to change because he has just been feeling really bad with himself. We started teaching him and also his wife. We taught The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They understood really well. We arrived to present The Book Of Mormon and we read a scripture about how he could change. He was really interested! And also his wife! After that we knew that the next time we had to teach them The Gospel of Jesus Christ! 

And we did just that the next time that we taught them. And we invited them to baptism! They said that they would think about it. But we also invited them to Church. But they had an inconvenience and couldn't make it...but they have soooo much potential!! 

Baptism!! 

Also this week the Elders in my district had a baptism! I had the privilege to help baptize him! When the Elders were teaching him I always did a work visit. I started teaching him and I invited him to baptism. His name is R#####. He is an older man. But he was so happy after his baptism! Me as well. After the baptism we went to hi house to eat. And when it was time to leave he pulled me aside and he said, "Elder Spencer, nunca te olvidare nunca."  In English... I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU. That almost made me cry to hear that. 

This week has been really stressful and reall

y rewarding at the same time! Hope all you are doing well. See you all very soon. 

Hasta luego 

Elder Spencer  

We went to Lima last pday!! 

here is a huge street

The Lord is in Charge

Mom! 

Today we we going to Lima Central! I am so excited and due to that I don't have much time to write you! This week has been full of problems! First the Elders in my district were teaching in my area without telling me. I was a little disappointed with their decision to hide that from me. I was fasting to see what to do about that situation. I gained my answer through the scriptures. They will continue teaching this family. I have never been so sure about anything in my life. I know God open the doors of understanding when we are searching for it! He helped me avoid a catastrophe. 

Well we have been teaching a little bit less. More lesson on the spot than anything. We are still struggling a little bit here in my area. The people aren't that receptive to the Truth--the Gospel in other words. 

We have also been having trouble with the attendance to the church! We wanted that 8 people could come to church yesterday! But only one came! It was so frustrating. We went to every house to remind them. They told that they would be there. But no show. I think God is trying to teach me something new. 

Sorry this letter is a little short. 

Elder Spencer 

Baptism Week

Mother and others, 

Just like the other weeks this week has been amazing! There are so much things to say but so little time. I will try to fit it all in this email! Well to start off we are progressing hard core here in my area! I was talking with my Zone Leader and he told me that the district that I am leading is the best in a the whole zone and that he trusts that it will stay that way for a while now. My Zone Leaders are soo awesome. They have such a big heart to help everyone in the Zone! That really shows that they are dedicated! Helps me too!! 

Well we started this week a little discouraged! Things just weren't falling into place like we hoped they would! I was really questioning our manner to plan! My companion is still a little new to his mission. And sometimes his planning doesn't line up. But little by little we are working it out! Well my area is pure mountain! I have to climb and climb to reach our investigators! I love it! 

My health could be a little better! But with that said don't worry. I am well! I am eating normally now! I used to not eat a lot! But I am have adjusted again to eat normally! 

Well we have been teaching so many note worthy people. It is hard to just choose a couple of them but I will try! Well we are teaching this man named A...... He is the boyfriend of the girl that was baptized yesterday! He has sooo many doubts about everything. But yesterday before the baptism of his girlfriend, he asked to talk with us. He told us that he had felt peace when he asked God in his prayer. We are still working with him to put a baptism date. I know with the help of the Lord we will do it! 

We were hiking in the mountains early this week and we found a guy that is whole body was shaking. He had Parkinson's disease. We explained to him that we were missionaries and that we had the Priesthood of God to give him a blessing. We entered in his house and gave him a blessing. I gave him the blessing. I could feel his pain. I could feel his strife, his suffering. I knew in that moment we were sent to help him! I am grateful for that opportunity to give him a blessing. We are now trying to visit him. We went 2 times after but we wasn't there. 

The two people we baptized yesterday

Speaking of blessings I had the opportunity to confirm the young lady that we baptized yesterday! I could feel the power of God running through my body as I said the designed words that came to me from The Spirit! God has a great plan for her and for her family! 

So many things so little time! I know that Priesthood has been restored in these days and it was in old! I know we can work miracles we just have to have faith and patience! 

Elder Spencer 

The girl that we baptized a week ago.

Warmth & Light

Mother, 

Well first off I just want to wish dad a Happy Fathers Day! Hope you passed it well with the family! I know the greatest Father that we have is our Father in Heaven. Thanks to all the love that he gave us and continues to give us, we can return to Him and live with him eternally! 

Well this week.... where did it go? Honestly these week went by so fast as if it were a dream! We did so much this week! We have been visiting so many people. But to start this letter I will start with a lesson that we had with one of our investigators. 

He arrived at 8 or so. And then started all the questions that he had. Why do we have a prophet? What happens if he dies? Why is Sunday the Day of Rest? Who was Joseph Smith? What is The Book of Mormon? How can I be so sure that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God? 

And many more.... 

That was the most draining lesson that I have experienced in all my mission. But we now have cleared all his doubts. And we have taught him the First Lesson. He have promised to read The Book of Mormon and pray. We have another lesson with him this Tuesday! I am so excited! 

We also had a baptism this Saturday! Which the coolest thing ever. It was a most awesome baptismal service. Despues the ordanaza (After the ordinance) I left with my companion to clean the hall. And after when I entered I could just feel a warm feeling in the room. That the room was glowing almost with a ray of light. It was an experience that I will never forget! This girl that we baptized has been waiting 3 months to get baptized. And my comp was the one that found her and baptized her. He was soooooo happy to finally baptize her. I could see if on his face the rest of the night. I was a good feeling to see him so happy after all the things that have happened in our area before. 

We have a lot of people that have sooo much potential. We are working with them to see the light of Christ and the Way that He has provided us to become clean as He is clean. 

Elder Spencer 

Love the Mountains! (and the people and my companion)

Hello, 

This week has been full of events that are worthy to tell you guys. Well first off my district is now completing the goals of the mission. Before they weren't and now they are. I have learned here that if you set an example to the people they will follow you in whatever you do. This week we have found so many people we are teaching so well. 

Before I continue I need to say some things about my new companion! Well his name is Elder Villagran. He is from Uruguay! He is 20 years old! And he is the coolest cat around seriously! Just a good person all around! ( And just so you know I forgot to bring my camera, so I won't be able to send pictures yet ) 

But more about this week and my area. Well I am back in the mountains again! The first day here killed me and I was just beat like a rug. We are always going up and up and up more. There really is no end to my area! But I just love it up there. You hike and hike and the Lord blesses you so much for the work that you do. He gives you strength more than anything to keep walking, keep knocking, keep bringing The Gospel to the Peruvian people. 

We have found a lot of people this week! I know I always say that but it is true. These people need to gospel and we are here to bring them the truth. I am still learning lots here on my mission. I am learning lots of things that I didn't even know existed to learn. I can feel every single one of your prayers they strengthen me and help me to carry on! 

Elder Spencer

NOTE TO DAD:
Funny note____   Last night I got a ride in a car to a Family Night and I sat shoutgun... and I had soooo many flash backs to when you told me to put on my set belt.... I put it on. And the guy that was driving said, " Wow you were taught well as a kid" And then I told him all the stories about you when ever I didn't but on my set belt!! hahahahahhhahahah I have learned dad! Thanks for everything!! 

New Area--Nueva America

I am comforted to know that grandma went peacefully I know that she is with Grandpa I know they are enjoying an eternal life together with a fullness of Joy and happiness. I have been really comforted to know that The Plan Of Salvation comes directly from our Father in Heaven who created this Plan so that we WILL be able to return to him again. 

Well this week has been really interesting so far here in my new area. I am current in a area called Nueva America 2. Well I will start with the first couple of days here in my area. Well I arrived and got settled in and unpacked my bags and all that good stuff. When I finished we left to proselyte and visit. On our way out the door I met the owner of the whole house. We started talking and then she accused my companion that another joven had slept over that Sunday. And she called us liars on the spot. Great first impression that she gave me. I started to try and reason with her to understand what was going on. I told her that I just got here and I have no clue what is going on. But I told her that she didn't know the whole story it didn't line up.

Well this place is pretty awesome I will tell you that! There are mountains! I love to climb! I will send pictures so that you can see them. Pictures speak louder than words. 

I am still district leader and yes I have a new companion!! His name is Elder Villagran! He speaks English but I talk with him in Spanish always.

2 Baptisms!

NOTE FROM MOM:
Nathan's grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on May 23. It was very hard for Nate to not come home, but he seemed to work through it and study more of the Plan of Salvation. Nate wrote his testimony to her. It was beautiful. Grandma died on June 4. We were able to talk to Nate's mission president. The President said that Nate is a wonderful missionary. Every area where he goes lots of work gets done. The President said he wishes all his missionaries were like Nate. That was a sweet tender mercy to hear at a tender time.

Hey mother, 

This week has been full of surprises. Well this week seemed to go by really slow because we had 2 baptisms this Saturday! We are really truckin along here in Sol Del Pinar! I have been recently study the Plan of Salvation a lot more in depth. With the news of Grandma and all. I have really started to understand this Plan a lot more. There was a scripture that I came across a scripture in 2 Nephi 9:6-7.

 6 For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.

 7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more.

The two people that we baptized this Saturday!

Well this week we have been working soo hard. We have had a really good time here in my area! We Baptized 2 people this Saturday. I will attach photos later. But they are soo awesome. The Lord is always blessing us in our time of need. Well I don't know if I told you all but recently I have been called to be District Leader! It has been alright. It isn't really that hard. I just have to be the example all the time in all things... not that hard right? Haha but I know that the Lord is helping me work through my faults and helping me learn even more in this calling. 

This Month of June we have another baptism! And we are going to help marry a family and then baptize the Wife! We have a lot of good things that are going for us here! The ward is helping us now. 

Well this week as a Stake we had a service project. There is a street here that is really busy and really dirty with garbage. We got

Cleaning or hardly cleaning.

together as a Stake and we did a big cleaning of this street. It took us 4 hours of cleaning but we finally completed it! 

Well just wanted to tell you a little bit about what has happened this week and what is coming up! 

Elder Spencer 

At first we didn't have shovels or brooms so pick up the trash. And me being a Boy Scout found a pipe and started to work.