Last email--Well Done

Mom, 

This is the last email I will send you. I feel so humbled to have served my Lord and God for these 2 years. So many people that I love dearly that I will have to leave. I truly have come to know my Savior, Redeemer, my Brother, Jesus Christ in full. I love this work with all my heart. I know I have given everything to Christ in these 2 years. I feel happy and content that God has received my offering to Him. I have grown spiritually. I feel my Saviors love. I can't help but think of my favorite hymn. Come follow me. I may not comprehend everything that he went through when he was on earth. I can not imagine all the things He went through, but now I know a little. 

Love you all. 

For thrones, dominions, kingdoms, pow'rs,
And glory great and bliss are ours,
If we, throughout eternity,

Obey his words, "Come, follow me.". 

D&C 4: 2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, 

mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.  

Service

Mother, 

Just want to let you know that I can't believe that my mission is coming to a close. I give thanks to my Heavenly Father for these 2 years to be able to serve him and learn more about the gospel!!! Well this week was a little slow but hey new week to keep working hard. Yesterday we didn't have our Sacrament meeting because the whole country was voting so we didn't really do anything yesterday. 

This week we found a family...wow. They are going through some tough stuff right now... And the guy came to us looking for help which I thought was pretty cool that the dad wanted help, because that normally isn't the case!! But tonight we have a lesson with them so we will see what happens. 

We had a service project that was really cool! We built a roof I have some pictures that you can look at and that was basically the highlight of my week! This week we will be going to the see Elder Rasband! This Friday we will have a little meeting with him and I hope to learn a lot from him! I have last interview with President Erickson the 17 of June and then I will be home!!! 

Love you. Can't wait to see you!!

Elder Spencer

The Lord Loves Us

Mother,

These week went by really fast and I am doing well. I don't have much to say so sorry for the shortness of the letter. But this week we finally helped a family that we are teaching come to church. They are really cool they have all the desires to go to church. They told us after church yesterday that they really liked it and want to come back again!! Well my companion is doing really, really, well. He is doing all the work visits with the District Leader and the Zone leaders so in that aspect he is growing so much. It is amazing to see him grow. Yesterday we were talking about his growth and he shared somethings that are so true. Now he talks and is not afraid to talk so he can teach.. somewhat but better than when he got here. 

I am grateful for this wonderful calling that my Father in Heaven has given me. This has been a wonderful experience with so much learning involved! I love this Work! I know our Lord looks after us and loves and wants the best for each and everyone of us!! 

Elder Spencer

Here are pictures from a service that we did.

Keep Working

MOther, 

This week was a little longer week than normal. But I am well and my companion is well also. We have been able to find a lot of new people to teach this week and I have a had some cool experiences too! Well this week we found a golden contact!! We contacted a lady who told us that about 3 months ago missionaries had contacted her and invited her to go to church. She wanted to go but didn't really know how. Well we talked with her and her husband and they expressed desires to get married. Tomorrow we are going to visit them and talk a little more! 

 Well I was with Elder Anderson on Saturday night. We were going to visit some people and no one was home! And we sat there for a good 10 minutes not knowing what to do then I said we should start contacting. It was like 8:30 at night and we still had like 30 minutes left so we start contacting the first 3 doors nothing then the 4th door we find out she is a less active and that she was wanting to go to church! She came to church yesterday! 5th, 6th. 7th .8th. nothing then we knock a door and a kid comes out and tells us that about a year ago he was visiting the elders. We must work with faith to give God the probability and likelihood to bless us!! 

Elder Spencer 

The Right Words at the Right Time

Mother, 

Well this week has been a very blain week. We taught a lot of people but they just didnt make it to church this week. This week I have been having trouble. I have told my companion that he needs to put in to another gear because I am leaving this change and he will have to lead in the area! It is kind of scaring me. But his progress will be slow but surely it will get there. 

This week we were teaching a family that was really cool. Well the mom was cool the dad not so much... but anyways we talked to them about marriage and that we can help them in that aspect and the eyes on the sister shot up and said, "We were actually planing on getting married soon, that would be great if you could help us" I was thinking back on that little experience that we had and i thought to myself," How is it that God plans everything perfectly so that we can be in the right place at the right time saying the exact things that the people need to hear..." Kind of messed with my mind a little...

Well this Friday that passed we had a ward activity!! It was a lip syncing war! To see who could do the best lip sync!! And of course it was a Mission Activity so we had to participate. We didn't prepare anything until the day of the Activity in the morning and at that we weren't really prepared, but we improvised and it turned out great! A recent convert asked us after how much time we spent on that, because to him it looked liked we had practiced but we told him 3 hours and we was astonished!!! 

Well I have been studying Matthew in the bible and wanted to share a little scripture that caught my atention! 

 MATTHEW 26: 38 Then saith he unto them,  My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

i THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE AND COOL TO SEE THAT IN THAT TIME JESUS STARTS TO FEEL WORLDY PAIN THAT HE NEVER SHOWED BEFORE

Baptism of a Family!

This week has been full of so many things! I don't even know where to start! Well first off we are teaching a lot! But this week was a little bit of a struggle due to the fact that Friday we had the wedding of the Celis Family and then Saturday we had their baptisms which was an amazing experience! i will share some pictures with you later! 

Well this week I finished the Book of Mormon. I don't know if I shared that with you already. But this is the 3rd time that I have read it! How can it not be true this book! It is the Word of our Lord Christ. I know he lives and that He visited the Americas. 

As missionaries in the zone we have put the focus in using The Book of Mormon while we are contacting and proselyting! And yesterday we had a fun little experience we where contacting and in the books that we hand out there are little pictures of Joseph Smith and of Lehi and his family and when Christ comes to the Americas! Those little pictures are so helpful to explain The Book of Mormon in like 5 minutes. 

This Friday was the wedding of the Celis family the family that we helped get baptized. The wedding reception was really well done by the ward besides the fact that when we got there they hadn't decorated yet.... that was fun... I was pretty mad. But everything turned out great! 

And their baptisms were even better! I spent the whole day looking for the baptism clothes I was so flustered! But in the end we found all the clothes and they got baptized! I am grateful to my Father in Heaven for  the experience that I could have with them. They are happy and content for the step that they h

ave taken!! 

The Book of Mormon

Hey Mom! 

This week has been filled with many experiences that have helped me gain a better testimony! Well first we have to carry a Book of Mormon where ever we go and one day we are on a bus and I was looking at the Book and started to think about the eternal significance of the Book of Mormon and I said to myself. " These people have no clue what is inside this book! They need to know to be saved!" It just made be think about how important it is!

Well that family that we are going to help get married and then help get baptized are doing very well! They are excited and the ward is also helping them get situated for everything! The ward is playing a big role in helping them get married and baptized. But to respond to your question I haven't gotten sick that much. I just have had coughs and stomach aches and nothing else. I have never thrown up... nothing like that! 

But also this week we invited a family with a single mom and her kids to come to church and they came and it seemed like that didn't like it that much or something but my mind changed this morning when she texted us and told us that she wants to go and she also wants her kids to go as well. That made me feel so much better about her progress. 

This week was the first week in the chapel that I felt just like crying. Because there were so many people that comitted to coming but didn't come. It just made me really sad to the point of crying. But I didnt cry... :) 

Hope all is well. Thank you for the school schedule. 

Elder Spencer

The Worth of Souls

My dear Mother, 

This week has been a really good week! So many things have happened I have had lots of experiences that I would love to share with you! REady? Ok first off I was thinking about a phrase that Pres. Monson said in conference. When he said that your decisions will determine our final destination. That really impacted me to the point to do a self evaluation and see how well I was making decisions. I came to the conclusion that I need to better my decision making. Yes it is sufficient right now but it can always be better. We have been working hard this week, my companion and I. Oh ya he is from Bolivia! I didn't mention that? hmmm weird... But I have been making him start the lesson and contact the people this week. Poor thing... he is so lost still. But I was thinking about all the things that he has done this week and I compared them to the first week that he got here. Wow, in that sense he has progressed so much! I have been able to see his efforts and be grateful that he is trying so hard. That makes me happy to see that he is trying hard. We have found so many other people to teach. One day when we were walking through the street a phrase came to my head that the Savior said,  

john 5: 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

When I thought of this little tiny scripture. I felt my blood rush through my body. And I heard something say inside my head, " Feed my sheep Elder Spencer!" I felt a need and a longing to talk to everyone about this wonderful Gospel. I felt responsible for every single soul in my area. And that night I pondered about that feeling and another scripture came to my head that is in DyC 18:10 "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;" 

Elder Spencer 

New Companion

Mom, 

First off I just want to start of my saying. Wow! This conference was one of the best conference that I have heard in a while! Love the announcement of the new temple that is going to be in Lima! I was almost in tears to hear that! But this week has been a little bit stressful with the new comp and the having to teach him everything. But everything is going great! This week we taught some investigators about baptism and he invited them to baptism. THats my boy! 

-So sorry for the short email we got here a little late and other people have been writing me! 

in the picture is my comp right now he has 7 days in the mission 

Awesome Week

Hey mom! 

This week has been really awesome for me! I have had some scriptures studies really be personal and have been able to tune in more with the Spirit! I have been reading in Jesus The Christ a lot! I have loved every word of that book. Truly amazing! I have also been reading in Alma 32 to 33! It has been a really good study and I have grown to love the scriptures more and more each day! 

Well this week we have finalized the papers for the marriage that we will be helping a family do in April. Changes are today and sadly my comp has a transfer. But on the bright side I will be training a new missionary fresh from the oven... The MTC!! I am really excited to train and end my mission in such a manner that I too will also be learning!! 

Here in Peru they don't celebrate Easter like we do in the States They call it The Holy Week. And what they do to celebrate is is watch Movies of the life of Christ all week! And in some of the houses they only eat fish!! 

Just a little story that happened to me yesterday. Well there is this young man from a church that we always run into in the streets. And yesterday we ran into him. Wait.. rewind 3 weeks. We were talking with him and I was basically not being a teacher and not helping him understand the scriptures. It was a very heated conversation... But yesterday we meet him the the street and he started preaching and telling me things that were complete lies. In that moment a voice came to my head that told me to just listen. I listened... and listened... a soon I started to feel really grateful that today we have a living Prophet, President Monson. With some of the things, I tried to help him understand. But he just twisted every word and phrase that I said. We politely excused ourselves and went to church. 

During sacrament meeting I was reflecting upon that first time that I met with him and the second. The first time I completely blew up at him. The second time I was compassionate and loving towards him. I know through diligent scripture study we can gain a testimony that is not spoken but felt in our hearts. 

Elder Spencer

Pictures

My little friend Piero!! He is 3 years old! 

Us walking to the church and almost getting hit my milliones of motos

Our baptism that we had this saturday 

The family that we will baptize this April!!! 

This is the view from my window 

A shot of my room

Typical Lunch

Elder Robbins

Hey mom

This week has been really fun and a little stressful at the same time. But that is  good combo to keep working. I would like to share some things that happened this week and a couple things that I have been able to learn.

Well first off this week started off really well we have been teaching a family that is really awesome. We taught this Tuesday and invited them to church--to leave their work for a couple hours to come to church and feel Gods love for them. They accepted and came. We are in the process of helping them get baptized! So in April be expecting photos! They have two sons that like to play soccer. We invited them to play soccer with us on Saturday in the morning. They came!! They are fantastic I would love to see this family get married and baptized! I know the Lord will help us!!

We had a special visit from the General Authority Elder Robbins. He is a great speaker. We had to go to Lima to hear him talk!! We heard him talk with The Lima East Mission! And yes I saw Elder Wallace again!! He is doing great! But the thing that touched me during this training was something that he said. He shared a story of a return missionary that was living in a trailer home with his mom and his recently divorced sister. One day he came home to find them dead. He later found out the killer was his brother in law. But this RM went to the prison and asked to talk with his former brother in law--only to say that he had forgiven him. What an act of all the attributes of Jesus. Patience, virtrue, charity, etc. But he said something that really hit me. He said, "There is no need to go through the suffering of heart ache and bad feelings. Christ already suffered those things for us. He can help us. Forgiving is not forgetting."

I know Christ suffered for the sins of the world. So that we might live a better live without those feelings of hatred, and bad will. He did it so that we can become like Him. I have come to understand a lot more thanks to Elder Robbins.

Elder Spencer

Alma and Amulek

Hello mother!

This week we will be having a training with general authority this week the 10th of March!!

Well this week has been a really good week. We had a baptism this week But this week has 2 baptism and we are super stoked. This week flew by so fast! I can't believe that these 2 years are almost up! But for that reason we have to work harder. We found a family that is really amazing that want to come to church and also get married. I know they will get baptized. We will see! I was Reading a part of Alma that really struck my interest. It is when Amulek is talking and arguing with Zeezrom. But something interesting happens at first in Chap 11 they start off telling us about their money system. When I was Reading that I was like what? Why are they telling us about this? This makes no sense? Then I keep Reading until verses 21,22,23 when I realized what was going on. It lists a bunch of money and says that all those are like unto an Ontie. Zeezrom offered amulek 6 onties if he would deny the existence of God. But he said no. 21 And this Zeezrom beganto question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezromwas a man who was expert‍ in the devices‍ of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good;therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you?

21 And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which Ishall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert‍ in the devices‍ of the devil, that he mightdestroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which Ishall put unto you?

 22 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit‍ of the Lord, which is in me; for Ishall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto him: Behold,here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give‍ thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a SupremeBeing.

 23 Now Amulek said: O thou child‍ of hell, why tempt‍ ye me? Knowest thou that the righteousyieldeth to no such temptations?

I love the courage that Amulek had to say no!

Elder Spencer

Testifying of Joseph Smith

This week has been a really slow week. But we have gotten so much done. We were able to visit our 3 people that are going to get baptized this coming month. And we were able to do some other useful things that I will explain in a moment. 

But for March we are looking at 3 baptisms! We are working hard! A little too hard I think. Why do I say that? Because yesterday I felt terrible and I think it was because of all the work we were doing. I am talking about walking and hiking in the mountains. I worked so hard this week that I got sick... Is that even possible? Well it sure seems like it,doesn't it. But I am ok now thanks to a good nights rest! 

So the other useful things we did... There were many things that we did. But one that I really loved this week was visit some less actives that had not gone to church since their baptism. We arrived to their house and lucky she was outside with her grand daughter. But previous so this encounter we had been passing by the house every day since Monday and in this occasion when we found her it was Saturday! She invited us inside and also her daughter was home! My comp started to talk about the Sabbath day. But I knew we had to talk about something else. When he finished after about 15 min. I started to ask them questions. Well to my surprise I found out that they got baptized just because they were good friends with the missionaries. And that they didn't know if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. 

In that moment I felt the need to explain to them the story of Joseph Smith. I explained them detail for detail. I did not skip anything. At the end you could definitely feel the spirit super strong. I gave them a reason to read The Book of Mormon to discover if all that we had told them was true. It, for me, was a really spiritual moment with them. I know God answers our prayers and will never stop listening to our pleads for help or strength. 

Elder Spencer  

Jesus the Christ

Dad, 

Well I am glad for your email dad! Sounds like Utah is warming back up that is good to here. Glad that work is going well. 

But ya my area... what can I tell you is is on the side of a mountain basically. And the people are really receptive to the Gospel and that kind kicked me in the rear end when i got here. Because in my last are the people didn't want anything. But it is nice that they actually listen to you here. 

The thing that I am going to miss when I get back in the food. Specially Lomo Soltado! It is soooooo goood!!! I am anxious just to see the house and visit with friends! 

My comp. is crazy. No not crazy but he loves to work hard. If it all ends well In March we will be able to baptize each week! He really helps me to stay on top on things here. He is from Columbia but lives in Ecuador. He lives by the beach en Ecuador. He is a normal guy--a little kooky but hey he is a really nice guy.  

Mother,

This week has been a blast! We had a baptism this Saturday! We are really working hard here in my Zone! It is so nice to here from you, Dad and C each week. Just know that it fills me with so much joy to hear from you guys. Love you all. Well this week has been a really busy week. In my area there are hardly any members. They all live in the area of my District Leader. Well due to that I told my comp that we will have to contact hard core if we want to find new people. And that is exactly what we did this week. We contacted hard core. We found a family that wanted to come to church this Sunday but due to miscommunication they couldn't make it. And we are now teaching the family of the recent convert that we baptized 2 week ago! They are awesome. We visited them yesterday in the evening and they told us that yes they are looking for a religion that can bring this peace and happiness. So we started teaching them in that instant and they want to come to church and hear more about what The Gospel has to offer. 

I am also reading Jesus the Christ! It is the most amazing book I have ever read in my whole life. I am in Chapter 17. I just got done with the part where he the author is talking about the Sermon on the Mount. It struck me to see that Christ explained that the Gospel has more power over The Mosiac Law in that time.

1. ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time... (Mosiac Law)

2. But I say unto you, (His Gospel) 

 He always stated a truth of the Law and then used the Gospel to over power it.  Study this chapter and chapter 6 and you will see that pattern. It made me realize that The Gospel is the only thing in this world that can make us become like Him as he said to us in the last verse of that chapter in Matthew in 48 

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

And now compare it with 3 Nephi 12, 13, 14 And you will see interesting things. 

Elder Spencer 

New Area and Companion

Hey dad! 

Thanks for the update on things! I new companion is awesome he only has 3 months in the mission but is pumped up to work hard!! He helps me stay on top on things with waking up to studying! He is from Colombia but... lives in Ecuador! He is crazy!!! But we are working hard we had a baptism this Sat I will send you a pic! 

Mother, 

This week has been a really exhausting week. I am now, not Zone Leader. I am now with a companion that has 3 months in the mission. His name is Elder SanJuan. He is from Colombia but lives in Ecuador. He is a really good person. The area that we are in is ok. It is on a big huge hill and the whole area is on a great big incline! But we had a baptism this Saturday which was awesome! Her name is Evelyn!! And this Saturday we have 2 more baptisms. We are so pumped for this month and the next month. I am still getting to know the area and the members but the ward is awesome. They will help us.. I hope.. But This week not much has happened just the transfers and all. 

I am alive and well trying to find a gym or something to do in my house to get fit. I think I have found something so we will see!! 

Elder Spencer 

Transfer

Hey mom!

Yes I got transfered. Well tomorrow I will be transfered. The mission is doing something different with all the transfers now instead of doing a big huge reunion they are now just calling us now and telling us where they want us to go. And they called me last night and told me that i will be traveling alone to my new stake center.

This week has been really good for me a little sad that I have to leave my area. I love the people here. There really is not much to tell you but just wanted you to know that I am well and alive and I can't believe that time has passed

Hope all is well! I was recently studying a part of the Bible in John where some disciples are asking Christ where He lives and He says, Come and see.

I love this part it really shows that Chirst invites everyone to come and see if they want to.

Elder Spencer

Lima and a Baptism

Hey MOM!!

This week has been a blast better than the last week for sure! Well to start off the week we went to Lima with the Zone! It was so stressfull! I had to make sure that everyone was staying together. But we had tons of fun! I will send some pictures of what we did!! But after that we had 2 trainings that were mind blowers from the President! It always is awesome to learn from him! I still havent been transfered yet. That changes are this coming week. I wonder where I will go! 

Also we have been teaching these two families that I was telling you about last time. Well they both are progressing really well. With the family that is already married we did a Family Night last night and it went really well. Yesterday also we brought them their own Books of Mormon. They are always coming to church and are excited to make the change in their lives. 

The other family. They are progressing little by little. Yesterday we talked with them and we were able to take our there IDs to help them get married. Here to get married you have to do a copy of your ID and then go to the town center and go through a bunch of hoops and tunnels to get them registered for the next marriage. 

We also had a baptism this weekend! I will send a bunch of pictures dont you worry! 

Elder Spencer

Quick Note

I don't have much time to write about my week. Just a little note. We are helping 2 families right now and they are progressing really well. One family in married and the other wants to get married. The ones that aren't married want to get baptized. We are working hard here in the zone. I still am ZL and we will see what happens this change. Today we are going to Lima to visit around the stores to see what I can buy :) Hope you are well!

Elder Spencer