September 22, 2008

Dear Mom,

I'd use the Northridge address because he'll stay and I'll probably go. He'd love it though. He gets on my nerves sometimes, only because I'm really stressed and he's a voice of reason. Which irritates me, but it helps me become a better person.

Good ole' Houston mission. It's super hot down there...she'll just love that. Haha, almost as bad as going to Phillipines.

Well, Kristy went super sister missionary, but I hope Scott will stick around. Either way, it's not a disaster. As Elder Woods said, there's a lot more fishes in the sea. No biggie, I'm not worried at all.

Highlights of the week!

So I'm trying to think straight...I'll have to backtrack a bit. So today we helped a member in a neighboring ward paint his bedrooms because he has to move asap so we did that. I did it begrudgingly because it's my p-day and I can't recoup the time 'lost' of three hours. So there goes the rest of my p-day. I had to do it, but I didn't want to. Woods said, 'what would Jesus do?' and went onto lecture me about attitude and stuff. He told me to stop whining and I was going to punch his lights out. Thank goodness for patience, but I really feel he feels he's a superior person over me. I hate 'holier-than-thou' missionaries. He's a good guy though. I just was really irritated that the other missionaries were really pushing me to do something I really didn't want to do. I felt good when I got there, but I was a bit miffed because the other guys were pushing to spend even more time. So there goes three hours. Way to go. I hate being district leader and having to do stuff like that. It really wears out my patience.

So that's today. Yesterday was really busy. We went to church and stuff, then went home to eat lunch. We assumed that our zone leaders were having their baptism because they told us that it was going to happen. But, we get there and there is no one there! The font isn't filled up and the baptism is scheduled in forty-five minutes. Way to go zone leaders! Way to tell us that you canceled it! So they felt bad and came to help us out, and we got a local member to open it up and fill it for us. So the service started late and went alright considering the circumstances. One of the other elders that got us to paint told me, 'it was a bit disorganized.' Well, of course it is if you had to go through all this stuff on the day of the baptism. It was a great and spiritual service. Our members gave heart-warming and honest talks. They expressed so much gratitude for the gospel and how it's helped them in their lives. I was touched and really glad they could spend their time with us in that way. So I was happy leaving the baptism. We went to dinner, had a great time there. Then we went to the super amazing Luna family and watched the Restoration DVD with them. Oh man, I love the Church media! It is simple, and brings the Spirit in an instant. During the movie I was thinking, how could I show that faith that Joseph had? It's incredible to think a fourteen year old boy received so important an answer. I keep remembering the part in the movie where the narrator says something along the lines of, 'how many great gifts would our Father in Heaven give us if we only ask?' I can't help to think of Dad and of you, of all that you've sacrificed for me. A beautiful Sabbath day.

Saturday was...interesting. I ate (the night before) a dish that contained four habanero peppers...so I was in and out of the bathroom most of the morning. But we did go and try to talk to some people and find our investigators. No luck, but we had a blast at our ward's BBQ party later that evening. I'll have to send you pictures, because Woods and I got mummy wrapped by toilet paper, and we played wiffle ball. This pregnant member hit the ball so me, being the catcher, picked up the ball to relay it to first. We already gave her the free base (she's eight months pregnant!) but she started to walk quickly. I pick up the ball and look up and PLOP! She dropped to the ground so fast! We couldn't decide whether to laugh or feel bad...she rolls over and starts laughing out loud. That was the signal so we laughed even harder. We had a presentation to give at the BBQ and we did that, and went on our way. One of our members fed us dinner, even after the BBQ, and that filled us up way good. Sister Milner, Susan's fellowshipper. They gave us so much food, and sent even more home with us! But, we had an enjoyable time talking to her and her mother about their lives, their homeland (the Phillipines)...it was a very good dinner appointment. I couldn't move the rest of the evening though.

Friday was busy as heck. District meeting then BOOM BOOM BOOM running from appointment to appointment. Mike testified to us about how this message is so good, people are asking, 'is there a catch? is this for real?' It was pretty sweet to hear him testify of how great this message is. Pretty sweet, I could say. We did get to see Susan and prep the program for Sunday, and saw one of our other members, Bruce (the one we've helped with the pipeline). Really jolly old man. Never a serious moment around him. And we went to a member of a different ward that knew McGahee when he was here last and fed me 'devil's shrimp' which was super hot and spicy. Thus, it is the famous four habanero dish. A busy day indeed!

Thursday was another weekly planning day. Not much happened. We got stuck in an appointment teaching the Lunas and got to Betsy's late...only to find she invited her sister and her husband over too! The Luna girls, just to say, were sapped of energy because they just finished a soccer game. So it was a good lesson, but they were tired. The Restoration does have a lot of doctrine stuff...man I can see how it's hard to accept it all. But, being late made me feel even worse! But, we had an enjoyable dinner, and even better time just chatting and laughing and joking...our less actives are way cooler than our actives! Woods goes and shares a spiritual thought on charity, and I felt good because the Spirit was there, accompanying us along the way. We are too blessed, to be honest.

Wednesday was exchanges, and boy it was so fun! I was in Northridge and my zonie Boyce and I got along so well. He's awesome. We went contacting for several hours by CSUN, got free lunch at the Institute building and went contacting again. We get home and crash from exhaustion for an hour. Off again to teach people! Manny, who is having some commandments issues, was really enthusiastic BUT doesn't really get it the first time around. A fun-filled but spiritual lesson for sure. We zoomed around and eventually had dinner with the Kilgrows of Northridge 1st. Fun couple, and they invited another sister from the ward Georgia Reed. A fun group of older people. They are great! We have a good dinner, good steak and potatoes. Even better was our spiritual thought. We go into the family room and we start telling stories of how members found people to baptize. Not just people, but families to come to the church. Just incredible! The Spirit was there and filled the room as well as our hearts. I felt prompted to share some stories as well as my own testimony of member missionary work. The best story was shared by Boyce. One day, a couple was going out to eat dinner. The wife and husband were talking about missionary work and what the elders shared with them a few days before. The wife pipes up, 'let's go to ___ restaurant.' The husband, usually fixed on where they go for dinner, agrees and they turn around. They sit down and the waitress comes over. 'Do you know anything about the Mormon church?' was her question to this member couple. Coincidence? I know it wasn't. Eventually the members had the missionaries teach them, and they were baptized. Talk about a motivating story. I was excited after hearing that! It was amazing! We left on cloud nine, and Boyce put his fist out so we could do the famous 'pound'. 'Yeah, gimme some of that!' said Boyce. Lots of fun, and full of the Spirit. We talked to a referral at his work, and set up a different time to visit. Our last appointment fell through because the investigator (who was going to be baptized yesterday) couldn't make it- her grandma was in the hospital. So we taught their ward missionary and went home. Good day...but I'm so tired from this work.

Tuesday was another weekly planning day since we were so busy the week before. We ended up contacting and then going out to eat at TGI Friday's courtesty of Woods and member's money for dinner. Delicious fajitas...then we went to member's houses to check up on them. McGahee knows the area well, so we went to visit some of his old members in Northridge. That was our day.

So that's the week in a nutshell!

I love missionary work. I get super stressed, but also super relieved. It's a roller coaster ride sometimes because nothing goes according to plan. Never. And it causes stress because I don't like it that way...but it teaches me more patience, if I can bear it. I love being here, and I am just hoping to see what President will say tomorrow during interviews...and I'll let you know what he hints next week!

Who says you can't baptize in English work? I got one in three transfers! More than I got in my first four transfers in Spanish work! Psssh....the Lord blesses according to desire and attitude (as well as work ethic).

I'm learning a lot being a district leader, especially today. Don't stress...be patient, and sacrifice. I am not here to do my will, but my Father's. It's so frustrating sometimes, but it's learning to submit willfully and patiently to a higher power's will. What would Jesus do? Do service. What would He do? Be obedient. What would He do? Love all those around him. I admit I've grown somewhat, but patience is still coming. I have a lot to learn and to do.

Love you all...talk to you later!

Love,
Spencer

September 15, 2008

Dear Mom,

I'm happy you enjoyed the birthday card. I loved it so I guessed you would like it too. Perfectly described the Irvine home.

So sweet! Houston Spanish speaking! Which mission? I have an acquaintance from the Y that went over there to the South mission...he's a pretty cool guy named Chris Ah Sue. I knew him through a few people over there. Sweet! My Spanish is getting a bit rusty due to not a heavy use of it, but that comes with the territory. I still can speak better than most of the Spanish elders but it's frustrating when you feel you're losing a little. Even study can't really make up for the speaking...but oh well. Hopefully President will move me to Spanish soon. I really hope Mike will shape up and get it done because the further he pushes it the harder it is to go. Oh well. His call. Gotta get your priorities straight. This way I won't see him until two years after I get back.

Yeah, people told me that USC beat Ohio State, BYU crushed and humiliated UCLA (yes!) and Maryland squeaked by Cal. Another season missed...oh well. I'm saving souls out here!

This week went by super fast! We did go to the temple this week as our quarterly trips down to the LA temple and it was very peaceful and sublime. I love the temple. But, our workload went down a little, we could've done better. We just had to help some members out with stuff here and there. The usual. I got a parking ticket for 55 bucks so I had to pay that (the sign was hidden by a tree limb and a huge SUV...oh well). Frustrating. I was angry at my comp and myself and the other two that were in the car. But, you gotta obey the law. I went on exchanges this past Wednesday and it was a bit tiring and frustrating. We did find some less actives, they're on a long path to re-activation for sure. I met the ward mission leader in that area and I just wish that he was my WML. A dinner with a normal family (for once) and we had a blast over there. My districtmate Elder Decker made so much fun of the oldest daughter because the family was just teasing her about another youth in the ward...fun stuff. But, I was able to gauge the area a little and to help him realize that it may be hard, but it's worth it. Areas go through phases, you just have to work through it. They have a lot of work to find right now, poor guys.

So Thursday was our temple trip and we had a delicious and mouth-watering chili dinner. Followed by a super spiritual lesson with Betsy Miller, who is one of our golden less actives. We not only bore our testimonies of the Gospel, but we also committed her to continue to do what is right and come to church. All I can remember is the presence of the Spirit, of how it filled the room. I'm looking forward someday to go to her sealing between her and her really jovial and active sister Sister Tribble from a neighboring ward. Wow...such great blessings!

Our Friday was busy as heck too. We read the chapter 27 of 3rd Nephi with her, and it made sense to her. Just to strengthen her as she prepares for baptism. The following day we watched Finding Faith in Christ, and she really loved it. She was touched by her own testimony which was strengthened by the presence of the Spirit. I love the part in that movie when Martha looks at Jesus Christ, a grateful and humble gaze at her Savior for raising her brother from the dead. Just a great weekend. I conducted another baptismal interview for the zone leaders, one of many! Tallin M., with an Armenian last name I can't pronounce or spell. She's been investigating for a long time. Her mom is a member, her dad isn't. So she didn't start applying what she was learning until about a year ago...and as soon as I walked into her house to do the interview I felt, 'she's ready. Interview her. She's ready.' So we got it done, and I just enjoyed that enthusiasm she has. We joked around to start, just to make her feel comfortable and to trust me a little bit. Her testimony was simple, but that's how it should be. She bore her testimony of the Atonement, of how she didn't understand much of it before the missionaries came to teach her. She made the common point, how could Jesus do that for a complete stranger? Yes, he knew us before, but still. Incredible! She talked about other missionaries that came to teach her (an Elder Orme came all the way down from Ridgecrest, about 3 hours or more away, to baptize her) and of how she enjoyed their spirits and testimonies. We joked around a little and I was really uplifted by it. I love interviewing candidates because it reminds me of how precious the Gospel really is. Wow. So I was on a spiritual high.

Saturday was super busy and long. We went to the mission office to get some things done and got back in time to watch FFIC with Susan at 3. We helped Bruce Sayler, a really funny old man, dig the last stretch of his trench to reach the gas line hook-up. So we dig it and find out we didn't reach the hook-up at all, just a part of the old pipe. We were looking for the new pipe. So Woods ends up digging a little more under the asphalt of the driveway and found it. So McGahee and I took turns to pound the asphalt to break it up so we could hook it up at a later time. And, on top of that, we found a huge 'rock' in the middle of the trench. We were like...uh...that's a big rock. Woods dug some more...and more...then Bruce's son comes over (visiting from Oregon) and said, 'oh, that's an old concrete fencepost'. So Woods dug about a foot and a half to begin with, then dug about 3-4 feet more to get to the bottom of it. That concrete thing must've been there since the turn of the century. So McGahee had me help him lift it, but I couldn't get a grip so he basically dead lifted it. And we got some funny pictures out of it so I'll have to send you some of them later. Crazy work.

Sunday went well...except I still don't like the WML but whatever we're getting a new one soon. We went to Tallin's baptism and I really felt the Spirit there. A convert went up there and bore his testimony, of how an Elder Carter shared his testimony and he saw that light of Christ up there in his eyes...and it made him change. He said it was great for him. Off of that spiritual high, we go to a member's house to eat dinner and wow! The Spirit was there as we taught our short message, of not quenching the Spirit within us and continue to follow His guide. We passed by some less actives, the Togiola's and Luna's...and had not only a fun time but a spiritual moment. They both want to be sealed, so we're here to help them get there. Together Forever is a cheesy movie, but it really helped me remember how precious that gift is to be sealed for all time and eternity. Wow. Thanks Mom, thanks Dad for that gift. Just a great spiritual week.

That was my week, in short. But I love the work, and I love these people.

I hope all is 'swell' back home. I love you all.

Love,
Spencer

September 8, 2008

Dear Mom,

This week has just soared by! Oh my gosh it's crazy. I'm loving this area! We have one person that passed a baptismal interview, Susan Lar, so she'll be baptized ASAP. So excited! The fruits of my labors, and the many blessings of the Lord.

So we got Elder McGahee back here in Van Nuys. Poor guy had to spend two weeks up in the desert where Danny is (but in a different companionship) because another missionary knocked himself out of commission longboarding on some hill up there (now they're officially banned...use common sense guys!). He's really fun! He's from northern Alabama and he's almost home (he leaves in November). Loads of fun so far! We have the shortest companionship in the entire mission, and Elder Sara from Utah is in our district too so we have the four shortest elders in the entire mission in the same district, three in one companionship. Feels weird, to be honest, to have another extra missionary tagging along. I love it though! We're gonna rock this place! He's really changed from what I heard because he was a bum to begin with, but he's a great missionary. He's really going to help Van Nuys 1st out a lot. So that basically means I'm probably going to go, because I have one transfer here more than Woods, and we all have been senior companions at one point in the mission field...so I'm just going to work my best and wait to see what happens. But, this work is going great right now!

This week was a blur! We did a lot of service for Bruce, an older member but he's a recent convert of two years. He needs a new pipeline for his gas, so we dug a trench for it. We have to finish it up this coming week, but not much else is left. We did have a great week though. We taught Susan several times this week with our ward missionaries (the two we took with us are sisters...really humble and loving sisters) and wow! They bonded. I think that Susan is just outgoing and loving so it makes it easier to become friends with members. She has fellowshippers galore, so she'll be active no doubt. And Saturday she passed the baptismal interview, so all we have to do is organize the program and BAM! 'Baptism, boom baby', as my zone leader Elder Boyce says. I'm so pumped for that!

We taught June Hinahon a short but blunt lesson, that we are here to help him find out for himself if the Gospel is true. We committed him to pray specifically to know whether the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith (or Joe Smith as McGahee says) is a prophet of God. He said, to my amazement and shame, 'well, I never had mentioned in a prayer those things', he thought a general prayer would work. Well, it hasn't, but it will help him receive an answer pronto. Their family has really grown close to us the missionaries, and I really love them to death. Their poor girl, Alyssa, is anemic and so they're praying hard so her test results will be fine. They took four vials of blood out of her, and June's member wife Jennifer said, 'I didn't even know she had that enough blood in her.' Surprised me too when I heard that. The members love us, and I love them so very much. Really great stuff going on down here.

We had two consecutive dinners with our really active less actives, the Lunas. Junior and Cindy, the parents, are so fun-loving and outgoing. We just clicked. We go over there Saturday and we just have a ball of a time, and we share a scripture to invite them to prepare for stake conference the following day (Sunday). They came to stake conference, which was great, and we went over for dinner some hours later. Cindy's mom, Sister Duggan (very active member), thanked us for caring about them when she called to tell us, she signed up for dinner this coming Monday (today). My goal, as is theirs, is to get them sealed for time and all eternity. Yes, Cindy and Junior were active most of their lives, but they settled for a civil marriage. The bishop who married them, Bishop Molen, is going through a tough time. His wife passed away a few weeks ago. When Cindy went to the funeral, she realized she must be sealed to her family. In come the missionaries! That would bring me so much more joy that I have now to see them go to the temple, and they're doing their best to do their part. But before I cry, just to sum up our lesson plan for them yesterday. We watched the Testaments movie with them...that movie is quite the tear-jerker for me. I realized in the movie how much family is so important in life. That movie is a testimony reminder for all members of the Church. I love the Testaments, because I know that Christ lives, he died, but He lives! He is my personal Savior. I just cry a lot during that movie, but at the end we had a great testimony mini-meeting. McGahee bore his witness of the Book of Mormon, and I committed them to read it daily as a family to strengthen themselves against the world. Woods shared his testimony, which was the last straw for me and I just let the tears flow, but I tried not to sob loudly. I'm such a baby! Ooohhh the Spirit was oozing through the walls of the home...it was really special. Even the active daughters were subdued a little. I know I was sent here for a reason. To activate the less actives and to find the elect. Why is God so merciful to me? I don't deserve it!

So we're going on a spiritual high leaving the appointment, and we go visit a less active, Betsy Miller. She couldn't go to church, but her sister was called to the stake Primary presidency and was going to pick her up. But, she cut her hand bad and it's her writing hand. Poor woman. We stopped by to see how she was doing. She's so loving and so kind, and I just have learned to love her like a sister. We chatted a little, joked around, and had a good, warm time. Time for a scripture! I share Enos, how he felt consoled at the end of his life to go to His Maker. And I told her it was her goal to return to God's presence, but to be sealed with her sister (good ole' Sister Tribble). And she felt touched, as did I (I had tears welling up in my eyes...oh man), and it was a great spiritual experience. Elder McGahee and Woods shared their witness also...I love the trio! We're too good now! And I mentioned to her that she's changed. She said, I don't feel like I changed, and so Woods pounced on that. He shared Alma 5:26, talking about the change in your hearts, and he pointed out it is gradual and that we need to look back with a time period in mind...how was I six months ago....how was I a year ago...? She said, even a year ago my life has changed a lot. She said that she realized she can't rely on herself anymore, but that she needed to prepare herself spiritually. Wow, a great evening! I didn't deserve it!

My converts Alberto and Yadira are doing well, and Alberto is almost done with the Book of Mormon because he's reading in Ether right now. I'm so proud of him! Or, as Bruce said, excited for him (because pride isn't a good word to describe this enthusiasm!).

Stake conference was great! Just that spiritual boost we needed! It did get boring when they talked about Proposition 8 again, but the members need to step up. Pres. Jex, the stake president, called the members out with Joshua 24:15, 'as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.' He told all my donate means (or money) to the cause and that now is the time to canvass communities to push the cause forth. If it doesn't pass here, it will lead to serious moral problems in the future. I hope it'll pass. I really hope that the members here pick up the ball and move with it. They're too lazy it seems, but I know that this will get them moving, that great giant to start trouncing the enemy. I took a lot from stake conference, and I loved it! I love meetings now, more and more. Just great spiritual highs! It also helped Pres. and Sis. Goodrich were there, and they bore their witness of missionary work and of the Spirit. Pres. Goodrich admitted he had no idea what member missionary work meant until he came out here. He said, 'all we have to do is invite, invite, and invite.' We don't need to sift through our friends to see who'd be most receptive to the Gospel. We must share it with everyone. The most unlikely accept the Gospel, when the most likely to accept it show little interest and reject it. It's that simple! Wow! Sis. Goodrich bore her testimony of the Holy Ghost, of how it has helped her in her life, and how he truly exists. I love the Lord!

I know the Church is true. There is no other greater Church nor doctrine. Jesus came to pay for my sins, He did that, then died. He rose on the third day, and He lives again! He loves us so, and to show that love He has for us He has given us a loving and caring modern-day prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I know Pres. Monson is a prophet of God. I know the Book of Mormon can answer any question we have. I know it is the word of God. As Elder Woods said, we can learn from every single verse in the Book of Mormon, and I know that to be true. I do not doubt God loves us still, and he revealeth his secrets to his servants the prophets.

I love you all. I hope all is well in Zion! My thoughts are with you, and I miss you so. Stay safe, will ya?

Love,
Spencer

September 2, 2008

Dear Mom,

Yesterday was the best p-day ever! I got to sleep a lot...and it was the best for me! I was very energized and I hope it'll last the week. This area has a tendency to wear missionaries out a little, if they work. The work is picking up so fast, we barely have time to eat lunch and dinner! Busy busy busy! Such is the life right now!

This week was super busy! Highlight reel! Brought to you by...

Gatorade, is it in You?

Now back to the show.

Gotcha!

We had a transfer high of three member presents. Quite an accomplishment here because everyone is so busy and is working all week, and they were legitimate MP's. Pretty sweet lessons this past week. So Tuesday and Wednesday mornings Woods and I dug a trench for this member, Bruce Sayler. He has to get another oil line underground because he's been without gas for about two months. So we're giving all the time we can spare to help him...but he has to get some extra help or it'll take another week or so. And his mother, who is as old as grandma, is a bit pushy to say the least. He's funny because he says he doesn't like being treated as if he were a ten year-old...but he's accepted it by now. We actually helped him this morning just now, so it's been a learning experience for me. Dig a trench, dig under roots and how to correctly use a pickaxe. Pretty sweet stuff.

Sunday was absolutely spiritual. We had a semi-good testimony meeting, some of our oddball members went up there and did their thing. I couldn't look behind me because there were some normal members sitting behind me and they were trying not to laugh very hard. But, we had six investigators to church, as well as a less active family (the Lunas) and Betsy Miller. I was so happy! I was very glad to see them all there! Betsy did ask me, 'So she (one of the oddballs) usually does that, right?' Yup. She felt a bit uneasy, but she is willing to put feelings aside and to go to church. Her goal is to go to the temple and be sealed with her sister, and I really feel it'll come soon as soon as she becomes consistent with church. The Lunas promised us a week ago they'd go to church, and there they were! Super awkward moment when their teenage daughters came out of nowhere and gave me a hug...so awkward! Ahh! Couldn't react in time so I lost. I got two hugs. So great! We went to a baptismal service of someone I met in the ZL's ward and interviewed for baptism (interviews are so cool!) and our investigator Crystal came. She loved it...she was a bundle of emotions but she kept herself calm. I felt like an inferior missionary there. We had our ZL's, and our AP's who both served as ZL's in this ward. And Woods, my comp. Just amazing missionaries. Super spiritual and it just reminded me of the success I have seen before, and how great I felt. Super motivating! We went to dinner with the Sanders, who are nice and cool at the same time. Not odd at all. It was a great Sunday.

Saturday was busy as heck! Unusual but really good! One of our investigators that dropped us a month ago finally invited us back, and she had two of her daughters there. Good ole' Donna Caballero. We had their neighbors, the Espinosas, who are members (really strong testimonies too). It was a very impromptu Plan of Salvation lesson, but it was simple and spiritual. Powerful. I felt the Spirit and the Spirit really enlightened this family. It made sense, they said, how Adam and Eve did a good thing for us (2nd Nephi chapter 2 is the best scripture on the Fall!). Oh yeah, Betsy during Sunday School pointed out she loves the Book of Mormon because we read the Bible a little, kind of confusing. We ran to another place, then another to teach Susan. Ran into a sticky situation because we taught some commandments then reviewed the baptismal questions...then the Word of Wisdom came up so we went into that (led by the Spirit). She likes...green tea. Not that bad, but still. At first she didn't like the idea of switching to herbal tea. Then Woods went into the blessings of keeping this law, and she's like 'Ok I'll do it if I get blessings.' Wow, that was...easy? Dinner and then off to visit Shenice with Sister Dutton (just a fabulous member). Shenice was tired, as were we, but we hung in there...and I loved the spiritual experiences that Sis. Dutton shared. It made Woods point out, afterwards, that we need to be more personal in the majority of our lessons...that's what we're missing! She put a viewpoint on the Gospel regarding the Plan of Salvation. God will put us where we are comfortable at the end of this life. She said she doesn't like change, but she knows she wants to be comfortable in God's presence in the next life. I was like, 'hmm, would I be comfortable in God's presence? Nope.' I learned a lot from her. It was her first time teaming up with missionaries, and she loved it!

Friday was hectic. District meeting, before that a goal setting meeting (ZDM) with the other DL's and ZL's...then I had to go up to Santa Clarita to drop the other elders Sara and Tayler off at the office to get their car (finally got a car). It was weird being back in my old stomping grounds....strange indeed!

Highlights! So Gye, our English student, bought us iced coffee on Wednesday so we taught the Word of Wisdom (kind of a recurring theme here, eh?) and she apologized...then she gave it to her neighbors that night. Really great woman, really open to us. Mike didn't get the title of liberty scripture we gave him, but when we explained it he really liked it. He was all gung-ho about it. Pretty sweet when you understand the words and apply them! June's daughter was sick again, she's anemic...poor little girl...so we couldn't meet with him last week. And meeting with Crystal, Enrique and Franky was out of hand! I got distracted because they were asking questions at the same time...really disconcerting. But, we answered their questions to the best of our abilities and left something to read so we won't have to answer the rest of their questions. Super busy week! Lots of fun though!

By the way, Elder Raleigh is with me again...he was in my first district ever! What a riot he is...haha it's so fun being around him. We do joke around TOO much it's sort of a problem when one is trying to get to bed. Good kid though. He's almost done, that is so crazy! The greenie (now in his second transfer) is so much happier now his trainer is gone...we're having a blast over here!

Yesterday was pretty sweet. So after we visit the Lunas and express how happy we were to see them at church, we went contacting. I felt prompted to stop the car at a road close to the apartment and to contact there. We contacted there the night before, but we went on the other side of the street. Rejected here and there, until we keep walking down the sidewalk and see a black man walking up to us. I asked Woods, 'Hey is he walking away or towards us?' He said, 'His arms are swinging towards us so he's walking towards us.' Good analysis Woods. We start to talk to him about the Restoration, and he just stands there in awe. Overwhelmed, but he realized he was missing a prophet. He said, 'well if it's true I'm missing something then.' Really open man (he was black too...really awesome!). The Spirit was working through us, and it really touched him when Elder Woods shared the First Vision with him, and it was just what the Spirit needed to prick this man's heart. He was excited and a bit amazed at our message. The only problem is he lives in Ventura, out of our mission, and we couldn't get his phone number. But it was a great contact! Oh man! Mind-blowing! Just because I parked the car on the street unplanned. He took our card, and went his way with our telephone number written on it. I just hope he calls us, and we'll get him to the right people. Wow...a great contact. We ended up praying to thank the Lord for his kindness in letting us be strengthened by that contact. I was in shock for a little bit. Wow!

Time really flies...when one works. I know the Lord sent me here to prepare someone...I just don't know who. We'll see what happens though, I'm super excited. I know something big will happen here, but I must be patient. I love my district, and I love my mission leaders. There's no one better!

I'm happy all is well back home. I love you all, and stay safe.

Love,
Spencer

P.S. Woods' birthday is in October..? So if you have any ideas of what a missionary would need, could you send him a card and maybe a little package? Thanks mom! I just can't get away from him...it's against the rules to get a surprise gift for you comp (jk! but almost impossible without him knowing).

August 25, 2008

Dear Mom,

Busy week indeed. I am swamped with a lot of work and not too much time to do it all! I am dead tired. At least I'm not in a really rough area because work is just falling into our laps right now. But, it's stressful at the same time. My companion is dealing with my stress and he's the best one for me right now. The ward is getting excited about the work, and I'm feeling that this place is about to burst!

This past week my good ole' ZL Boyce was alone yet again. His comp, for the second straight transfer in a row, became the new AP. So he was living out of a suitcase for the past five days, poor guy. He said it's been a great few days, but the worst. He's just out of his rhythym because he's been in at least five companionships in the last five days. Poor guy. But, we had some great time with him! He's so awesome! Busy week though!

Not even a single day without rest! So reverse order! Yesterday was busy as heck, the last day of the transfer. Church, Mike, Susan, Gye, and June came to church. Four! Sweet! We had a good meeting with our ward mission leader and I was a bit agitated by his attitude...let's let the missionaries do everything. We had a stern talk with him, and I don't think we're on the same page. Something's got to give here. A weird and crazy member from the other ward asked us for a blessing so we gave him one...but he's a bit looney. But, we had a good lesson in Elder's Quorum based on Elder Holland's recent General Conference talk, 'My Words...Never Cease'. Our Elder's Quorum President Bro. Bunce is a religion teacher at a local college, and it was a great lesson! Everyone is an RM and were shooting out scripture after scripture about how the Bible really isn't correct and yet...it is true. We all shared in the Spirit, and it was just great! We went to pick up our Boyce, went to find a referral (not home of course) and to a baptismal service at the stake center, of someone that I taught in the home of the stake president (I was SO nervous to go there that day!). It was very spiritual, a bit odd due to the interesting layout of the program....but it was a beautiful service. We gave the missionary moment, a.k.a. the Restoration lesson. It was a great service! We zipped over to an investigator's house, Monica Escobido and her daughter Christina...they're so cool! We lost track of them for about six weeks, and now that the summer is dying down they have time. So awesome! We taught them a quick Restoration lesson and we were out! To dinner! Really cool members, the Playsteads. He can cook a mean tri-tip, as well as steak of any kind. Absolutely delicious. Shared a thought, went to take the Sherman Oaks elders home (Boyce took them to our place cuz he gave them the car for the weekend)...and they didn't show up. They went contacting for almost two hours...lame! And then Woods' recent converts came to see how we're doing and delayed us even more! So basically, we get home at 9:45 due to all this. I'm stressed, tired, mad...but Woods calmed me down because I was just beat. I was out so fast!

Saturday was cool! A sweet member present lesson with Susan Lar! A fellow Filipino, Raquel Milner, brought her mom there too...they got along so well! I felt the Spirit as Sis. Milner bore her witness of baptism and it's importance, and Susan was really listening. It was really cool to see she was truly interested in what a fellow Filipino was saying...wow! We went around trying to find people the rest of the day...typical Saturday. But, it was very productive! Oh yeah! We had a baptismal interview that night too, and we got home late at like 10 pm due to it...so I interviewed a kid I met before on exchanges, Darwin, and he was so excited for baptism! He knew it all, piece of cake. He was bit tired from a tubing trip that day, but he recalled it all very well. And bore his testimony, he was ready! I promised him I'll see his baptism, and he was like YEAH. Really excited. One of Boyce's investigators fed us cake (they were teaching her while I was doing the interview). So sweet! Busy day!

Friday was nuts! District meeting, dropped Boyce off again to the other elders, we had our lessons and BAM! we're done. Crazy fast. Mike really loves hearing the lessons and I really feel he wants to change. He is just waiting on a record label deal to come through so he could work regular hours. Gye was sad to hear we had transfers coming up so at the end she prayed so we both could stay. She's awesome.

Thursday...no idea what happened really except for Susan Lar...she told us we were a bit bold when Woods said, 'you will be baptized on [this date]'. Hilarious. She was like 'Oh my gosh! You already decided a date!' She didn't understand us at first, but she accepted it. So funny! Just the expression on her face was priceless. Wednesday I went on exchanges with Elder Cotter, who is super trunky and ready to go home. Not a good exchange, but I got to sit back and relax a little...not good though the way he wanted to. Oh well, he's home! Tuesday, no idea what happened. Just a blurry day of the mission.

That was my week!

So we're getting a new companion, to be a trio. Elder McGahee of Alabama, who's about to end his mission. Good kid, it'll be fun with him!

Another transfer as DL. I guess President wants me to kill myself here ;-) The work is progressing! I love this work!

I got the chance to talk to 'my' recent converts up in Santa Clarita, and they're doing great! Good ole' Alberto and Yadira are doing great...going to church still, reading the Book of Mormon, and even going to support new recently baptized converts...I'm so proud of them! I'm excited for them! The Jaimes are moving to Canyon Country, on the other side of the valley up there and they're doing fine also. The mom told me she didn't like the baptismal photo I sent them because she looked too fat in it. Haha! I couldn't stop from laughing. She's so funny! But all is well...and I miss them so! Seeing them progress has really boosted my testimony as well as changed my outlook on the mission and my potential as the Lord's anointed servant.

I hope all is well...talk to you soon!

Love,
Spencer

August 18, 2008

Dear Mom,

I guess that I am getting used to this darn heat. The dryness...not so much. But I'll have to deal with it for at least ten more months. How strange is that? I will be going home in less than a year! I feel I just started...and time does truly fly after you hit your one year mark. I love being a missionary, and I know this is the best thing for me!

I'm happy to know you made it safe over there in Utah, the so-called Zion of the West. I feel that SoCal is Zion in the midst of Babylon, because there is so much stuff going on here it is truly saddening. The members have been asked to contribute financially and also with time to the new amendment, proposition 8, that is for protecting the sanctity of marriage. A member made a fuss about it in Elder's Quorum class and one of our other members, good Bro. Ballard, shut him up with scriptures and just common sense. It was the best thing ever! I loved it! As you can tell this member is just an attention hog BUT at least he got his voice heard...which annoyed me. But, we're hopefully going to see this through and see the gay community defeated. The members here, if they're active, they're really strong. I feel inadequate among such humble followers of Christ. I love the Filipino people, and I especially am glad for this chance I have to serve them. Talking about Filipinos, we got two referrals in Tagalog so we're going to visit them tomorrow with a member that speaks Tagalog. Two new investigators! We're going to have to rely on the gift of tongues to teach them! Isn't that nuts? Who would have thought? Tagalog? We ordered a book to learn Tagalog through the mission office, hopefully we'll get it soon or we'll be floundering.

We had a miracle! Seven investigators to church yesterday with two potential investigators, so a total of nine non-members. That was such a blessing. Miracles are in the works...I was sent here for a reason. Why does the Lord always bless his most inadequate servants with work? All Woods and I do is put our faith in Him, and he just blesses us immensely. We are very fortunate to be here. Our members are getting excited, the bishopric is glad we're bringing people to church...it's just going up! President Goodrich asked if I wanted to go or to stay, to which I said 'stay'. Too much is happening for me to leave here. But, if President needs me to go Spanish, I'll go. I'll want to finish in Spanish, but right now I need to help the people in Van Nuys 1st ward. Three teenagers came to church- Enrique, Crystal and Franky. They're siblings, and we feel that all will be baptized soon, probably in the next seven weeks. They're awesome! They loved church a lot, and are so excited to learn! Crystal was a bit taken aback when our high councilman was frank, saying a marriage is between a man and a woman. She was accepting of everyone, but I just reiterated that there's no gray area. She took it well I suppose. Mike came, again. Susan Lar finally came to sacrament meeting and sat by one of our Filipino members. Gye Choi, who is our English student, came to church. A potential named Hadi came too. Too bad our less actives didn't come, but there's always next time. So, we had a really busy church! Lots of investigators! The Young Men's and Young Women's people were so excited to see the three...it was really cool! I love the work! It was funny because I forgot to fill up the tank on Saturday so we had enough gas to get to church, get home, then go out to contact just down the road, and back home again. In the meantime we finally got to do our weekly planning...which wasn't done for the past three weeks because we have been very busy! That's awesome. We're so busy we couldn't get our weekly planning done...I never would've thought that in all my life as a missionary, especially in English work! Talking about goals, we decided to set a goal for twelve investigators to church next week, if we just get rides it'll be done! I'm super pumped for this last week of the transfer!

This week was a blur. Highlight reel!

Saturday we had a very spiritual lesson with our less active, Betsy Miller. She really loved our testimonies, and we all shared the Spirit's love in her home. Our Relief Society President Sister Ballard came with us, and we all got along. Betsy said she'll do her best to come to church, but I believe her work called her in (she's an accountant's assistant and they're going through several lawsuits right now- super busy!). But, we testified of how we have been blessed by obeying some of God's commandments that we went over with her...I can say that it was a blessed visit. I was very grateful to hear her tell me, 'I really liked your testimony, because I know it is sincere. I can tell you really mean it'. It's one of those...'Oh yeah...that's why I am here' moments. Truly a blessing. We went to Susan Lar and Woods straight up committed her to baptism. We started, prayed, and then he was talking about big steps and stuff then BAM! "Susan, will you be baptized by God's authority on September 7th?" She was like, huh? It was hilarious! But, she said she'll think about it, which we wanted to tell her to pray about it. She knows it's true, we just gotta ram it down her throat. She's one of those indecisive people...if you're bold she'll do it. So that's our new approach. She'll be baptized soon enough. We came home and I took a brief nap that turned into a longer than expected one. I am so dead tired...I couldn't operate without a nap. I know the Lord understands how stressed I have been and how tired I am. Sweet day!

Friday went well. Problem was at district meeting my district tuned out on my training...but it was my fault because I felt they needed a second training on commitments...so they tuned me out. But, our ward missionary came and she got to learn by teaching. It was good for that. We ended up spending an hour driving on a road to get to a place to switch our car...ours had scratches on it from a few months ago so they're repairing it. Traffic stinks down in the south part of the Valley...wow, never going that route again! But, Mike read his assignment and loved it. We testified that as he prayed he would receive an answer to his prayers, that it is our weapon. Elder Woods is a great teacher. Simple, blunt, to the point. Gye really enjoyed our English lesson. Heck, I learn something new everytime we teach her. She has really good questions. She's super open to us, we just have to find the right time to teach her the Gospel. I'm feeling that it'll come really soon. We had a sweet day though! No better call...no greater time in my life!

Thursday was super busy! Appointments, one after the other. Taught a member's daughter (he's divorced, his wife is less active so we're teaching his daughter so she'll get baptized). Then lunch. Then off to Van Nuys to find Shenice- not home, so we went contacting. Took the local bike elders to get something really quick at the local 99 cents store, then back to work! Dinner with a less active family, the Solis's, whose father is a jerk and just wants to fight the bishop over some hurt pride. Thank goodness he wasn't there...not good for the Spirit. But, as long as the bishop is bishop, they won't go back. Oh well, they're denying salvation and exaltation to themselves. We met with good ole' Bruce, who always is a load of fun and really teaches us something, that we must treasure the words of the Lord. He loves us, and we love him. A great jolly old man. I was surprised to find out he's almost seventy. He looks barely sixty.

Wednesday was my second ZDM meeting! I recommended some changes in my district, which I hope will happen for the sake of Encino ward. But, we had fun, shared jokes, some stories, but we got the job done. It was funy though! We got to stop by June, but he's really struggling to read the scriptures with his two little girls. The youngest is always sick...it's not good at all. But, I believe we'll get to him and teach him with boldness and power...he just needs help realizing how it applies to him. But, he'll get baptized, he just doesn't feel ready. We're going to commit him to baptism in the near future. We stopped by one of Woods' converts and went on our way. We had a bunch of success with our less actives going on splits, I went with the very loud Bro. Ludovico, a Filipino member who has nine kids, half of them are here, the rest are back in the Phillipines. Really cool member. Very outgoing. We got to meet a Filipino member who just had quadruple bypass surgery, and he's doing well it seems. Tagalog is super fast! Didn't understand a thing!

Tuesday was interviews, and Sister Goodrich told me to relax. I feel stressed with all this responsibility, but she reiterated I must relax, and realize it's just another bump in the road. And she mentioned, as did my ZL's Boyce and Wilcox (who is the new AP), that my stake president here, President Jex, really liked what I did when I taught an investigator at his house. So, she said that everyone trusts me, and especially President Goodrich. That was a morale booster! My life is great! I just needed a shot in the arm! Woohoo!!! Tuesday was pretty cool...I can't remember much from it. Except we did teach Enrique, and it went really well. I love being a missionary. We reviewed the Restoration with him, and his family really got interested in it. Especially Crystal. But, he loves to read and he really likes to pray. He's going to do very well in the next few weeks. I love this! I felt the Spirit testify to me, and to all, that there was a Great Apostasy, that Christ did truly die for us, and that His apostles were taken away, yet again. I felt that sorrow...how could God 'abandon' us? But, I felt that joy when we testified of the Restoration. They felt weird, they said. They felt good. They felt at peace. That's the Holy Ghost...what a great lesson indeed. We contacted afterwards, met a really interested man, and got to eat T-bone steak with the Albin's, a great member family. Bro. Albin was funny because he met his wife back home in Sacramento (he's a big Kings fan) and she was ready to go on a mission. He said he offered to help her study for the mission, and quickly mentioned, 'and soon it became make-out sessions' to which she said, 'James, don't say that!!!!' Absolutely hilarious! I loved it! We got along, had a good time, got to know them. They're a great family.

That's the week in a nutshell! Hope you enjoyed it!

I love you all, I'm so happy to know I have my family behind me cheering me on! I'll make you proud, like that song goes, 'do I make you proud?' I love my Lord, and I know without a doubt that He lives again. What joy does that bring to me? So much, I could someday collapse like Ammon meeting Alma by Zarahemla...I love this work!

May you stay safe. I love you all.

Love,
Spencer

August 11, 2008

Dear Mom,

The work is picking up here in Van Nuys! This week went by so fast! The only reasons why I know a week has past is a) church is on Sunday and b) p-day. It's absolutely fun! I'm loving it here in the ghetto/rich sanctuaries over here. It's a great experience!

As for things for the trip...I don't need anything in particular I think. But thanks!

It was a really fast week! I can't even remember all that happened! But we worked...for sure! Let me try to sum it up as best as I can!

Well...I don't know where to start. How about...yesterday! So yesterday both of us had to give a talk, Woods gave one on prophets and I gave one on how to gain a testimony and then how to maintain it. I really enjoyed preparing for the talk. I ended up listening to a few conference talks that Dad sent out to me, and it really was the core of my talk. From October 2004, Elder Ballard and Elder Staheli (of the Seventy) gave back to back talks on testimony, and I used quotes and elements of their talks for mine yesterday. I really felt the Spirit as I prayed to know what the people of Van Nuys First needed to hear. Everyone loved it apparently...I know a few people actually did listen to what I had to say. Didn't see many 'nodders' so I guess it was pretty good. We went to eat dinner with the Relief Society President and her husband and her are quite the pair! They're always fun to be around! They cooked a mean dish of german potatoes and bratwurst, coupled with a side of cantaloupes and 'sloppy corn' as the husband called it (it's actually cream style corn and his wife didn't like he called it sloppy- really funny to see how it played out). Poor Woods felt sick so we went home early and he was OUT! Out cold like that! It was a really good Sunday, spiritual, enlightening, and fun at the same time. I love Sundays.

I feel the ward's enthusiasm for the work! We are having members ask when they can come out and visit with us, and so we'll have to accomodate them. I'm not used to having members come out with me, because in Spanish work it's a high risk factor- you don't know what they're going to say even though you tell them to stick to the script. I really can see a lot of success coming soon.

Saturday was a very long day. We stopped by one of Woods' recent converts in a Spanish ward, and she was hilarious! My cheeks were tired from laughing so hard! But, she's hitting a rough patch and she knows it's not easy, but it's the right thing to do. We were there for an unusually long amount of time, only because she was still preparing the food when we got there. We also had to keep tabs on her little four year old which was quite an experience in itself. But, her testimony is very strong. We taught Susan Lar, and she keeps on going on tangents or unrelated things. Her learning curve is pretty...slow but she's learning pretty well. We're delaying the baptismal commitment until she really shows the commitment to come to church, but she knows it's true. We have to bring a Filipino fellowshipper to get her extra motivation to come. She's awesome though! She already knows that the Book of Mormon is true...and Joseph Smith is a prophet. We just have to get her to do the little things.

Our English student, Gye Choi, asked us how can we do missionary work when people are so mean to us? Instead of teaching English, we taught parts of the Restoration to her that she could understand. That was sweet! She's really grown to like us, and I think if we get her a Korean friend she'll probably want to take the lessons. She's very open, which is highly unusual for Koreans here in the Valley.

We found out on Thursday that our investigator Shenice and her boyfriend, Lamar, want to get married. That was a surprise! It was also great to have Lamar sit in and listen to our point of view on the Fall of Adam and Eve. He really liked it. He said it made sense, and that it's brand new to him. He was kind of wondering, why haven't I heard this before? It was funny because he's smart, and Shenice was a little behind the ball on it. But, they learned together. He even stayed longer than expected because Shenice asked him to wait a little longer...that was really kind of him. So, we'll be organizing a marriage soon! Again?! But I feel that they have great potential, and I really think that this will help their family become an eternal family. I'm really pumped!

June was a bit lukewarm the last time we visited him. The only thing that's really stopping Shenice and June is that they don't read. How can they know this is good if they don't read? We'll have to lay down the law the next time we visit...it's a bit frustrating but no one is as perfect as the Cardenas. They're my golden standard, because they were and are so golden to me...I miss them a lot. So we went through a lesson, trying to bring the Spirit but for some reason...it didn't come in a great amount as I had wished. I just feel now that June likes it, but we have to apply it to him. And get past the language barrier. He is very close, but I think we'll have to be patient and help him along at his learning level. It's frustrating though.

Thursday afternoon we took two of the youth out to visit with us and try to find people to teach. RJ Black, who is very close to starting his mission papers, went to teach Susan with Woods and I went with his brother RJ to find referrals. Not much luck that day, but we got to enjoy their company and they got to see how the work goes most of the time. It was fun! RJ taught really well, according to Woods. And AC was enjoying talking to people about the Gospel, from what I could see. It was loads of fun!

Wednesday we went on splits with the elders and high priests, and it went alright. Problem is they never set home teaching appointments...so we go from place to place trying to find people. But at least we do it...we even found out that a former investigator got locked up again. His poor daughter was tearing up telling us...and I was a little sad to see her in that situation. Well, you have to learn from your mistakes. It's too bad. But, life goes on!

I got to interview my district, and I did my best. The best one was when I was interviewing an elder who was having a lot of family issues back home. I felt the distinct impression for him to bear his testimony...and he did. It was an easy invitation for the Spirit to enter, and it gave me a boost as did he. I could only do so much, but the Spirit is that lightning rod for us. God is too nice sometimes.

Highlights...pretty much it. It's been so very busy. I love this ward, and I love life!

I love you all!

Love,
Spencer

August 4, 2008

Dear Mom,

I didn't hear about that Uncle David lost his job...I just assumed due to all that you've written. But I didn't know he got laid off from BD, I thought he quit or something. But Northrop Gruman? That's a good job! What is he going to be doing as a defense contractor? What are the requirements to be a contractor? Eventually someone loses a job, it just depends who and when. This economic situation is making it difficult for my investigators and also a lot of potential investigators because they have to work almost double and so we don't see them as much. But, life goes on.

About that I don't have much time to write anyone anymore, let alone write in my journal. I'm finally getting around to writing Chase and Teri back (my BYU buddies) so I really feel bad...Kristy's written me twice since I wrote her. I just can't find much time as DL, it's about getting numbers every Sunday night, giving my district a call every night to see how it's going, and hardly any down time. At least I'm busy, but I'll make the extra effort to write Kristy back. I'm glad the mission is helping her out, but it does get annoying when sister missionaries go 'anal' or extreme on us. One of them called out President Goodrich during zone conference so I have mixed feelings about sister missionaries. I'm happy to hear she's doing well.

As for the cell phone, I'll be calling once in a while, not too much to eat up minutes. But I'll do the majority of my calls after 9 pm West Coast time. But, it's really liberating to be mobile, I love it!

By the way, I love my comp Elder Woods. A down-to-earth Southern boy, and he keeps me going. I truly know God knows when to give us companions to help us. And boy did I need him! I really hope we stay together for six more weeks! Because of him, this transfer has FLOWN by...does time fly!

This week was very busy. So busy I don't even know if I have enough time to describe it to you. But I'll do my best.

So as DL, we have to go on exchanges with our district members. I have 3 other companionships, so that makes 3 exchanges plus exchanges with the ZL's. Super busy! Our p-day was nice...I liked it even though we played Risk for a few hours (it was INTENSE!). Tuesday, zone conference. We had great trainings and I learned a lot. I'm excited to apply what I learned to Van Nuys 1st. We felt an earthquake because one hit somewhere south of us and came all the way up to us in Northridge. I was talking to an elder during the break and all of a sudden we both froze. We were moving up and down, so he asked me, 'are you jumping?' I said no, then we turned and saw the chalkboard in the middle of the gym was going up and down. 'A California welcome' said Elder Boyce, my ZL and fellow East Coaster. Wow, that was weird. We ate dinner with a Filipino member in her place, and her entire apartment complex is full of Filipinos. A good place to tract...

Wednesday was exchanges and that was interesting. I was paired with Elder Satuala, who is an interesting person. He's Tongan, but he's a 'bump on the log'- he's pretty nonchalant about everything. Good kid though. We had to get some things done to the car, so we got the oil changed and got an estimate for what Erickson did- he scraped up the side of the car really bad. Let's just say the paint job is going to cost under $2K plus replacement of some things. But, I gave a blessing in Spanish because the Arleta elders had zone conference that day. That was awesome. I felt bad because I had a gut feeling while I gave the blessing that this woman was going to die. I couldn't bear to say it to her, I just mentioned that she must strengthen her faith and accept God's will. Rather vague, but I couldn't do it. It scared me, honestly. I hope God will forgive me for neglecting to warn her, but I couldn't bear to do it. Did I do something wrong? I was scared! I hope it'll turn out alright. We didn't have much to do because it was mid-day, so we visited people and saw how they were. A super spiritual appointment with June. We watched the Restoration DVD in Tagalog so he could understand it, and he loved it. He felt the Spirit. He said he felt goosebumps when he saw the First Vision...and I know he knew it was true. He'll be our soonest baptism I believe. That was super spiritual...it set the tone of the rest of the evening! I still get goosebumps when I see the First Vision...no matter what I find myself tearing up at that point. This Gospel is true! We visited Satuala's recent convert, and the poor elder couldn't understand what he was saying to him (he was a convert in the Spanish ward and this elder's Spanish is super rusty). We felt his great Spirit, he's excited to be a member. We ended up going on splits with one of the high priests, and we had a good time visiting both active and less active members. Filipinos love to cook for guests, and we ate there the night before! We rushed over to the other apartment and switched again for a second consecutive exchange...my third day on bike in almost fourteen months...an interesting experience.

Thursday! Exchanges again! On bike! We did area book work, plotting member's homes on the maps in the area book, and it was tedious. I didn't like it. I started to fall asleep doing it. So we took a break and went back at it. Then, we left to go to our appointments. We get a member's house, the mom's active and the rest aren't, and there's this fat drunk Latino standing outside yelling. I thought, oh man this is the husband? I didn't know there is no man in the house, Sister Jimenez is single. So Elder Tayler talks to him, asks for his wallet and looks through to see what's up. The man was blabbing, 'I'm CIA and they don't know it. They just think I'm just a cop...but I'm CIA' while drinking a Budweiser. He had several licenses to carry four kinds of firearms on him as well as a baton. Makes you think, this guy is working to protect us? Tayler talked to him, calmed him down and he walked away cursing the FBI for all to hear and see. He's been harrassing the Jimenez's for some time, he wants to date Sister Jimenez- she said no so he's angry. And drunk. Poor family. We had a great time there though. I was sweating up a storm because I just raced there on bike for the first time in about four months. We ended up reading Nephi's description of the Tree of Life, and we all learned. That was cool. I really enjoyed their company. Off again on bike! We raced to a referral, whose daughter tried to chew us out saying that her dad didn't know he ordered a Bible from the Mormons and he'll never be a Mormon, etc. We ended the conversation (or one-sided mean contest) and went around to contact people. I nearly hit people biking so slow, almost losing my balance and I just gave up and went super slow. We contacted some really receptive people, including a Jewish family. I passed the mom and said hi, then the Spirit said TALK TO HER in a whispering but strong feeling. So we did and had a good conversation. Even talked to a black lady who lived in Ethiopia for a bit and we got along well. Poor Elder Tayler and I had to go to the bathroom so we zipped from a less active's house that didn't answer the door (it looked like they were moving) to Ralph's. We realized that we had to be at a less active's house in less than fifteen minutes after we came back out. Zoom! That was crazy being on bike and going fast! I swear I could've died several times zooming into intersections as the walk icons were fading. Phew! We were almost there, Tayler said we were almost there, and I had the impression to contact a Latina selling roses on the corner, so I did. I found out she had been contacted before, like Tayler said, but she didn't know that we gave her a card to receive a FREE video of Jesus Christ. She thought she had to pay for it. That was good. This less active, Sister Frahner, has two super active kids, and it was nuts! Wow! All over the place, screaming, etc. But, we had a good spaghetti dinner, and a good spiritual thought in which we committed her to continue to read and study the scriptures. She's loving it! She just came back into activity, and she loves it! She was cool! What was not cool was riding home. I was full, I was tired from being on bike, and I was at the end of my rope. So Tayler smoked me going back home. A good day, and I loved being on bike!

That was crux of my week. Friday was district meeting, and two of our elders didn't come because one of them decided to be dramatic and to look depressed and cut himself with a glass chessboard so he went to the ER to get stitches. The ZL's told me that so I was a bit angry, but as time has gone on...I understand what happened more. He just wants to find a reason to get moved somewhere else. A good district meeting, because Elder Cotter made us do a role-play- teach someone in 2 minutes and do certain things such as ask a direct question, commit to do something, introduce a scripture. Kept me on my toes! Had a good time with Gye, our English student, with Mike, who wants to be baptized but we'll wait a bit so he can move out, and with our members the Picketts. The wife's dad cooked a mean steak, medium rare...absolutely delicious! He found it offensive if one put steak sauce on it so I didn't, and it was quite tasty! I love that family so much, they're so gregarious and they have a great spirit! My Friday went great!

My Saturday was nuts. I conducted my first baptismal interview, and I really enjoyed it. The girl, Stephanie, was ready. She did say she didn't get an answer if Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today, but she knows everything else is true. She already had received answers to everything else so I knew she'd get a response soon. How sweet is that? I got to sign a baptismal white! YAY! I was super nervous but it went well. Then we were out and about finding less actives and verifying addresses with a member, Kelby Thwaits, who is a stage actor in Glendale. He's so cool! And his Spanish is still sharp! Ten years he was in Monterrey on a mission- he's kept it up! It was a great day, worked hard, ate with the first counselor Eric Miele and we got along great. The ward loves us, and I know we'll have miracles here. I can feel it. I just have to be patient and more obedient. We had a great time with Bruce Sayler, a member who is prepping to go to the temple soon. I read a scripture chain of Isaiah's prophecies of Christ, and Woods finished off with Doctrine and Covenants. Thing is, we didn't plan it, but it all testified of Christ's Atonement. That was pretty nifty.

Yesterday was interesting, but ended well. So we had a discussion in elder's quorum on gay marriage, and one member was being a dope and was complaining of why aren't we doing more than being against gay marriage, to which one member, the always stalwart Bro. Ballard, reproved him sharply with the scriptures. That was cool. A bad, contentious spirit was with us, because I was offended a member could complain about the inactivity of the Church on moral issues, so we said a prayer before we got out of the car to contact. It really helps, prayer does. We had a great dinner with some members, the Duttons, and really felt the Spirit there. They're great! They have a strong testimony of the Gospel, they've seen God's hand take Bro. Dutton and literally give him back to them. Wow! We went around to find less actives in my old stomping grounds of Arleta, no one was home so I took the liberty of visiting less actives from the Arleta ward, and I felt at home. The Castillo's were home, at least the mother, and I was happy to see her again. The Jarquin's, it was good to see them again. We visited some more people, and had to head home. It was feel good day, and I absolutely love the work!

God knows us, and he loves us. I wanted to bear my testimony during the meeting yesterday, but I might as well share it with you. I know that Christ suffered for us, he died for our sins. He was wounded for our transgressions, a man of sorrows, we hid our face from him as it were. He descended below all, are we greater than Him? I know he is my Savior, my Elder Brother, my everloving Friend.

I'm happy to hear from you, and I hope all is well in Zion!

Love,
Spencer

July 28, 2008

Dear Mom

I'm getting used to this district leader thing. I really like how I have to call my district every night and see how they're doing. It just makes me feel like I'm doing something, just making sure they're fulfilling their own goals and that they're on top of things. We got almost our entire district to help an investigator of another ward (that belongs to my district)move into a new apartment complex...that was pretty sweet! I really understand now why President Goodrich made me DL...so I'll stay on top of things and not get lazy as I have a tendency to do. Doesn't really hurt either that the ward is pushing me to use their ward missionaries, even though the ward mission leader is AWOL a lot. So basically we're the ward mission leader and we'll have to do all the dirty work. But, it's a learning experience.

My comp is the best thing for me. He's a bit strange, but he really wants to work. He pushes me when I'm dead tired and want to sleep. He just brings the best out of me and I really think we'll work miracles here. I can feel it. Our investigators are somewhat progressing, the ward members are opening up to us more, and I feel that baptisms will come in a matter of time. Mike Price came yesterday, again! He liked it, and he said he learned a lot from sacrament meeting. He'll have to talk to the bishop about his situation, but it's for the best because we can't help him anymore. We can only teach the Gospel, and he has to make the changes we ask him to. He's willing, but the bishop will help him in that regard. He's doing a great job!

Our part member family, the Hinehons, are doing well. June, the non-member husband, really gets along with us. All we have to do is just bring a member with us to our appointments. I really feel he'll get baptized if he has a friend, and the ward made an extra effort in welcoming him. I think his wife and his mother-in-law are very excited! We even got him a Tagalog Book of Mormon to read so he could understand it better.

Susan Lar didn't come, again, so we'll have to make her come. Bring a member and have that member give her a ride. But, she asked about a few things in our last visit. She asked, basically, who had the authority of God? What is the priesthood? Talk about a 'gimme' lesson. That was completely unplanned, but it went well. At first I was thinking 'oh man this is going to be rough' because we planned to teach something else. Then, we started defining authority and the priesthood to her. She understood it, then we showed why the authority is important. I love the ice cream man vs. policeman analogy. Policeman has the authority to give a ticket, not an ice cream man. We are the policemen, the others are the ice cream men. I love it! We shared scriptures from Acts and the Bible about authority, and boldly testified that no other church has it because of the Great Apostasy! Then we re-taught the Restoration through Joseph Smith. At the end, she was like...that makes sense I never knew what priesthood meant! She now knows, from our own testimonies and biblical evidence, that no other church has the authority of God. As Woods said, the best lessons are the ones planned by God! To start it off, she testified to us of the Book of Mormon. She can't sleep, she reads the book and feels peaceful. She knows it brings her joy. How golden is that? We just have to get her to church! It was funny because we set another appointment and she told us 'you'll see how pretty my daughter is' because her daughter will be in town- she's twenty-two years old. These investigators are so funny, always trying to impress us with their young daughters because we're faithful Christians. It's hilarious!

Our English class is going well with Gye Choi, an eternal Korean investigator. She asks the hardest questions about English grammar, and I'm stumped. Woods knows it all so I have nothing to worry about when he's teaching. I'm the fool out of the group. But, she's warming up to us and I think she'll eventually accept lessons from us. She comes to church though! That's a step!

Life is going well because we're doing our best. Every night we get home, plan, and I just relax. Then I sleep well...and I regret getting up in the morning. But, the Lord provides strength every day. We've had some great contacts on the streets, but too bad they're mostly in Spanish so we have to pass them off. We're referral machines! Pumpin' them out! With the Lord's blessings of course! Life is great...and I just love the work!

About the move, it was awesome! We went to play basketball in the morning and then went to the Sherman Oaks elders' place to relax before we moved their investigator. Sara and Tayler are so fun to be around, they're my favorite elders in the district! I know I can't have favorites, but they're hilarious. One is like 6'4'', the other (Sara) is 5'6'' like me. Sara is hyper, Tayler not. Tayler whines a little, Sara tells him to shut up. Fun duo. So we helped them move for a few hours, and it was alright. It was awkward trying to move a couch with Tayler. He lifts it halfway for him, but it's high for me. Awkward going down the stairs with it. But, Shirin really appreciated it (that's her name) and it was loads of fun. We even rearranged her new living room, playing musical couches and tables for ten to fifteen minutes. It was tiring, but I felt good doing it. Then we went to teach our less active, who fed us lunch. Betsy Miller is progressing! I know she'll come back to church soon! I know! She's changed so much, and she really wants to go to the temple when she's ready and going back to church. We taught the Gospel- faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. The room was full, almost oozing of the Spirit. We testified with power and with sincerity. Those are the moments I treasure...wow...I love it. Absolutely love teaching her. She wants to change, and is doing her best. She feels better all week, because she's living what she is re-learning. The Lord is blessing her because she's putting that faith forward, 'Lord, I want to change. Help me change, help me feel that I need to change.' It is great, seeing her progress.

My ZL's are awesome...they gave me a boost when they talked to the stake president lately. I think they were in a meeting and they asked how the lesson went. We taught a non-member, Kathy Pena, in his house with both him, his wife, and the investigator's family there. Her husband is an RM that's a local deputy. The ZL's told me that Pres. Jex really like how I taught, and he was happy I was there teaching Kathy instead of the previous district leader who created several interesting situations. Haha, it's funny thinking about it knowing the past DL. They know when to give me a boost, and I'm motivated to help them by helping out my district. I can see why they're excited...this stake is going to explode with baptisms! I can feel it!

Woods and me were talking about it before...we know God has prepared this ward for us, well, the missionaries. We have gold here, all we have to do is thrust in our sickles and reap the harvest. We talked about making a plan, which we did, of how to get the members involved in the work, get the ward missionaries excited and teaching them the lessons so they can teach them with us, and fellowshipping our investigators. The Lord's hand is here, just waiting to pour more blessings on us!

"The standard of truth has been erected, no hallowed hand can stop the work from progressing..." -our Beloved Prophet Joseph Smith

I know this place is for me. I love it, I love the work, I love the Lord. Please continue to pray for me so I can be made equal to my tasks and burdens.

I love you all, I love you Mom. I love you Dad, you are an example to me. Steven, I love you and I miss you a lot bro...how I miss home! I love you Grandma, I can't wait to see you again!

May God keep you safe.

Love,
Spencer

July 21, 2008

Dear Mom,

I was so happy to get the phone...but I was equally I'll talk to President Goodrich about all the details and what is really going on at the mission office. I'll ask him to see what his opinion is about sending my old phone home or whether I should keep it. We'll see what happens.

Sorry about that...I'm just so worn out I just type and I mess up on what keys I'm typing...oops sent!

So I was happy to see the phone, but dismayed when I talked to the mission office about my phone...they said to hold off on it so I'll call mission president about it. He knows all.

That's too bad about Mike, I hope he'll get it worked out! The mission is great! It'll do him some good, some great good!

This past week started slow, gained speed, then tailed off on the weekend as usual. But, it was a really great week and I am really enjoying my new companion, Elder Woods of Summerville, South Carolina (outside Charleston). It was very busy!

We had some really sweet days! My favorite had to have been Saturday. Just because we taught a less active, whose been inactive for who knows how long, and she really wants to change and come back to church. The past month she's really changed. Her name is Betsy Miller, and her sister apparently has been pushing her softly to think about going to the temple for years and years. It's finally made a breakthrough! We're re-teaching her the lessons and she is applying what we teach and ask to read to her own life. We go in there, she's like 'come on in guys!' and we talk a little so she'll get to know Woods. We asked who was going to pray to start and she volunteered (or decided). She gave the most honest and sincere prayer I've heard in a long time. Basically she said, 'enlighten me so I can learn and come back.' That really set the tone for our lesson on the Plan of Salvation. She asked us, 'how can people not accept the Gospel in the Spirit World?' My comp pulled through with Amulek's talk in Alma 34, that the same spirit in the earth will be the same spirit in the next life. Slowly and surely, she'll come back to church. We're just here to help her along. She wants to be sealed in the temple, at least to her sister. She said she can't imagine life without her sister, and we'll gladly oblige in teaching her to reach that goal.

I never realized how amazing this plan is from the Lord. We decided to go with this plan, knowing that many will fall by the wayside. But yet, we went through with it because we knew Jesus Christ will allow us the chance to return to His presence. Adam fell that men might be, that they might have joy. I love to think of the Fall this way. Adam was created, then Eve. Adam starts naming animals, 'Aardvark'. Eve says, 'Adam, we have to obey both commandments, but how are we to have children?' Adam says, 'I don't know, Beaver!' Later on, Eve again says to Adam, 'How are we to live both commandments if we don't have children?' Adam says, 'Kangaroo!' Then Eve comes again and says, 'Adam, I ate the fruit so I'm going to be kicked out...to live alone. Without me, we cannot have children.' Adam realizes and says, 'I see. ZEBRA!' and eats. See? Women are smarter! The Atonement separates us from others, on top of modern revelation. If everyone understood it, we'd be in Zion. All will receive resurrected bodies, that is a free gift for all that have lived here. And, we'll have the precious gift of eternal life if we live His laws. A truly celestial plan.

That was probably the highlight of my week, among other things. We picked up two new investigators, a member's non-member husband, June, and a former investigator Shenice Bryant. They're awesome! June used to have a baptismal goal set, but he backed out. Well, round two! He'll commit this time! We got him a Tagalog Book of Mormon because his English is still basic. As for Shenice, she used to investigate the church a little bit back but stopped. She has six children, including a month old baby. She's unmarried, and lives with her boyfriend...so we'll have to work on that. The bishop chuckled when I said, 'we'll worry about that a little later' in PEC yesterday. She readily accepted our message and she was all about reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it and about Joseph Smith. Sometimes people need time to let it sink in, so I hope it's her time.

We set a baptismal goal of three baptisms. In this area, it's possible. It's just a matter of getting people to commit to hear us and make time for us. It's almost impossible out here! But, we'll make it work somehow. I'm hoping for Susan, the always amazing Mike Price (he canceled this week because he was sick) and maybe June or Donna. We'll see what happens these next five weeks. I'm so excited!

Lately I've been sleep-deprived, more than usual. Just because I have more responsibilities as DL and I have to push the tempo. Not like I did before, but that added responsibility is making me a bit stressed...but it's meant to make me stretch. The Lord knows when we need to step it up, and I need to this transfer. We have great potential here, so we have to put it all to the test!

I always love going over to visit Bruce Saylor. He's a convert of two years and he's preparing for the temple. He couldn't last year because he got really sick and they took out his gall bladder. He thought it was an ache but it got infected and he nearly died. But as he said, 'I'm back!' Gosh I love him! He says when we come, we give him a boost. When we go there, we get a boost too! He's so funny, and he loves talking about the Book of Mormon with us. I love going to places and feeling the Spirit when you enter in that place or home. It's the best feeling ever!

Woods and I are going to love it here! I'm so excited! The Lord has something prepared here and I hope I'll see its fruition!

I miss you all...I miss y'all. I hope everything is going alright, and stay safe!

I'll drive carefully, believe me!

Love,

Spencer

P.S. I miss you Grandma! (-_-) ---me bowing to my loving grandma!

July 14, 2008

Dear Mom,

Guess what? I got made district leader! Not exactly what I wanted...but I guess the Lord wants me to get working down here. It's funny because I used to say it'd be cool to be DL or ZL...but I've seen too much to make me wary of leadership. I have to do numbers now...not fun at all! AHHH!!! So I'm 'guaranteed' a few transfers more here...and then I hope I get moved to Spanish like President suggested! That'd be so awesome! I miss Spanish work already!

So my zone leader Elder Swann got AP'd so the other zonie Boyce (who was at BYU with me and at the MTC with me for a little bit) was stuck with us for most of last week. It was a blast! I can see why he went from junior comp to junior ZL without being DL. He's so charismatic, friendly, but really knows why he's here. We got to work not only our area in Van Nuys, but a lot over in Northridge. A lot of driving, no doubt. It was very crazy being here and there all day, but it was loads of fun with him with us. It was one crazy but super blessed week!

I got to talk to my recent converts, with presidential approval, and it made me miss them a lot more. The Cardenas are doing well and they miss me because I can speak Spanish. My replacements can't communicate very well, Yadira told me. She said, maybe you'll move back up here soon! (That'd be awesome! was what I was thinking). But, they're doing well. Their twins got sick last week, so they're recovering. They were preemies and they're now five years old apiece, but still have some health problems due to the constantly changing weather. The Jaimes are doing well, they're actually going to church and staying at church for all three hours. That's a huge improvement. Diana, the daughter I baptized, said she's learning so much and she loves it. She told me all is well, it's just all new to them. I asked how the other elders were treating them, and she didn't say much except that it's tough for them to communicate to her family. At least Lynn has to speak more because his comp's Spanish is as bad as his and I'm not his crutch. Yeah! Hooray for learning on the run!

We got a great media referral! Her name is Susan Lar, and she's Filipino. We have a lot of them here now that I think of it. She's Christian, and has never had her questions answered like we have answered them. She said that at work, over at UCLA hospital, she saw the Restoration movie online and she said she knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet. So that was our first visit, and I was completely taken aback. The next one was even better! She somehow got onto talking about repentance and how she felt like she was a sinner, that when she tried to commit suicide she got put into the hospital. She said she looked at her feet and saw hell, like fire and brimstone stuff. Intense! She said she prayed so hard and fervently that she felt an overwhelming joy. It was inspiration, we turned to Alma chapter 36, when Alma the Younger was recounting his conversion to his son Helaman. Susan said, the Book of Mormon has to be true if I can relate to it! She said she believed as soon as we finished reading it. But, we committed her to pray about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, to receive a spiritual witness. How amazing is that? A golden investigator via Bible referral, we don't get much of those!

Mike Price wants to delay his baptism, and that's fine. He knows it is the path he wants to take. His grandmother even sent a Baptist missionary to try to convince him otherwise, but he said no thanks. He was raised Baptist. He's having a hard time convincing himself that all will be fine. He's currently living in sin with a very less active member (a really annoying member of the bishopric chastised us for using 'inactive' in a really condescending manner so we have to avoid saying that now) and he wants to know if he moves out and is baptized...God will provide for them. We assured him that all will work out, but he has to take that step of faith to move out. He'll probably move out of our ward, but it'll be the best for him. We read some scriptures, and helped encourage him to use his faith and take that 'leap of faith' that we taught a few weeks ago. He'll do it, but he'll need a lot of help. He's just a great man!

On top of that, we did a lot of service ripping up floorboards for a potential investigator. She's moving her gym from one place to another that's a bit smaller but is better financially. So we went there and ripped up floorboards with a big crowbar as well as patched up the walls. It was so exhausting! I was sore for a few days, considering that we did it Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning! It was a good learning experience- STAY IN SCHOOL!

We had a zone testimony meeting at the famous Rock, the mission's ocean lookout by Malibu. It was good, but some of my fellow elders advised people to be themself. Funny thing is...is that these elders don't work hard and love to rationalize with 'I'm called to be here to be myself so I'll be lazy'. It went well, but I got a little sunburned. We had a great and filling lunch at a local Colombian restaurant. It was hilarious because Erickson asked the waitress if they had horchata, a Mexican drink. Her mouth dropped and said 'we're colombians' with an attitude. I


So moving on...

I almost died of laughter! IDIOT! My other buddies Sara and Tayler were busting up laughing too...but they kept most of it in. HILARIOUS! Darn gringos!

We had a great lesson with Betsy Miller, our less active. She really wants to come back to church, but she knows she has to change and repent. So we went over the Plan of Salvation and focused a lot on the Atonement. It was from the heart. I loved it. The Spirit was THERE! We had two sisters from Relief Society, Sister Ballard and Twaits (the latter's husband can SING! He's a stage actor). I had no doubt that Betsy was touched by our testimonies and the Gospel. She's coming back, and I'm very pleased to know that I'll help her get back to church! It reminds me now of D&C 18:10, how great are the worth of souls in the sight of God, how if we bring but one soul back to him, how great will be our joy! I can't wait to see her go to church, when she feels ready to. Miracles are going to happen in this area...I know it and feel it.

My new companion is Elder Woods, a shade taller than me. And a little strange, but he likes to work so it's really good for me. I'm excited! This is my second time being senior over someone that came out with me. Strange ain't it? And I love Erickson...but I'm kinda happy he's leaving because he's so dramatic and feminine....it drives me nuts! But I love him a lot! We did a lot of wonderful things here!

Elder Boyce is my favorite! I can't wait to serve under him...he's going to show me the ropes. He's hilarious because him and I share a strong dislike for my former DL, Elder Tighe. Tighe likes to put down and scold people and he really gets to me. He's nice, but really annoying. So Boyce went on exchanges on Friday with him and came back frustrated and happy to be with us. I buzzed on the apartment com and he came out in a second! Haha, wonder why? He told us a lot of stuff, and he thought it was annoying but hilarious that a DL was calling a ZL to repentance on planning...because the ZL is there because he is a good missionary, most times better than a DL for sure. He looks serious, but he is just a great missionary and friend! And, he got Elder Wilcox as his comp, my fave roomie so far! I'm so happy that they're training me to be a good DL!

Life is getting better! I know miracles are in store here!

I hope all is well, I love you all!

Love,
Spencer

July 7, 2008

Dear Mom,

This transfer has gone by so very fast! It's incredible! What a blessing it is to work and not worry about anything else. It's something I treasure to be able to NOT be homesick that much on the mission, because I know that the Lord will provide for His children in some way. My companion is a bit interesting, but we get along well for the most part, and we get a lot done. It was funny because this morning I was whistling the Super Mario video game theme walking to the car, and continued it in the car. He just screamed! It caught me off guard, and for a split second I wanted to hit him in the face because he does that a lot and it irritates me a little. But, I waited and asked him why he screamed and he told me it was because he doesn't like whistling. Phew! I'm happy I'm a bit more patient now...or there would've been some problems! He's awesome! It's just he sings a lot and it gets annoying...but it could be worse! He could be a lazy companion!

We set a baptismal date this past Friday with Mike Price! I was so excited for this, and when we did it I just felt like I was on Cloud Nine. Almost like the person that said this following statement:

'And we're going to the White House.......

BYEAAAAHHH!!!'

That's how excited I felt. No joke. It was a great experience! We sat down and started to teach and testify that there is only one authority by which God's children can be baptized. I have learned one thing in the mission- the Bible is amazing! I shared a few scriptures from the Book of the Acts and BAM! Straight up doctrine from the Bible on the power of God, the importance of such power, that it is exclusive to members of the church, and also that no one else has the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was frank, but he was open to us. We're such good friends that we can be really frank about a lot of things, and he won't take offense. He was in shock, which was expected, and so we encouraged him to continue to pray to receive an answer. He even told us, earlier that week, that he called his family and told them of his decision to join our faith. He knows this path is the path for him, and he wants to take it. He admits he's changed a lot, and he has. I've only seen a part of the change in him. He doesn't like being in the underworld among low-life people (he works as a bouncer), he knows that happiness is only temporary according to the world's standards, and he definitely knows he must comply with what he's doing and feeling, which is to join the Church of Jesus Christ. He said he felt overwhelmed and alone at times. He doesn't know what to do, and felt insecure. Then, my awesome companion said, let's read a revelation from our prophet Joseph Smith. The section, 122 or 124 or something like that, which is when Christ consoled Joseph in his afflictions- "The Son of Man has descended below all this. Art thou greater than he?" The part that always gets me, without fail, is when Christ describes Joseph being thrust from his family and children, that his young six-year old boy asks, 'father, where are they taking you?' I can only feel a part of the pain the Jospeh Smith felt, but only a tiny fraction of what Christ felt in Gethsemane, abandoned by all his friends. That section of revelation really boosted Mike's spirits, and we left with a prayer. Talk about true conversion. The Spirit is motivating him to do the right things, and he wants to do it, and change. Wow. Why am I so blessed to be here?

By the way, he played football for the Redskins and for the Bengals before dropping out for some reason. Can you find out why and let me know? His name is Mike Price, a black man (HUGE MAN!)

That was probably the best appointment all week. One more committed to baptism!

One cool experience was when we were driving around, and we ended up stoping in parking lot. Erickson said, 'I feel we need to talk to someone here' so we got out and went contacting. All in Spanish, but we managed. I ended up having a brief discussion on the question, Why are there so many churches? The man wanted to know, he knew there has to be one true church, but yet...he denied us the chance to visit and teach him. I don't have time, he said. I hope God will give him another chance, or he will give us a chance someday. It was awesome! We talked of how people work for money, but I said we don't in our church. We have a prophet. But yet, he wasn't ready to hear us. God will remember all His children, sometimes they need a lot of preparation before they hear us. It took the Cardenas 5 years to meet us, and by the time they met us they were baptized in three months! A miracle indeed!

The members are really opening up to us. No referrals yet, but I know that they really like us both. Erickson is really outgoing and could charm anyone. I'm sorta the serious one, but I have my moments too. We have felt the Spirit very strongly with our members, and there's no doubt they know this is the only path to salvation then exaltation. A convert is preparing for the temple, and we helped him out yesterday in our visit. He's having a rough time, his old self is trying to come back. So we stopped by to give him that charge he needs. We read 2nd Nephi 31:19-21 and chapter 32:8-9. He really needed that. Just a wonderful older man, 69 year old Bruce Saylor. He's anticipating going to the temple, and he just needs a little push once in a while of encouragement and love. What a funny guy! Always a light moment with him, but the Spirit is strong with him. He nearly threw a rock into the ZL's car when they were serving here (both have gone home and one was my AP when I got here), and now here we are sharing scriptures and many light moments. How precious are these moments! We told him, keep that fire going! Read the scriptures! Go to the temple! The Lord blesses us in many ways, and opens our mouths to speak the truth to all according to their needs.

I'm still the Filipino here...ahhh!!!! I really want to learn Korean when I get back. Everyone is giving me a guilt trip about not knowing Korean or Japanese...I hope I don't snap and mouth off on them! All the Latinos point that out...it gets annoying!

And another heat wave is headed our way...oh great!

The work is going well, and I'm happy here! I can only hope to stay a while here, and have obedient and fun companions. I wish you all well, and God keep every one of you safe and sane.

Love,
Spencer