Week Nine

 Dear Family and Friends!

Good morning, and what an amazing week I had! I know it is crazy long
and I don't expect you to read it all cause I know you are all so
busy, but I had so many amazing things happen that I just couldn't
leave them out!
So here we go!
Week of September 21-27 2015
Monday:
What a crazy day like normal! So we had the awesome opportunity to go
to the Stock yards today. The Stockyards are just Streets of old
fashioned shops with cowboy stuff and everyday at 4 they have a
roundup! It was really fun and I finally bought me a Texas Flag!! I
love it and am going to hang it up in my house! And after our day
shopping around we had the fun opportunity to play frisbee with the
missionaries! It was so much fun! After that we hurried home to head
to a lesson with Hennessy and Mesmerize. We got bad news from
Mesmerize that her mom doesn't want her to be baptized so we are going
tomorrow to talk with her! Hopefully we can talk to her and help her
realize the importance! However our lesson was the best one we have
ever had with them! We also taught Erica and Jamallex and I believe
they both have the goal of the temple! We are really working hard with
them for that!!!! The temple is such an amazing place to go and I had
are hard time testifying of the love I feel of my Heavenly Father
without crying! Please go to the temple often!

Tuesday:

What an amazing amazing day! So we had the amazing opportunity to serve at the food bank today and they actually had us leave a little early because we were going to fast and they didn't have enough food to work with for another hour! It was really cool! Also we went to the house of Hna. Fuentes to get a baptismal signature from the Mother of Hennessy. We also were able to teach Hennessy and Mesmerize a lot and were surprised by Hna. Fuentes when her grandson who is 11 came out and said that he also wanted to take the lessons and get baptized! As we talked to him I was amazed at how much he understands the scriptures. The first thing he told us is that he had been feeling a weight in his heart that he needed to go to church and listen to the missionaries! For an Eleven year old that is amazing! That is when you know the lord was involved in the change of heart! So we taught all three of them and set a date for him on the 24 of October! After we taught them is when the stressed part of the day came. The mother of Mesmerize told us that Mesmerize couldn't be baptized this week. She said she couldn't be baptized until she was older! We have been studying the scriptures a lot for the appointment and praying for the help of the lord, and through the lesson I could feel his help through the spirit! She actually opened up to us and told her a lot of her problems she had and we worked through them. We realize that she needs our help a lot right now and she finally gave us written consent to baptize Mesmerize. What and amazing blessing that occurred today! So after our lesson and talking with them we went to a dinner with Guadalupe and Juan, her husband. The food was amazing and as we were visiting we found out that there week wasn't so good! Guadalupe had a heart attack last week and some stomach issues all last week! She has been recovering and no one knew it!! So we are working on getting her healthy and back to church! Well today was crazy and we just finished our planning for tonight at 10:40! So as you can tell it was a long and crazy day!

Wednesday: 

Today was an amazing day! We woke up and had a good exercise and good studies! After studies we went straight to district meeting. District meeting I learned so much that I want to share!

District meeting September 23, 2015

Sabbath day study topics!

-preach my gospel  -Ezekiel 20:20   -Isaiah 58:13-14   -exodus 31:13-17 (20:9-11)

Inviting people to Church!

-Alma 6:5-6   -Exodus:20  -3 Nephi 18  -Moroni 6:4  -Alma 24:19  -Matt 24:19  -D&C 59:9-15  -Exodus 31:12-17  -Isaiah 58:13-14 -Luke 22  -Moroni 3 and 4  -Mosiah 13:19

Try to find other scriptures that teach the main purpose!!

* Hermana Mangelson:

How to work better with the Ward council.

PMG 9

Am I a blessing or a burden for the bishop?

-We need to figure out how our bishop functions and work with that!

Ideas to unite the ward with us!:

- meet new members every Sunday.

-meet the less actives in our area.

-plug in members for investigators.

* 4 steps to build a conversion:

1. No sarcasm or gossip

2. Express you love

3. Share feelings

4. Give of your fish, or let them know what is going on.

Use this with the bishop to really understand him and change the relationship we have.

This was most of my notes all translated over! After that we had an awesome time teaching Hennessy and Mesmerize and Martin. Martin has all of his own church, but only has one black tie he wears everyday so I gave him one of my old ties and he was in heaven. We also are teaching how to tie it! That was all we had time for, but these kids are so exciting for baptism and so are we! It was amazing and we have been getting referrals out of our ears and trying to get ahold of them with the baptism this week! I have never had a week this crazy, but it is making it go by so fast while learning how to speak the language and how to manage crazy amounts of stress!

Thursday:

So today we had weekly planning and had a crazy planning session! We usually don't fill every day up, but this week we definitely filled everything that we had! Also during planning we got a text from Erica saying her daughter didn't have to work tonight and that she would love if we could go and teach her, because she is having a lot of trials right now! So we went over to Hermana Fuentes house and taught Martin the rest of lesson one and waited while Elder Hornberger interviewed Hennessy and Mesmerize, and then we went and taught the daughter of Erica, with Erica and Jamillex.

The lesson went amazing and she really understood the purpose of the Book of Mormon again. She is going through a lot, but she wants to change so we said we would keep coming. I feel my testimony grow each time I teach, and I know that God lives! She asked me how I knew he lived and I said without pause, "look at the family you have, your body, and the earth we live in. Not only that he wants us to know him, so we have scriptures and prophets!!" She couldn't disagree and so we helped her realize she can have a relationship with him as well! It went amazing and then we ended our day eating dinner at 10:00 at night. If you don't have a personal testimony that God loves you, get one! Pray!

Friday:

Today I am going to have a lot of thoughts! We went to the Fort Worth Library today to update our SMC Reports, also known as our Stake Missionary Correlation reports that have the investigators and recent converts we are working with.  We updated all of our new people and I was able to get all of my songs put on to my flash drive and my iPad! After that we had to hurry to a mission wide meeting at the Hurst Stake Center! President and Sister Ames trained on The Sabbath Day Observance and I learned so much! We thought it would be a 2 hour training and it ended up being almost three and a half almost four hours! I was glued to the screen and to Presidents insights and I can not wait to have a wife and a family to share this with! So the videos we watched were from a meeting with only general authorities and it was so spiritual!

Sabbathday observance

President Ames:

Today is about 2 people. Me and my investigator.

Russell M. Nelson:

- The focus is for those who are lost or less active to get back into the gospel.

- Focus on how we build a foundation of faith on God, Jesus Christ and the Atonement.

- As we improve our sabbath day, faith will increase across the world and so will our fold.

M. Russell Ballard:

- Elevating the spirit and power on the sabbath day will retain the more part of families.

- This is not just something we should focus on at church, but at home as well.

- When you use the ward council effectively the spirit will be stronger in your sacrament meetings.

- Bring plans for sacrament meeting to ward council.

Elder Quentin L. Cook:

- So much our eternal destiny happened as Christ's life was coming to the end.

- Jesus also gave the sacrament to the Nephites. Why in both parts of the world?

*  We partake of the sacrament to:

1. Remember: the body

2. Witness: you will take his name upon you.

3. Inspire: spiritual experiences.

Other thoughts. Taking the sacrament.

* We do not fulfill all of our commandments until we partake of the sacrament.

* It is a way to be held accountable for the thinks we promise to do better every week.

* The sacrament was one of the last things he did before he died and one of the first things he did when he resurrected. Do you think it is because it is important?

* Do we take the sacrament like it is the most important thing we do in the week? Because in reality it really is! I know I can do better at this!

How do we get investigators to understand the importance of Sacrament Meeting?

* It is okay for investigators to take the sacrament if they want, but explain what it means before they come!

* Don't focus on when you were baptized, focus on the last time you took the sacrament, because you are way past where you were when you started.

* Baptism is essential for salvation, but also renewing that baptism is essential for salvation.

* Anytime we go to the waters of baptism or sacrament we are humbling ourselves before God.

- Repentance is not an event. It is not something you will just feel you have done in a certain time frame. Repentance is a constant and never ending process.

* When we take the sacrament we should not only think of the things that we have done wrong, but also the things that we will do wrong. Both are taken care of during sacrament.

- As we prepare and partake of the sacrament we should ask ourselves as the 12 Apostles asked themselves, "Lord is it I who has or will betray you?"

How can we get a deeper understanding of the Sacrament?

Robert D. Hales:

* Mothers and fathers, teach your children the importance of Sacrament.

Dallin H. Oaks:

- if it is called the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the we must also build a foundation upon his name. The title is not enough.

- Every thing is done through Jesus Christ.

- Covenanting at baptism or at sacrament is taking that share of the lords mission upon yourself.

Neil L. Anderson:

- Covenants don't only bring commitments, but spiritual power.

Jeffery R. Holland:

- We should be focusing on the sacrament along time before the Priest knees down to give the prayer.

- Sacrament is an ordinance. (Important)

Other thoughts

- Don't just be active in the church, be active in the gospel.

- Sacrament layers upon itself each week until we get a deeper commitment to follow God.

- Sacrament helps us to truly become one with Christ. The bread and the water dissolve within us and become one with us.

- Do we take his name upon us I vain?

* Thou shalt not take the lord thy God in vain!

* Baptism and sacrament give us a chance to take his name upon us, but if we don't do the right thing it is in vain.

- Don't take the sacrament unless you were there for both prayers. Stay for the next meeting or come earlier next time.

- The symbolism of the sacrament is what is most Important.

- Just like symbolism in the temple is to teach us a doctrine and truth. The truth taken inside of us is what makes us change.

* What we would say to the Catholic brain is you is listen to the Mormon brain in you instead! -President Ames

- Becoming like Christ takes planning. Magnify your calling and you won't go home and turn away from the church.

* Take MY "Yoke" upon you....

- As we do that we step along in Jesus' footsteps instead of having to find our own way.

- The sabbath day is a day we are rescued. It is our weekly rescue!

- Do we make our chapel like our temple?

- It should however be just as sacred and quiet as a temple. If you need to visit go in the foyer.

- We physically taste the bread and the water, but do we spiritually taste it?

Ulysses Soares:

- How can we teach others so they feel this?

1. Conversations outside the chapel.

2. Teach them about covenants.

3. Teach them about coming to Christ.

4. This is the way to overcome Satan.

- God will always show his love, and the spirit will always be a teacher. You will always feel the love of God, but it takes worthiness to be uplifted and edified.

Rosemary Wixom: 

* Sister experience:

- Sometimes sacrament is more a wrestling match than a spiritual feast.

- Most sisters however come to church hungry to be fed and have a hard time with kids.

1. Counsel together:

- Ask children what they can do to be quiet. How can we as a family change?

  2.  Be patient with children and their parents:

- They are trying there hardest.

  3.  Continually teach the importance of Sacrament:

- Make it a weekly goal to have a lesson in the week of the sacrament or church. 

- Help make crafts for your kids to focus in church.

* Other thoughts

- Talk with your stake president about the issues of translating for kids.

- Link a friend that speaks both to the kids.

- Teach mothers to make a craft for there kids at church, before church.

Elder Cook:

- Give back the sacrament to the Savior.

Sister Ames:

- If you want to show respect let your mother or wife take the sacrament first.

- As you hold e tray for others you are showing the. That you are there to help them  through the week.

- Presidents Ames holds the bread for a while after he gets it to make sure he is connected with the savior, and to make sure he is ready to make the sacrifice and commitment before he takes it.

Sabbath day Observance in the Home

David A. Bednar:

- Everything that we do is focused on families in this church and being united and sealed at home.

- Multigenerational families are so important.

Also today we had dinner with this sweet old lady that I feel is like my mission grandma! She loves making food and having the missionaries over, but she also loves to talk and say only the truth and sometimes the truth hurts for us haha. However we forgive her, because she is close to her 90's and still one tough lady!

Also she is the queen of the casseroles for sure! Sorry mom! She has had more experience, but she will never beat the love and everything else that you do for me!

Also you are the queen of chicken pillows and pretty much every other food including cheese cake!

After our amazing dinner with her we went to the church to type up the programs for our two baptisms tomorrow!! It was an amazing day!

 

 

Saturday:

Wow today was definitely a day I will never forget! So today we had our normal studies and even had the opportunity to pass by a beauty shop that we got a Referral too. As we walked in the place was packed, the lady we needed to talk to was swamped with people, and everyone was staring at us. There was no way we were going to be able to talk to her in that moment! So I told Elder Schuhmacher to go to the bathroom so it didn't look really awkward for us to just walk in and out. As he was in the bathroom the lady we were going to visit with actually finished up her costumer and was asking if I was getting a haircut, so without the help of Elder Schuhmacher and with the help of God I was able to tell her why we were there and actually give her a card and Book of Mormon. She thanked me and left and then Elder Schuhmacher walked walked out and was trying to figure out what happened! He was very impressed. So after that we went and visited with Hermano Peña and his sister, who is from California, to see how they were doing! Hermano Peña is recovering so well and just needs his time alone! He doesn't like a lot of visitors, but never pushes anyone away. After our amazing visit we changed and went to the church to get the font filled up and get the room ready for our 2 Baptisms that we had! The baptism went amazing and I was so nervous to baptize and speak in Spanish in front of everyone. As I started going I realized I have no reason to be nervous. This is a day for Mesmerize and Hennessy! So elder Schuhmacher baptized Hennessy and I baptized Mesmerize. It was such a good experience for me to go through. And they were so happy afterwards!! Hennessy is on the left and Mesmerize is by me! Then we took one of just us two. She was not much for smiling, she was very nervous and had tears in her eyes before, because she doesn't like groups of people! But she did amazing and the whole day was just so amazing!

 

 

Sunday:

I always say that my days are good, but I just don't know how else to describe being blessed by God everyday. I have seen so many miracles happen that I can not say my day was bad even if it was hard! So today we had a great sacrament meeting, and both Elder Schuhmacher and I got to confirm the Hennessy and Mesmerize in English in the Spanish branch! Elder Schuhmacher confirmed Mesmerize and I confirmed Hennessy. It was scary until I realized that most of the barrio couldn't understand what I was saying. Haha so we both are on Koloa right now thinking about helping these girls, but are seriously looking for some more people who need the gospel so they can feel the same happiness that we have! What an amazing day we had and also there was a so called Super Moon lunar eclipse tonight that was pretty cool! So don't worry I am working my butt off and getting to enjoy my hour a free time before bed! Oh also I was asked by our district leader, Elder Hornberger to give a disempeño, sorry a role play this Wednesday on contacting with the Book of Mormon and I am super nervous. However I have the faith that the lord will help me with the language!

Well as you can tell my week was more than I could have ever asked for!
Thank you for all of you emails, letters, thoughts, and prayers! They
help me greatly as I serve the Lord! If you have written me and I
haven't responded give me a while, I am very slow at my responding to
letters!
I love you all and pray for you every single day! If you don't believe
that email my companion!
If it wasn't for the people I love at home supporting me, my mission
would be very different! I always have the love and motivation I need
and a a loving every hard and easier moment I am get!
I want to leave you with a quote that I heard this week.
-"If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what
you have always gotten."
-President Ames
Please really think about this as you go through this week.
If you want something to change in your life you have to do something different!
I challenge you all to change something in your life so you can feel
the love that our Heavenly Father has for you!
Have a great week!

Through Christ we can do all things! (Alma 26:12)

Con Amor,

Elder Spendlove