6 month mark!

Dear Family and Friends,
What an amazing week I have had, and it is so weird to think that this
Thursday I complete 6 months in the wonderful service of the Lord! All
I know is that the time goes much faster than I was expecting it too!
I have learned some amazing things about myself and about my purpose
this week! I hope that the thing I share will uplift you this week and
help you see the love I have for my mission! I wouldn't be anywhere
else!
Week November 30-6 December 2015
Monday:
Wow today was a really different pday for me!!! So we walked to the
library early, because we don't have wifi at our house, and as I was
getting ready to email we got a call from a new investigator telling
us he is just having a hard time and feels he can be open to us and
just needed some scriptures to help him through his hard times. It was
a really cool experience and then as we were sitting there getting
ready to go back in the library another guy asked us some questions
and we taught him a 10 minute lesson and had such an amazing time
doing it too! So after that I had the chance to email for a little bit
and head shopping!! We shopped and then headed to the church to be
with all the missionaries of our Zone. We had an ultimate frisbee game
and had such a fun time!! I hope that we can play it again! And after
that we got going again and had such an amazing night eating with a
member and his kids and also searching for the other Elders phone! It
was a great day and had such a fun time!! I also just learned how to
say I love you in Tongan!!! Ofaatu: I love you.

Tuesday:
Wow today was a day full of ups and downs! So today we had the
opportunity to go and give service at a special needs school with
people who are older and it was so much fun!! They have such amazing
spirits about them and always see the good instead of the bad!! There
were two people there that I talked to that changed my outlook in my
mission and life!! Ones name was Richard. He was crying when I walked
up to him and he didn't want to talk to me. As I got to know him more
he told me that his dad just passed away and he was having a hard
time, and right them I wanted to teach him everything I had to offer,
but I knew he wouldn't understand it all, so he taught me how to teach
simple and to love!! His appearance changed in the simple words that I
said to him. "Your dad is so happy and is just watching over you now!"
He seemed much happier with that! Also I had the chance to play uno
with a lady who was in a wheelchair and had struggles speaking without
cut sentences. At least that is how I saw her from the outside. As I
got to know her she was able to tell me her story. She used to
volunteer at this school/home for the special needs, and then she
found out that she had serval palsy and it worsened fast. She told me
she was 54 and that her dream was just for people to treat her like a
human. The thing that stuck out to me that she said was, "people would
never guess, but even though we have problems, we understand more that
they think. We know what truly is going on in this world." These
angels are so close to God and they truly know this world they just
can not tell us!
So we had the awesome opportunity to also go out and contact people
most the afternoon. As we got going we pasted by the college institute
building and said hi to the senior couple Elder and sister Bond! He
spoke some Portuguese to us and we had an amazing talk with them and
then we got going to the true work of missionaries!! This is where the
downs of a mission come in for me. I love testifying and talking to
people, but them rejecting what we say or not having the same beliefs
is really hard for me. As I look back I definitely learned a lot and I
have a funny comic quotes that I laugh at now to keep my spirits up!!
We also had the great opportunity to go with Hno. Gonzalez and teach
Jesus Ibarra tonight in the church and what a powerful lesson it was!
I learned so much about following Jesus Christ because it is the right
thing to do, not because you want others to see you doing it. One
quote that stuck out to me from Hno. Gonzalez was the saying, "anyone
can have the priesthood in their lives and be lost, but those who have
the priesthood and a relationship with God are truly found."
Translation from Spanish makes it sound funny but it struck me that
anyone can truly have a communication with God. As I think about it
Joseph Smith was 14 and he saw God and Jesus Christ. I know you can
also see them with your spiritual eyes! I loved today so much! Also
what you do now determines your future, so Choose The Right!


Wednesday:
Wow today was such a spiritual day for my being uplifted at this
amazing zone conference by President Ames, but really the Spirit of
the Lord! So as we started our conference this morning President Ames
said, "I did not come here to sit in front of you and just talk, I
came here to learn with you, so what can we do to learn together!?"
The response was by have a Zone Conference Counsel where he starts and
leads a topic/point and we express our feelings on the point. It was
so amazing and I received real answers to so many questions! It went
so well that without realizing it we went over time a whole hour!! I
put my thoughts down below and I did them more based on things that
really came to my head as reading the given scriptures and  discussing
together as a zone.
December 2nd 2015 Zone Conference
Denton, Tx
President Ames:
- A Victory in this mission is a Baptism, returning inactive, and
families going to the temple.
D&C 88:122
D&C 100:5
Open your mouths, you have been called of God. Your future children
are praying for you. Trust the thoughts that come to your heart and
resonate to your mind.
My Repentance List is an amazing way to change my life!
Life changing scripture:
D&C 88:123

Teaching by the Spirit:
How do you teach correct principles to have people govern yourself?
D&C 15-16
Why are they so similar!?
It is a gospel principle! It is for anyone who accepts the gospel!
I learned in the verse 6 that the most important thing is to preach the Gospel!
My mission call is my own section 15.
- Section 14 states it is because of our personal duty that we put in
our papers!
Our mission calls:
The blessings of the mission do not end when you leave as long as you
are living righteously.
- Trust the Lord that he will help you. (But he can't help you until you act)
D&C 50:13-14
Preach the Gospel by the Spirit.
It is not about the testimony of a Missionary, but the testimony of
the Investigator.
Build their testimonies.

Where did Alma receive the authority to Baptize. D&C 121:37
- He was ordained when he was wicked, but he was still ordained.
If the Apostles were to have stayed awake for that one hour, what
would they seen with Jesus!?

Alma 18
Why do we ask and teach what we do!? Really we do it so that they are
thinking and have the chance to feel the spirit!
- I want to be the kind of missionary that walks down the hallway and
people feel something different.
- We can be disciples of Christ! What is a true disciple!?
I have always thought, how can I be a true disciple of the Lord like
my great example Jody Rich? There is a scripture in 3 Nephi 11:15 that
really came to mind!
President Ames was told by Elder Falabella, your mission is so
amazing, but it is not because of you! It is because of your
missionaries. What does that help me to understand!?

How can you feel the Spirit!?
1. Prayer
2. Scripture
3. Testify
4. Music
5. Express Love for God and Man
6. Share Spiritual Experiences
7. Use the Priesthood Ordinances

Working with Members:
Ward Council Objectives
- Clear Objective (Assignments)
- Counseling about People!
- Following up With Assignments
- Edifying=Receive Revelation

Things we can do in there to influence:
- Be Positive (Never Gossip)
- Specific Needs (Communicate with WML
- Prime the Pump
- Make a list

Heavenly Father does not want the numbers of baptisms go down. There
is no way that is his plan, so what can we truly do to fix it!? D&C
123:17
- Satan knows the Doctrine too! The difference between him and us is
we go and do.
- Don't sit and stew go and do!

Work with the Members in their Homes-
Invite the members ahead of time to share an experience! Even talk to
the active members!
-Spend as much time in an active members home as you do an Investigator.
Write commitments and stick them to someone's fridge to remind them,
and follow up.

- When the faith of our leaders or members increases to match the
vision of our prophet we will see miracles.

Teaching the Gospel with Conviction-
*PCD
Purpose Driven Teaching:
1. "What does God want you to do?" (Planting the Flag) That is their Quest!
2. Ask Inspired Questions- Listening -What is the definition of
Inspired Questions.
3. Purpose Commitment Doctrine

We should always ask ourselves, "what do brother and sister brown need
to understand for them to accept and fulfill the commitment we will
invite them to make? What do we teach it to soften their hearts?"
We should teach the members or investigators simple truths, but have a
huge understanding or it!

You know more about the gospel than any investigator, because you
graduated from Primary.

- To understands a mans mind you have to listen to his words!
Alma 1:26
If we don't keep reading the Book of Mormon the feelings fade.

Evening Discussion:


The bishop holds the keys and he has the true knowledge of the facts.
But he and the ward council can not receive ways to help if they don't
truly ask.

It was truly an inspired time where I also learned that revelation is
a true opportunity for every individual to come to know God
personally.
So I was also able to meet with the bishop in Denton 6 ward and I and
my companion asked him for a blessing of guidance and council and he
accepted with joy!! So as he gave me this blessing I can remember some
basic things that he said to me and they were very personal and really
brushed on things I had questions about recently. He blessed me that I
would have the confidence to speak to those around me about the things
I have been learning, because the Spirit will testify to them. Also he
said as I walk around this area people will see me as something more
than normal person. I was blessed that the as I pass houses the spirit
will tell what doors to knock and which ones not too. He also touched
a point that we as a companionship were struggling with and he said,
as you work your hardest, pray together, counsel together, and work
together you will have success in this area and bring many souls unto
Christ.
For me the blessing was extremely useful and I am now very willing to
do that with every bishop I ever have!! As I got it tonight however,
it made me miss the blessings I received from my father for guidance
and counsel.
It truly was an amazing day of learning and uplifting!!

Thursday:
So today for me I think I really began to understand the word Success.
For me I kept thinking, "we have only taught one person today, how
have we had success?" I couldn't get it out of my head. All I was
thinking about was the number and how that one person was effected.
However as we got to an English ladies house that we had contacted
before and were just checking up on I feel I began to understand what
true success in a missionary life is. She told us how thankful she was
for us taking the time our of our lives to talk to her about God.
Right now she doesn't want to change, but she was willing to listen
because she loved our happiness and willingness to help everyone. For
me right there, that is when I understood what success should be. Yes
baptisms and the temple are important, but just like plants can't
produce vegetables until they are planted and nourished, these people
can't change without first having the seed planted! It was an amazing
opportunity, and for me now I just have to accept that every area has
its differences. Some are hard, some are easy, and some vary widely on
the members and missionaries. I believe all depend on the work of the
ward and missionaries, but still can have their issues. So today I had
the opportunity to get to know and investigator that we have had for
over 2 years, named Angela. She was very sweet, about 27 and had 2
kids. She has had a life of partying and isn't ready to change even
though she knows it is right. It is really hard to she her knowingness
that she needs to change, but her desire to change opposite. We
testified on how baptism is the first and greatest step and blessing
in the gospel and how as she does this she can and will have help
through all of her trials!! She took it well, but wasn't sure still.
It really was a good lesson and we did have success, because we talked
to other people and also had the chance to make others happier even by
that simple wave smile and hello!! What I learned from today was that
success should be measured by the change of ones soul, not by the
number of things done!

Friday:
Today was an amazing and warm day for us!! So today we started our day
by giving service at the Special Needs home and it was so much fun!!
My friends that I have made are their for life now and they are always
so welcoming too me! That is what I love about the special needs
people is that they are always so open and welcoming to everyone! So
we had a fun time playing games with them and watching a Christmas
Movie for about 2 hours and then we headed to the other Elders house
to get picked up by a member named Hno. Saldaña to got to his house
and give him some service!! As we arrived I felt right at home! He
lives out in the middle of nowhere and was fixing up his house and
putting in Sheet rock! Luckily I had the practice from Skylers house
and was ready to get to work!! We had a blast building part of the
house for about 3 hours before we had to get home for some contacting
and finding!! So as we got home and began walking to find we walked
through the city square to find out that there was a huge Christmas
Festival going on with who knows how many people!! There was by far
more that one thousand people there! The streets lawns and shops were
packed and we decided to call the other missionaries and to do
contacting in the area!!! As we were contacting we had so much success
with the Hispanics, and actually found a lot of members of the
church!! One contact that I did with some younger girls  I noticed a
girl that was wearing her young women medallion and was very happy to
see missionaries out doing the work! It really was a fun way of
contacting and in all I think we gave out 8 or so Books of Mormon with
pockets full of cards and pamphlets!! I would love contacting like
this everyday and I hope we find more events like that!! The things I
learned tonight is to have more confidence and to trust that the lord
will help you as you make the first steps into a contact. The other
thing I learned was that God does put people in your path and want you
to talk to them, so don't ignore them!

Saturday:
So for awhile I have felt like a true missionary, but man today I
really felt it hit!! So today we had the opportunity to have our
missionary coordination meeting and I learned so much about the things
I can do or begin to do to have more success! It was a great time to
not only learn but increase my relationship with my district! So we
received a call today that our bus passes came in and so we walked to
the institute building and picked them up from our zone leaders! As we
were leaving we saw the couple missionaries Elder and Sister Bond, who
I love so dearly! I always have great conversations with them and
today as I was walking away Elder Bond looked at me after giving me a
hug and he said, "Elder, ever since you arrived, me and my wife have
seen such a spirit about you. And we want you to know that you have an
amazing spirit about you that we haven't seen often." That really made
me feel good, and also that explained that they are beginning to
become more full time missionaries by finding ways of touching
people's lives on their p-Day. They are dedicated missionaries to me
and my role models! Also today we received a call from Jesus Vera who
told us that he was back in the hospital. He just got out and now he
is back in because he messed up his shoulder muscles stepping out of
the car wrong. So we went to the hospital with our new bus passes to
teach him a small lesson and see how he is doing. And best of news, he
accepted the invitation to be baptized on the 16 of January!! He said
the dates may change depending on if he will be out of the hospital
from his surgeries, but he is willing to do anything to do what the
lord wants him to do! So we had a pretty good mid-day and to add we
had a dinner with the Saldaña family and their niece named Melissa.
She came from Mexico 10 months ago and was baptized here and loves it.
She is a very sweet girl who has a little daughter and is 21 and so
kind. We taught her a good lesson and then we went on an amazing
exchange with Hno. Saldaña. We went and taught a a contacted
investigator a quick lesson and then he took us home because of time.
But throughout the whole time he gave us amazing advice about praying
always without ceasing and he helped me understand that I can pray
without ceasing by memorizing scriptures and hymns to always repeat
and keep my thoughts more pure!! Also he opened my eyes up to the
story of Adam and Eve. He said if you go read the story of Adam and
Eve you see that they fell when they were not united as a couple, so
what can that mean!? If we aren't United as missionaries, or as a
husband and wife we can and will fall into the hands of Satan. It was
such a fast and beautiful day where I just felt the true love of God!

Sunday:
Today was such a good day especially fasting for the right things. We
both fasted for the help of finding more people in this area and
helping our investigators press through their challenges with ease. As
we got going through the day we had such an amazing day at church and
meet a lot of people who I have never seen and they are just loving
and it is so nice to feel like I am at home! Also as we finished our
church meetings we had the opportunity to go home and study for a few
hours. Our studies were really good and it helped me feel the spirit
strong. As we got ready to go to our dinner tonight with the Tryon
Family we broke our fast and could just feel the blessings already
flow in. We went and had an amazing dinner with an English family. The
husband is about 60 and a dentist. He is also the 1 st counselor to
the bishop in our ward and we were blessed to stay with them and watch
the Christmas devotional in a house that was beautiful and huge. The
feeling in that made me really miss my family, but also made me feel
the love from them! They told us we could always go and visit and that
I could practice the piano or cello they have at any time!! Also
during the devotional we got a text from our investigator, Jesus, and
he told us that his day was really bad and that he is doing worse. He
has tubes to suck out gunk from his throat and lungs and also he is
very lonely. So after our devotional we went with Hno. Tryon to visit
him and give him a blessing. As we arrived his appearance was a happy
and crying appearance that we would be there for him at any time with
someone he could come to know well. As we got ready to give him a
blessing he began to shake really bad and stop breathing, mixed with
coughing up blood and lots of other issues. We stopped and made that
he was okay and then Hno. Tryon gave him a blessing after I anointed
him. As he gave him this blessing of healing and strength you could
feel him calm down and you could hear his breathing cease to struggle.
As we finished the blessing Jesus looked at us with tears in his eyes
and he said, "I don't feel scared, I don't feel alone. Thank you,
thank you." We told him how much we loved him and that we would be
back soon and he couldn't hold back his crying. He said to us as we
walked out, "you are my brothers and I believe every word you say to
me. We are eternal brothers." I love him with all my heart and plan on
being there for him in any challenge, but also Hno. Tryon say that he
needed more family members from the ward and now things will begin to
be put together for him to feel the love of the ward! It was an
amazing evening and day and I will never forget the opportunity the
lord gave me to be here in this mission for this person in particular.
The things I learned today is focus on the people and not the numbers.
Focus on what God cares about and then become one with his will!!

Do we love God? Because He loves us!
(1 John 4:19)
Con Amor,
Elder Spendlove