Transfers have Come and Gone!

Dear Family and Friends,

What a wonderful week of change! I always struggle getting a new companion because it is a learning progress of having to learn about gem and how to get along with them, however, it is was makes us grow a lot as missionaries! I always joke with Elder Graham, my new companion, that it will be nice to have a wife that I won't have to ever change! Haha 

So this week we had a lot of success and we able to teach a lot of people! However, the number of people we teach I would say is not as important as the quality of the lessons. So this week we were able to visit and get to know a lot of people where we saw lots of Progress!

And personally my studies are getting a lot better and I am just loving learning side by side with Elder Graham!

Here is how my week went!

Week October 31st - November 6th 2016

Monday:

Happy Halloween!

Today was such a good day to have a Preparation day, because as y'all know it is Halloween day! So today we were able as a zone to have a Waffle party and just play games together. It was a really fun time and I really enjoy my zone, but we are losing a lot of missionaries because of transfers, and it is going to be so fun with who is coming in. So today after PDay, we went with Mario to his parents beautiful home for a Halloween dinner and then had such a fun time together as a district where we had two members come over and Mario taught a family home evening about our first time having the knowledge that God was real. As we taught he then included that Opposition was brought into our life as we came to realize that God is real. And then he taught how much power Satan has. So we had a great learning experience and then we had to get going home to get in the house on time! Today was a wonderful, and simple day! However, tomorrow will be crazy!

Tuesday:

Well today has definitely been one of the longest days for me! So today we started off our day by waking up and driving to pick up Elder Graham from Arlington, and it was a good drive. As we brought him back to the apartment we had just enough time to discuss a few matters, and the we headed straight to the mission office where we met the new Missionaries that had just arrived, we met 10 in total and 5 Spanish. They are super awesome and it was a great 5 hours with them getting to know them and learn more about them. As we went on we went and had an awesome dinner with Hna. Marquez and then off to the Ayala's home where we had a good visit! We were glad to get into those two homes before we made it back to the church in time to set up for transfers for tomorrow. We were there for close to 2 hours bringing in bags and bikes and setting up chairs and tables. It is always a exhausting process. However, I love serving to the point of exhaustion! I am so excited to work with Elder Graham and sad to see Elder Lopez go, but it is our time and I can't wait for new growth! I hope that this next transfer brings crazy success!

Wednesday: Day of Transfers!

Wow today was a packed day! So today I said goodbye to Elder Lopez, one of my companions that I probably learned the most from. It is crazy to think that we have already served together for 2 transfers and now he is heading out to Cleburne to train. He seemed to excited to train, but also very nervous! However, I know he will do a really good job. He is a super hard worker who is not afraid to talk to anyone or correct. And now I am super excited to get to work with Elder Graham. He is from Orem Utah and has 15 months in the mission. His mom is from Mexico City and his dad  is from Iowa. So he is a half Hispanic and he is super awesome! We get a long great and we're running around from about 8 am until around 1 pm making sure everyone got out of the church. Then we went and studied for a few lessons that we would have this evening. As we went by we had a wonderful lesson with the Barraza family where the son Michael was actually more willing to sit by us and talk instead of be in the other room just listening. As we had dinner we visited and then we finished teaching the restoration and then invited them to teach it to us, and it was powerful how they got so excited to study it and be able to teach us like their friends. We then went and contacted a lady named Isabel Vasquez who we found out is from El Salvador. As we visited she told us to come back. I felt comfortable talking openly with Elder Graham! Then we had a wonderful lesson with Manuel and we set time to go back two times next week and we are super excited! Today was such a tiring but great day!:)

Thursday: weekly planning/ Exchange meeting w/ Assistants

Planning for me is such a blessing and every week as I learn how to plan even more effectively I learn the way that God also planned spiritually before he made the world and everything else. So today Elder Graham and I were able to plan a lot, but we were not able to finish, because we had a meeting half way through at the office with the assistants for the exchanges in the weeks that are coming. However, we had a great meeting and were able to really get a lot done! Then as we finished there we went straight to the church where we had Hno. Giles waiting for us to go and teach Isaac Sanchez and Mario Bencomo. Isaac is in a lot of pain with back problems right now, and Mario is a stubborn 9 year old that will not to save his life say the prayer. However, I have see a lot of progress with him and he is retaining super well all that we teach him. Hno. Giles was a good pick to help Mario out to feel more comfortable with him. I really enjoy teaching with Elder Graham, because he knows how to teach simple and powerful and to end the night of lessons we went and taught a new family, Erika and Ismael Dominguez

Friday:

I love days where I can go to what we call MLC, or Mission Leadership Council. I especially was grateful for this one where I felt it was planned so well and inspired for sure. It am grateful for a mission president who trusts us and Assistants who are very smart and teach correct doctrine and let us govern ourselves and love us no matter what. So today I wanted to just share a few thoughts from MLC when they talked about the Atonement.

Elder Baker: "The Enabling Power of the Atonement"

What is the difference between Redeeming power and enabling power of the atonement. Redeeming: power to save. Enabling: give authority or make possible.

"When my body begs for rest I cry, Remember Him!" -Henry B. Eyring 

• "Why is this so hard? Why can't it go better? Why isn't it easier? Can't they see this? These are things all ask. Missionary work is not easy, because salvation was never easy. Why would we think it would be easy for us when it wasn't easy for him. We must know and feel somewhat of what he felt. You must be prepared to walk somewhat of the path he walked, shed one of the tears of sorrow that he shed. The living son of the living God said, "isn't there some other way?" When the missionaries struggle they stand shoulder to shoulder with the greatest missionary who ever lived. Let them stand tall. When Christ was crucified he did not stop teaching. He then went to the Spirit world and worked onward. When you feel you have finished and more comes up always remember that!" -Jeffery R. Holland

-Isaiah 53 -John 7:5 -Luke 22:48 -Matt 26:56 -Matt 27:46 -Matt 27:12-14                     -Mark 14:37 -John 11:33-36 -John 19:26-27 -Mark 14:34-36 -D&C 88:6

He is Risen (Video) 

• Even in the pain he had on the cross feeling all alone, he forgave them for what they had done and asked God for him to forgive them as well. 
• He has risen and I can feel it!

Do we internalize what Jesus Christ did? Or apply it? Matt 28 I am with you always. 

"Perfect people don't need a Savior!" - (Ask Elder Baker)

Elder Bird: "Having the Faith to Act" "How we can use the Atonement"

Doctrine on faith to act: 3 Nephi 21->Jeremiah 18:1-6. "Manual of Institute for Bible Jeremiah 18:1-10" Marred:  Pliable: "Do not be prideful, but be pliable."

Unity in diversity (Video) Agents to Act

• Faith in the savior is a spiritual gift, not a trait. We first act, then the power comes.
• The gift given to us through the Atonement is Agency. 2 Nephi 2

"Are we going to sink or are we going to swim in the Lords work?" - Elder Bird

Today was a powerful day in this great work of the Lord, and we were able to go and share the gospel this evening with 3 families! We went and taught Hector Payro how to read a little bit, and then we went and found Alex Salazar, a recent convert who has 10 years! We haven't been able to find him for a while because he has been so busy, but now we have found him and he seems good about us passing by! Also we taught Pablo the Restoration just by reading the first chapter of first Nephi. He had good questions and we were able to help him a lot! What a forest day!

Saturday: 

To start off the day we helped give service for Hno. Giles and we had to fill in a hole he had dug under his garage, and it was huge! Let's just say I am now super sore and tired! But I love giving service and helping those in need! 

Today was such a great day for the both of us, where we were able to learn both during our lessons and then we also were able to learn at the feet of 2 Elders of the seventy. We had a Stake conference and they were able to teach some marvelous thoughts! 

President Hadley:

"Gods saves his toughest battles for his toughest warriors."

"Dios salva sus más fuertes batallas para sus soldados más fuertes!"

Elder Villarreal:

• "Being at this meeting is as important as the meeting itself."

It is a sign between you and God.

Just like the garment being here tonight is an outward commitment of following Christ.

• Many of times it is the people we are not expecting that will accept the Gospel.

We as members of the church are good at friend-shipping, but many can't invite.

• To be an effective missionary we must ask the father for us to be blessed, not let the missionaries be blessed. We must be the ones to act, not just the missionaries.
• Teach the lessons asking not if someone wants to be baptized, but teaching the lessons backwards helping them understand how!

Elder Curtis:

• Scripture projects. (Frases and chapters, Topics)
• God blesses us as we serve. You will always see the blessings Latter on.

How good are we of passing on the gospel from generation to generation? (Look in the scriptures) Mosiah 26:1-4

The most impressive: 4 Nephi 1:15-16, más 

Anti-Nephi-Lehi

As we move forward to the second coming how are we doing on passing on the gospel to the next generation? And what is it that we can to to pass the gospel on full strength with all the blessings of the gospel!?

People are agents not objects, and some will chose the agency to choose poorly.

What is it that we can do?

1. Example (Do your very best)
2. Take them to church (Help them meet people like you)

• Mini interviews with your kids!

1. What happens at home? (Pray in Gratitude in whatever situation, Family Home Evenings, Family Scripture study,

I know this church is true and I am grateful for leaders of he church who have trusted us to be the best we can be and who come and support us in our callings and our lives! I hope this can bless a life today!

Tonight I put my hands into the warm water of my sink to wash my face after a long day of service and lessons. As I put my hands in the water I had a pulled blister that was irritated and burned with the sensation of water. As that happened I had some thoughts come into my head. This pas week I have been studying and thinking a lot about Satan, the Natural man and some other thoughts, and then I realized with this simple experience that I began to focus on myself and nothing else because of the pain. As I kept thinking I then realized if I put medication or ointment on it it will heal faster and I won't have to think about it or myself any longer. Then my thoughts turned to my spiritual body and how when it gets hurt that is all we can think of as well. But as we repent and become healed we can then like Jesus Christ, focus on not ourselves, but those around us who struggle. God has given us opposition in all things and I realize that as he gave us a body that was imperfect we also gave us a chance to be healed.

Sunday:

Today was a blessing to be able to go back to Stake conference and watch as 2 Seventies come together in just a few days not knowing a soul and leaving having selected through the power of our Heavenly Father and revelation, 6 worthy men who will serve as new Stake presidencies! It was amazing to see the number of people gathered in the church. Probably the most I have seen gathered in most of my mission. Of course not more than we have at home, but a full gym full as well that they had to put some chairs on the stage! So we were able to hear the sweet testimonies of all the called brethren and then we also were able to hear from Elder Curtis and Elder Villarreal for the last time. As they spoke in the meeting I could feel the spirit so strongly and just kept thinking. "Man I want to sit at the feet of them everyday and see what more they can teach me!" It was a wonderful moment! Here are a few more of their comments! 

Elder Villarreal: 

• Stake presidents are not perfect and they were not expecting a call. However, they accept the call.
• Become, and Help others to become. 
• Are we active in our church but the church isn't active in our homes?
• Husbands and wives must help each other change bad habits, but we must not change personalities. It means a lot to her, it needs to mean a lot to me.
• "I help my wife fly her own kites." - Hinckley 
• "Do we just say yes because we try or is it etched into our heart?"
• For the Natural man is an enemy to god. But there is a spiritual man who is a friend to god. So which will we feed and which will we starve?
• We can't just feed the Natural man, but we must starve the Natural man!
• "Which wolf wins? Whichever wolf you feed the most."
• The temple is a place and the sabbath day is a time, but they have the same purpose if we let them.

The rest of the day was full of visiting members and investigators, and it was such a blessing. We were getting ready to go out finding and we actually knocked a door of a referral and he opened it in a wife beater tank top and looked pretty rough and then said, "well how are you doing brethren?" We were relieved and come to find out he had interest in learning more. We set up a time to go by again and he committed him to read the pamphlet. As we left we were so grateful that God had prepared him for a while and that he was ready to hear our message. I am grateful that Elder Graham is my companion! He is so fun!

I love you all and hope that this week for you is a good one! Know that I pray for you and your success and health! Never give up on life, because he who suffered all never gave up when he began to suffer your pains! You can do it! Just look for him for guidance and love!

Con Amor,

Elder Spendlove

De la Misión de Texas Fort Worth