Canada, September 20, 2021

This week I felt really close to home specifically my home country. 

At the beginning of the week I was really struggling with the work here in Ingram Mill. I felt really unmotivated to work and we did not have very many appointments at all which cause us to be in our apartment a lot or the church building. That was tough. I began to get ancy and just wanted to get out somewhere. Elder Jacks and I did drive around our area and identified some parks, coffee shops and a library where we could do our study so we can be around more people! We also called a ton of members and scheduled some visits for this week so that will be really nice! 

We had some training in Bentonville by the temple this week and that is when I felt close to Canada. Two of my missionary friend flew out to Canada (their original assignments) that morning. I was so happy for them to be able to go to their original call! While I was at the training I talked to a missionary who knew my cousins, the Halls from BC! Such a small world! Than I talked to a missionary from Arizona who played hockey and that made me really excited because I love that sport!! Finally the cherry on top, a elder I talked to said he was from Calgary Alberta! I was so surprised! Another missionary from Canada serving in Canada! I was so happy to meet another person from Canada let alone the same province! It was a tender mercy from the Lord that really helped me see just how much He is aware of me. He knew I was having a rough time with my missionary work so He sent me some love. It was pretty amazing.

Hope you all are doing well! Love you all! Elder Spencer

The Small Things, September 13, 2021

This week was sad. Our zone got a bunch of missionaries that were leaving. There were a lot of good missionaries in my zone that I will miss. However, now I have a good opportunity to meet many new missionaries and make even more friends. 🙂

We had a lesson with Laura and teaching wise we hit everything we needed to. But we lacked spiritual power and authority in our words. I didn't bear my testimony of the truth of what we were saying and we had no invitation or promised blessings. We just told her a bunch of information. She understood it, but I feel like she doesn't see how it can help her in her life right now. I think I am beginning to learn that it is very important to prepare well for lessons. Plan every part of the lesson out. Than after I have done my part the Spirit can take control.

Speaking of the Spirit and feeling it I am also learning that it is by the small and simple acts we do everyday that sanctify us and purify us. It is important to remember Christ and take in His name everyday. Not just when we suit up for church on Sunday. Thus the importance of daily prayer and scripture study become even more crucial. After all they are directions from our Father In Heaven (D&C 82:8-10) I am really trying to do better with the small things and help others do small things to feel the Spirit throughout the week.

One final thought. I have been reading the Book of Mormon again from the beginning. It is amazing to me how many chances Laman and Lemuel had to repent and follow Jesus Christ. Sometimes they did but in the end their hearts were hard because they didn't do the small things. Because they didn't pray and read the scriptures they didn't understand the prophecies or dreams the prophets had. So ask. If you don't understand ask. 

Love you all! Elder Spencer 

Springfield Permanent Resident, Sept 6, 2021

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a good one. 

I am staying in Springfield, MO and will complete the training of Elder Jacks. I am thankful for the opportunity I have to continue my service here, especially because of our friend Laura. We experienced two miracles with her this week

The Lord's hand is in the details of our lives and I saw that in Laura's life this week. There was a baptismal service this week for another ward and Laura was able to come. She was able to see what a baptism and confirmation was like and she is eager for her own. She sat quietly and soaked everything in. Elder Jacks and I gave her a tour of the church building afterwards and showed her the primary room where her kids would be going the next day. I think that helped her see the building to know where she would be going. We talked to her a little bit about the temple and family history work and she really loved that idea. Then came Sunday. Another miracle happened. Laura came in with her two kids, Caden and Emry. They sat down by a family with other kids and the ward was very helpful. They were kind to Laura and made her feel at ease. A brother got up to bear his testimony. I had noticed that before the meeting his wife had been talking to Laura. In all my 7 months here in Springfield I had never had a visit with this member family until 2 days earlier on Friday. In the visit with them we asked them to pray for our friend Laura because she is preparing for baptism. Well it turns out that Laura and this member family are long time friends who used to skydive together every week in Arkansas more than 10 years ago! They reunited and caught up with each other. It was amazing to see. The family helped Laura with bringing her kids to primary and sat by her during Sunday School! An instant fellow-shipper and friend to Laura; every missionaries dream. Caden and Emry really enjoyed colouring temples in primary and want to come back! It was an amazing day.

I love this gospel and I love the happiness it brings to people. I have felt the happiness this week.

Love you all, Elder Spencer

The Spirit, August 30th, 2021

Hello! What a wonderful week

Our friend Laura has accepted an invitation to be baptized. We had an incredible lesson with her over zoom with a member. We taught her about why we need the Book Of Mormon and a current prophet today. The thought about a living prophet on the earth excites her. She loved reading the Book Of Mormon this week and asked how she could teach her two kids (8 and 6) about the Book Of Mormon. The member came in clutch telling her about the Book Of Mormon videos and primary. She really loved that! We read about the remission of sins in Acts and explained how the prophet Alma felt when he received a remission of sins (see Alma 36:18-20) She said she would love to experience that. Elder Jacks invited her to be baptized to receive a remission of her sins. She said yes. As soon as this act of faith was preformed the Spirit filled her heart. She began to cry. She said "I have never felt this way before." The member said "I get to feel this way all the time and as you work towards being baptized and receive the Holy Ghost you can feel this way all the time as well." It was a moment of joy and gratitude. I testify that the Spirit is real. Joy, peace, and happiness are fruits of the Spirit. As we seek after that which is good, we can feel the Spirit. 

God loves you. He showed you His love be sending His Son Jesus Christ. Hope, healing and joy can come through Christ as we repent and exercise faith in Him.

I love you all. Elder Spencer 

When you're rejected; when you're accepted, August 23, 2021

Hello! This week has been all over.

I felt the twin connection a lot this week as I biked almost everyday 😀🚲 the extra exercise was great and there is nothing like some fresh air in the lungs.

The biking became difficult after we had a sad lesson with my dear friend Bryan. In my six months here I have spent the most time out of everyone with Bryan. I have grown close to him and at one point he was on date for baptism. Some of my best teaching moments have been with this man and I saw him grow a lot. This week it came crashing down in my face. He said the Book of Mormon sounded like a fairy tale and that the devil led a man named Joseph Smith to write the book. He said he doesn't need a prophet to worship but that God is all he needs. That was a blow to me. He said he used to look forward to our meetings. 

We had a similar struggle with Elijah and a friend named Jeremiah this week as well. They stated that we believe in different gods. I have really come to learn a lot, but still have to much to learn about other people's beliefs.

The highlight of my week was our zoom lesson with our dear friend Laura! It was our first lesson with her and it couldn't have gone better. She is so prepared to receive the gospel. We read the introduction to the Book of Mormon and she loved it! She said she wants peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. She wants to come to church and be baptized by one holding the authority of God. She asked us about coming to church! This stands as a testament to me that the Lord is preparing people on the earth, in the area in which you live, to receive the restored Gospel. All we have to do is find them.

Love you all! Elder Spencer 

Reunion, August 16, 2021

 What a week! I got over my ailment and I feel great! 

This week we had a tri-zone conference with our mission president, his wife and two quorum of seventy! Talk about amazing. It was wonderful to be at the feet of these amazing people. We were taught and edified by the spirit. I felt nourished and energized. One thing I learned was finding is so important and I don't do enough of it. Finding is something I need to be doing all day, looking for every opportunity to share the restored gospel with people! Its not just something we do from 4-6pm. It's all the time. I am going to work on finding all day and not just a small portion of it. Setting goals of how many people I am going to talk to each day should help.

I was able to reunite with my old companions Elder Hatch and Elder Buhman at the conference. What a wonderful thing. I love those to missionaries. I gave them a big hug.

Had another meeting with Ian and Elijah. We really got caught in the slog of secondary questions and the spirit was not there. I did not teach simple gospel truths and I was very confused and frustrated. There was not direction to which the lesson was going and I felt feeling gloomy. I did not feel love and compassion for Ian and Elijah. The teachings in the Book Of Mormon are clear and simple to understand. They are plain. This is a gospel in which children can be taught and can understand well enough to make a commitment to baptism at the age of eight. That blows me away sometimes.

Hope you all had a great week! Love you all! Elder Spencer 

Testament, August 9, 2021

Hello! This week was a mixed week!

Elder Jacks and I made a huge push for finding new people to share the gospel with. Lots of contacting people in areabook, friending people on Facebook and responding to referrals. We had success in two out of the three! 

We received a few referrals and one of them was a lady named Entiwisle. She needed some help in her front flower bed. When we arrived she gave us some tools and showed us what she wanted us to do. She was very grateful we were there. My companion is very good at working hard and was able to cut out some bushes with a rusty hand saw in no time. I was impressed. I clipped some over grown plants and pulled some weeds. She eventually wants to put some landscape fabric down to prevent the grass from invading the flower bed. We will help her again and share the light of Christ through our examples and words. 

We contacted a lot of people in Areabook and one of them was Elijah. I first met Elijah during a Book Of Mormon experiment in May. He wanted to meet with us and he brought his friend Ian! We talked about many things with them. Grace, the restoration, apostasy, and Jesus Christ to summarize it. They were both very kind and listened to what we had to say. They liked how we were comfortable answering their questions and sharing our beliefs. The main point out of everything we talked about was the Book Of Mormon. They have a lot of trouble accepting the book and told us to challenge the Book Of Mormon to see if what it taught corresponded with the Bible. We are going to read Acts, Romans, and Ephesians to see how the doctrine we teach in the Book Of Mormon goes with what is taught in these books. We invited them to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true. I know the Book Of Mormon is true. It teaches about Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that is in the Bible. He is my Saviour and Redeemer. I am so grateful for the testimony the Book Of Mormon is of Jesus Christ and His divine role in our path back to live with our Heavenly Father.

I got sick at the end of the week. Sore throat, stuffy nose, headache and weakness. The mission nurse advised that I go get tested for Covid and strep and that I should quarantine until I got the results back. The Hermanas found out I was sick and they brought us lunch, dinner and dessert! A member in our ward also brought medicine and some food. The Hermanas got our groceries for us today. I am so grateful for good people. I have received many blessings because of wonderful people who God send my way! So thank you to all the amazing people put there!

Stay happy and healthy out there! 

Love ya, Elder Spencer

Giant Bug

The Hermanas made us some brownies!

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