This week absolute flew by! Way over the speed limit of how fast a week should go.
On Tuesday we had district council, it was also the birthday of Hermana Paredes. So for district council we had a mini celebration as well! Cake, juice and ham and cheese sandwiches. And then for district council we discussed the importance of bearing our testimonies and asking inspired questions while we teach. Later in the afternoon we were doing public contacting and ran into a group of boys playing fútbol, we decided to join them and we played for a bit and then shared a message with them at the end. It was pretty hype. After that we went to another lesson with a lady named Giovana and her boyfriend. Giovana has had a very difficult life, yet she still has a cheerful attitude. Then we went to our neighbours house for another birthday celebration for the sister missionary. Ate more cake, made cheese empanadas, and had an enjoyable time.
Wednesday was a day of being in the streets all day. In the morning we were out and about knocking doors and contacting people. We had one lesson in the morning with a chap named Abel. He's also a barber, so when I need a fresh cut, I know who to ask. We taught him about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then after lunch we were back at it, knocking, teaching and contacting! We ended up having a couple more lessons. And we got home nice and tired.
Thursday we had to wake up at 5am to go into Santiago for zone conference. It was a great zone conference, learned a ton and I'm going to change up the way I've been teaching/contacting the past 20 months. I got to see Elder Pereira and Elder Hood, both of whom I got to train. I was very much saddened when I realized Elder Carlson wouldn't be in the same zone conference as me. We have ward shared twice now and have been in every single zone conference together since the beginning of our missions until now. We broke the streak. After zone conference we got home pretty late but left to contact some people anyways, and had some pretty special experiences and lessons.
On Friday in the morning we went out with a missionary that just returned home from his mission. He served in Cordova Argentina and got home on the Wednesday! We went out to do contacts and had lessons, then he brought us to his grandma's home. She isn't baptized, actually none of his family are baptized. The sister missionaries in the ward are working with his mom and sister, and we are now working with the grandma, aunt and cousin. It was fun hearing his mission stories as we walked, and how they worked. In the afternoon there was a ward party to welcome him home. And then later we had a lesson with a boy that is going to get baptized this next week named Anthony. And after we ate dinner with him and his grandma. On my plate was French fries, rice, salsa, and 3 big hunks of bumpy lookin meat. Turns out it was cow tongue. It had a really weird texture, and the taste was honestly not that bad. I had to get it down with some pineapple juice and the French fries but that's besides the point!
On Saturday we did weekly planning and had some lessons. In the morning. Then in the evening, every. Single. Lesson. Fell. Felt bad. So we went and visited some members. One lived way out in the countryside, so we wandered around along side the winding country roads.
On Sunday we had 7 people come to church! Which was awesome! I forgot to mention last week that I've become the ward pianist for this ward! I'm excited! The last time I got to serve in this way was in October in the Rosende ward. I honestly love being able to serve this way! And I'll be forever grateful to my Nana who taught me how to play! Her talent is blessing those here in Chile! A good reminder that our talents and service goes a long way!
Today we played paddle as a district which was fun! Cleaned and shopped and ate pizza.
Spiritual thought: speaking about talents, there is a parable in the Bible about talents. A master was leaving for a while and gave 3 servants some talents (aka money) to tend to well he was away. To the first servant he gave 5 talents, to the second 3 and to the third 1 talent. When the master came back, the first servant had used the 5 talents to earn 5 more, leaving him with 10 talents. The second servant used his 3 talents to earn 3 more, leaving him with 6. And the third servant... well he buried his talent in the ground, not confident in his ability to increase it. The master seeing all this praised the first two servants, but to the third he reprimanded him and gave his talent to the first servant. Here we learn that God has given us talents to use and uplift the people around us. We must put to use the gifts we have received. We mustn't be like the third servant and hid up our talents in the ground.
Question of the week: What are your talents? And how can they bless others?
Love you all!! Elder Spencer
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