God Loves You, August 19, 2024

Hey everyone! 

Summary of the week:

- 🥚 We got egged by a couple guys in a car, they missed every shot though so nothing really happened jaja. 

- 🤧 I got a bit sick this week with a nasty cold.

- 👨Met a really cool man named Erik. He was jewish for the first 19 years of his life up until he heard about Isaiah 53 and he got converted unto Christ. He has been a Christian for the rest of his life to this point (hes 50). We talked for hours about the Bible and prophecies that are being fulfilled now in our days. The Second Coming of Christ is coming very soon. 

- 🏥 We also had a really special lesson with a lady over video call, her name is Camila. We were inspired to send her a message a couple days ago without really knowing who she was. She responded saying she needed us because her sister just committed suicide and that she was falling back into addictions of drugs and alcohol to numb the pain. But we had a really spiritual and powerful lesson about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I was praying the whole lesson that her heart could be touched and she could feel the love of God and the love of her sister with her. If you can please keep Camila in your prayers, I would appreciate it.

- 😌 I led my first district council this week, it was interesting. I definitely see the things I need to improve for tomorrow. But we all felt the spirit together and that made me feel content and grateful to God. 

Spiritual thought: Jeremiah 31:3 ❤️

"3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." God loves you. God knows you personally. His love is an everlasting love. And for that reason He calls us unto Him. God knows exactly who you are and what is passing in your life. 

Questions of the week with an invitation: Respond to each of these questions on a piece of paper:

- How do I perceive myself?

- How do I think others perceive me?

- And how do I think God perceives me?

And for the final question take 5-10min to prayer and ask God how He perceives you. 

This is the exercise I did with the missionaries in my district. I know a lot of them (me included) are self critical. The exercise was a little uncomfortable at first, with mostly negative things written on the papers. But when we split up and conversed with God we all felt His hope and love. We felt rejuvenated and full of peace. 

Love you all! 

Elder Spencer

                                                

district council 

 uno game 

my boy Vircile

 nancy

La Expiación, August 12, 2024

Hey everybody!

This week we had transfers! I am staying here but Elder Pereira left😥. We had a great time together. He is one of my favourite elders. I am now with Elder Johnson from Arizona. He's a cool guy, he has 5 months in the mission and actually when he had two weeks we did an exchange together for a day! So it's been fun reconnecting! I am his third companion and the 2nd Canadian comp of his which is pretty rare because there are only 2 Canadians in the mish here jaja. And then I also got assigned to be district leader. Basically I'm in charge of 7 missionaries. To minister unto them and be there for them and to train them and lead them. I'm excited to be able to work on a more personal level with them and to be able to serve them🙏.

We got tricked this week during cambios. So one of our leaders called us on Tuesday afternoon (our transfers are Wednesdays) and he tells us we have to trade apartments with the hermana misioneras. And that we had to do it before dark, so we only had a couple hours. So I called the hermanas right after that and told them we had to change asap. And do we did, we packed and left, making the 10min trek through downtown Santiago with our suitcases making a couple trips to make it safer. Anyways we spent the night in the hermanas apartment and them in ours thinking those would be our new areas of work. Anyways in the morning I look at the notification of transfers and it turns out I was actually staying in my old apartment and area and that it was only the names of our work areas changing. Our leader had messed up the info and we had to change back. It was quite funny jaja. 

So normally in this area we teach a lot of lessons by video chat. And we have had a lot of different experiences. Good, bad, weird, scary, etc. Anyways this week we had a really really spiritual one with a lady named Alejandra. She reached out to us saying that she had grown apart from God for a time but wanted to come back. So we started talking about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The sacrifice He made to give us the opportunity to live with God one day! The greatest event in human history! The most excruciating pain anyone has ever experienced. I shared Alma 7:11-12 with her (which says 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities). I was able to feel the Spirit testifying to me and to her, about Jesus Christ and His atonement. Thank you to the atonement we can repent and improve each day, we can see and be with our loved ones that have passed on, we can continue on in life with a heart full of faith and hope in His name. I will be eternally grateful for the eternal atonement of Christ.

Question of the week: How have you felt closer to God this week?

Love you all!!

Elder Spencer

                                                

                                                

                                                        Santiago at night, you can see my area in the back, its all the tall buildings

I found snow!!! I think it was from a machine or something, like a zamboni dump but from like an ice machine or something

Kikio the cat

a flick from on top of the hill

Me with Elder Johnson on top of a hill

On an intercambio with Elder Wride for today! Our comps went to Argentina for their visas, not sure how that whole process worked, but we enjoyed some sushi!

Elder Johnson is an absolute fan of graffiti and he is always teaching me cool facts and popular artists he's noticed in Santiago 

Noelia🌊 (fotos), August 5, 2024

Hola everyone!!

I love the rain here. For a moment all the dust and smog are removed and I can see the moments clear as day. Standing strong. But there was also a crazy storm that ripped through one night, everyone was talking about it for days on end, and you could see the destruction for days on end, and I.. slept through the storm and missed it all. 

I want to share a story of a 7 year old boy, his name is Santiago. When he was younger, Santiago was very very ill. One night his mom was praying for him. And he remembered being healed and touched on the shoulder by a person. Later, he saw a picture of Christ and said it was Him that healed him.

Now I want to talk about his mom. Her name is Noelia and she was baptized yesterday!

Throughout the 2 and a half weeks of knowing Noelia, I have seen her unshakeable faith and desire to come unto God and make covenants with Him. Throughout her time of preparation to be baptized many many trails and sicknesses tormented her. She had tons of excuses to delay her baptism or not have us over to teach, but she insisted. Her faith prevailing over her fears. And she was baptized, afterwards she was practically glowing and smiling. And the ward was very friendly, inviting, and supportive.

Spiritual thought: Ether 12:4

"4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

I love this scripture, because I've seen the blessings that faith and hope bring in the life of Noelia. I love that it says our faith and hope will lead to us abounding in good works. This teaches us that faith is not only believing and hoping, but acting and working to show our faith. 

Question of the week: How can you let your faith prevail over your fears this week?

Love you all!!

Elder Spencer 

Me and my other little friend 

Jesus es mi Luz

Me with Kikio (the cat)

Me and my little friend Mia

Noelias baptism!

Me and Elder Myres with David

Noelia and Carlos, July 29, 2024

Hello everyone!

This week was another week in the mission! Nothing new really happened.

Highlights

- We've found some new study places around our area like the the National Library of Chile and La Moneda (which is like a cultural centre) both are really cool if you want to look them up

- Our friend Noelia who is planning to get baptized this Sunday is continuing to prepare. When we taught were about the Word of Wisdom she chucked her tea and coffee away. It was a strong testament of her faith.

- Our other friend Carlos who had a baptismal date is struggling with some things, and we will have to move the date. So please keep him in your prayers🙏 and Noelia as well😊. 

- We weren't allowed to go to areas with lots of street traffic and are very public for the day today (majority of my area). For the election in Venezulo that happened, there were high chances of protests. This night we can hear lots of shouting, car horns, whistles, drums, pots and pans banging, its crazy. So we passed our time in the apartment cleaning, and at the church playing volleyball, and cards.

Spiritual thought: Alma 5:27-28

"27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? 

28 Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life."

I would like every one to ponder these questions. Think about them please. Because the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand. Jesus Christ is coming soon. We need to prepare ourselves to receive Him. I like the line, "prepare quickly." We shouldn't wait to change and prepare. We need to put down our pride and stand humble before God. Remember that God loves you, and He wants you to be prepared for the second coming of His Son. He wants us to be filled with joy and longing for that moment! He wants us to be ready and worthy for that moment!

Invitation of the week: What is one thing you can do right now, the moment you read this, to start preparing quickly?

Love you all!!

Elder Spencer.

 fotos from the biblioteca 

the hermana from México made us tacos and horchata

 pizza night with Steven

sunny Sunday afternoon

Un ano, July 22, 2024

Hola todos! Como están?

This was an amazing week!!

Highlights

- We found a person to teach, Noelia, we found her through old numbers in our telephone. And on our second lesson we put a fecha bautismal with her for the 4th of August!

- This week we found 5 new people to teach that all live in our area! Usually when we find someone they don't live here and we have to send a referencia. 

- On the corner right outside our apartment building there are always food vendors. And that is apparently illegal. And a couple nights ago a ton of police showed up and all the food vendors scattered like the wind.

- A 69 year old lady from Pheonix AZ came to church and I was able to help her out as she didn't speak spanish. Today we got to help her exchange money as well. 

- This Sunday a young women from our ward here left to the mtc in Provo! She is going to California! She is going to do very well! She has helped us out alot in the work here and we are sad to lose her help! But we know the Lord needs her in California!

- Oh and I competed a year of service as a missionary!

Spiritual thought: 3 Nephi 18:21

"21 Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed."

Jesus Christ is talking in this scripture to the Nephites. And the importance of prayer. We are to pray as a family unto the Father in the name of Christ. And when we do so we will be blessed. Our homes will be a place where the Holy Ghost can reside. Our relationships will become stronger and we will have more peace in our homes.

Invitation of the week: start praying with your families or pray more frequently at every opportunity with your families.

Love you all!

Elder Spencer

Jan from the states

Book of Mormon activity with the youth!

Come to English class stand

Gimena came to visit us after her travels in Europe

Intercambio with Elder Hudson

Vicentes birthday

Lunch with an Hermano where we went to a hidden place where lots of veterans of the chilean army like to eat

The Power of Change, July 15, 2024

 

This week was another great week! 

On Thursday we had an Attack on my area. Basically means that every missionary in my district (there are 8 of us in total) came to my area and I sent them off to different sectors to go talk to as many people as they can! We had a bit of success and we are looking forward to when we can do it again!

On Friday we had our zone conference! It was amazing! My favourite one yet. Our focus of this transfer is change of heart. It was very spiritually uplifting. And I also got to see a lot of missionaries that I've become friends with, some for the last time as they go home soon. One being Elder Gomez. The Australian that I was with for 4 ½ months in the beginning of my time in Chile. It'll be sad to see him go. On the brightside! We got another Canadian in the mish! Elder Runquist from Southern Alberta! He started his mission 5ish months ago but was serving in BC for that time due to some visa problems, but was finally able to come! We talked for a long time and connected fast!

On Saturday we had an amazing lesson with our friend Carlos and we put him on date to be baptized in the beginning of August! He is super excited and ready to change his life. My como and I are also very excited! 

Spiritual thought: "The power to change is very real and a spiritual gift from God." -Hna. Gutiérrez (my mission presidents wife). I love this quote from the zone conference because I've seen the realness in the power to change. I've seen it in my own life and the lives around me. And really it is a gift from God, to have so much faith and love that you desire to put away everything you knew and embrace the new. 

Question of the week: How can you experiment in this power to change? Or help someone in their process of change?

Love you all!

Elder Spencer

Good ol' Santiago

Me and Patricio

A Buffalo Waffles wrap that was amazing

The Holy Ghost, July 9, 2024

This week absolutely flew by.

Highlights:

- Canada beat Venezuela in fútbol, and being in a highly populated Venezulano area, I got yelled at a bit haha. Mostly in good cheer. I was actually with a venezulano family when we won jaja.

- With the American independence day being this week, there were riots and protest, by a group called "Anti Yankee". And it lasted for 3 days. And they targeted groups from the states including the church. So if we left the house we had to be cautious, we had to return early. And in my area especially, being right down town, and having the building where the president lives being a couple blocks away, it wasn't the smartest to leave for to long. We would take back streets and longer routes.

- We found out that a friend we've been teaching for 2 months was baptized 4 months ago. So now we are going to help focus on bringing her to church and prepare to go to the temple.

Spiritual thought: "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." -Russell M. Nelson (Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives, 2018). I cannot testify enough about how true this revelation from God is. As a missionary I feel like Satan is trying to do his all to take me down, as I am on the frontline of this fight between him and God. And I've seen the difference, not only in my life, but also of those I teach, between living with the Holy Ghost and living without. If we live in a way to have the constant influence of the Holy Ghost, we will live in a higher and holier way.

Question of the week: What can you change in your life to have the Holy Ghost more fully in your life?

Love you all!

Elder Spencer