Christmas Post

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope everyone is just doing fantastic. The week has flown by. There is a saying here - "the days are like weeks and the weeks are like days!" So basically the MTC is in a time warp of some kind. So we get 30 minutes to email....and when you sit down and start writing your mind goes blank - so I will try to calm down and think about what happened this week!

Thank you for all of your wonderful letters! They seriously help me get through the days and some are even answers to my prayers. I have seen so many miracles this week. Mostly in the form of prayers being answered. My companion and I have seen much growth in ourselves and in each other. We have loved this week! It is still odd being a missionary. Sometimes I look down at my tag and it still surprises me! I am loving it right now!

So some crazy things. Our teacher, Hermana Purizani, told us on Monday that we were going to play a "game." Its called the native game and it basically means that you get the opportunity to speak in espanol all the time in order to win points by people thinking you were the native speaker. So whoever is the best or speaks the most espanol wins. So this is not over till Friday. The first night was one of the most frustrating moments of my life. I really had a hard time speaking at dinner. It was so hard and people laughed at me. Which those of you who know me know that I am sensitive when it comes to things and right now I am sensititve about spanish. Basically I got my feelings hurt. I kept going and you know what the next day I actually knew more espanol. I was humbled (that happens alot just so you know). It is so important to be humble because the only way we can learn anything this quickly is the help of Our Father in Heaven. Now I am so much more confident in espanol and its only been two days!! Hermana Thomas and I are going to teach a whole lesson in espanol on Friday or Saturday and we are already well on our way to that goal. So spanish is getting better and honestly it is amazing how much I know. I can only talk about food, the weather and the gospel (what else is important anyway right?).

Our district is intresting. Much of them have graduated from High School earlier this year (which honestly is super weird when I think about it). Sometimes I think that they don't like me (mainly the Elders). I am trying to figure out how to get them to talk more to me. I really wish that they would. Hermanas- are awesome. All of the sisters in our district and zone are amazing. I am learning so much from them. Some of them remind me of what I was like before the MTC. I have kinda put on a little shell that is slowly cracking. Hermana Nibley is a girl about to leave to go to LA. She speaks beautiful spanish and is so nice. You never see her without a smile on her face. There are also two girls Hermana Loftus and Hermana Collins who just make me feel so comfortable. I am really excited to learn from their wonderful examples. Ohh I finally told some of my district about fruit flies (see the shell is cracking). They thought I was a little odd but you know what - I kinda am!

Today the temple is closed so we had a wonderful amount of time to do whatever. It was some of the most relaxing moments of my life. Next week the temple is closed also but we get to clean it! Ohh yay! I am so excited! I am about to get my hair cut so cross your fingers and hope it goes ok. Also I have eaten alot of candy and sweets today (christmas packages and all). Luckily I went to the work out class at 6:00 this morning :)

Christmas at the MTC is going to be amazing - I hope. One of the Elders in our district made the talent show with a magic show. Hopefully an apostle or maybe even the Prophet will come talk to us! We have a devotional on Friday night and then I think two talks on Saturday. I am so excited to see who comes. The devotionals have already been great! We also have time to email on Saturday (or that is the rumor). So send me an email :)

I have learned so much about the gospel the past two weeks. I have felt God's love for me and for so many others. It is so amazing to see why we are here. The answer is the same reason we have Christmas, Jesus Christ!

Another thing - When we get to walk to the temple it is so amazing. I feel like I never see the sky. I feel so free when I can just see the sky and feel the wind. I do miss Lubbock for its weather and also for the sunshine. I pray for sunshine alot. It has been cloudy all week. It snowed for like two days straight. It was beautiful but cold. I am so grateful to be here. I know that this is where I need to be and am glad that I have 9 weeks here (most of the time). I have seen Veronica! She got here last week and it is just so great to see someone I know.

Remember why we celebrate Christmas! Make it the best one you can because there will never be another December 25, 2010 again!

I love you all so much,

Hermana Spencer

P.S. There are so many stairs here and here is a modified quote fromt he best two years "From going up all the stairs my bottom has become quite beautiful".

Ohh and everyone has learned my secret - I am very uncordinated! BUT I survived this week without getting hit in the head :)

Yo se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador. Mediante su Expiacion podemos regresar vivir con Padre Celestial!

Life in the MTC

It was wonderful to hear from Hermana Spencer today! Sounds like she is enjoying life in the MTC!

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy Birthday Jeff and Madre! I hope they are wonderful!

I am so excited to write you. I have been waiting...patiently to write you! The MTC is so different than normal life. I basically am busy all the time and don't really have any time to think - but I love it at the same time. I can only write on P-day - TODAY! There is so much that has happened in the last week that I do not even know what to say. My first day was wonderful. My companions name is Hermana Thomas from Las Vegas. She is also going tot he Denver South Mission. Everyone in our district, besides us, are going to Salta Argentina. We have 3 sets of Elders and another companionship of Hermanas. We have two wonderful teachers. One is a native of Argentina. She is a returned missionary and speaks perfect espanol and english. As of Monday, she will no longer speak any English to us. So....I was scared, but so far I have done alright. Our other teacher is also a student her at the Y. He is really nice and funny. He served in Argentina.

So Spanish! I will not lie - it is very difficult. I have learned so much over the last week. The second day here we learned to pray, and since then all of our prayers have been in espanol. My english is already beginning to suffer :). On Sunday, RS was in English and I was so excited to hear a pray in English. My prayers are slowly becoming less repitious as my vocab grows. I am doing great with the grammer. On the other hand - my pronunciation is horrible! But I am reading out loud every day with my comanion from El Libro de Mormon and she is helping me. I am ever so slowly getting better. I am surprised at how much I understand. My companion and I have been able to help eachother so much already. Oh another thing - Sacrament meeting is terrifying. Our Branch President will randomly call on someone and have them give a talk in Espanol. AHHHH!!!! I have never been so nervous. I was so greatful when he didn't call my name.

I am the oldest and the shorest in my district. All of the other girls came out here right after they turned 21. I think I have met one person older than me :)

Right now I am doing laundry. I am so excited to get clean clothes. Just so you know we are extremely busy around here. I have loved getting your letters. Every day that I get a letter/Dear Elder is instantly better. I won't lie, I have struggeled the past week. Not in a tremendous way, but it is harder than I thought it would be. In a different way. Spanish is definately humbling me. I really want to understand it more. I can definately say that I am grateful for all the wonderful experiences I have had. I feel prepared to teach in English - now I just have to work on Spanish. Tomorrow we are teaching our first lesson. I am so excited to teach...and scared at the same time. We are teaching lesson 1 - the restoration. My testimony of the Restoration is increasing. On Monday our teacher, Hermana Purizani and another teacher, practiced teaching for us. When they shared the story of Joseph Smith - I felt it so powerfully. I loved it. Yesterday, Hermana Thomas and I had a wonderful companion study. We were reading PMG (ofcourse) and the spirit really did direct our study. I am so excited to become better. Another wonderful experience was last night. We sang Called to Serve as an MTC! IT WAS FANTASTIC! I loved it.

So my schedule. I wake up at 6:10ish. Eat at like 7:00. Sit in class most of the day - like 11 hours. We have two Spanish/doctrine classes and then we have personal study, companionship study, and missionary directed time ( which means we decided what to study and with who). We eat alot. I love the wraps and eat them everyday for lunch now. Some of the food is not so good. I really miss cooking - but will survive. We go back to our rooms at 9:30 and do whatever. At 10:15 its quiet time and then lights out at 10:30.

Ohh something that I didn't expect was that I don't feel like the normal "Allison." I feel like I am only part of myself. This is good and bad. Because I am in the MTC - I cannot serve people the same way I normally would and I am missing this terribly. I do feel like I am growing in a very good way and am learning to give up my burdens to the Lord. I know that without his help there is no way I will learn spanish. I know that I have to be obedient. In our zone we have a goal to be exactly obedient. This is difficult, because we have some silly rules. But I am getting over that.

I seriously love you all so much. And I love the people who have written me so much. I love that I have been getting so many letters! My district is sometimes jealous. Can someone send me the weather. It snowed today and it was just lovely. We got to go to the teimple and it was so wonderful. I was so tired though and had to fight to stay wake.

My companion and I are so different. I definately can see that the Lord is helping us work together.

I am so exctied about everything. The Lord totally loves us. I know that the gospel is true for so many reasons, but mostly because I feel God's love for me daily. He is really sustaining me!

Funny story - The second day - I was playing volleyball and I got hit in the face! Isn't that just like me! My companion is laughing as I read this.

We live with two Herman's in our district - Hermana Cocina (Kitchen) and Jorgensen! I love them so much already!

I have no more time! I love you guys so much! PLEASE WRITE ME!

Love you all!

Hermana Spencer

Hermana Spencer's address

Hi all,

This is Samantha, hermana de Hermana Spencer. I will be the one that is upkeeping her blog. If you leave a comment, I will forward it on to her! :) I am also going to be posting her emails.

Her address is:

Sister Allison Kristine Spencer
MTC Mailbox #235
CO-DENS 0209
2005 N 900 E
Provo UT 84604-1793


Allison will be in the MTC until early Feburary. You can write her for free by going here!
She would absolutely love to hear from you...yes you! So please feel free to write her!

Rooting for Modine

I wrote a large part of this post a month ago.

This past week has changed my life.

I have felt so wonderful. I have seen why having a Savior is so important.

I've had a week of serving and of being served.

I have really been striving to find people to serve. Most have been small ways. The times when you have a small prompting - and you have to decide are you going to do it, or not. So many of those small things have helped me this week. I have truly had joy this week.
I have also been served this week. So many of my wonderful friends have helped me. Not having a car is a wonderful time to be served. I have appreciated everyone helping me - taking me to the store, work, or even just dropping me off at home.

Do you ever just look at the wonderful people that surround you? I have seen so many wonderful people this week. A lot of them I have recognized as wonderful, but this week I really had a different pair of glasses on. I was able to see people more like the Lord sees them. I wish I could say this is how it always is - but that would not be true.

For example, George. I really love this guy. He has shown me the gospel is for everyone. It really is. He has changed our ward, most certainly for the better. On Friday, I was able to dance with him the last dance. He loves tennis so much - but he always puts a smile on my face. He has been such a wonderful missionary. He loves giving out Book of Mormons or even just talking about the church. Many people who have been members their whole life are not as good as he is.

Also, Kimberly. She is so beautiful and extremely sweet. She is just so classy. I always feel that she is so genuine when I speak to her. Not to mention how wonderful her food looks!

Hannah, I really gained my testimony of visiting teaching from her. I was the one who was supposed to be helping her out when I visited...instead I always found my self up-lifted.

Katelynn - I have been friends with you longer than anyone else. You have helped me see so much. Not only have you helped me graduate from college, you have helped me feel God's love for you and for me. I will always think of so many things - Monty Python, Avril's song "Girlfriend", Quade, skipping all semester of Microbiology, and most importantly Reesesssss Peanut Butter Cups! I love you!

Kip - Even with his crazy grin, he always is there to listen. I have known Kip for a long time. There have been times when we weren't great friends. Oh how I love that we are now. He is seriously one of the nicest people.

Isaac (aka "The Mexican Cowboy") - most people do not even know who Isaac is in our ward. He brings something so different. I love hearing his stories of "blah, blah, blah" and "you know what I'm saying." Anytime I see him, I just want to smile. Seriously H-i-l-a-r-i-o-u-s!

Meekayla! I have had some amazing experiences with her. I see the way the gospel has changed her and realize how it can change others. From knowing her,  I see how wonderful it is to scare Cathy with a dog. . . and also great conversations can be had in the Subway parking lot. I trust her.

Kayla, how I miss you. She is in Idaho. Which = not close to Texas! She is one of the most sincere lovely people I have EVER known.  Boys, seriously why have you not married her yet. She has helped me know that I can go on a mission. She has been such a wonderful example to me.

Jenny Jo - I always know I have a dirt expert one phone call away - and also a friend! I really hope that one day we can live close again and chat like we used to. I will always remember how you got me dates :) You are a wonderful example of so many things.

Evonne - If people do not know you - they are seriously missing out. You have always served in such a wonderful way. You truly have a gift for seeing what others need - and then you act on it. I will miss you eating popcorn, cheese and Dr. Pepper. :)

Chris - Where ever I go, no matter who I talk to, they always have great things to say about this guy. He never ceases to be a great example and to impress me. People are never numbers to him. He however consistently makes fun of the way I speak and likes to tease me. Que Te Vaya Bien!

Melanie - Can I just simply say that I love you! I am so glad that I got to live with you! I have never met someone with such a wonderful personality. I am so entertained by our friendship - because seriously who else would be Captain von Trapp and dance with me!?!

Kellyanne - Seriously an amazing scriptorian. I am always amazed at her ideas to improve her own scripture study - I may have stolen some Mwahahaha. She is always so kind and loving.

Cathy - She has helped shape me into what I now am, Pal. I love it when Cathy laughs. She is a serious force for good. I love her decorations and she has helped me grow to love enrichment/relief society activities.

The Curtises (I hate making plurals from words that end in s's) - have blessed my life so greatly. They have allowed me to live in their house, use their washer and dryer and also keep me entertained late at night. I am amazed at their wonderful example. I love their quirks. I see that the gospel is a part of them and not just something that they do.

Katie HoHorton - Seriously - she is awesome. I love her smile. When I was getting ready to go to the temple, I was so excited to have her their. I really feel like we feel the same way about the temple. I also love that she is grumpy in the morning :)

Garrett. I have learned so much from this crazy - fun - loving person. From him, I have really learned that having a good time at an event, really depends on yourself. You can be fun, which helps others have fun. I love when we tag team getting to know people. Having a buddy to help fellowship is really the way. He is also not stupid, mostly because he is marrying Sallie.

Sallie - the same one marrying Garrett, is so full of energy. She does it all. I really feel like we can talk about everything.  I know that one day she will help me learn to dance less like an uncoordinated white girl :)

Alice - I have always loved talking to you. You are such a wonderful example of enduring to the end. I am always so impressed about how you smile, even when life is hard. You have always encouraged me. The Lord truly knew what he was doing when he let me have you as a friend!

Danielle - I know I have only known you for a short time - but I am already impressed. You hold your yourself to a high standard. I want to be more like you. I love your cute laugh and your smile. I look forward to getting back and you showing me some good cowboy moves on the dance floor!

Anna B - I love her so much! I always love her great Relief Society lessons and how she always seems to think that since I know science and can cook - I know the anwer to all of life's questions!

Sarah - Never have I met anyone who has more Texas Pride. She has blessed my life. She has shown me how to really laugh. I know the gospel has changed her by the way she talks. Remember the only time you can cry during a card game is when Sarah is mad at you :)

Anna/Anna - I love you. I miss working with you. I will always miss you trying to compete at any of the tinest things. And just for the record - just because I'm Mormon does not mean that I am automatically good at everything!

Ashish - I am going to miss us running around hiding from you know who lol. I will miss your laugh and when you "try" to teast me hahahaha. The lab experience was so much better because of you.

Stephen - Thank you for always making me laugh! I am going to miss hearing your crazy stories and you using the word "gentiles." I'm glad we got over those akward moments.

Sam Sarlls - I love you. Because of you I now say something and want to then sing a song that is directly related to it. You have helped me love who I am more. You are awesome. I will miss hearing you sing.

Mitchell - You are awesome and amazing! I had so much fun with you at Halloween this year! I love your photography - keep it up!

Kyle - Thank you for always being so nice to me! You sersioulsy are great. I will certainly miss getting those skinny hugs from you!

Phil - Need I say more? I am still waiting for you to seranade me! You are so fantastic. There is no way that people cannot smile when you smile at them. I will miss giving you hugs - you always smell great!

I have almost run out of brain power....there are so many countless others that have helped me see the Savior.

This weekend was Stake Conference. I have felt so amazed by our Stake Presidency.

One story was of a girl named Modine. She was not the most attractice, intelligent girl. The kids made fun of her until a wise teacher prayed about what to do. He was inspired to give the kids in the class an assignment. He asked them to help her with her studies. The students then began to "root for Modine." They wanted her to succeed just as much as they wanted themselves to succeed. They began to love her. They all "fought" for time with her. After a short while that is what unified them.Not long after this miraculous change, Modine died in a plane accident. They were devestated, because they truly loved her.

When we act on promptings from the Spirit - we can bless others. We can change their life.Lets have charity instead of criticism.  So let's "Root for Modine" by rooting for our fellowmen.