Tengo Hambre- April 9

Dear Family and Friends,

So I now in Denver 1st! Here is my new address:

7160 W. Cedar Ave #1
Lakewood, CO 80226

Seriously write me :)

So leaving Denver 4th was sad. Yazmin had her baby the day that I
left. I got to hear her cry over the phone. It was so cute. It is
weird to think about all of the people there and not be a part of
their lives as much. I feel like they are such a part of mine. I love
them so much.

Transfers were interesting. Hermana Coughlen went home! I got to see
E. Ovalle. He told me about Vail. They don't have a lot to do on
p-days so they go thrift store shopping and fishing lol. Hermana Rios
was with us all day because she was waiting on her companion.

It is weird being in a new area. So here is a little about Denver 1st:
1. We cover three stakes.
2. There are tons of hispanics :)
3. There are more mexican food places.
4. So far almost all of our dinners have cancelled on us (this is why
I am hungry - see the title)
5. Our apartment is less ghetto.
6. The ward is doing great.
7. I don't know anyone :)

I feel like I don't fit in lol.....hopefully that will change soon.
Church yesterday was really great. One of our investigators came to
church - Hilda (yes a different Hilda). It was her first time and it
was my first time so we got to know each other. Gospel Principles was
a little scary. The teacher randomly asks people
questions....yesterday the lesson was about priesthood organization.
It looks like it will be interesting. The ward meets in a building
with a perfect view of down town. It is such a lovely building. The
ward members are so nice and loving. Ohh and I am giving a talk next
week :)

My new companion: Hermana Ruiz:
1. She is from California (the same place as Hermana Romero).
2. She was trained by Hna. Thomas and Hna. Coughlen :)
3. She is super hilarious.
4. She likes to eat just like me..... so sadly I might get fatter
before I go home.
5. I am really excited to get to know her more and to learn from her.

So some experiences from this week.
1. Dinner yesterday. So most people have cancelled with us this week,
but yesterday we had dinner. Hermana Ruiz warned me that it wouldn't
be amazing. We went over with the Elders (E. Rosario - I served with
him in Grand Junction and E. Woods - He just got back from Vail). The
meal consisted of: beans, lentles, spaghetti, and meat with chile
colorado. I am so grateful for tortialls. They saved us all. I tried
to eat all of the meat really fast to get rid of it. With random bites
of spaghetti to save my taste buds. Then I decided to work on the
lentles.....I do not know what was wrong with them. They were not
good. I felt like I was going to die at one point....I just couldn't
get the food to go down. So welcome to Denver 1st Hermana Spencer.

2. The other day we went to contact some referrals. I really prayed
hard that we could find someone to help. I saw this girl far away and
decided to talk to her. Her name is Megan. It turns out that she was
baptized in St. George Utah when she was nine and is the only member
of her family. It seems like her life is not going very well. I felt
the Spirit when I bore my testimony to her. It felt so good to say
those things to her. I felt like Heavenly Father had given me that
opportunity to help her. He really does answer my prayers.

3. The other day we went to see a LA, which wasn't home and decided to
talk to the lady on her porch across the street. We had to make the
weird walk to her pourch....open the gate and talk to her akwardly
while we walk. Seriously, you think about these things when you do
this everyday. She was super nice. When we got there the phone rang.
It was her son that was just being put with immigration. (Seriously,
its a really sad thing every time.) She was crying and we were able to
share our testimonies with her. We were supposed to be there. God
always blesses us when we open our mouths.

Well so here is all the news from Denver 1st!

Love ya,
Hermana Spencer

Transfers! - April 2

Dear Family and Amigos,

 

So guess what!!!! I am getting transfered! When the assistants called the other night, I might have jumped up and down lol. They were excited to move me! Then I realized that I would be leaving Denver 4th and I got a little sad. I had a hard time sleeping because I was so nervous. So it looks like this is whats going to happen. Still not 100% sure ;)

 

Denver 4th - Hermana Rios and Hermana Griffen

Denver 1st - Me and Hermana Ruiz

Grand Junction - Hermana Thomas and Sister Penley (She is now going to be learning spanish so Hermana Penley) :)

California - Hermana Coughlen :(

 

So we found out on Saturday. I won't lie, I feel like I need a change to help me as a misisonary and to get more excited about everything. Yesterday, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. The bishop made me want to cry. He said "Maestra" Teacher.....who is going to teach me english now :( I have come to love that man and his wife so much. I was able to take some great pictures and just love the people. Some of them cried and asked me why was that happening. It was hard.

 Veronica and Hilda I believe are the saddest. We met with Hilda yesterday and talked about how to keep her strong so she could get to her baptism. She should be getting baptized in July (So who wants to come visit Denver with me in July?). She ended the lesson with a prayer. She prayed for me. I don't think I have ever felt so much love in a prayer before. I started crying really hard. I just love her so much and can't want to see how the Holy Ghost will change her life. We then met with Armando and Veronica. Veronica was really sad as well. Armando has not had a beer in over a week ;) We went by on Friday (that is usually when he drinks) and watched a movie about President Monson. He said after we left he felt the urge to drink. He remembered why we had come over and decided not to drink. The next day he felt the urge again, but decided to drink lemonade and then the bishop showed up. He was really glad that he had not been drinking. So Hilda and Veronica live in the same house. When the bishop came over, everyone looked at eachother and thought, who is going to answer the door....."You, Hilda. You go to church the most." said Veronica. Lol. So they are all doing good. Veronica and Armando should get married and baptized in June. So I will be able to be there most likely.

I love the people here so much. They are my family. I feel like they are a giant part of my heart. I know that later this week when I realize, I will not be coming back....I will be sad :(

So today my prayers are answered. Yazmin, a LA that we have taught for my whole time here, is having her baby. She is naming it after me ;) I prayed that I would be able to see here. And it looks like I will later today. YAY! BABY!

 

Now Conference!

Was it not amazing. I loved it so much. It answered so many of my questions and even the questions, I didn't know that I have. I learned some thing about myself that was so important. It will affect the rest of my life. I realized this and then all of the other talks just helped me work on this problem. I am so grateful that we have a living prophet. I am so glad that Heavenly Father answers my prayers and the prayers of those we teach. These words are going to help me so much and will help the rest of my mission. .....did everyone hear the one that talked about writing missionaries? Doctrine and Covenants says that whether by my voice or the voice of my servants it is the same......so God told all of you to write me :)

 

One of the best parts of conference, was the little boy sitting next to me. She decided that he was going to take notes because Hermana Espencer takes notes. He wrote at the top of his page "About God" and then drew skigules (~~~~~ I have no idea how to spell that) up and down the page. Geovani has such a big part of my heart.

Yesterday, we were teaching a young LA girl about the importance of prophets. I again felt power come as I said the simple basic truths of the gospel. I love being a missionary so much. I hate knowing that it will end. I feel like this is everything to me. I am excited to go to a new area and meet more people. I am excited to work harder than ever to really help people know the truth. I have never done anything as good as this. It has changed me and continues to change me every day. I love my mission so much. The gospel becomes more and more true everyday.

 

I love you all,

Hermana Espencer

My year mark in Denver 4th- Mar 19

Dear Family! and Amigos!

 

This Thursday marks one year in the area. Wow! It went by so fast. I love the people so much.

 

This last week was really interesting.

 

Yesterday, we were able to teach several people. In every lesson, I felt the Spirit work in me. I felt like there were power to my words. I felt like I could really speak of the words of Jesus Christ. We were teaching Juana and Armando. Armando will be getting baptized soon. Juana is progressing, slowly but surely. Yesterday, we taught them the ten commandments Juana prays to "la virgen" and before yesterday didn't understand why it was important to not do that. I realized that commandment number 2 - to not worship idols - is a huge blessing. When we only worship God the Father through prayer, we can grow a realationship with Him, we can feel His love more. I love knowing that we have the commandments to help and protect us. Yesterday, we taught Estela, a less active, about obedience. We used the story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham got up early to leave (shows his willingness and diligence to be obedient) to sacrifice his only son. I just felt the Spirit so strongly when I told this story. I want to love God enough to do and give up anything.

 

I love the mission so much. I love knowing that God can work through me ..... a very weak person and do great things. I have seen the ward change .... just a little bit as a whole, but in the lives of many....a whole lot. I love knowing that God will continue to bless the people here, because He loves them. Hilda yesterday said soemthing that made me so happy. She said that she knows that if she has a problem that she can go to God in prayer and scripture study.....HOW POWERFUL IS THAT when you REALLY know that?

 

I feel like the mission is full of sweet experiences. The other day I was able to help Bishop Campos in english class. I was able to help him read and learn how to pray in english. I love this man. He and his wife have taught me so much. I love the people in this ward so much. Yazmin, a less active, is about to have her baby soon. . . like two weeks or less. She has decided to name her Allyson ( she liked the y better) after me. I am so excited to see this little girl that has changed Yazmin's life. She understands that she has to be active, because if she doesn't do it then her little girl will not also. I remember when she found out she was pregnant and thought.....man this is going to be such a huge trial. It has been, but it has also been a huge blessing. I love knowing that God, can do more with us and our trials.

 

Transfers are in two weeks. . . . duh dua dun! What will happen....nobody knows!

 

 

I love you all,

 

Hermana Spencer

 

Thoughts from Denver 4th- Mar 12

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Things are going great this week. We were able to have a wonderful zone conference. We talked about the goals for the mission for this next year. It is wonderful to see the work President Maynes does. We also talked about integrity. Integrity is something that I have never thought too much about. It determines if God can trust us and ultimately if we can live with Him again. These are some of the questions that I asked myself: Can my word be bought with money or anything? Are there loop holes in my word? Do I keep my promises? We were also given the chance to make goals .... and for me I made them for the rest of my mission. It was just wonderful to feel the Spirit whisper things to me. I felt God's love so powerfuly. After the conference we had more time than we thought we would and went to try back with some people. I was just beaming with happiness and was able to bear my testimony to some many people. Afterwards we went back to see a family that we have tried for 2 months now. We finally got in! I was so amazed at this woman. The lesson went so smoothly and we are going to see her again tomorrow.

 

Lately, it seems like Satan is putting his little head in all of the ward. I hate seeing the saddness and trials of others. Hilda especially is struggling. She asked us this question, which I have asked in my life as well: I am trying to do everything, keep the commandments, go to church and for what? It just seems like it gets harder and harder. I just can't do it anymore. Her and her family have been attacked almost unceasingly. Again it is mostly financial. Juan's boss is not paying them what he should and did not pay him at all this week. Hermana Rios and I prayed so much that we would know what to do. Yesterday, during my study time, I was looking for anything to help her. I then read the talk, "Waiting on the Lord, Thy Will be Done." And then I found this:

I have often pondered, Why is it that the Son of God and His holy prophets and all the faithful Saints have trials and tribulations, even when they are trying to do Heavenly Father’s will? Why is it so hard, especially for them?

This was Hilda's question. The talk then answered what to do and why. I am so glad that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. Our ward is struggling with unity, and this weekend Hermana Rios and I both fasted that we would know how to help the ward. Yesterday, we had so many people that were supposed to be coming to church.....like 10 or more. After a hard meeting, we got a call 15 minutes before church started that a member wouldn't be able to go pick up a less active. This lady, Juanita, is struggling so much. She told us last week, "I feel like it would be better if I had never known the church." This broke our hearts. So she really needed church yesterday. So I paniced a little and asked some people if they could help us. Then the Serranos walked through the door. I guess with the look of despiration on my face, and my begging plea to go get her. They went. Again Heavenly Father answered my prayer. I still felt so much weight on my shoulders for the ward, that I just wanted to cry. It was fast and testimony meeting and I decided that I had to bear my testimony. I got up and told them the little that I know. I know that God knows and loves me. Because of that I know that He has blessed me to have the restored gospel in my life. I am so glad that He has blessed me to feel love for others. I feel like this is the most powerful thing I have ever felt. I think I really spoke from my heart yesterday. After Sacrament Meeting, I talked to the YW leader, she saved my day! She talked about her struggles and her need to make a new friend. We talked about Juanita and Hna. Ruiseco and their need for friendship. She realized that she didn't have  a lot of friends. Everyone has always said hi....but during the week nothing. She has decided to make a friend out of these women.....not just for them, but for her. She fixed so many of my little problems in my head. I am so grateful for wonderful members. Hna Garcia, will now go and pick up Juanita's girl for YW and talk to her during the week and we are now having an FHE at her house tonight.

We also were able to attend a RS conference this weekend. We were singing with our ward. It was powerful. They talked about the book Daughters in My Kingdom. They also shared stories of women from around the world and in the stake and how RS has helped them. One lady told of her story. She was pregnant and got diagnosed with breast cancer. She decided right after she found our that she needed to talk to her RS president. She knew she could receive revelation for her. The baby was born prematurely and had to be woken up and fed every two hours during the night. She was going through chemo. A sister from her ward would come in her PJs every night and stay there to take care of the baby. She said they did much more, but with every act the Spirit was in her home more and more. I loved this story. Another one told us just having someone come and give her a hug and sit by her when she was new to the ward. We only need a moment and we can serve.

We are working super hard and I am so excited to see the work move forward. Sometimes I wonder why I haven't seen lots of "success" or what others would say is success. But I know that God is doing things with our efforts. No effort is wasted. I am so glad that I have had the chance to be in this area for such a long time. I love the people so much. I feel their love as well. I can't wait to bring you all to know these people. I know that God lives. He listens to our prayers. He can help us feel His love when we need it. I know that God is all powerful...and all loving. I am so glad that I can share what I know with others. I am so blessed. Thank you for your prayers, letters and love!

Love,

Hermana Spencer