DATED: June 23,2014
It's been a hot, but rainy and humid week. On Wednesday I went out with a couple of missionaries as we all waited for our new companions. We were in a walking area so we walked a bunch. It was fun. Then our new comps arrived. Elder Anderson and I have served around each other before. He was in Montgomery when I was in Charleston, and we were in the same district. He also just came from Martin 2/Prestonsburg, which is where I was before Charleston. So I have been asking him all kinds of questions about that area and how it is doing.
We have been teaching a nice lady named Shawna. She is from Virginia, and missionaries were working with her there, and then she moved up here and wants to get baptized. So that might be taking place in a couple weeks.
President and Sister Pitt leave on Friday. It is going to be interesting. I am sad that they are leaving. They are so great. I am glad I live so close to them and will be able to see them at home. Mom, Dad, Daniel, Rachel, you should really try to go to their homecoming.
We have just been trying to work hard this week. We were able to get out to some farther areas in the area we work in. We have talked to a few people and it still astounds me how confused people are. It's kind of sad. This one guy we talked to was interesting. He believed that baptism wasn't necessary. So we asked him why he thought Christ was baptized. He said "I don’t know" then we asked him, if he has ever thought about what happens after we die. He said he knows that we will go to heaven, but not immediately. He says that our spirit goes somewhere but he doesn't know where, and it doesn't even matter where it goes. He doesn’t care. We told him our beliefs about the spirit world and showed him how the Book of Mormon answers these questions, but he didn’t accept the answers. A lot of people are like that out here. They just turn away from the truth. But we will find those who won’t. Just remember to always be hungering and thirsting after the truth. If we stop looking for truth, we will be deceived. I read 2 Nephi 9 this week. I encourage you all to go and read it. It is one of my favorite chapters because it clearly explains the truth.
I love you all, keep up the great work!
Love,
Elder Spencer
I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I HEARD THEY HAD BEEN BAPTIZED.
DATED: June 17, 2014
I don’t really have too much to say this week. I am staying in Mannington and my new comp is going to be Elder Anderson... Suprise Suprise.... hehe. We have some members that live up in Pennsylvania so we went and visited them last Sunday. O, Elder Rodriguez is transferring to Charleston West, my old area! He is going to be there with Elder Ramirez and Elder Allen. Elder Ramirez is still down there. He sent me a letter and apparently some of the people that we were teaching, Crystal, and her son Jarome have been baptized, and more people in that family will be baptized in the coming weeks. If you don't remember, Jarome is the kid we were bringing to church. He is like 12 years old and he wanted to come to church and Karen was taking him while I was there. I was so excited when I heard they had been baptized.
Other than that not much has happened here this week. We are going to do our best to hit it hard and find those people that are prepared for the gospel.
Something that we found this week as we were studying, in 3rd Nephi 23, the Savior has Nephi bring the record he has been keeping. He looks at it and sees that the prophecy of Samuel is missing, so he tells them to write it down. It is very special that the Savior himself handled the record of the Book of Mormon. He himself made sure that everything he wanted was in there. The Book of Mormon is powerful.
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Spencer
O, one thing I forgot about this week that I wanted to share with you. We have a member that raises rabbits and harvests them and sells them. He asked us to come and help him do it. I was eager to learn how to do this so of course we said yes. So we helped him butcher 15 Rabbits. I took some pictures, and some of them are a little gruesome, so I’ll just send the finished product. (Rachel, please don’t hate me for this.)
I don’t really have too much to say this week. I am staying in Mannington and my new comp is going to be Elder Anderson... Suprise Suprise.... hehe. We have some members that live up in Pennsylvania so we went and visited them last Sunday. O, Elder Rodriguez is transferring to Charleston West, my old area! He is going to be there with Elder Ramirez and Elder Allen. Elder Ramirez is still down there. He sent me a letter and apparently some of the people that we were teaching, Crystal, and her son Jarome have been baptized, and more people in that family will be baptized in the coming weeks. If you don't remember, Jarome is the kid we were bringing to church. He is like 12 years old and he wanted to come to church and Karen was taking him while I was there. I was so excited when I heard they had been baptized.
Other than that not much has happened here this week. We are going to do our best to hit it hard and find those people that are prepared for the gospel.
Something that we found this week as we were studying, in 3rd Nephi 23, the Savior has Nephi bring the record he has been keeping. He looks at it and sees that the prophecy of Samuel is missing, so he tells them to write it down. It is very special that the Savior himself handled the record of the Book of Mormon. He himself made sure that everything he wanted was in there. The Book of Mormon is powerful.
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Spencer
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| When your car is in the shop and you need a new way to get around, just go visit a barn. We are in a companionship for a reason, right? |
O, one thing I forgot about this week that I wanted to share with you. We have a member that raises rabbits and harvests them and sells them. He asked us to come and help him do it. I was eager to learn how to do this so of course we said yes. So we helped him butcher 15 Rabbits. I took some pictures, and some of them are a little gruesome, so I’ll just send the finished product. (Rachel, please don’t hate me for this.)
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| The finished product. |
I AM SO GRATEFUL I WAS SENT TO SERVE WITH PRESIDENT AND SISTER PITT
DATED: June 9, 2014
So first I’ll answer these questions that my mom gave me.
What was the neatest thing you saw this week?
A classroom with the first level of Mario painted on the wall. I’ll send a picture. Also something else neat I saw is the Power of Boldness. This week Elder Rodriguez and I have been pretty bold with some of our investigators in our lessons, and it has been good. We have been able to teach much more clearly and simply. Another thing I saw this week was a truck with 4 tires that goes. Meaning, we got a truck back. Not ours because it is still in the shop, but some other missionaries in Oakland, Maryland got a new vehicle so we got their truck. I am so happy!
What was the funniest thing that happened this week?
Well, there are always funny moments when you do missionary work. People react funny to us all the time. I can’t really think of a specific experience though. It's always fun to go into lessons and keep it spiritual but laugh about things at the same time.
What was the most spiritual thing that happened this week?
We had specialized training this week. It was our last meeting with President Pitt and Sister Pitt. It will be the last time we see them unless we are transferred. I’ll tell you why it was so spiritual. So, it is very hard on President Pitt to leave. Every time he got up and started telling us about us and the mission he would tear up. It just made your heart melt because you could just feel and see the love he has for each of us, the Savior and this work. Everyone was on the verge of tears during the meeting, you could just tell. We talked about teaching and how who we are influences more of what our investigators learn from what we are teaching them. The classic teach by example idea. It was really good. After many activities and role plays it was about over, President said "I want to hear your testimonies of Jesus Christ" and he got us in a big circle of chairs. There were about 60 of us. So he told us take about a minute and just share your testimony of Christ. So we all did. We went around the circle. It was neat for a couple of reasons. One reason: a lot of people started their testimony with "I have a testimony of Jesus Christ!" That is a power statement. Another one is that we each believe the same thing, we each have personal testimonies of the Same person, but we each came to it in different ways. It was powerful. The spirit was strong. We had a testimony from Elder Fehlberg, whom I love a ton! If you don’t remember, we lived in the Charleston Homestead for 3 months. He gave his departing testimony because he leaves at the end of this transfer. It was powerful also. President and Sister Pitt shared their testimonies which were just amazing. Then President said he wanted to do a kneeling prayer, so we all knelt and he prayed. I don’t remember much of what he said, but it was powerful. I knelt in the presence of a very consecrated servant of the lord who is filled with the spirit. He was powerful because of the Spirit. I have never heard a prayer like the one he gave. It was amazing. My heart was burning. Of course a lot of people were tearing up at this point, me being one of them. It was amazing. President and Sister Pitt are people who seek to do the lords will. They are people who have faith, hope and charity. I am so grateful I was sent to serve with them. I am better because of it. I often say, I know God loves me because of the people he has put into my life. They are another evidence of that truth. I think I got a little taste of what the Nephites experienced in 3 Nephi 17.
What was the best thing you ate this week?
O by far, eggs with hot sauce. Elder Rodriguez told me to try it and I did and o boy it was amazing. It took me back to my childhood when we lived in Rose Park. Daniel had a friend named Marco. And Marco had a hot sauce that I tried one time. I didn't like it at the time, but when I ate this hot sauce, I think it was the same stuff that Marco had, so it reminded me of my childhood.
This week my studies have been great. I have been reading the Bible quite a bit along with the Book of Mormon. I started the Book of Mormon over again. I love 1 Nephi. It is so powerful. Nephi is a powerful example. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet of God.
I guess that pretty much sums up my week. It was a good one. I’ll just close this with my testimony. I have a testimony of Jesus Christ, that he LIVES, that he LOVES, that he HEALS, that he SAVES, that he DELIVERS, and that he is REAL. That is the truth and it shall never ever change.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
So first I’ll answer these questions that my mom gave me.
What was the neatest thing you saw this week?
A classroom with the first level of Mario painted on the wall. I’ll send a picture. Also something else neat I saw is the Power of Boldness. This week Elder Rodriguez and I have been pretty bold with some of our investigators in our lessons, and it has been good. We have been able to teach much more clearly and simply. Another thing I saw this week was a truck with 4 tires that goes. Meaning, we got a truck back. Not ours because it is still in the shop, but some other missionaries in Oakland, Maryland got a new vehicle so we got their truck. I am so happy!
What was the funniest thing that happened this week?
Well, there are always funny moments when you do missionary work. People react funny to us all the time. I can’t really think of a specific experience though. It's always fun to go into lessons and keep it spiritual but laugh about things at the same time.
What was the most spiritual thing that happened this week?
We had specialized training this week. It was our last meeting with President Pitt and Sister Pitt. It will be the last time we see them unless we are transferred. I’ll tell you why it was so spiritual. So, it is very hard on President Pitt to leave. Every time he got up and started telling us about us and the mission he would tear up. It just made your heart melt because you could just feel and see the love he has for each of us, the Savior and this work. Everyone was on the verge of tears during the meeting, you could just tell. We talked about teaching and how who we are influences more of what our investigators learn from what we are teaching them. The classic teach by example idea. It was really good. After many activities and role plays it was about over, President said "I want to hear your testimonies of Jesus Christ" and he got us in a big circle of chairs. There were about 60 of us. So he told us take about a minute and just share your testimony of Christ. So we all did. We went around the circle. It was neat for a couple of reasons. One reason: a lot of people started their testimony with "I have a testimony of Jesus Christ!" That is a power statement. Another one is that we each believe the same thing, we each have personal testimonies of the Same person, but we each came to it in different ways. It was powerful. The spirit was strong. We had a testimony from Elder Fehlberg, whom I love a ton! If you don’t remember, we lived in the Charleston Homestead for 3 months. He gave his departing testimony because he leaves at the end of this transfer. It was powerful also. President and Sister Pitt shared their testimonies which were just amazing. Then President said he wanted to do a kneeling prayer, so we all knelt and he prayed. I don’t remember much of what he said, but it was powerful. I knelt in the presence of a very consecrated servant of the lord who is filled with the spirit. He was powerful because of the Spirit. I have never heard a prayer like the one he gave. It was amazing. My heart was burning. Of course a lot of people were tearing up at this point, me being one of them. It was amazing. President and Sister Pitt are people who seek to do the lords will. They are people who have faith, hope and charity. I am so grateful I was sent to serve with them. I am better because of it. I often say, I know God loves me because of the people he has put into my life. They are another evidence of that truth. I think I got a little taste of what the Nephites experienced in 3 Nephi 17.
What was the best thing you ate this week?
O by far, eggs with hot sauce. Elder Rodriguez told me to try it and I did and o boy it was amazing. It took me back to my childhood when we lived in Rose Park. Daniel had a friend named Marco. And Marco had a hot sauce that I tried one time. I didn't like it at the time, but when I ate this hot sauce, I think it was the same stuff that Marco had, so it reminded me of my childhood.
This week my studies have been great. I have been reading the Bible quite a bit along with the Book of Mormon. I started the Book of Mormon over again. I love 1 Nephi. It is so powerful. Nephi is a powerful example. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet of God.
I guess that pretty much sums up my week. It was a good one. I’ll just close this with my testimony. I have a testimony of Jesus Christ, that he LIVES, that he LOVES, that he HEALS, that he SAVES, that he DELIVERS, and that he is REAL. That is the truth and it shall never ever change.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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| Here is some food I made. YUM! |
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| One of our investigators is a high school teacher and this is his classroom. |
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| Mario jumped on me! OUCH! |
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| These members had a garden, and this is what they used to keep the birds away. |
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| We covered President and Sister Pitt's car with post-it notes with nice things written on them. |
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| This is the Other Elder Spencer, or in the mission, the Big Elder Spencer. He is an Assistant right now. |
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| Last pic with President and Sister Pitt :*( |
I ATE MILKWEED!
Dated: June 2, 2014
This was a hot week out here. We went and helped some members build another fence for some sheep they are going to get. They fed us RABBIT after. These members raise rabbits and sell them and butcher them. It was good. On Saturday the branch had a Preparedness meeting. They get together and talk about survival stuff. Elder Rodriquez and I went because there were probably going to be non-members there and so we could bond with the ward more. We got there and they showed us all these different plants you can eat. They cooked some milkweed (which is some kind of plant) and we ate some. I also ate leaves off of a ginger plant. I also ate some ginger root, and something that was called an Indian radish or something like that.
We had lots of meetings this week. On Wednesday we had a district meeting, on Friday we had a zone meeting, and then another district meeting. For zone meeting we were talking about breaking through walls. They took us into the overflow and sat us down and then opened up the doors that went into the gym. The Zone Leaders had made a box wall that went from wall to wall of the gym and almost all the way to the ceiling. It was huge and very impressive. And then they all lined us up and we all, at the same time, ran though it. Someone got it on video, but I am not sure who. I have no idea if I will ever get it. I wanted to take a picture, but there was not time. It was pretty cool though. It also hurt quite a bit, because for some reason I decided to dive into the wall instead of just run through it. O well, it was fun.
We still haven't got our truck. Not sure why.
I love you all!
Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Spencer
This was a hot week out here. We went and helped some members build another fence for some sheep they are going to get. They fed us RABBIT after. These members raise rabbits and sell them and butcher them. It was good. On Saturday the branch had a Preparedness meeting. They get together and talk about survival stuff. Elder Rodriquez and I went because there were probably going to be non-members there and so we could bond with the ward more. We got there and they showed us all these different plants you can eat. They cooked some milkweed (which is some kind of plant) and we ate some. I also ate leaves off of a ginger plant. I also ate some ginger root, and something that was called an Indian radish or something like that.
We had lots of meetings this week. On Wednesday we had a district meeting, on Friday we had a zone meeting, and then another district meeting. For zone meeting we were talking about breaking through walls. They took us into the overflow and sat us down and then opened up the doors that went into the gym. The Zone Leaders had made a box wall that went from wall to wall of the gym and almost all the way to the ceiling. It was huge and very impressive. And then they all lined us up and we all, at the same time, ran though it. Someone got it on video, but I am not sure who. I have no idea if I will ever get it. I wanted to take a picture, but there was not time. It was pretty cool though. It also hurt quite a bit, because for some reason I decided to dive into the wall instead of just run through it. O well, it was fun.
We still haven't got our truck. Not sure why.
I love you all!
Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Spencer
HOPEFULLY, NEXT TIME I EMAIL, WE WILL HAVE OUR TRUCK
Dated: May 27, 2014
So yesterday was memorial day so we couldn't get to a library to email. We did a Zone Pday yesterday. We went up to Morgantown (and no, not in our truck, other missionaries drove us up) and played capture the flag in a park that is very much a forest. After playing I decided that it was kind of dangerous because we were running every which way and luckily no one got hurt. It was fun though.
We had Zone Conference this week. We talked about faith to break down walls. On our side of the wall is the Faith, and us. On the other side is the blessings. We need to exercise our faith in Christ so he can break down the wall and we can obtain the blessing. The wall makes it so we cant see or get to the blessing.
Today we went and did service with Buck (Sister Baker’s Dad, he turned 79 today). We helped him build an electric fence. We drove about 20 Tail Spar posts (I think that is what they were). Normally you drive those into the ground with a post driver, but he didn't have one, so we used the back end of a hatchet as a hammer. It sure was hard work. Then we ran the electric wiring from post to post. It took us about 5 hours, and then his wife, Sue, fed us a great meal of CHICKEN AND BISCUITS! It was good. It is so fun to be able to do service for people. Last week we went over to his house and weed whacked a whole bunch.
Also, on another note... NOT really, this has to do with food too, we made Chicken Curry with shrimp. We had some members (a Husband and Wife) make it for us last Sunday for Dinner (in fact one of these members grew up in Charleston and knows one of the Vest boys. Small world). We got the info on how to make curry from them and then made some. It was very good.
As far as investigators go, we are teaching a few people, not sure how far they are going to go but we are trying with them. We called the Dealer that is working on our truck and gave them the approval to start fixing it, so hopefully next time I email you we will have our truck.
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Spencer
So yesterday was memorial day so we couldn't get to a library to email. We did a Zone Pday yesterday. We went up to Morgantown (and no, not in our truck, other missionaries drove us up) and played capture the flag in a park that is very much a forest. After playing I decided that it was kind of dangerous because we were running every which way and luckily no one got hurt. It was fun though.
We had Zone Conference this week. We talked about faith to break down walls. On our side of the wall is the Faith, and us. On the other side is the blessings. We need to exercise our faith in Christ so he can break down the wall and we can obtain the blessing. The wall makes it so we cant see or get to the blessing.
Today we went and did service with Buck (Sister Baker’s Dad, he turned 79 today). We helped him build an electric fence. We drove about 20 Tail Spar posts (I think that is what they were). Normally you drive those into the ground with a post driver, but he didn't have one, so we used the back end of a hatchet as a hammer. It sure was hard work. Then we ran the electric wiring from post to post. It took us about 5 hours, and then his wife, Sue, fed us a great meal of CHICKEN AND BISCUITS! It was good. It is so fun to be able to do service for people. Last week we went over to his house and weed whacked a whole bunch.
Also, on another note... NOT really, this has to do with food too, we made Chicken Curry with shrimp. We had some members (a Husband and Wife) make it for us last Sunday for Dinner (in fact one of these members grew up in Charleston and knows one of the Vest boys. Small world). We got the info on how to make curry from them and then made some. It was very good.
As far as investigators go, we are teaching a few people, not sure how far they are going to go but we are trying with them. We called the Dealer that is working on our truck and gave them the approval to start fixing it, so hopefully next time I email you we will have our truck.
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Spencer
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| This is the bedroom in our apartment. |
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| Thanksgiving time anyone? |
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