THE HOMECOMING

March 8, 2015




Josh reported on his mission on March 8, 2015.  We were supported by so many wonderful friends and family.  Josh gave a very impressive talk.  He shared some neat stories from his mission and bore strong testimony.  Even two months later, I still get comments on how impressed people were with him.  With so many new ward members, many of these people had never met Josh before.   Daniel and a friend played an “If You Could Hie to Kolob” duet.  It was amazingly beautiful and made the meeting that much more special!

After Sacrament Meeting, we gathered in the cultural hall for a meal and visiting.  In honor of Josh’s new found love of West Virginia cuisine, we served slaw dogs along with salads, fruits, vegies, chips and desserts.  Many generously contributed to the meal, which helped a lot.  I think everyone had a nice time and it was good to just visit and spend time with one another.  We are  blessed with a marvelous family and many wonderful friends.  Thank you all for your love and support!


















HE'S HOME!

AT THE AIRPORT:
Dated:  February 27, 2015

The family is ready . . . 
and waiting.

The friends are ready and waiting.
Still waiting . . .













HERE HE COMES!






Yay!  He's Back!



















I KNOW THAT HE LIVES

Dated: February 25, 2015

The snow hasn't stopped this week. It snowed, then rained on the same day. We probably got about a foot of snow before it started raining. Then it was very warm the next day, but at night it got to near zero. So all the thawing snow and water on the roads just froze. Earlier this week, Elder Ence and I decided to just walk around and try to find someone to talk to. In the process of doing this we were able to help two people get unstuck.

While we were walking, there was a lady out on her porch shoveling the snow. We asked her if she would like some help. She said no. We kept walking. As we got down the street we heard someone pealing out. We turned around and saw that someone was trying to leave, and they were stuck. We walked back up there and offered to push them. We pushed them out pretty easy, but after they were out we noticed they had a flat tire. They were asking us what they should do. We told them to pull off to the side of the road and we will change their tire for them. Elder Ence is a knowledgeable tire changer, and we were able to get the doughnut on pretty quick. In the process the guy was asking where we were from, and what church we were from. We told him about the church. He didn't know anything about it. His mom came out and she brought up the "7 wives" things. We cleared that misconception up for them though and asked if they would like to learn more. The guy said "since you guys helped us out, I’ll give you a shot. I want to learn more." He also said we were an answer to a prayer, and were so grateful that we were willing to walk back up the street to help them after they told us they didn't need our help.

I’ll tell you what, one thing that I have just loved about being  a missionary is being able to be a tool in the Lord’s hands to help other people. It feels really good when people tell you that you were heaven sent, or that you were an answer to a prayer.

Last week we had Zone Conference. I was able to give my departing testimony at the end of the meeting with Elder Theuson and Elder Stechnij. The three of us all shared a room in the MTC. It was a really good meeting. I’ll miss having zone conferences.

For my thought this week I would just like to share some recent thoughts I have had.

Jesus Christ is everything to this work. He is the center of it all. He can heal and help anyone who is willing to be healed or helped. He loves us so much. He has felt all of our fears, stresses, worries, concerns, temptations, afflictions, pains, troubles, etc.. He knows how we feel. He wants to be our friend, our best friend. I know that He lives. He is real. He really knows you. Because he loves and knows you he will never, ever give up on you. He will always be there. You are never alone. John 14:18 says, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." He also has promised "I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." (D&C 84:88) We have the assurance that God does not leave or flea or run when our trials and temptations come. No, if anything he probably tries to get closer, or as close as we will allow him. He is with you every step of the way. Have faith in him. Trust him. I know that HE LIVES.

See you all in a couple of days!

Love,

Elder Joshua R. Spencer

Some of their eyes fell off, but that's ok.  They still tasted great! :D


Buff Snowman


The car is covered.


Snow!


District Photo



They buried me in the snow.



See, all buried.






SOME BOYS IN SHIRTS AND TIES WERE GOING AROUND SHOVELING DRIVEWAYS

DATED:  February 19, 2015

Sorry to email so late. On Monday it snowed a ton! It was pretty much a white out. It has been snowing on and off all week. We are being as safe as possible. We have only gotten stuck once so far... hehe, its been pretty crazy.

Because of the bad roads, we decided to go and shovel people’s walks for service on our street. We would look for people who were out shoveling, and we would ask them if they wanted help. None of them would let us help. So we just went to driveways not yet shoveled and did them. As we were finishing one of them, one of the guys up the street that we had offered to help came down the street to talk to us. He told us thank you, the driveway we did was his mom’s and he was dreading coming down to do it. He said we were an answer to a prayer. Then we did a few more afterwards and yesterday after zone conference a guy came and knocked on our door. He asked us if we had shoveled his driveway. We told him we had. He said he got up that morning and was about to go out and shovel it, but noticed that it was already done. He had no idea who would have done it. So he asked some of his neighbors. They told him that "some boys in shirts and ties were going around shoveling driveways." He said he thought "it must be those boys in 303." So he came up and thanked us for doing it. The neat thing about it is that apparently other people were watching us. And the people on the street know who we are. That tells me the importance of always acting as a representative of Christ, and you never know who is watching and how our actions could impact them.

I have been learning so much. I don’t know if I can put it all in words.

I love you all. See you soon!
 
Love,

Elder Spencer

WE MET A 90 YEAR OLD GUY THAT WAS A GUNNER IN WWII

DATED:   February 9, 2015

This was a good week. We had dinner with a family last night. They texted us and asked what we wanted. We told them seafood. The dad of this family loves to cook. We show up and there were crab cakes, a seafood pasta dish, Mahi-mahi (dont know if that is spelled right), crab legs, and shrimp. In the pasta there was squid, octopus, mussels, and clams. It was all pretty good!

We had a zone meeting this week. We drove up the Charleston. It about an hour and a half drive up there. After I went on an exchange with Elder Degooyer. We tracked quite a bit. We found a few potentials.

We met a 90 year old guy that was a gunner in WWII. He told us a story about how his plane got shot down and he was the only survivor. He told a pretty crazy story about going to prison a ton and finally getting back to America. For a 90 year old he was getting around pretty good too. Those veterans sure did and go though a lot for us.

For my thought this week, I made a list of 20 things to remember.

1) You are a son or daughter of God.
2) You can change.
3) Jesus Christ loves you.
4) You have lots of people on your team cheering for you.
5) You are never alone.
6) Doubt not, but be believing.
7) Put your faith in God.
8) Be a faithful servant. Turn outward.
9) Be Humble. Have a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
10) Give your all so God can give you all.
11) Be grateful.
12) If you do what you've done you'll get what you've got.
13) Live and share your testimony.
14) Keep things simple.
15) Look for the tender mercies.
16) Become converted.
17) Have Faith, Hope, and Charity.
18) Be submissive, meek, patient, and gentle.
19) Fill your heart and thoughts with love for God and others.
20) Smile.

I love you all. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Spencer

THEY ARE TOTALLY DRY MORMONS

DATED:   February 2, 2015

This was a pretty good week. I’ll tell you about some of the neat things. Last week we were tracting and we found a guy that told us to come back the next week. He and his family were sick. So we went back yesterday and started talking to him. We asked him about his family and his career. He owns a towing company and he has 8 kids. That is not a typo. 8 kids! He has very good morals. He studies the bible and lives it as best as he can. He doesn't claim any denomination. He kept saying that he knows that there is truth missing and he is searching for it. We were pretty excited. So we taught him the Restoration and taught him about the Book of Mormon. It was a great lesson, but I am concerned that he is focusing on the wrong things in his study of the bible, and that may cause him to have doubts and not act. But we are hoping for the best. After we had our lesson, he fed us dinner and everything. He is a really neat guy and has a really great family. They are totally dry Mormons.

We have been using family history to find this week. It has been neat because people are so much more receptive to us. Usually when we tract, and try to talk about the Gospel, people are pretty quick to shut us down and close the door, but when we have been using family history, they usually talk to us longer. And by the end of the conversation, they are saying how much they admire us for what we are doing and how much they respect us and telling us to be safe and stay warm and stuff like that. They are so much more kind. One lady we talked to said "do you guys get any pay for this?" and we told her we did not. Then we jumped into talking about how important families are and how family history can strengthen her family in this crazy world. She started to choke up and said "thank you so much for coming by my home." I have been using my "My Family Booklet" to show people and tell them a little about stories and things I have found from my family history. Thank you to everyone back home who has contributed to doing the work. It has blessed me and it is blessing the people I am showing it to.

Uncle Bruce and Aunt Dennie came down and we had lunch. It was a lot of fun to see them. I am so grateful to have such great family and friends. My gratitude for all of you continues to grow. I don't know where I would be without such a firm and great support. Thank you.

This week I studied 1 Nephi 3-4. I will share some of the things I have learned. So Lehi and his family left Jerusalem. Here is an excerpt from The Book of Mormon Student Manuel "The distance from Jerusalem to the Red Sea is approximately 180 miles through hot, barren country infested anciently by many marauders. Lehi and his family “traveled three days” beyond this point (see 1 Nephi 2:5–6). This meant at least a 12- to 14-day trip one way from Jerusalem to their temporary home in the valley of Lemuel." They traveled at least 12 days away from Jerusalem. Lehi then received a commandment that all the brothers, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi, were to go back to Jerusalem and get the Brass Plates from Laban. Laman and Lemuel murmured, but Nephi did not. How is that an example of faith. They made the trip and Laman was chosen to go in and try to get the plates. Laban ended up chasing him out and tried to kill him. Nephi wrote "And we began to be exceedingly sorrowful, and my brethren were about to return unto my father in the wilderness." They were all sorrowful from the experience. I imagine it can be a little rattling to be chased by a bunch of people trying to kill you. I imagine it would kill all desire to go back and try again. Laman and Lemuel were ready to give up, but not Nephi. He said this powerful statement. "As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us. Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord..." Nephi was able to persuade his brothers to try again. This time they tried to buy the plates. Again they were chased away, fleeing from death. Laman and Lemuel beat Nephi and Sam with a rod and an angel appeared to them and told them that Laban would be delivered into their hands. Laman and Lemuel still didn't believe. Nephi did. He and his brothers went back to the city. "I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Laban. And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless I went forth..." Nephi didn't really have a plan. He was just going the way he thought he should go. He was putting his full and complete faith and trust in the Lord. He was putting his life on the line. The Lord did deliver Laban into Nephi's hands. Then Nephi had a another trial of faith, perhaps even harder than the first ones. He was told to smite Laban. Nephi still put his trust in the Lord and did as he was commanded. His faith was manifest in his works and his obedience. I believe that when Nephi returned to his Father, he was a different person. He probably learned much about God and himself.

Nephi didn't give up. He used his faith as motivation. He had the belief that God would provide the way to get the plates. Even though he failed twice, perhaps almost losing his life, he kept trying. In our life, we may feel like we fail when we are trying to keep the commandments. We shouldn't be sorrowful too long or get way down on ourselves because that will distract us from faith. We should strive to be like Nephi and put our trust in the Lord and just keep doing our best. The Lord will provide the way when we trust him. Faith means never giving up. It means putting our doubts and fears behind us and "leading with our faith" as Elder Holland puts it. It means have a hope that God is real and that he will keep his promises. It means that we "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men." (2 Nephi 31:20) Faith is a motivation to act in accordance with Gods commandments. Miracles happen as a result of our faith. Success is not determined by lack of failure, but by the determination to keep trying and doing your best.

Faith is huge. It is the first principle of the gospel for a reason. I invite each of you to ponder Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement and study it. Strengthen your faith and lead with your faith.

Thanks for reading this lengthy email. Sorry for any typos. I do my best. I love you all.

Love,

Elder Joshua R. Spencer

NO HABLO ESPANIOL

DATED: January 26, 2015

We had a unique week this week. First off, it snowed a little bit this weekend. On Saturday morning, the other Elders and us were leaving at the same time. We were both cleaning off our cars, and then a snowball was thrown. For the next 5 minutes or so we had a snowball fight outside of our house. Just four Elders running around throwing snow at each other. It was a fun little start to the day.

We had a couple of neat experiences this week. First, we went to try to find a LA member. The house wasn't there. We were about to leave but a feeling we had made us stop and decided to knock around the area. We walked by a group of three houses. It didn't look like anyone lived in the first two. We walked up to the third door and knocked on it. A lady came out and we told her who we were and what we were sharing. She said she was interesting in learning more. We gave her a pamphlet and got her phone number and set up a time we could come back when her husband was home. As we were walking away, she opened the door and ran out to us and said, "actually, can you guys just come by my work tomorrow and talk? I am pretty curious about this?" We told her we could do that and told her to read the pamphlet. We went to her work the next day and she had read the pamphlet and she asked us some questions. She told us of some of the things going on in her life. We can see how the gospel will bless her. We shared with her some of the unique things about the church. She is very interested. It is great to see how the Lord will put you where he needs you, and often you do even know it.

Another time this week we were trying to find another member. We found the house and knocked on it. A Hispanic man came to the door, and he didn't speak much English at all. He came to the door and said (pardon my terrible Spanish) "no hablo engles." So I responded, "no hablo espaniol." He laughed. Elder Ence pulled out a Spanish "he is the gift card." I really don’t know why he had one, but he did. Weird right? The Hispanic man gestured for us to come in. We went into his home and we sat on his couch and tried to communicate with him. We were able to pick up pretty good what he was saying in Spanish. Neither Elder Ence or I speak Spanish, but I have taken Spanish classes and He had been around a lot of Hispanic people back home. So we were able to get a little bit of what he was saying. He saw Elder Ence had a Book of Mormon, and he said he had one. He walked into the other room and got a Spanish/English Bible and a Spanish Book of Mormon. He told us that he is from Mexico, but he came here to America to work so his family could have a better life than what he had growing up. He sends all his money to his family. He said he doesn't drink or smoke because it is a waste of money and he knows God doesn't like him to do that. So we showed him the scripture in the Bible about how our body is a temple. He said "Bueno!" We showed him some scriptures in the Book of Mormon like Moroni 10:3-5, 1 Nephi 1 and some others. We used the scriptures to try to communicate. It was neat. We had a good discussion for about 45 minutes. He said we could come back. It was pretty neat how that all panned out.

So these were some of the cool things that happened this week. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Spencer

"THIS IS SPENCE AND ENCE"

DATED:  January 20, 2015

Not too much has happened since I last emailed you. We were not able to email yesterday because the libraries were closed. So we are doing it today. We had a District Meeting this morning. Then we went to IHOP for lunch. Someone gave us some gift cards there.

Elder Kaydn Ence is my new companion. So now when I answer the phone I can say "This is Spence and Ence." He got here in the morning, so we got his stuff together and took it to the house. We also had another missionary with us that was waiting for his companion. In the morning I met the transfer train to drop of Elder Carter. I was able to see a whole bunch of missionaries, probably for the last time in the mission field, that I have made good friends with. Elder Blaine transferred from Richlands. I was able to get a report on how that area was doing. It was fun. We took the 3rd missionaries around with us until the afternoon when the Transfer Train showed up with his companion. We had a lady give us a ton of cookies, so when the transfer train showed up, I went up to the 12 passenger van and opened the door and asked if anyone wanted some cookies. All the Elders in there were very excited to have something to eat so they devoured them pretty quick.  I was glad. Haha.

I would just like to share something that I was studying this morning. First off in Preach My Gospel it says "Covenants place us under a strong obligation to honor our commitments to God. To keep our covenants, we must give up activities or interests that prevent us from honoring those covenants." (pg. 63) I was studying about commitment. PMG also says "Commitment is an essential part of repentance. It is the act of obligating oneself to a course of action and then diligently following through on that decision. When people are genuinely committed, they have real intent, meaning that they fully intend to do what they have committed to do. They make an unwavering and earnest decision to change." (pg 195) As missionaries we leave commitments with people to help them repent and to help them become converted to the gospel. We invite them to do things like repent, pray, read, come to church, live the Word of Wisdom, and the other commandments. When they keep these commitments, miracles happen and they change. When they don’t keep the commitments, they don’t change. I have found the same is for everyone. As we repent, we need to commit to change. We need to follow through with the decision. There are many things that keep us from accomplishing our commitments. Usually though, it is lack of effort or excuses on our part. If we really want to change, and become, we need to put excuses in the past and really change. There are promised blessing for keeping our covenants and commitments. We should think of them often. God uses the principle of "Following up" every week as we partake of the sacrament. We can think "How did I do honoring my covenants. What do I need to change?" The Gospel is one of repentance. Repentance is a joyful thing because we CAN change. We CAN become more. Set goals and commit to achieve them. That is when progress starts to happen. Hold yourself accountable. You can study pg 146 and pg 150 to learn more about Goals and Accountability.

Think about people in the scriptures who were committed and followed through with what they committed to do. What was their motivation? Think of the Strippling Warriors who were outnumbered and probably out skilled, yet they didn't fear. They made a covenant to defend their country, and they did. Think of Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah. They committed to go preach the gospel to the Lamanites. They were treated pretty badly a lot of the time, but they stuck to their commitment and look at the results. Think of Nephi, Enos, Moroni, and The Brother of Jared. Each of these men were people who committed to something and then did all they could to accomplish it. They were motivated and firm. They are people to emulate. The best example is probably the Savior in Gethsemane. He followed through. So, what motivates you to keep your commitments and covenants?

I love you all. Keep up the great work!

Love,

Elder Josh Spencer


Elder Spencer and Elder Blaine

Elder Spencer and Elder Carter

Elder Stout and Elder Spencer

WE TOOK CARE OF EACH OTHER AND THE MEMBERS TOOK CARE OF US TOO

DATED:  January 14, 2015

Transfers are this week. I am staying in Beckley. This is my last transfer. Elder Carter is transferring to Portsmouth Ohio. He is going to be with an Elder Gardener. I am going to be with Elder Ence. He came out with Elder Blaine.

I’ll tell you about a few neat things that happened this week. So on Sunday, I was standing at the door waiting for investigators, and I saw Uncle Bruce, and Aunt LahDonna, and Evan Thomas pull up in the parking lot. It was pretty awesome. They came down to church. They brought us a bunch of food, which I am so very grateful for. I sat with them during church (our investigators didn't show up). Also on Sunday, our bishopric was reorganized. That was also a neat thing to see. The Previous bishop was great. I really enjoyed serving with him. I am excited for the new bishop though as well because he is also a very great man.

On a not so good note, and I am not really sure if I should share this anyway... But I will... Elder Carter and I got very sick this week. We think we picked it up at Church. But Sunday night, we both went to bed feeling a little nauseous. Well all night my stomach was hurting. Ugg, it was terrible. I got up and went and threw up about 5:00 in the morning. Then I slept till 6:30. Then Elder Carter went and threw up. Then I threw up again. All morning we were pretty much playing leap frog, switching places in the bathroom about every hour to puke. Ugg. In the afternoon we stopped throwing up, and we just ached all over and had fevers. Even though we were sick, we were still able to joke around with each other and sympathize with each other.  We each had the same symptoms, around the same time. I got a fever, then he did. I started to have muscle aches, then he did. O man, it was terrible, but by the next day we were feeling pretty much all better. We had a few people bring us Sprite, chicken noodle soup, Ginger Ale, and lots of saltine crackers. We took care of each other and the members took care of us too. I haven’t been that sick my whole mission. Apparently it was a stomach bug that has been going around.

I learned a lot this week. I am excited for what this next transfers bring.

I love you all. Take care of each other!

Love,

Elder Josh Spencer

PS Every day when you wake up, Ask yourself "What kind of adventure am I going to have today?"



Elder Carter, Elder Brenchley and Elder Caldwell




















It snowed a ton this week. The roads were ice packed, so we decided to walk to the library. We Bundled up. As we were walking, there was 2 older gentlemen in a car trying to get up a hill. We offered to help them. They agreed and pushed the car and got them up the hill. They said we were Heaven sent. I think so too. :D

After walking to the library.  It was snowing the whole time.

It's the new "Eyes Closed Pose."  ;D  At the New River Gorge.



WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO GO SEE HIM!

DATED:   January 5, 2015

So I went on a couple of exchanges this week. First off I went up to Oak Hill and spent the day with Elder Chinn, and then on Thursday we went to Charleston for a zone meeting, and I exchanged with the Zone Leaders. I went with a missionary named Elder Degooyer. So, I’ll tell you how I met up with Bro. Thomas.

We got there and I asked Elder Degooyer if he heard about an Evan Thomas moving in. He said yes, he was going to live with Agus. So I told him that he was one of my Young Men's leaders from my home ward. He said "Well we have got to so see him!" So we got a hold of Agus and found out that Evan was going to be arriving that night. Perfect timing right! So we wanted to see him that night. We called Bro. Stratford, a member that was going to have Evan over for dinner that night, and it turned out that Evan wasn't gong to be at Agus's house until past 9:30. So we decided to try to see him before we went down to Beckley to exchange back. So we got his number from Agus, and texted him the next day. I didn’t let him know it was me, hehe. We texted him and asked if we could make a quick visit. He said yes. We went over and I got to see him. It was really neat!

We had a really neat experience while I was up in Charleston. We went to visit a member, and ask him if he could go with us to see another less-active member. He was all for it. The less-active member was the next street over, so we went to see her, but she was leaving as we arrived. Elder Degooyer wanted to try to see another lady that is less-active. She was the next street over. We walked there and found all her lights out. Now, to give a little bit of info about this member, she is completely bed ridden and can’t really do anything by herself. So it was weird that the lights were out because she couldn't turn them out herself. So we walked in and there she was just laying down still, but her power is out, and she had NO heat. This was a very cold day by the way. So we go and find out the breaker just got tripped, so we flipped it and the power came back on. This lady was freezing cold when we showed up. But she is fine now. I am so glad we were able to go by. The Lord was using us. She couldn't call anyone, and she doesn't really have anyone else to check on her except for the missionaries. I am glad we showed up. It's no coincidence that our previous plan didn't work out.

I would like to just share some thoughts that I have had this week.

I have been pondering why people do what they do. And I have asked people about this, and everyone always seems to go to the same thing, they want to be happy. I think I have talked about this before, but I am going to do it again. People are searching for happiness. Some try to find it in money, others in drugs or addictive substances, others try to find it in social status, and there are many other ways people try to find happiness. I really feel though, that true happiness is found from Godly things. Things like Family, Faith, Repentance, Progression, Service, and Love. Those things bring TRUE and LASTING happiness. The Book of Mormon teaches the truth, Alma 41:10 Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness. 

Another thought I have had is "Be your Best Self." Each of us are Children of God, with divine potential. I heard this week a definition of hell.  It is "Hell is when the person you are, comes face to face with the person you could have been." As disciples of Jesus Christ "we are not trying to earn heaven, we are trying to learn heaven" (Brad Wilcox "His Grace is Sufficient"). We are trying to become heavenly beings. So remember what your best self is. If you are tempted to make a wrong choice, remember your potential and make the choice to help you achieve it.

I love you all!

Love,

Elder Spencer

A Surprise Text

I received an awesome text and photo the other day from a family friend.

"Look who just found me!  I love this man.  What a spirit."
This is Elder Josh with Bro. Evan Thomas, a member of our ward who just moved to West Virginia.  Bro. Thomas was one of Josh’s Young Men leaders and a good friend.  How cool is that?!
             - Patsy

ELDER CARTER AND I HAVE BEEN TRACTING AND WALK-N-TALKING

DATED:   December 29, 2014

It was a good Christmas. Skyping was really fun. We went to Bishop Geisler’s house for dinner and then they let us Skype there. There were many members that gave us a bunch of Christmas presents. We are very grateful for that. Our Christmas was great.

So I don’t know how many of you have heard of the Scout camp called "The Summit." But it is here near Beckley. It is the largest scout camp in the United States. We had a member give us a tour of it this morning. It opened in 2012. HERE is a news article about it. Elder Anderson came during the National Scout Jamboree, and they did a huge sacrament meeting.  It was a pretty cool place. They have a 3100 ft zip line. They had everything from skeet shooting to BMX to Skateboarding, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing and much more. It was a pretty neat place.

Church was pretty great yesterday. As a district we had 5 people come to church. Our whole district shares the same ward. It was pretty exciting. Elder Carter and I have been tracting and walk-n-talking, but haven't see any success from it yet. We are going though our Ward Roster to try to clean it up a bit. There are lots of people that have either moved, or died. So we are going to get that info to the Clerk. That’s the best update I can give as far as the work goes right now.

So, I’ll just share a short thought this week. As our conversion grows, we grow in our desire to deepen our relationship with our Father and with Jesus Christ. We want to know them, we want them to be our best friends. So how then do we come to know God? What can you change in your life so that you can come to know God? Here is a scripture to go along with this.

Mosiah 5:13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

We can come to know God by serving him.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

I love you all. Have a happy new year!

Love,

Elder Spencer

P.S. So I forgot to tell you about another part of my week. We had a guy give us two $20 dollar gift cards to a restaurant called Lavash. It is a Mediterranean Restaurant. We took the Beaver Elders with us for lunch. I’ll tell you what we got. A Chicken Shawarma Wrap, A Kefta Kabob Wrap, A Pesto Chicken Sandwhich, and Honey Garlic Chicken Wings. IT was SOOO GOOD. And for Dessert we had Kanafah. We had a member call us afterwards and tell us she wanted to take us out to eat. She asked where we wanted to go. We told her Lavash. So we went there again for dinner. That time I got Salmon, and we also got Greek Lasagna. It was again really good. I’ll send Pictures. :D

Christmas Eve Dinner

Christmas Breakfast


Breakfast!


Opening Presents


Elder Spencer and Elder Sister


Playing Missionary Impossible


Brass Plates?



The Summit Scout Camp




Zip Line
Zip Line




Skate Park

Climbing Walls

Ropes Course

A Big Bridge

The Treehouse

Bike Trail


This is Shawarma