Well after we got off of skype it was nuts. I was zoning out so much replaying the conversation in my mind. I was trying to suck every little bit of life out of the conversation. I felt pretty low Saturday night. I wanted to just feel positive and energy but it was really tough. The Elder's from Pilar slept in our house that night and during the quiet time before they left I asked Elder Otterstrom to give me a blessing to help me focus. The power of the Priesthood is so real, and I am so grateful for worthy Priesthood holders in our lives. I felt so lifted after that blessing.

This week had many challenges but I clung to The Book of Mormon. I love The Book of Mormon. I love it. It is so powerful. I can't think of a better way to progress spiritually than a regular study of The Book of Mormon. Also, I love the Apostles and Prophets. I love their words. They speak so much to me. The things they talk about are so true. Far more true then anything we can describe, they speak to our hearts. Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk is wonderful. He quoted Thomas Carlyle who said “All true Work is sacred; in all true Work, were it but true hand-labour, there is something of divineness. Labour, wide as the Earth, has its summit in Heaven.” I just love it.

On Thursday we were praying very earnestly to find someone that we could teach the gospel that was prepared. (Really quick I remembered a miracle that happened Sunday night, we received a text from an old investigator asking us if we could teach her again. That almost never happens so I was very grateful.) It was a rough day because this girl told us we had offended her about asking her to be baptized. We told her that we can't think of a better way to demonstrate love and friendship then by sharing this gospel. I was really sad. We were walking in the center of the city and this lady started talking to us. While we were talking to her these two drunk people started talking to us too. We walked over to them and began talking but I wasn't really paying attention because the conversation wasn't going anywhere when I saw this guy sitting on a bench. I learned something very valuable, because I didn't feel a strong impression, "Go talk to him". I just saw him, and decided to go talk to him because he was there. He happened to be in our path. I began talking with Valdir and we talked for 45 minutes. He talked about his father who had passed away, about his depression, and his curiousity for a true church. He is attending another church but prayed a few months ago that if he is attending the right church, could be given a sign. He hasn't received a sign yet, and I promised him that it wasn't by coincidence that we talked that day. He said he will read the whole Book of Mormon and pray.

I began promising things this week as a representative of Jesus Christ. We taught some very powerful lessons, and made some very specific promises, and it was wonderful to be used in the hands of the Lord. We taught this lesson to this woman named Zilda and at the end I felt impressed that she was feeling the Spirit during the lesson. I sang Joseph's First Prayer, and we talked about what she was feeling. I knew her family situation and made very specific promises about the things that would improve through accepting this message. We did mark a date with a woman named Marianelma and her son Mateus.

Last night for New Years we went to this members house and it was sweet. People worked normal this week but yesterday and today the city is empty. People just party a ton though. So contacts today might not be effective. I learned so,so much this week. It was a very trying week, but I would not have it any other way. I read the talk “Fear Not” in the December Ensign. I think everyone should read that talk, not only those who are worried or fearful. I learned so much in all of my scripture studies. I want to share an experience this week. I want to talk about trusting the Lord. I was getting ready to shower on Wednesday morning this week and I was listening to the new cds I received for Christmas the song "I feel my Savior's Love" came on. The voice of a child starts the first line of the song, and eventually there is a children's chorus singing lines such as "I'll offer Him my heart" and other praises unto our Savior. As I looked into the mirror, I felt the strongest impression to just entirely trust in my Savior. To let go of your will, and just give everything to Him. The childrens voices sang the melody a little out of tune in parts, a few voices kind of sticking out here and there, but I wouldn't want it any other way. It didn't matter because they were just singing for the Savior. It doesn't matter how they were breathing or blending. They were just children singing about their love and the love of our Lord. The love that led Him to lay down His life for us. To submit His will to the Father. To entirely trust the Father that all would work out. And it did! He arose 3 days later. Because of Him, Satan has no victory. There is no sting of death, a heavy heart, hurt feelings, longing for a loved one. There is no sting, because our Savior overcame the world. Everything that is unfair about our lives can be corrected through the Atonement. So in the moment, when our hearts are aching, there is a sting, our feelings are hurt, and we long for a lost loved one, let’s still trust the Lord. We have been blessed with hearts that have such a tender ability to love, and we fortunately can feel these pains, because it is through these moments that we truly learn of Him, our Savior who submitted everything. I know He lives. I know He is our Savior.

Love, Spencer