The Promise from President Isom

Hey momma things are going really good over here on this side of the world.:) haha but this last week was a little crazy.. Our door broke and we’ve been having a few other things to fix in the house, so we did that starting last week. Then we had intercambios with Chaitén here in Quellón and I stayed in the house to fix the door and wait for the man to come fix our gas. Then my comp went and did some good visits with Karen and the familia Carroca. They had some good lessons with them and sharing the new Easter initiative #PrinceOfPeace. Then we had conference and interviews in Castro with President this week. In the conference President talked to us about a revelation that he received while watching conference! He said that God said that every companionship in the mission can baptize before the 15th of May and another before the end of June. Crazy right, that is so cool!! I know that we can do it and we are working really hard to accomplish that!!:) Also after conference and interviews we met with Jaime later in the week and watched the talk about the light and the testimony (talk) from President Monson. He loved it and is still progressing good. He said he has a lot of stresses in school and likes meeting with us because it helps him to feel better and re-focus. So it’s really cool to be able to meet with him.:)

So we just went and bought some completos and papas fritas!!:) (Chile’s version of hot dogs and fries). It was good. It’s crazy here, the food is pretty expensive.:) (the following isn’t complaining, just things about our mission) haha. So our mission (Chile, Osorno) is one of the most expensive missions in Chile, Argentina, Brazil.. and we receive one of the least amounts of "Aporte" (money for food and expenses of living in the mission). So I talked to President about it in our interview and he is looking into it. The problem is the church has money to give us, but some missionaries choose to be stupid and not use that money for the mission and buy clothes... (which shouldn’t be done with that money..) so it’s a little difficult for President. I told him to just send those elders to their house..;) haha but idk he’s at least looking into it and they gave us a little more for this next month.:) haha

Well that sounds like you had a great week. I’m glad that you went to the temple and I loved the pics that you sent me of the temples and of Meg and her kids. It looked really fun!!:) Also I heard about grandpa’s surgery, that’s crazy. I’ll keep him in my prayers and please let me know how it goes..:) Also thank you for Jayce´s email!!!!:) and thank you about the package. I’ll let you know when I have it!!:)

Thank you for your spiritual thought momma. I love that and it is so true. I have seen it time and time again, the best way to teach is in an atmosphere of trust and love! Well one really good example I have of this is you... ;) you and dad have been the best teachers for CJ, Chad and me. It is because of you guys that we are the men we are today. You rock momma and I agree with Megan, you need to write a book!!;) But seriously though love you momma and thank you for all that you have ever done for us.:)

Love you to eternity and beyond!!!

Elder Shawners Spencer

Shawn, Elder Gonzalez, Elder Vaughn, Elder Braddock

A beautiful church in Castro

Pictures from inside the church

The woodwork is beautiful!

Shawn just loves this little girl!!! He told her mamita
that he was going to have to take her with him
when he leaves the area :)

“If ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work.”

Hey momma how are you this fine Monday afternoon?;) And yes Conference was amazing for me as well. Also yes it was still amazing in Spanish. It helped me to realize that it doesn’t matter what language it’s in, it’s still as powerful if we let it be.:) Story: (the following took place in Spanish...;) haha) I was talking to our mamita before conference and telling her how it was lame that I couldn’t listen to conference in English. Claudia said: Why? You can understand Spanish can’t you? I said: Well yes.. but.. it’s not the same to not hear the apostles voice... Claudia said: Elder, I haven’t ever heard the apostles voice in their talks...This experience stuck out to me a lot. Many Latinos never have heard the voice of the prophet and still listen to conference and get the same from it. Although I would have liked to listen in English, it doesn’t matter because well like an apostle said in conference: the language of the gospel is universal. So I went into conference with a better mindset after this and had an amazing time. I understood almost everything and I received a ton of guidance and things I needed from the spirit!:) so the moral of the story is: The language of the spirit and gospel is universal but what isn’t is our attitude. We have to have the right attitude to receive and listen to the guidance of the spirit.:)

Things are going great here in Quellón. Jaime is progressing awesomely! This week we taught him about the priesthood and the dutys of the calling.:) So it was great! Unfortunately he couldn’t come to conference but we are going to share a talk with him and watch it with him this week.:) so that will be great!:) Also I can’t remember if I have used Alma 42 in the mission but I had the feeling to use that with Jaime as well so we are going to share that with him this week..) And actually a couple other investigators as well. Also this last week we had zone meeting and talked about the new Easter initiative which is #PrinceOfPeace or Honoring the Prince of Peace Jesus Christ. We have already been doing a lot of contacts with that so we will see how that goes.:)

Conference was bomb. I have like 11 pages of notes and that’s with listening in Spanish so I’m surprised I had as much notes, but it was great and there was a lot I loved. I loved Elder Sabin’s talk and his reference to the Force! Actually in Uchtdorf’s talk I was waiting the whole time for him to make a reference to the force and how darkness comes from fear, like Anakin.. haha. I was thinking about Star Wars a lot after Sabin’s quote...;) haha just think about it...;)

Elder Uchtdorf - "It is true that fear can have a powerful influence over our actions and behavior. But that influence tends to be temporary and shallow. Fear rarely has the power to change our hearts, and it will never transform us into people who love what is right and who want to obey Heavenly Father."

-"As we fill our hearts with the love of Christ, we will awaken with a renewed spiritual freshness and we will walk joyfully, confidently, awake, and alive in the light and glory of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ."

Also Pres. Nelson - "True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from people of the world. They are undaunted, devoted, and courageous...  when we do, our doubts and fears flee."

That is such an amazing promise at the end. That’s why I shared it with you again because when we stand up, our doubts and fears not only leave but flee, they run away!!;)

Elder Bednar - ''A missionary is not called to a place; rather, he or she is called to serve. … “If ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work” [D&C 4:3].

I also really like this last one because I realized why I had some of the problems I had before the mission, because I wasn’t fully focused on the three points of the next quote.

 - "we should give balanced emphasis to all three elements of the Lord’s pattern of preparation and progression for faithful sons of God: priesthood, temple, mission. All three require us to love being and remaining worthy. Be worthy. Stay worthy.''

Sorry I know that’s a lot but I have a ton I really liked from conference and things that really stuck out to me but these are the few that I’ll share with you today.:) I love this gospel and I know it’s true. We are all part of God’s plan and Jesus Christ died and rose the third day so that we can repent and become even as he, the wonderful mighty, yet humble, Prince of Peace.

It sounds like you had a great week!:) I hope you have a great day and can’t wait to hear back!!:) love you to infinity and beyond!!:) 

Love,

Elder Shawners Spencer

PS also my comp reached his year mark this past week!!:)

This is Anastasia - she's his favorite baby there!! :)

Elder Gonzales getting ready to burn his shirt for his 1 year mark!

The first time I missed church in the mission and...

Well before I talk about church I’m gonna leave you hanging a little bit and talk about the rest of the week.;) March has seriously passed by so fast, it’s insane! This last week was really good and also as you know we didn’t have cambios so we didn’t have to worry about traveling this past week for that! So we met with Jaime this past week and we talked about the importance of seminary and he really liked the idea and decided that he wants to go!! So he’s going to start going to seminary this week! (and he’s not even a member yet!!) Also Fabian is going really good. We went over the restoration with him as well but he ended up having to work on Sunday so he couldn’t come..:/ but he still wants to come so we are working with him!:) Then on Thursday Chile played Argentina in soccer and we had a lesson with a part member family, then they invited us to watch the game after with them!:) But Chile lost.. so sad day. But it was funny to watch my comp freak out. I was thinking in my head that this is me for football in the US!!;) haha

Then back to the subject line.. on Saturday I had a little stomach ache and didn’t think anything of it. Then Sunday morning really early I had "Double Dragon" all morning (throwing up and diarrhea), so I couldn’t go to church in the morning. I called Hermana Isom (because she’s the mission nurse) and she told us to stay in the house. I was sad because they were at our church!! The first time I don’t go to church in the mission and the mission pres. (Pres Isom) comes to Quellón! (First time in like 5 years a mission Pres came to Quellón). I know I have some luck right? haha but they came to our house after to say hi and check on us. Today my stomach still hurts a little but I’m doing a lot better!:)

So we have a new branch president but yes we have the same mamita. Her husband is just Brother Ojeda now though.. it’s kinda weird... haha but our new branch pres. is Claudio Bornand! He’s so dope!:) He served his mission in Argentina. He'll be great I think!:) We have like 50ish who usually come to church:)

For this week we have zone meeting tomorrow and then meetings with all our investigators and trying to find them and new ones too.:) That is so awesome about the Holy Cow and Bridger! I didn’t even think that he would remember me, but he still does what a champ!!:) Tell them I say hi!!:)

Wow that sounds like a pretty uplifting spiritual week!;)  That lady is so amazing. It’s so cool that through all of her challenges and difficulties that she still could walk and do things normal and have a good normal life and get all those degrees!! and I can give a second witness to that: “Happiness is the key to having success in our lives.” If we aren’t happy, why are doing what we are doing? We are here to be happy and learn how to become better people.:) Also thank you for the scripture and I’m gonna go look that up!! (D&C 123: 12-14)

For conference this weekend I think that we are gonna go watch it in the church. But a little bit of a sad note is that I have to watch it in Spanish.. I can understand but it’s not the same because you can’t hear the voice of the apostle.. but it’s all good, I’ll still love it!!:)

Love you momma! I hope that you have an amazing week and hear some good news!!;) love you to eternity and beyond!!:)

Love,

Elder Shawners Spencer

I believe this is what's left of his cake hahaha :)

Hamburgers for birthday dinner!

Translation: machines working....

Cambio Time....

Well no worries I don’t have cambios this time!!:) and my Comp Elder Gonzalez is going to stay here as well!:) So as for that, things are really good here in Quellón!!:) We had some really good lessons this last week!:) We got to go visit with Fabian. He is 23 and is an old investigator. This last week we had a meeting with him and he decided that he would like to come to church with us. Unfortunately he had work last week on Sunday but he said that he could come this week so that was really cool!!:) Also this week with Jaime we talked with him about the Holy Ghost and then on Friday about the Priesthood.:) It was a really good week.:) 

Also we visited some members and then we visited a menos active (less active) family called the Carrocas. They are super cool and the mom and son are members and the dad isn’t, but he is still a really cool guy! I hope that we can continue to work with and help them.:) Also for a funny story we went to cut wood this week for an abuela (grandmother) in the branch and I accidentally cut her electricity!!!! haha but no worries it was an easy fix and I had it up and running within like an hour! haha.:) As for new people, we had a menos activo come to church that I didn’t know and she wants to reactivate! Her youngest daughter isn’t a member so we are going to visit them this week!:)

My birthday was pretty fun. Our mamita made us a bomb lunch then on Sunday the members that fed us gave us some salmon and it was way good!!:) Saturday night just me and my comp had a party and made my cake at the house!!:) It was so fun! ALSO thank you so much for the gifts!!:) I’ll try to send some pics but I loved it!!:) Thank you so much for the birthday package and thanks to all who wished me happy birthday!!:) I absolutely loved all the gifts that you sent: the tie, shirt, sweats, belt, and the Broncos apron!!:) They are all so bomb!! so thank you momma and Mel and fam.:) That’s so cool that you got to go to the temple and that you got to go and have a party for gramps in Duchesne!!:)

I Love you so much momma!!:) I hope you have an amazing week!! Love you to eternity and back!!💪😀😘

Love,

Elder Shawners

Backed up...;)

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes!!:) It is ok that it is a few days early!!:) The work is going really well right now. We are in the zone now where I feel like everything is starting to go the way I want it!:) which makes me a little scared to leave this next week for cambios but we will see.:) Also yes I have my package now and I love it!!!:) THANK YOU so much mom and Mel!!! I haven’t opened the packages for my birthday yet... but the one with I think sweats was opened a little but my comp Elder Gonzalez took and hid them and said I can’t touch them until Saturday!!;) haha so no worries.:)

Well you’re probably wondering what’s going on with my subject line...;) haha well I’ll try to make a long story short. I pulled a muscle in my back last Monday and it was hurting pretty good. So we just went to our visits we had, then on Thurday we had intercambios. I went to Castro, with a painful ride for my back on the bus (I’ll talk about that in a sec). That night it was feeling a ton better... then on Friday I felt little to no pain.:) On the way back from Castro in the bus my little suitcase fell over and I tried to catch it. I don’t know what I did but I wrecked my back.. haha. I like almost couldn’t walk for Friday or Saturday... I felt like an old man!!! but no worries mom.:) I talked to the infermera (nurse) and have my doterra oils and they have been helping a lot to make the pain bearable.:) Right now as long as I don’t really move my back, I don’t feel the pain. It feels a lot better but still hurts so I guess I’ll just have to be very patient this week so I don’t hurt it again...;) And yeah we have tonight, Tuesday and Wednesday full of citas already so I feel like this week is gonna fly by as well! But mom don’t worry I’m OK!!:)

Oh but the intercambios where so sick!!:)  I went to Castro with Elder Ballard and we found this man named Jose Luis knocking doors, and he was just like "come in" which is not a phrase you hear all that often in Chile with knocking doors;). But we found out he is less active and he just lost the church when he moved from Punta Arenas! So he said he wants to come back to church!!:) also we visited another less active from a member referral and she was surprised but said as well she wants to come back but just needs some help.:) It was so cool!!:) Then to end the night we had a FHE with a member family who has 2 non-members living there. It was so spiritual and the 2 non-members are so cool. They are gonna be baptized! We also played a game with matches and the loser gets marker drawn on his face, Elder Ballard and I lost...;) haha (in the fotos)

It was a successful intercambio minus the back.. and my comp here in Quellón found a lot of people that we haven’t found in weeks so this day made up for like the whole week!!:)

That’s sooooo funny about grandpa!!!!!😂😂😂 haha that honestly doesn’t surprise me at all. He is so funny. Please tell me you were recording the interview or something??:) haha I love grandpa and it’s so true he can make anyone’s day better just by talking to them!!:)

Haha that’s really cool about the "Daughters of God" because we had the same lesson in priesthood as well. It was actually a really great lesson. Memo (the teacher) showed a video from Joseph Smith and then he gave his neighbor the advice to help out around the house. It was a little funny but it was a really good lesson!:) I love that quote that you shared with me!!:) If we have angels with us, we can do anything and work any miracle. In all it was a great lesson about the divinity of women and our role to help them to recognize and continue as a daughter of God.:)

Love you so much momma!! Like to infinity and beyond!!:) hope all is well and that you have an excellent week!!:) Thank you so much for the birthday wishes again!!:) I loved that video!!:) Love you momma!💪💙🙃

Love,

Elder Shawners