This week was all over the place! There were ups, downs, rights, lefts, and insideouts. ;) But I am happy to announce that both Hermana Bell and I are back to facing and moving forward! :)

There will be a baptism this Easter sunday! :) Jesus's wife, Brenda was baptized in January and now he will be! :) They have been investigating since back when I was in the area the first time. They got married in the church building and Jesus has been able to stop drinking! :) It was been quite a process with those two, but they have never lost faith! :) and since the young women's broadcast is on Saturday, we will get the chance to celebrate Easter with a baptism Sunday morning at 8am before church! Can anyone think of a more perfect day to be baptized? Or a more perfect way to start off celebrating the resurrection of Christ? The day that Christ came back to life, is the day that Jesus will be clean and start his new life! I can't wait for them to be able to go to the temple! :)

So, they got rid of the spanish zone :( There are still spanish areas/missionaries but we are now all mixed in with the english missionaries, so it is definitely different! but, so far so good! :)

I am so grateful for Our Savior Jesus Chirst and all that He has done for us. It gives me hope to know that, because of Him and the plan that Heavenly Father has for us, we can be resurrected and live with them and our families para siempre! :) (forever!)  I love this gospel and for the chance I have everyday to share it! :)

I love you all! :) 

Hermana Sarah Michelle Spackman

#Aleluya #Hallelujah

and a picture of my first english disitrct! 

This past week was Hna Gonzalez's last week and she flew home this morning! Crazy! I have known her my whole mission and she has always been someone that I look up to! She will do great things ;)

Right now, I am in a trio in an english area until I get my new companion tomorrow! It's been fun, but I miss teaching in spanish!

Last week, we found three new investigators and they all accepted a baptism invite and date! Yay! We found the elect! :) I am so excited to keep working with them. 

We cannot do this work without the Lord and without being completely worthy of the Spirit. Heavenly Father knows exactly where His prepared children are and has given us the Holy Ghost to guide as there. Now it is up to us to be worthy and willing. And this applies to everyone, not just missionaries. There are people in your neighborhood, workplace, or even family, whether they be members or not, who are praying for something. You could very well be their answer. Be sure you are doing all you can to hear the promptings of the Spirit! :) 

God is our Heavenly Father and He truly does love us!! :) 

I hope you all have a great week! :) 

I love you!

 

Hermana Spackman

Hna Clark (who is now back serving in Lynnwood) just emailed me saying that Lyli and Elvin's daughter finally made it here form Guatemala!! :)

 Here is a little background on the story, they have been trying for a very very long time to have their whole family here together, but it has been quite the process getting visas and whatnot. Then, there was this lady who told them that if they joined her church and denied the mormon church, she would be able to bring their daughter here to america. They knew it was wrong, and didnt accept her help... Every single prayer they said included a plea for help in bringing their daughter, so that she could be baptized and they could be sealed in the temple. 

AND NOW SHE IS HERE! Heavenly Father truly does answer prayers! I am so happy for this family that will soon be sealed for all time and eternity! I know that all those hours spent worrying, praying. and wondering if they will ever see their daughter again were worth it, and that He never left them alone. He has a plan for each and every one of us. It is our job to be patient, faithful, and willing to do what He wants for us. He loves us and through Him families really are forever!! :) 

 

What a week full of miracles! :)

We had the chance to exchange with a couple of sisters this week, one of which Sister Shattuck is brand new and it is her first transfer! She came to the spanish area and worked with me! We had a lot of fun but let me tell you of one experience in particular. It had come to the end of the night and for some reason I felt weird about visiting the people we had planned on seeing. We knew this certain family would be home and they always let us in, but as we got to the stairs, it didnt feel right. I told Sister Shattuck and we stopped and said a prayer. After a few minutes of pondering, she pointed to a blue door across the street and said we should go knock on that door. So, we went! We knocked on the door, and it turned out to be a Hispanic family! :) but...they werent too interested...however, I knew the neighbors were formers from way back before I got to the are the first time and decided to knock their door as well. The mom was busy but she invited us to come over the next day. Hna Gonzalez and I went back the next day and they let us right in, the father called the whole family together telling the kids that we were going to tell them a story. We taught about the restoration and the 1st vision. The Spirit was so strong and they want to learn more! Ah, the guidance of the spirit is so cool! 

Elder Johnson of the 70 had come earlier that week and taught the Mission leader council about being worthy to have the spirit to go and find the elect!! It was such a testimony building experience to see it actually happen! :)

I also tried menudo for the first time... its like soup with cow stomach.. I have never not been able to eat what someone fed me until that moment.. most likely not a recipe that I will be keeping! ;)

I love you all! I hope you have a great week! :)

Hermana Spackman

Familia Mia --------> heavenly father loves us waAaayyy toOoo much & this week i was reminded once again of just how real He is!

We've been teaching a 21 year old named Kevin Munoz and he has such a sweet spirit. His mind process a little slower than normal but he can understand enough to follow along. We were teaching him that because God loves us He restored His church and then Hermana Bagley began to teach the First vision and as soon as she finished, we paused to feel the spirit and Kevin, looks at us with wide eyes and says, "Do you guys like Pizza?" hahaha
"Uhhhh, Yeah!" we just laughed because he was laughing but really we looked at each other trying to figure out why he asked that. Then he said, "i like pizza. and i know god is real because he gives me pizza." Kevin can see the simple things in life as evidence of God's love & i was grateful to be reminded.

We had a set appointment with Rosa on Saturday (we met her tuesday night & told us to come back) We brought hermana lopez, a member in the branch with us. we knocked the door. no answer. we knocked the neighbor's door. no answer.

Hermana Lopez wanted to knock again on rosa's door. so we did. no answer. then, hermana Lopez turned to me and said, "Call her!" i said, "uh, we didn't get her number." She asked, "Why not?" then came the 5 min lesson :) in how we need to get all the information when we meet people & we nodded and apologized that we didn't do it. We got in the car and went on our way to take her back home and as we drove out of the neighborhood, Rosa was turning in and Hermana Lopez screams, "Haga vuelta!" (Turn around!) haha such a blessing she said that, just in case we didn't see her ;) haha 

it was a real M I R A C L E and we were grateful for the 5min lesson on getting her phone number and that Hermana Lopez wanted to knock again. If we didn't take that time we wouldn't have seen Rosa pulling in. We taught Rosa & the spirit was very strong...Hermana Lopez's faith and boldness helped us, help Rosa feel the spirit.
We are seeing miracles because of the faith and work of members and we are continuing to build our own faith and excitement. Good things are happening but we know better things are in store! i love you all & i know Heavenly Father places miracles in our days, we just have to see them ;)

Los amo, Hermana Fifita

Pic: Just a couple of the amazing members in the branch :) oh & my crazy companion haha

This last transfer with Hna Gonzalez has been so great! We have really been striving to talk to EVERYONE. We don't let anyone pass us by. We even started a competition in who can be the most awkward/bold in a contact. Looser buys frozen yogurt at the end of this transfer. haha it has been so much fun. We have been "chasing" people down, knocking on windows of idling cars, and talking to people from way across the street. And while doing this, our days are so much more fulfilling! And we are teaching a lot of families! Good things are happening here in monroe! :)

We were asked to instruct at mission leader council about how to teach when you find and we came up with an acronym which is now known throughout the mission. its TWUF (teach when u find) and we say "are you twuf enough?" haha or "we twuf because we luff (love)" haha obviously we had a lot of fun with it :)

Hna Gonzalez is a convert, and it has been fun teaching her primary songs! :) We realized how profound the songs are...

Because I want to be like the Savior and I can,

I reading His instructions, I am following His plan.

Because I want the power that His words will give to me,

I'm changing who I am, I'm changing who I will be.

Scripture power, keeps me safe from sin.

Scripture power is the power to win!

Scripture power, everyday I need,

the power that I get each time I read.

It so simple. yet, soo true. 

I am so grateful for my parents, my siblings, primary teachers, young womens leaders, seminary teachers and my great friends who helped me get to where i am today.

I have a string testimony about the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. For this chance I have to share the light I have found through the words of the prophets. 

I love you all and wish I had more time to tell you all the great and wonderful things that come from studying the scriptures! But, you don't have to take my word for it! ;)

Hermana Spackman

Hermana Gonzalez's birthday!

Something we talked about in Mission Leader Council was..

Obedience in the morning.

Diligence in the afternoon.

Miracles at night.

When I first heard it, I wrote in down, but didn't really think anything of it. However, this past week it has really been on my mind because it has happened literally everyday this week. We have been seeing so many miracles! And they have all happened near the end of the day right before we have to go in. I can honestly say that Hermana Gonzalez and I have been trying to be exactly obedient. Its hard but soo worth it. Then in the afternoon, the work goes a little slower. No ne is home or appointments fall through...but then by the evening, we find amazingly prepared families, have great lessons with members coming with us, and even we have had great breakthroughs with some of the less active members in the branch. :)

We found Jose, Luz, Jose, y Liz. ( haha yes those are their names ) Liz and Luz are sisters and both of their husbands' names are Jose. They are incredible and they have such a desire to learn! Jose y Liz just had their first baby after trying for almost 10 years. And this Sunday all four of them came to church (five if you count the baby) :) It was fast and testimony meeting and the Spirit was so strong! All the members wanted to bear their testimony and share what is most important to them with this family. One of the Hermanas is pregnant for the first time and had also been trying for 7 years to have a baby. She got up and bore her testimony about her experience without even knowing that Jose y Liz went through the same thing! I am so grateful that she followed the prompting to getup and share what she did, her and Liz clicked instantly :) I am so excited for this family! :)

Also, update! Remember Hermana Lopez? For those of you who don't, she was my first baptism out here in the field. Well, now that I am back in Monroe we have been working with her annnd she got her patriarchal blessing, her daughter has been baptized and she has her temple recommend to go do baptisms for the dead! :) During one of our lessons the other day I couldn't help but to tear up.. I thought of the one quote "A missionary is someone who leaves her family for a short time so that others can be with theirs for eternity." Its coming true!! :)

Ahh.. I just love the gospel. Hermana Gonzalez is a convert and it has been fun telling different childhood stories. I am so grateful for my parents who taught me from a young age to love the gospel! :) I feel like I have been truly becoming a missionary, instead of just doing missionary things. Missionary life is good :) Just life with the gospel of Jesus Christ is good! :)

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well! :)

I love you!

Hermana Spackman

So, just to update everyone, I got transferred ... drum roll please... back to Monroe! My baby area! :)

My new companion is Hermana Gonzalez, this is her last transfer, she is from Paramount, California, fluent in spanish, and just about the sweetest person you will ever meet! I will try to get pictures this week. We have already seen so many miracles this last week and we are so excited for this next week, lots of good things happening! :)

I love you all! Remember to follow those promptings of the Spirit! :) 

Have a great week! :)

Hermana Spackman

This week was pretty eventful! We had Zone Conference, Mission Leader Council and also exchanges!

This next week is going to be crazy because we have two more exchanges and lots of service hours, I am excited!

The weather has been getting a little bit warmer and the days a little longer, so that has been great for street contacting! :)

Our mission president asked us to commit to reading the Book of Mormon everyday for the rest of our lives. It was very powerful the way he talked about it. I readily made the commitment because I know the Book of Mormon was written by prophets. I know it's true. I have seen countless blessings in my life and in the lives of others thanks to the teachings we read inside. I know that I have taken it for granted in the past, but there is always time to change and improve! :) Heavenly Father loves us and because of that love he has given us a sure way to return to Him. Through the scriptures, we learn what that way is. I know that as we apply the teachings of the prophets of old as well as the prophets we have today, we will be worthy of the Spirit, and never go astray.

The invitation is extended to each and every on of you reading this email. Read the Book of Mormon everyday. And dont get discouraged if you miss a day. When you accidentally skip brushing your teeth one day, do you give up all together and never brush your teeth again? Claro que no!! As soon as you realize, you go brush your teeth!! Its the same with scripture study.

I love you all! :) have an amazing day!

Hermana Spackman


We knocked a door last night. The man who answered spoke with us but wouldn't listen.

He kept saying, "I'm happy the way i live my life. I have what i want. My family is fine and we don't need to go to church. We're good." He just kept saying, "I'm happy. We're good." After testifying to him that there is more, we talked with the member who was with us about why people have that perspective. 

Because of Christ, we know that there is more and that the happiness that the world lives in, is t e m p o r a l . 

God requires us to change and repent. That process includes changing behaviors and choices that will require our effort...its not easy. The world is content with just being enough. In order to b e c o m e like God, change is needed. i know that because of the restoration of the gospel, there is m o r e . there is eternal j o y!

Los amo,

Hermana Fifita