tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54365568540851988612024-02-07T04:08:26.774-08:00Elder Rex SpjuteChelsea and Blake Echolshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028657829292125048noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-89062887400515478902016-06-07T16:01:00.003-07:002016-06-07T16:01:55.829-07:00We Had a Baby!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So, I'd love to say we're training a new missionary, but he's only a mini-missionary. His name is Hugo Campos, and he's staying in our apartment and accompanying Elder Grimes and I for the week :) He's super cool! Totally going on a full time mission later. He's 18, from Chapas Mexico, and lives in Port La Vaca, Texas. That's the second picture.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> The first picture is awesome. Yesterday, about half way through the testimony portion of Sacrament meeting, someone opened the door, and I was coincidentally sitting on the back row. I look over, and it's FAVIO and MILTON! Flippin' awesome! They came to visit me :D So the picture left to right is Milton, Marcos (One of my Kemah investigators), me, Favio, and Hna McMullin. Hna McMullin served in Kemah with me for two transfers, and was there for five in total. She was also stoked to see them. They came to class for an hour and took off. I love those guys so much!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So much rain... we've been trapped inside several times the past week due to constant rain. We got to take young Hugo on a pretty rainy bike ride yesterday; it went well! He's a trooper.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So, bad news, there was no Physical Therapy on Friday </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">due to who knows what. Also, I might have thrown my back out that very day doing, once again, who knows what. It hurts so much worse, and it's in a different part of the back, so I can't really do the exercises or stretches that were assigned. Not stoked.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> As I've mentioned, Satan is putting up a lot of walls this transfer. I have had to reach pretty deep down into myself and receive a lot of help from upstairs to push forward with faith, hobble back onto my bike, and keep working. But I sleep with a clear conscience.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> We've been working with Julian, the Argentine whose records got lost, a lot. He's homeless, so a lot of our lessons have been over the phone, which is actually pretty cool. He has a baptismal date for Tuesday the 21st</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. Pray for him, please!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So, I love so many people here in the ward! We went to visit the family Olaya, and Hno wasn't there, so we couldn't go in. Hna decided to be amazing anyway, and took us to some of her friends' apartments in the complex, and we taught them with her. I love her so much! As well, the Suarez have been more than pulling their weight on the helping out the missionaries scale. Hna made the best flautas (taquitos) that I'd ever had yesterday. Then, because the elders didn't leave us enough gas in the car, they agreed to drive us to Sugar Land to pick up Hugo! I love them! Arturo spent hours with us this week, and has dedicated SO much to his calling as ward mission leader. He organized Thursday</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> visits in which we would go on exchanges with the members. It was a smashing and recurring success. I love that guy!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Over all, this ward has won so much of my love! And this district, and this mission, and the Savior. I'm here because of Him. I'm trying to be like Him, and trying to help others come unto Him. I know this church is true, and we all play a big part in it! Member support in missionary work is so important! Member work is missionary work! Stay firm in the faith! To quote President Monson, "May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong." I love you all!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-17429034661153794382016-06-06T11:31:00.003-07:002016-06-06T11:31:56.785-07:00The Sprint Begins<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> The first week of the new transfer was really good! Elder Newby, the new guy in the apartment, plays basketball, so makes a good addition :) We're trying to break his seriousness, and we're having fun. I've gotten pretty tight with my companion. We've discovered that we both love Strongbad emails, and have been quoting that a lot! Our unity has to be up because we've got huge goals that we need to achieve! We set a goal for 3 baptisms this transfer, which will be quite the challenge.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So, long week! A lot has happened! On Tuesday (the day before transfers), the four of us elders and the three hermanas went to our ward mission leader Arturo's apartment for dinner. He and Rafael, his ward missionary room mate bore super strong testimonies, and it was such a melancholy feeling that Elder Seal, one of my best mission friends was leaving. He walked out in tears after hugging them goodbye. Man, saying goodbye the next day was tough for me too. I'll miss him a lot.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Our weekly planning session on Thursday was really great! We felt the Spirit really strongly, and set super high, but achievable goals.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Physical Therapy for my back is going well. I'm finally progressing. We found a work out that seems to work pretty well :) I touched my toes after doing it a couple times, for the first time in months!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Never mind being soaked daily by sweat, we tried to bike on Friday afternoon, which was a bad idea. It was pouring rain, and we got absolutely bathed. Shows how important it is to get members out with us. We could have gotten a much more successful ride!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> On Saturday, we had two HUGE lunches and one big early dinner, and were dying by the end of the day! Fortunately we've developed a plan to work out. If we don't contact 10 new people every day, we have to multiply the number less than 10 by 10 push ups and 10 ab rolls. It's intense!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Ward Council on Sunday was quite the hiccup. We have been begging for a long time for more visits to be made by ward members for home teaching, visiting teaching, etc. It just doesn't happen. So durring the meeting, our ward mission leader just blew up. He went off on everyone's pride, which needed to happen. But he got shut down by the other leaders with even more pride. It was the saddest thing ever. He left crying. It was all we could do to try to help them see that we really do need more visits. So disappointed in this ward right now. The bishop got there with 5 minutes left in the meeting. Kind of annoying. We're working on humility and patience haha.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Don't get me wrong, it's tough, but I still love it here, and wouldn't trade it for anything. I love you all, and appreciate your support. Happy Memorial Day!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My old district. :) Love them!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-30136852002253671702016-05-25T08:25:00.000-07:002016-05-25T08:25:07.014-07:00Trunky Papers<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Well, it's official; last transfer is here! I got my letter from President telling me to sprint to the end yesterday. It's something every missionary somewhat dreads. I had to send in a bunch of info for my flight preparations which are in the making. Yes, it's nuts.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> But I'm going to work so hard this last transfer! I'm gonna come home so tired! I had a nice long chat with President Hall on Wednesday</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. It was sorely needed. He came to our district meeting, which was a little stressful for me, but good. He taught a lot of stuff, and I was getting fairly overwhelmed by the end. I have a really bad problem sometimes of comparing myself to others. He pulled me into another room to talk about stuff for a while, and I brought that up. I lost it, and cried. It's such a trap to compare myself to others. He handled it super well, and I feel so much better about him. He is so loving. He apologized if he had ever come off as too busy to care or unloving. I was highly impressed. We established that I need to focus more on working hard this last transfer. As such, I am no longer District Leader. That should be a decent little relief. I'll be staying here in H2 with Elder Grimes. Elder Seal is leaving, and I'm super sad about that. I'll miss him so much.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> It was over all, a good week! As you can see from the second picture of my planner, we met our goals last night! Once again, that is really rare to get all of our goals for the day; it's only happened three times on my mission, I think. Granted, they weren't super high goals, but I'm still sufficiently impressed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Yesterday, our ward mission leader got super mad at the bishop because he didn't make an announcement about members going out with the missionaries that he had asked him to make a couple times. He went home after Sacrament meeting, and was ready to up and quit. He sent a text to Hna Olaya saying he was just fed up; that the ward doesn't put enough emphasis on the work; that it's not worth the missionaries' sacrifice; that it is too much for him as ward mission leader. The man's got a point! Every member a missionary needs to work its way deeper into our ward members' hearts. Pretty sad. We went over and let him make us dinner later, which made him happy :)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Physical Therapy is hopefully working! There wasn't much change this week, but I'm still doing exercises to strengthen the muscles in my back so they hold everything in place like they're supposed to. It's pretty annoying, but a test of patience I probably needed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> I'm still learning so much, and I love it! I hope I never stop learning! There's a part of my patriarchal blessing that mentions an unshakable testimony, and I definitely feel that working itself into a reality within me! I love it. I love you all, and thank you for your support and prayers. Until next Tuesday</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-90019174350871996462016-05-25T08:20:00.000-07:002016-05-25T08:20:17.551-07:00Temple Tuesday!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">So today was my last quarterly trip to the temple! I'll go through one more time for my final trip, but that's it! I love the temple so much, and have grown to love the Houston temple even more :) It's such a beautiful temple! I have so many good memories there!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So bad news, sports fans, I'm standing up, and typing is super uncomfortable. I'll type as much as I can bear. So hang in there.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> It was a great week! We got contacted by TWO different teenage guys. They both stopped us on different days, and asked us questions. One of them named Jose was going to get baptized when he was living in Laredo Mexico some months ago. He seems super interested :) He might be gay. Pray he can resist temptation! He has a baptismal date for the </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_785179037" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11th of June</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. The other guy, Zachary, is Tex-Mex, so doesn't speak Spanish. He's cool though, so we'll turn him over to the English Elders. The Lord has been blessing us lately with more people to teach! Our finding efforts aren't helping a ton, but we're still finding! :D</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> One of our friends, Vanessa Villatoro, has a friend she goes to school with named Jackie who also has told us she would get baptized if she got her answer. Super great :D</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> We taught this less active guy yesterday that I'd known about for quite some time. He only has Mondays off, so it's a little tough for us. It turns out that he's a total stud! He's been in the states for only 5 months, and he came to church for the first 2 or 3. He was Elders' quorum president in Guerrero Mexico! His testimony is rock solid! His conversion story is super incredible, and man, you could feel the spirit in his place. He's been detained by work, so can't come to church for right now. But he's gonna ask for Sunday off. His name is Angel, and he's 25. Super cool guy! It blows my mind how many Hispanics are so in tune with the Spirit! He's had visions, and warning feelings that all turn out to be right. And he's NOT the first Hispanic that has happened to. I have several companions who have similar stuff. Kind of a cool cultural fact!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> I finished Alma in my Libro de Mormon, and am well on my way to finishing it in Spanish for the second time before I go home. I love it so much! I love Spanish, and I love the Book of Mormon!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> On Saturday, we got stuck in the chapel after another one of the hermanas' baptisms due to the rain. It rained SO HARD! We were in the chapel from </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_785179038" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2:00</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> to about </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_785179039" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:30</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. Then on Sunday as well, we were stuck in the apartment for a little while. We were still studying, though, so it was good. Crazy Texas weather. It's about to get really, really hot.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> We got to teach Gospel Principles because the teachers' apartment flooded again for the second time in a month. Poor folks. I absolutely loved it, though! I love that situation; especially because my Spanish is a little over par, if I do say so myself. It was all about the Spirit world, so I thoroughly enjoyed it. That's about all that's fit to print for the week.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> I want everyone to know that I love being a missionary. Marc was on the phone with me last night and he told me he believed I liked being a missionary, but didn't know if I loved it for sure. I need you all to know that I wouldn't trade this time right now for anything! I love it so much; I love the people, even with all their flaws; I love Texas, even with all its humidity; I love the Spirit, even when I feel so little of it; I strive for the Spirit. I strive to help others because I love it! I love you all, and once more am so grateful for your contribution to my mission!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-90770052780883975792016-05-09T11:37:00.002-07:002016-05-09T11:37:40.892-07:00Mother's Day email<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Well, seeing as I just talked with my family, they are mostly aware of what's interesting right now.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Suffice it to say it was a slow week. We are struggling to find investigators, and work is rough. It's getting hot, and my companion got super sunburnt on Saturday</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. He was so white, and is now so pink!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> We both got really sick/ alergic. It was bad. We took 3 or so hour naps on two different days. It was not very fun. But the naps helped a ton, and we're both getting back to normal.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So the pictures. One is Elder Seal and Grimes who both had to eat the flower part (bud?) of the rose after losing a bet. Pretty bad tasting, I guess.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> I gave a family of 6 baptismal interviews on Saturday</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">, which was really cool. They'll be a strong family.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> All good here in Houston. I love you all. I especially love my mama. She is the best, and has been through so much! I am so happy that I got to talk with her. Also, I'm happy to have met so many wonderful mothers here on the mission. I know each of them was specifically called by our Heavenly Father to fulfil this purpose, and they do it! Happy late Mothers' Day!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-52913505790869726772016-05-02T11:23:00.001-07:002016-05-02T11:23:13.013-07:00Back into the Groove<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Well, flood service is pretty much over. We didn't even get to do any this week. It was all done. We had to become proselyting missionaries again haha. I love it; I really do.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> There were some fun parts of this week! Last monday, we met a vigilante called Crazy Mike. He was a pretty cool guy. Thinks he's a much bigger deal than he is, but it was fun :) He had us make a video introducing ourselves for his twitter page. Real good guy.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> District Meeting on Tuesday</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> was totally a spiritual high. It was one of the better one's I've had. In my second or third month in the mission field, President Ashton had the zone leaders give a training based on Leviticus 1 and how our Sacrament sacrifices are similar to those of ancient times. I tried to reproduce it, and it was actually really cool! The district seemed to eat it up, which is great because I'm the only one that was here for that! They were all too young, and weren't missionaries yet. It's important because we all prepare for the Sacrament every Saturday,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> as it should be. It just gave it more purpose.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> The rest of the meeting was spent discussing how to make our Personal and Companionship studies better. There was a lot of revelation from this meeting!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Later that day, we ate at a grocery store called La Michoacana with Efigenia. I had this tortilla loaded with stuff that's called a huarache. It had chicharron as the meat. Super good! I've developed a fondness for chicharron. It's pretty much cooked pig's skin/fat. Yes.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> I had my last quarterly interview with President. It was pretty good! We had it in his house! That was the first time I'd been there since my very first day in the mission field. He messed up his back, called an audible, and we met up there. It went well. He talked to me about having hope for my mission. Something I needed to work more on. It's been a little difficult in a fairly dry area. BIG lesson learned is that you cannot compare yourself to others! It's a trap!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> We sang our song as a district again for a baptism from the sisters' area. Super cool; it went much better this week than it did last Sunday. I love music!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> I went on an exchange to a Burmese area. It was the first one I've ever been on where I flat out understood nothing of the other language! So crazy! I was with my zone leader, Elder Ames. It was pretty interesting. They are in a four person companionship, so they usually just split one zone leader with a junior comp. Kinda crazy.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> I crashed my bike for what I hope was the last time on Saturday</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">! My pinky got pretty cut up and is fairly bruised now. Also pretty funny. I was swerving to miss a bus station, and didn't see the big, rock trash can that took me out completely. All fine, just laughs.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Things are great here! I love this area, and will dearly miss the people here. I'm stoked for Mothers' Day when I'll be able to talk with my Mom face to face one last time before the airport! In advance, Happy Mothers' Day, Mom! I love you all, and wish you a great week!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" /><div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a bus someone had that they cut to look like this awesome truck. Pretty cool.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYjJUme7Kuz1nFsxBeZEsCgk2idKAFgQQcW_w5zmkkbxwhYCGZHBEXKPbZmvnWxbJGBvlLx75dtJ0brElid8P92u3XgSmW4U93Wc6U9tF09j7UDw4JqYzaNdE7Iv2KHpIBuxeFclpHbU/s1600/DSCN8574%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYjJUme7Kuz1nFsxBeZEsCgk2idKAFgQQcW_w5zmkkbxwhYCGZHBEXKPbZmvnWxbJGBvlLx75dtJ0brElid8P92u3XgSmW4U93Wc6U9tF09j7UDw4JqYzaNdE7Iv2KHpIBuxeFclpHbU/s640/DSCN8574%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Elder Grimes. He's my companion.</td></tr>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-46337255204579416612016-04-25T15:26:00.002-07:002016-04-25T15:26:53.511-07:00Holy Service, Bat Man...again<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">So we served 25 hours each in the district this week. That is incredible! Our other numbers were way down, but the Lord is still blessing us a lot. The Hnas have 3 baptisms scheduled this week! Two of them are little kids I interviewed who were waiting forever for their mom's signature and permission. Woohoo! :D</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So service thus far has consisted of many hours in one guy's house and a few hours in oth</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ers. The guy's name is Tony. He's a house flipper, and had just gotten the house pretty much done after the last flood. There were so many people with that same thing that were just finnishing up after last May. Pretty sad.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> At Tony's house, we cut the sheet rock, remove it up to like 2 feet, take off the door frames, remove the insulation, and all other sorts of fun stuff. We've also worked with carpet in other houses a decent amount. Quite heavy work. I was on a news station </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">after doing some service. They interviewed me for a minute it was ABC13 I think.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. What a day. For starters, I think I threw out my back a couple weeks ago helping Cleofas move. It has been a pain durring service. So</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> we decided to go to the chiropractor. Strap in.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> I got adjusted, and they throw in a massage with what feels like eucalyptus oil. We get in the car to go home still tingley with the oil. About a quarter of the way home, it starts burning pretty bad. Like more tingles than there should be. Pretty soon, it's really bad. If I don't touch it, it burns badly, so I have to keep adjusting my shirt, and I'm driving. We get to a third of the way home, and I'm starting to get light headed a little, and decide to pull off. The nearest exit of the freeway was in like 2 miles, and traffic was horrible. This was honestly, the worse pain I've ever been in as I'm all but yelling in the car!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Finally, we pull of to a gas station, where I tried to splash it off in the gas station. I just put my proselyting shirt on, no tie, and walked out to the car with my companion. I told him, "no questions asked, you're driving, and I need a blessing before we go." It was still stinging pretty intensely. We went behind a dumpster and he gave me a quick blessing, and we rushed home. Holy cow! That was so ridiculously painful. The worst is that my back is still really sore; possibly worse than what it was before. I'm hoping it's just my muscles adjusting to the adjustment.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> As I showered, and got out, we heard a knock at the door. It was about 7:30</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. Much, MUCH to my surprise, it was my cousin Sherri! She gave us some of the best food I've had on the mission, gave me a huge hug, and left within a minute! It was pretty funny. I let President know, and he laughed as well.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> On Sunday</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">, the missionaries were in charge of Sacrament meeting, and some gave talks (I still have not haha). We did the same musical number that we sang for the conference when Elder Nelson came here, only it was just the elders in the ward singing, Hna Hofheins on violin (she is incredible!), and Hna McMullin on piano. They had me translate the lyrics to Spanish, and I think it went pretty well :)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> That's about all the interesting going on here for right now. I love you all so much, and thank you for your prayers. Have a wonderful week!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three different houses that had their sheet rock and insulation piled on the sidewalk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tell me this doesn't look exactly like Stephen!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQ9dTC75EUUFVVE8MbrBcDc-CzFEQpl0mki0wfQw4ZU-UnJQuUa2k5KhUPaHWNQ4kSyGAD45dlpDTe6xqZA9xQVWvdDpBXIq9LAn2wXm0jA_SZIcXgtvA44V3jLvUO7bB-E8rmKEHmI4/s1600/DSCN8551%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQ9dTC75EUUFVVE8MbrBcDc-CzFEQpl0mki0wfQw4ZU-UnJQuUa2k5KhUPaHWNQ4kSyGAD45dlpDTe6xqZA9xQVWvdDpBXIq9LAn2wXm0jA_SZIcXgtvA44V3jLvUO7bB-E8rmKEHmI4/s640/DSCN8551%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was in a guy named Tony's house.So much demolition work!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61wLsKALBPuNnYEb0EgWqFnWFh3No4Zctl4-qIpDJIWFqrT6tzAIJ9CM0vOTBf_vx0dD_ZfyYV4No1zKrJP_GvYm4dPFGlJfpNVbIWc-EJYsimJR4KjQibJMxvQIObwB1XUfeDZru_eQ/s1600/DSCN8554%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61wLsKALBPuNnYEb0EgWqFnWFh3No4Zctl4-qIpDJIWFqrT6tzAIJ9CM0vOTBf_vx0dD_ZfyYV4No1zKrJP_GvYm4dPFGlJfpNVbIWc-EJYsimJR4KjQibJMxvQIObwB1XUfeDZru_eQ/s640/DSCN8554%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The puzzle we put together having been trapped inside last P-day.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-79338856782080399692016-04-22T14:09:00.001-07:002016-04-22T14:09:17.035-07:00Flooding once again! Letter from April 20<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Sorry everyone, this will have to be a pretty short email session! As I'm sure a few of you have heard, yesterday, Houston received a ton of rain. An amount of rain that hasn't been seen since ...that's right... last year! Not even a year ago, I was in some of the same houses moving wood and carpeting that was destroyed. Today, the second people we helped out RECOGNIZED me! How crazy is that? Not just the same street, but the same house! I remember being in that house for hours and hours last year. It broke my heart a little.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> But there is something so satisfying about serving with all your heart, MIGHT, mind, and STRENGTH! The Lord really adds in a qualifying factor that fill you and those you serve with so much love! The flood water didn't go quite as high as last year, but it did get high enough that there will still be just about as much reparations. Time to get comfy for a few weeks of intense service!We all got completely soaked while helping in the rain today</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> We were cooped up yesterday, and couldn't get to our emails. The pics are of the garbage in the street, and the next story:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> It all starts with inside jokes. We have been talking about Harry Potter a lot lately, and Elder Seal and Stout and I would pretend to cast curses with our pens as wands. We all have our own way and sound of doing it. That's one part of the inside joke. The next is that we watch this old church video in which one of the guys in Zion's Camp (google if you don't know) complains about there being "no more fresh water). We always say "fresh __" as we were checking the mail, I cast a spell three times at our mail box, and Elder Stout did once. I said before opening, "I just cast myself three fresh letters." And Elder Stout said, "I just cast myself a bunch of junk mail." Look what we got. Look what we got!!! That's right, I'm a prophet. Or a wizard. I'm not sure yet.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> It was sad seeing Elder Stout leave!!! I loved that kid! One of the greats for sure. Elder Grimes and I will do work!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Gotta get going. I love you all! Pray for the people down here.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">District pics at the running meeting. Elder Seal, Stout and I are casting spells.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After checking the mail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">I baptized another one of the sisters' converts!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Window shot of the rain</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2zl34-L6Nw9RHDUvtSpEVazn2L0ADrccFdN_-xnIuk_SJi7IklWV7ktu8Bsr6Yy0M87mz40WBp9gXjjX7C3O7QCYc1pcAmdxYv8_Pb07KnjtpmCsv7CcCvE70sJ5MPQaj-BeQ9ORrtM/s1600/DSCN8545%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2zl34-L6Nw9RHDUvtSpEVazn2L0ADrccFdN_-xnIuk_SJi7IklWV7ktu8Bsr6Yy0M87mz40WBp9gXjjX7C3O7QCYc1pcAmdxYv8_Pb07KnjtpmCsv7CcCvE70sJ5MPQaj-BeQ9ORrtM/s640/DSCN8545%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garbage on the sidewalk after flooding</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-6866997376854058502016-04-22T13:59:00.001-07:002016-04-22T13:59:26.910-07:00Shaving Cream and Other Fun<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
So it was an odd week. Not bad by any means, but odd! So I found out today that I will be staying here in Houston 2. But saddest of sad, Elder Stout is leaving. He's such a cool guy. We laughed so much. But I'll be getting a guy in his third tranfer named Elder Grimes. I've never heard of him, but Elder Seal met him. I'm so glad I'll be staying with Elder Seal; he's another class act as you can see from the pictures. </div>
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So the pictures. We were about to get ready for bed, then Elder Seal put some shaving cream on. Then so did I. Then so did Elder Stout. Elder Unick went to bed. We won that round haha. It was so funny. </div>
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I'm definitely feeling a decent amount trunky. I work hard, but sometimes, especially at the end of the day, I feel fairly emotional. There's a joke that the last two transfers are the opposite of the first two in the field. I'll be anti-training and preparing to adjust myself to world life haha. All jokes though; I have work to do! </div>
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So one of my spiritual highs from the week was a zone meeting we had on Tuesday. We watched a couple [President-sanctioned] videos that were super cool. The focus was on how we as missionaries cannot do our work focused from the what we do to the how we do it to the why. That isn't successful. We have to work from the why to the how to the what. That is a business strategy that coincidentally is in acord with the spirit of missionary work. </div>
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For example, there was a stand up commedian who took a break in his show to talk to a [black] guy in the audience. He was a music teacher. He asked him to sing Amazing Grace. It was good, and he got applause. He then asked him to sing it as if he had just gotten out of prison, was shot in the back when younger, his father died, ghetto style. It was SO packed with emotion, and the audience went wild! As he had more purpose, it generated more inspiring results. It is the same with our message. If we know why we are out here, we will act with more gusto. </div>
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Marc took us out on Friday. He just drove us to some visits and took us to eat and baught us $60 of popsickles. Yes, we love him. He's such a good guy, too. He is so tried by the devil. I will call him every now and then when I get home to keep up my Spanish. Love that guy.</div>
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Sunday was a good day. Hna's McMullin and Hofheins had a double baptism. I had interviewed the kids on Friday. There are three: Karla, Carlos, and Raquel (ages 11, 12, and 16). Carlos couldn't come because he had to babysit his brother. He was super sad about it, and actually cried. He will get baptized on Tuesday, though :) I got to baptize Karla and Raquel. It was super cool! I love getting in the water! I love helping people come closer to Christ! This Gospel is real, and it changes people for the better. I know it, and I love it. I love you all, I really do. I wish you understood how grateful I am for your support. Even if it means just reading my emails, it means I'm touching someone by what I'm doing. Have the best week and remember that we have The Lord God Almighty on our side! </div>
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-Elder Spjute</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the quality of the in-ground pools here in Houston :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjei_VARZr9WJwtUnYRkep7bEMxyB5xTetBkPG72aUh2tPGyn1Oa0bm1pdhxp7y2LFXJNVFM8hFTqomWui7MR-FRcgAt-hNVdHGfn-3n0SQ0UTfsfGCmBHRz87n6C4mcMR8C4VuXRggrbM/s1600/DSCN8496%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjei_VARZr9WJwtUnYRkep7bEMxyB5xTetBkPG72aUh2tPGyn1Oa0bm1pdhxp7y2LFXJNVFM8hFTqomWui7MR-FRcgAt-hNVdHGfn-3n0SQ0UTfsfGCmBHRz87n6C4mcMR8C4VuXRggrbM/s640/DSCN8496%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">Marc spent $60 on paletas for us. Paletas are Hispanic popsickles. Crazy!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFn7Ibu50fL-iMEhtYTd-90FmvPz-9uAuUKdWAoty3hmXrwy484d9OU46Iv0bBS2SiAfP98xixDpKfgbBPz4VJnv5sXxMDbsplTZujxl0Yr2s7xtjM-6KvHptaxISg0tkF8bbk_0rM3g/s1600/DSCN8509%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFn7Ibu50fL-iMEhtYTd-90FmvPz-9uAuUKdWAoty3hmXrwy484d9OU46Iv0bBS2SiAfP98xixDpKfgbBPz4VJnv5sXxMDbsplTZujxl0Yr2s7xtjM-6KvHptaxISg0tkF8bbk_0rM3g/s640/DSCN8509%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">We delighted in shaving cream beards. And Elder Seal in... that.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">The sisters had two baptisms yesterday and had me baptize their converts. One is Raquel, the older one. The other is Karla.</span></td></tr>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-72973310592333591692016-04-04T13:24:00.000-07:002016-04-04T13:24:09.746-07:00Conference Was Awesome!! Letter From April 4th<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Am I right? Was conference not so amazing?! So the garlic crusted prime rib you see before you was Marc's dinner for us with Ana and Juan for </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_910578738" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> night. Topped off the weekend well! The next picture is just a little bit of what our snacks were like for conference.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> This week was not too great for our numbers, but we feel Spiritually recharged after yesterday and </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_910578739" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. We had a lot of service this week! Seeing as Cleofas just moved :'( But it was a pretty low week for visits.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> District meetings are all becoming very rote, and it's kind of sad. President has just laid it all out so much that it's harder to be original! I will strive to do a little better though. Especially because these are weekly things!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_910578740" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">On Wednesday</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">, I went on an exchange with Elder Seal. He came to my area. He's so cool. We get along super well because we're always on splits here and there. He teaches well, and has pretty good Spanish for being in the mission as long as Elder Stout. We got a new investigator and a baptismal date with a kid named Edwin. We're praying his parents will be accepting. We've only talked with him, and he said when he told his mom he had a date, that she just responded that he was already baptized. He seems to understand authority, though :D</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> During the exchange, we ate with Ana and Juan. Ana is from El Salvador, and makes super good pupusas. We both ate 7. You usually get full with five! Three is often more than sufficient. We play this game within the district all the time called what are the odds. One person will ask another "what are the odds that you...[eat another pupusa]?" and the person will reply "one in...[7]." Then someone counts down from 3 and at 0, both people have to say a number. If they say the same number, the person who got dared has to do the task. If the numbers add up to the second person's number (7), the darer has to do the task. I nailed Elder Seal with the pupusas >:)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_910578741" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Thursday</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> was all weekly planning and helping Cleofas and her family move. It was pretty bitter-sweet. But we have much confidence in her :)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So that was all of the interesting from this week other than conference! Marc came and watched some of it with us. I think Elder Christofferson's talk might have gotten to him. His family situation is pretty cruddy. I love Marc, and I saw a lot in the conferences that could have helped him quite a lot.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Also, I saw a lot in the conferences that could have helped me quite a lot! I got so many answers! The big outlining themes, I feel, were protecting the family unit, using priesthood power responsibly, and hope/faith. It was so awesome! My favorite talk was a tie between Elder Ballard's and Elder Bednar's talk. I learned from Elder Ballard how to run a more successful family, which is inspiring, and makes me a little trunky haha. I learned from Elder Bednar how to retain a remission of my sins, and to utilize better the Atonement. What a great weekend!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Needless to say, I know this church is true! If you don't know, hope and search! I live it, and I love it! Have a great week, and I love you all!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-54876785973503626892016-04-04T13:20:00.005-07:002016-04-04T13:20:51.171-07:00Awesome Week! Letter from March 28th<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So as the pictures show, I went to the temple again! We'd been praying for someone to take Cleofas and us to the temple so she could do baptisms. Hna Suarez, who took the picture, helped her get a name, and got a trip all set up as we set up the appointment. It was the best temple trip ever! Like they all are!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> As I pulled up, Hno Moreno, from Kemah, pulled my water bottle out of my bag. Cool! His whole family was there. Then, Bishop Martin, his wife Gladis, and Hna Santillan from Missouri City were there! More awesomeness! While inside, I saw Hna and Hno Gonzales, some of the Colombians from Kemah. I love them! Then, the whole Galveston branch was there in the baptistery! Wow! I chatted with Janitzy Rivera a lot. She's a good friend from Galvy. I loved that temple trip! I was baptized for 4 of my ancestors and had Cleofas do one of the women from my tree. So spiritual! I also got to baptize Hno Bonet, featured in the picture :) He's Cuban. Stud.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So noteworthy thing I forgot last week: I put together a choir of 8 for a fireside we had last Sunday. Because I had to write about 2 weeks, that slipped my mind. We sang Come thou Fount. One I'd performed in ward choir a few times. I already had the sheet music. Thanks Mom! The singers were me, Elders Seal, Unick, and another named Ripley, then Hnas Hofheins, and some named Wood, Whitmer, and Palmer with Hna McMullin on the piano. It was a beautiful number. Really brought the spirit.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So I love my companion a lot. We've decided that we probably won't get a third transfer together because we get along so dang well. I love it! We had an exchange in which the zone leader came to both of us. It was odd and quiet and boring. Total opposite of our relationship! Plus, we get work done.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> For about 7 weeks, our area was slow and struggling, and now, the Lord has chosen to bless us with much success. We are filtering our teaching pool! We have a date with an Argentine named Julian, who was a member whose records got lost. Very promising!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> I just wanted to wish you a happy late Easter! I love the Savior and know he lived, died, and was resurrected for all of us. I love this time of year, conference and everything! I love how many people came to church yesterday! So great! And I love being a missionary. The Church is true. I love you all,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-20664594049500365392016-04-04T13:17:00.002-07:002016-04-04T13:17:38.336-07:00Temple Pix<span style="font-size: x-small;">Side note: Elder Spjute's sister has run behind on updating the blog. I'm hoping to rectify the situation. This one is from March 21st.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">First thing's first, the pictures. Check out this centipede that Elder Seal gave me from a package he got :D The first pic is from last week and the second is from today. It's so cool!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So much happened in the last two weeks! Sorry again that there was no letter last week. We went to the temple on Wednesday, and didn't have enough time to do all the emailing we wanted to.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> That was so awesome, let me just say! I love the temple with all my heart! I received so much revelation that I desperately needed. I'd been waiting for a while to go. Hna McMullin had a few men's names, so I got to do a session for one of them. It was so great! I learned that I need to pray more fervently to the Lord. That will start helping my area progress. It worked well this week! I was told to be more excited to be going home than worried about it. The Lord never wants me to worry; there's good things in store. What an awesome trip!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So last week!...</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> I went on an exchange with the new Elder, Elder Unick. He's a pretty odd kid; a little too... not fun, ya know? We're trying to get him to losen up. It was a great exchange, though. I gained a lot of respect for him. We went out to eat with the other elders and Marc. He took us out to an Italian place called Buca di Beppo. So good! Someone had a lemur in their car outside haha. Lots of fun.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> We got into an apartment complex I'd been trying for a while, and the Chinese lady running the management. She chewed us out for soliciting, even though we were looking for someone specific. She actually ended up asking a bunch of questions, and we taught her a bit. Pretty funny :)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> We've been eating a ton of pupusas lately because there are a bunch of Salvadorans here. They're so good! One of our new investigators (we had a super successful week with a lot of news. Tons of blessings), is from El Salvador, and his wife makes bomb pupusas! So good!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Oh yeah, on the 11th, I baptized Jennifer. I think I sent pictures of that, right? It was a cool experience. Well, cold. The water was freezing. But great!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> A summarized version of my other spiritual high was last Monday. President Hall called all the district leaders in a conference call, and I've been struggling with him/"authority"/numbers for a while. I texted him after asking for some help. He cleared a bunch of stuff up on a really long phone call lasting til after </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_910578737" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11:00</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> that night. I've been praying for a change of heart and understanding, and have been working super hard.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> It has payed off. We had a great week, and my Spirit is in tact. I love you all, and wish you a great week!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Elder Stout. Isn't this one cool? :)<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are of the district.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my boys</td></tr>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-1213835264463350312016-03-10T08:50:00.002-08:002016-03-10T08:50:13.024-08:00One more week, one more journal!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Hello everyone. That's right, I'm on my third mission journal now! Yeah, I'm getting old out here.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So on Tuesday, I had to make a district meeting that I'd put off since Friday. President gave us an outline of what do to for the next 5 district meetings, and I realized that I don't have to/can't improvise anything. It's all set, which makes me kind of sad. It was a decent meeting though. Just the same meeting that I had about a month ago in the same district. I'm working on supporting my president a little more. Struggling, but working.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So our teaching pool is hurting right now. I'm not sure why. We're working fairly hard, knocking so many closed doors, and just not having a ton of success. I'm not really worried, though, which I find interesting. Maybe my patience is growing. Maybe I'm lazy, I don't know. I feel like I'm doing what the Lord is asking; so I'm waiting for blessings. I included a plea for finding in my fast yesterday. We'll see what happens.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So the picture below is from Wednesday. We were helping the Suarez family (the husband is blind) move their big dog house in their back yard with the other elders. We also had to raise it and put cement blocks underneath. I had it by the shingles and the board underneath with my left hand as we were scooting it closer to the corner of the fence, and couldn't pull it out. It got pretty smashed, and broke skin a little. It's pretty gross now. But all good.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Marc took us out to a place called Salt Grass. It's a really nice steak house with pretty high prices. It was a fun lunch. I love Marc.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> We visited Cleofas a few times this week. She's such a sweetheart! I love her, and am so proud of her! We got her membership number, so want really badly to take her to the temple to get her baptized for her mom! She started baring her testimony to Hno Sanchez, who was out with us, and my eyes welled up a little. She's such a strong convert.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> That's about all that's fit to print! Except for the crazy meth lady that tried to hit me last night haha. Yeah, there was a special kind of evil there. But you take the good and leave the bad. I love my mission! I love you all as well! Have a great week!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-24762441661161352062016-03-10T08:47:00.002-08:002016-03-10T08:47:41.322-08:007 Week Transfer<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> So, seeing as the dates got moved back a week and all that, this is the transfer that will be 7 weeks instead of 6. Glad I'm with a cool comp! It was an odd week, like always. Love it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we only had one lesson. One per day. That's pretty sad. Not due to any lack of effort on our part... I hope. But we have been trying really hard lately to find. We actually taught a new family, which we have a return appointment with, so that's looking up! We've made commitments to talk to more people in the apartment complexes while we have time. It's yielding some fruits.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> One of these fruits was the picture below from last night. This is Ariel. He contacted us on the street haha. He was SO drunk. It was too funny to resist. We went in, shared a scripture with him, and yeah. He shook Elder Stouts hand for a good 2 minutes and started crying about how he has three daughters in Guatemala and he needs Elder Stout to call Trump so he'll let them come. Yep, it was great. As we were leaving, he said, "let's take a picture." Yes. What a great idea. Yep.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> On Tuesday, we got to run the new missionaries. That means us, the other elders, and the sisters from our district came to meet the new ones, and we each took one and did street contacts with them for a bit. As mission lingo goes, the missionaries trainer is their dad, and their runner is their mom, so I'm the mom of Elder Unick, and Elder Seal, who is training him in our apartment, is his dad. Yep.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> We ate two times with Ana and Juan and Marc this week. Both sooo delicious! The second time, we had craw fish. Marc is a cooking genius. Like ho-ly cow! I probably ate around 30 craw fish. It's definitely one of the weirder things to eat in this life, but so good when done right :) We filled this big pan up several times more as well. So good. And Marc made horchata for Elder Stout, so that was nice :)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Well, that about it for the interesting news of the week. We're so glad it's P-Day because we all ran out of food this week! Also, we will be looking for a new apartment on the boss' orders. Ours is a rancid mess. So many nastinesses. Anywho, we're working hard! I love the mission so much! I love you all as well. Thank you to everyone who reads and writes me. The church is true. Love,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">-Elder Spjute</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-25145342529496443472016-02-26T14:30:00.000-08:002016-02-26T14:30:12.739-08:00Staying in H2<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, we got the email, and it looks like I'm staying right here with Elder Stout. Woohoo! I do love it here! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> So this week, I finally caught up with my journal writing for the first time the whole transfer! It was also a 6 day week, which was nice. But time isn't really making sense now, anyway. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> On Wednesday, we had district meeting. I assigned a decent amount, so didn't have to work as hard. It was nice! I learned a lot. I had Elder Stout talk about prayer, Elder Seal talk about how to help investigators progress, and Hna Hofheins talk about how to work in unity with the companion. It was great, actually!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Later that day, we went to eat with Ana and Juan. Ana is one of Elder Sharp's converts who is awesome, from el Salvador, married to a Mexican, and makes the BEST pupusas! We ate so much! She had to leave early for a meeting, so we got to chat with Juan, who isn't a member. Such a cool guy; comes to church every week, and has a strong testimony. He told us he has some big time grudges to get over before baptism and went really in depth. He gave me a big hug before leaving. Love that guy! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I decided I wanted to really help him; even though he doesn't live in my area, it's the sisters'. Pres Hall sent an email on how to control our thoughts. I decided to translate it to Spanish. It took me about 10 hours in total throughout the week, but totally worth it! It felt so good to serve someone so personally. It turned out to be a paper of about 1700 words! I had one of our teenagers in the area read it, and she loved it! I gave her a copy. Spanish is so cool, and I've been so blessed with this gift! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1866365313" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday</span></span> was a super cool day. Really odd sequence of events though. We played basketball in the morning like always, then stayed at the church to help with the cleaning a bit later. After studies later on, we returned to the church to finish typing and printing the paper for Juan. I finished it in good time! Then we headed out and taught 4 lessons, which is pretty good for us; especially having started to do so at 5. We decided to sacrifice dinner for the sake of time, then got fed by two families after. Blessings!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I got to sing in church yesterday :) I did the same song I sang for the baptism last week, so to some it was no surprise. We did add violin this time, though. Mom told me she got the recording of that, so that's good! I really love singing for other people! It brings the spirit so strongly; to me! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I am well and healthy. I love being a missionary, as always. I wouldn't rather be doing anything else! I love you all, and wish you a wonderful week!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Elder Spjute</span></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-37603321562178752632016-02-18T13:33:00.003-08:002016-02-18T13:33:39.621-08:008 Day week over!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We started the day yesterday so hurt that we couldn't do laundry because P-Day got moved haha. Then we got 6 lessons in one day, which rarely happens. So it was good! Happy President's Day!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I've been behind in my journal writing all transfer, so I write in Spanish occasionally for my Language study. SO much is in Spanish this transfer haha. I hope I never forget what it means. It's cool looking back at how much I have changed, though! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Last Monday, we got another baptismal date with a 10 year old kid named Leny, but he didn't come to church, so it unfortunately dropped. We'll be working closely with him.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> So we got a recent time reduction for emails, so this will unfortunately be fairly short. I'll try to adjust pretty quickly. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> So get this. I gave 5 baptismal interviews this week! For those who don't know, District Leaders give interviews to the investigators who will be baptized that they haven't taught. I had to do 5 of them! Woohoo! It took time, but it was such a win!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Our district had 4 baptisms this weekend! I'm so proud of these missionaries. They all work so hard! I sang a musical number at the baptism <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_473486032" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Sunday</span></span>. It went well!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I also did an exchange with the Burmese Zone Leaders. It was alright. I learned more about how I really don't care to act. I'm not sure I could handle being a Zone Leader anymore. Just odd.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We had a Zone Conference on Wednesday. It was good. It really almost seemed like protocol, though. There was definitely some stuff there I needed to hear, but a lot of the same stuff as usual. I loved the training we got on teaching repentance. It was great :) <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Things are all going great here! I'm eating well and my hair is thinner than ever. But I love it, and wouldn't change it for the world! I love you all!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-59471734136304764842016-02-08T16:16:00.000-08:002016-02-08T16:16:28.259-08:00One Member More<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That's right, our church is one member stronger! Elder Stout had his first baptism <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_266129969" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Saturday</span></span> with Cleofas. It was such a wonderful baptismal service! We'd been working super hard this week to make sure she was prepared because up until last week, we thought she was going to move. We taught her all she needed to hear, the toughest of which was the Word of Wisdom. She has been and every day coffee drinker all her life. When we told her about the Word of Wisdom, she had to live it for a whole week before being baptized. She quit coffee right then and there! I'm so dang proud of her! She's also seriously the sweetest woman! Dang. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We were stressing so badly before the service started! We didn't have anyone to preside, and had to make some big phone calls. It worked out beautifully, though! Cleofas even brough refreshments to her own baptism! She brought a huge pot of some of the best tamales I've ever had. And Mexican tamales are usually thin, little things. Hers were huge and filling! What a night. Yours truly performed the confirmation in Sacrament meeting yesterday. It was definitely a spiritual two days! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This was a good week in total! I went on an exchange with Elder Seal...who I live with. It was pretty funny, I was only away from my companion for about 4 hours at a time haha. Elder Seal has been out for 5 months like Elder Stout. He has caught on super well. Really proud of him. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The pictures are from the baptism and a service project we did with Bishop Ortiz. He's in the middle. He is from Honduras. Really good guy. We moved all the junk in the background.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We've really been purifying our area this week. And by that, I mean we've dropped a couple investigators and gotten dropped by others. As well, we are going through our ward list to find out who still lives where it says they live. So far, we've eliminated quite a few people. It helps not having such a cluttered proselyting area. But we are nearly starting from scratch.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> A few simple prayers for us to get things moving would be great! We are working hard. The baptism was a huge blessing. There's no such thing as a bad area. The members are great, and I'm getting to know them pretty quickly, I feel. We just might need to change our tactics. If we work through the members, it's always better. Our own efforts don't always provide like we want. But we're moving!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Things are going well here! I love my companion. We're trying to get his Spanish a little better haha. But we have fun, and we feel the Spirit a lot. I feel your love and prayers, and am more grateful than you can imagine. Thank you so much! Have a wonderful week. I'll talk to you <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_266129970" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">next Tuesday</span></span>, due to President's day. I love you all!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-15057469573074102022016-02-01T11:35:00.000-08:002016-02-01T11:35:13.340-08:00Apostle!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Well this was a big week! First things first, I love the family Olaya. They are Colombian and SO cool! They fed us 3 times this week! We went <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_438950391" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span> for a family home evening, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_438950392" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tuesday</span></span> because they signed up for it, and <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_438950393" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Friday</span></span> because they were supposed to feed the other elders and they had to bail. Each time, they invited a less active friend or nonmember friend over. Such awesome missionaries! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">come to church! Ah! He's so close to taking off. Cleofas is doing great, and will NOT be moving yet :) Her new apartment is not ready, therefore, she will stay here for another month and be baptized here :D Yay! We found a less active family while going through the ward list. It turns out they want to come back, and have a 10 year old son that needs to be baptized. Blessings! One of the nights we ate with the Olayas, they had a nonmember neighbor over named Rocio. We've been visiting her a little bit, and she actually asked us where the church was without us bringing it up! And she's been praying after we taught her how. Good stuff!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We had quarterly interviews with President Hall <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_438950394" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Wednesday</span></span>. They went really well. I feel like he paid much more attention to me than to what he wanted to talk about, or had planned for, That was very much appreciated. I feel good. I feel like I'm at my mission's prime. It was a positive interview, followed by a good District meeting. I put a focus on being Christlike and not talking bad about others (Alma <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_438950395" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:26</span></span>,29-31). It really brought the Spirit well, I believe.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Then, oh man, Elder Russel M. Nelson came to visit the mission! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_438950396" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">On Wednesday</span></span>, I got a text from Sis Mecham, the mission health lady who is always in charge of music stuff. She asked if I wanted to be in a musical group to do a number at the conference. Then she asked if I would take charge of the rehearsals because she left to New York. Oh man! I loved it! There were 6 elders singing (one of which was Elder Seal, who lives with me. I volunteered him haha), Hna Goodey on piano (I sang with her playing a ton in Missouri City), and Hna Hofheins on violin (she's in my district). We sang a song called Come Unto Christ (no, not the efy version, a better one). It was such a spiritual opportunity to sing in front of an Apostle! He even went in front of the pulpit to watch us. We practiced 2 days before he got here, then performed it <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_438950397" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Saturday</span></span>. Everyone there got to shake his hand. He pronounced my name right the first try!! No looks of confusion or anything! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> His talk was incredible. He is such a spiritual giant. So humble. So funny. Just a good man. Wow. I was inspired. He had a big focus on family history, and working with members, and so much. ALL 3 Houston missions were there in our mission's biggest stake center. There were about 20 stake presidents and their wives, and the temple president and his wife. It was truly amazing.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> As you can read, I've been well spiritually fed. I love my mission. I love you all, and hope all is well. Have a wonderful week,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was Elders Romero, Favio, Milton, and me at Panda Express before I left.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the top of that parking garage.</td></tr>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-11904519973832312032016-01-25T11:27:00.004-08:002016-01-25T11:27:31.387-08:00To The Grind<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, I'm proud to say that we're working really hard! A little less proud that almost all of our 5 baptismal dates we had at the beginning of the transfer are dropping. I have faith that the Lord's will will be done, and we will work as hard as necessary to bring it to pass. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Jose had a date for the 30th, but we haven't been able to contact him. I still have not met him. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Mariela had a date for the 6th. Same case. No contact.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Juan had a date for the 6th. He is 14 years old. We are teaching him, but he says his parents will not let him get baptized or come to church; we at least know what we're up against! I love it when the investigators just tell you the problem! It's such a huge blessing.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Cleofas, who is a golden, old lady, has a date for the 6th. I believe she will be baptized then, but she is moving in a week. She will be moving to the area that Elder Stout's last companion, Elder Gilbert just got transferred...<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Elder Stout had a lot of problems with him, and all kinds of disrespect was taking the spirit away. Thus, upon hearing the news of Cleofas' departure, which she told us about <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_105508504" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Friday</span></span>, he became very upset. He said to me, "I just don't see how someone who does the stuff he does can get so many blessings like that. But that's a conversation for another time." We were biking at the time.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I pulled over before going into the next house. There's a scripture in D&C that blatantly says if ye have not the spirit, ye shall not teach. That, folks, is commandment language. We had a good long chat to help him push his grudge back and get the Spirit again. I figured that since I had gone through a lot of the same stuff, I could help him. We're still working on not talking badly about Elder Gilbert, but it is helping. We felt a lot better afterwards, hugged it out, and went into a really good lesson. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> My understanding of the Lord and his purpose is flawed, yes, but improving. I love the mission because the gospel and all of its facets are all making sense. Heavenly Father is too good to me.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Cupertino has a date for the <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_105508505" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">20th of February</span></span>. We did a tour of the church with our ward mission leader, Arturo (who is a stud!), <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_105508506" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Friday</span></span>. He loved it, and said he would come to church <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_105508507" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Sunday</span></span>. Now that he knows someone and has been to the building, there isn't much of an excuse. We'll be talking to him later today to figure out why he didn't go. He even told Arturo he'd come when they were talking on the phone before church. Man, sometimes keeping commitments in this culture can be so difficult! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_105508508" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">On Thursday</span></span>, we got a text from a less active lady named Efigenia saying she was in the hospital. We went to visit her and give her a blessing. As I called her on the phone, I couldn't understand what had happened. Turns out, she had gotten a spider bite. There was a huge red patch on her lower leg that was swollen; it had gotten a lot better since the bite four days earlier. Crazy stuff. We gave her a blessing then went back out to the car. We realized that the Houston Zoo was right across the street from the parking garage where we were. We took some pictures from the top of the garage. It was pretty cool. Sorry, forgot my camera. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Things are good here. I love the ward! There aren't many buddies like there were in Kemah, but there are good people. Elder Stout's pretty proud of the fact that we had a "perfect week" in which we had food appointments every day from<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_105508509" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> to <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_105508510" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span>. I'm pretty impressed as well haha. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I'm still working hard, and I promise I won't stop! This gospel is too good to do so. There is too much in store. I'll quote one of the passed prophets (can't remember which), "my life is like this pair of shoes. To be warn out in service." That is my mission. I live it, and I love it. I love you all, and wish you a great week!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Elder Spjute</span></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-34419028615961044552016-01-19T12:18:00.001-08:002016-01-19T12:18:05.962-08:00Hello Houston 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Well so far, so good in Houston! We bike so much! It's been a struggle getting into enough doors, but all is well! This will be really short; I'm sorry. This library doesn't have many computers, and time is kind of a hassle. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I'm living with 3 elders: Stout (my companion), Seal, and Gardner. I've been in the mission longer than all of them combined. I love my district!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Also, I love the ward here! It's little, but I am getting to know everyone and become their friends, so that's great! We'll probably be having a baptism in a couple weeks! There's a lot of work to do here; we just have to find it.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> There will be a world-wide missionary conference <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_272135361" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Wednesday</span></span>; I'll tell y'all how it went! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I'm so happy to be a missionary. I love my mission. I'm working hard, and it feels so good. Thank you all for your support. I love you all,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Elder Spjute</span></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-32330887998124169152016-01-13T11:52:00.003-08:002016-01-13T11:52:36.995-08:00Goodbye Beloved Kemah<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Well sports fans, this is it. I received the call from President Hall last night saying that I was no longer going to be a zone leader, but would be serving as a district leader. He let me wait 'til today to read the email to find out where I'm going. I'll be in down town Houston in the Houston 2 Spanish ward. I'm in a biking area. Also, the smallest area in the mission. I'm with my fourth in-field white companion, Elder Stout. So for the next couple days, I get to say the dreaded goodbyes. Wish me luck!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Important note! P-Day next week will be on the 19th due to MLK day.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This was a good week! On Tuesday, we had our Zone Meeting in Galveston. That went well. I taught for about 45 minutes. There was a lot of big news, and it didn't all go down great, but it went down! The AP's were at the meeting, which was cool. I like those guys. One of them is Elder Leszynski. I went on exchanges with him right afterwards. I went up to his area. Super nice! Lots of fun, laughter, and learning. I've since gotten a lot better at planning.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1821875284" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">On Wednesday</span></span>, Elder Romero and I had an awesome day, and found a golden investigator who now has a baptismal date. We found him by knocking doors :D His name is William. High hopes for the guy. We had a few other really good lessons. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Later that night, we were planning. It was pretty thorough. We were taking a little while, but it was necessary. Elder Romero got super impatient, and we had a big emergency comp inventory. He told me we needed to be faster, and I told him he needed to act out of love more. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The next day, we were studying humility, and he wouldn't talk to me for a good 3/4 of the day. It was a good learning experience for both of us. I think he shows his love in really different ways that I'm just not used to. It was good though. We pulled out of it well, and would keep working well another transfer if we needed to.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> So finally, one of my Chapin (guatemalan) buddies, Rony (Favio's brother) decided to get baptized! I taught him for a while, but he moved out of the area a while ago. Still in the branch, though. He got baptized <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1821875285" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Saturday</span></span>, and there were so many elders that came to see it that had taught him before! Elder Sharp, Evans, Mota, Post, Escobar, and some others. Too cool! I got to confirm him the next day in church :) This is what the gospel is all about, people! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I also gave a talk yesterday about missionary work. Pretty simple haha ;) I live it. I love it. My testimony is rock solid, and I will not come home the same person! I love you all,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-26399608521761507892016-01-04T16:31:00.001-08:002016-01-04T16:31:07.426-08:00Happy Belated New Year<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'd like to share some of my resolutions for this year. I will read the Book of Mormon in Spanish once more before coming home. I will get fit before coming home by utilizing Free Lettics, a workout program I was in to earlier in the mission, and Elder Spjute's Fit Into His Pants Plan. Should be good. I will read scriptures or other personal doctrinal study for at least 30 minutes every day. For the rest of my life. There are some others, but those were some of the ones I wanted to be held accountable for!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> It was a good week! For the first half, I ate horribly. For the second half, not so much haha. Welcome 2016. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1389417983" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">On Tuesday</span></span>, I got to teach in District meeting about setting goals based off of the email President Hall sent out. It was a cool assignment. I enjoyed it :) I learned a lot! Such as: our hearts (emotional support/stamina) must be in our goals. We must plan with our goals. We should ask the Lord to confirm and support our goals. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> So, Milton is a stud. We took him out for about 7 hours <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1389417984" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Thursday</span></span>, and after visiting the wife of his home teaching companion, he decided to call him up and schedule their appointments for later that night so they could get it done before the month ended. Yep, he's a stud. It greatly inspired one of his families, the father of which is active, and set a goal to do all of his visits this year. Great!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> On New Years eve, we had to be inside at 7, so we did weekly planning. It was good! I can work pretty well usually with Elder Romero. Sometimes we have some weird experiences where we just don't click, and our teaching is a little off, but for the most part it's good. I'm just trying to make him love people. He's kind of closed off emotionally. He is an incredible teacher, but he lacks true love, one of the biggest and best attributes of Christ.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We had an MLC <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1389417985" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Friday</span></span>. Guess what? We just got permission to tract!! We're a tracting mission. Which is great because I've seen many demonstrations of it working! Should be interesting. Also, we're not doing transfer meetings anymore. That's really sad. I'd grown to love those. We'll know <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1389417986" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Monday</span></span> where we're going and who we're going with or if we stay. That will be the big news next week! I want to stay and sometimes I really want to go. I'm not sure. We'll see what the Lord has in store. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Things are good. We're working hard. The Lord is too good to us. Keep praying for us, please. I love you all!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-57092433621917377982016-01-04T11:18:00.000-08:002016-01-04T11:18:04.964-08:00And There Goes Christmas<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What a week! So last Monday, I got to spend the night in Sugar Land on exchanges with Elder Mehew for the Christmas Conference. I love Elder Mehew! We had such a blast. We had a choir practice, and spent the night in some Chinese Elders' apartment. The next morning, we got there early to practice again, and the conference started at 8. What a conference!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Elder Mehew and 5 other guys and me got volunteered to learn and sing O Come, O Come Emmanuel; which went well :) The choir did really well. Ex-temple pres Crane and his wife came and spoke, and did a really nice job. Pres Hall also gave a wonderful talk. All about Christ's love and the Father's love for us. Really decent. I love the mission! I love all the good food we ate. We also got to watch Insideout, a newer Disney movie. It was a special treat with Pres Hall's permission. So much fun. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Our white handbook tells us that holidays are some of the best times for proselyting, and tells us to work hard these days. However, this week, an unusually large amount of people we tried to visit wouldn't open the door. That's kind of a Hispanic thing. They just don't think it's a big deal. Totally a patience tester. But we have taught a few good lessons this week. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> On the 24th, we had a family night with all the youth (18-26) and the familia Malacara. That's a big party night in Hispanic culture and seeing as these youth are away from all their families, we thought it would be great to throw a little spiritual party. They loved it :) We ate a lot.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Christmas was awesome! We ate a ton! Again! I wanted to thank all of you that sent me cards or gifts. They are SO appreciated. I love you all. And of course, I got to skype with my family, and that was so fun! Just a good day, full of love. Christmas on the mission has a really special feeling. I woke up on Christmas morning, and knelt down and wished Heavenly Father a merry Christmas. I think He appreciated it! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The next day, I completed my second decade! I'm now 20, and it's weird. But it was a good birthday. That's two years I've missed the Hispanic tradition of getting your face smashed into a birthday cake. Can't say I'm too sad about that ;) <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Well, folks, the Gospel is true. I live it. and I love it! I love you all!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I finished the Spanish Book of Mormon this week. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Hna Johnson. She came into the mission at the same time, and was born on Galveston with me. She goes home today. It was bitter sweet. She's like my twin sister!<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Mehew and I and the elders in the Chinese area</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us and our Christmas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The district</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Home Evening</td></tr>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-9482868746640594662015-12-21T17:35:00.001-08:002015-12-21T17:35:26.935-08:00Merry Christmas!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I know this isn't what you want to hear for the last email before Christmas, but this will be a short one due to complications of time. I'm finally starting to get over my cold. This is faster than normal, so I'm convinced it's a blessing from the Lord! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Highlights of the week-<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_212575800" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span>, Rony, Favio's brother, not a member, gave me a bottle of cold medicine :) Champ!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> My voice was gone <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_212575801" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Monday</span></span>, and I was worried because i had to give the big discourse in Zone Meeting <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_212575802" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Tuesday</span></span>. After much prayer and faith, my talking voice came out just fine for the meeting, and my talk was great! I spoke on our purpose, or the Doctrine of Christ. It was pretty neat. Elder Romero gave a talk on obedience. It was kind of a spanking to the zone. I'm disappointed in how necessary it was. The elders of the zone had gotten out of controll; I didn't even know before just how bad. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> So when Pres called to talk about the meeting afterwards, he had this big potential picture for the future, and I honestly got overwhelmed because this zone is not close. And I've been feeling a little under the weather on my faith. Especially in that people can change their nature. I'm not going to lie. While on the phone, a manly tear rolled down my cheek. I felt like the blind leading the blind. After we hung up, I said a prayer begging for peace, and it came. Man, did it come. The Lord is so good to me! <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> the next day, we went on exchanges. It was different. We both went to Galveston with the Spanish Elders. We were together for a lot of it just to see what they're doing together. But we split up, and I was with Elder Juarez, and Elder Romero with Elder Huaraca. I was the only white guy! Crazy! haha. That's what the picture was from. I never thought I'd get to take another picture right there in that apartment. It was a good exchange. We visited together Hna Perez who had gone less active since her mom passed away. We had a saving lesson, and gave her a blessing. It was inspiring seeing her change. Then, with Elder Juarez, we saw the Rivera family. I love them! We pulled up on our bikes, and Janitzy (one of my 29 year old friends) is sitting in the car with her boyfriend Emanuel. She sees me and yells, "Elder Spjute!" It was pretty cool :) I love being remembered. She wants me to come back for her wedding in December. I may just have to ;) <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> There's an older lady in the branch, love her to death! We went to go visit here, uninvited <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_212575803" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Saturday</span></span>, and her husband was there. He's not a member, but he just sat and argued at us. I felt so bad for not asking her if we could come over. She said, things were a little different <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_212575804" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Sunday</span></span> morning with him. I love this lady so much; her name's Hna Rosales. I know that Heavenly Father will bless her SO much for her patience with him.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Yesterday was the Christmas program in Church. I couldn't sing all the verses of Silent Night. I choked up haha. It was a very sweet spirit that one felt there. I love the holidays. I love you all, and wish you the Merriest of Christmases!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436556854085198861.post-89711744781342191912015-12-14T12:40:00.001-08:002015-12-14T15:51:44.795-08:00Raging Cold!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">No people, not the weather. The weather is <i>still</i> in the 80's occasionally. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_216600509" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">On Friday</span></span> while we were planning, out of nowhere, I felt my throat start to get a li'l sore. I had a bad feeling about it, though. By <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_216600510" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday</span></span> morning, it was a pretty intense throat pain. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_216600511" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span>, add congestion and plugged ears. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_216600512" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> after choir practice (the elders quorum and relief society are singing in church next week), the voice was gone almost completely. I took an hour and a half nap due to my body's demands; that was beautiful! <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_216600513" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> night, add a little chest cold to it and some minor coughing. As of now, my voice is slowly making a come back. I hope I can sing by next week!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> So far, things are good with Elder Romero! Funny story. This week, in our personal time right before bed one night, he was watching a video about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon on our DVD player. As it ends on a Spiritual note, he closes the DVD player and with a straight face says slowly, "the Book of the Mormons." I laughed pretty hard. It's funny because in his Hispanic accent, that about what you'd expect to hear from an investigator haha.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We're obedient. We work efficiently. We're doing well. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Side note: one of my new favorite Hispanic food traditions is corn on the cob with mayonnaise and Valentina hot sauce. So good :)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I entertained Elder Phillippi on an exchange here in Kemah <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_216600514" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Wednesday</span></span>. Elder Romero went to Galveston in English for the day with Elder Abner. I told Elder Phillippi that if he and I combined our age and Elder Abner and Romero combined their age, they'd be 15 years older than us haha. They're old!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_216600515" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">On Thursday</span></span>, we went to Sugar Land for a conference. They had Elder Hill and Ex San Diego Mission Pres Lee Donaldson come speak to us. It was pretty cool. They talked about how we must always be focused on the Doctrine of Christ. That is our purpose. Invite and help people to have faith, repent, be baptized, and endure to the end. They also showed us how to plan more effectively. Quite frankly, I didn't get all of it. It was really confusing. There were also parts that I strait up disagreed with. But for the most part, it brought the Spirit, and I learned. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I did however have to face the reality that I don't have enough faith that the Lord will change the hearts of the people here. It is something I'm struggling with. I struggle with the Hispanic culture. There are too many people that will not keep their commitments even after we've completely laid out the doctrine in front of them. I love them so much, and want their salvation, but man, it can be hard. So, that's something I'm facing for now. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Well, we're working hard! We have some investigators with a lot of potential. Please pray, if you would, for Cesar Agosto. He's learning a lot, and just needs to come to church a bit and accept a date. Thank you once more for your support. I hope the holiday season is treating you all well. I wish you good health. Really good health. And I love you all!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Elder Spjute</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was the rainbow that hit yesterday. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also, we had our branch Christmas party. This is Elder Romero and Luis, and some little kids. Luis and we were the three wise men.</span></span></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03425520422596184268noreply@blogger.com0