Three Exchanges and Crazy Humidity! June 14, 2022

Hello everyone! What a week this was, it was a great one for sure! 

Started off the week with an exchange, I went to Moberly and Macon Missouri which are smaller towns in our zone and it was super fun! 

We talked with lots of people and got out and about, we had a humbling experience with a man named Sam who we ran into on the street. He really opened up about some difficult things he was going through and we were able to talk to him and help him feel God's love. 

Wednesday and Thursday flew by, we had lots of lessons and had some chances to go find on campus. Campus has been picking up a little bit more with the summer classes starting so its been nice to have more people to talk to! 

We had another exchange Friday to Saturday, faced some rejection on that exchange some people not to happy to talk to us but hey you are gonna see that! We had some good on the spot lessons we taught to people we ran into on the streets so that was nice. 

Church was great, we had two friends attend, Davonte and Dan! We had a linger longer where we had some food and the branch just swarmed Davonte and Dan. Lots of people introduced themselves and made them feel welcome! It was really cool. 

Then we had exchanges yesterday. I went to the other area, just right by in Columbia and it is a biking area. It was very hot and humid outside. I drank tons of water but it all just sweated right out. We biked quite a lot and I had a little bought of heat exhaustion but I felt loads better after we made it to a members home where they fed us some food and I could just rest for a minute. 

Neat story about the family that had us over for dinner yesterday, they know some of my family in Magrath, Alberta so that was super cool!! It was really cool to run into someone who knew people from back home. 

I've come to know and felt this last week of just how real Jesus Christ is. He lives and knows each and everyone of us! 

Elder Spencer 

Davonte! June 6, 2022

Hey all, this week again flew by! 

Tuesday we had our Zone Council, it was very powerful. We have an awesome zone and we really bonded especially when we had a little testimony meeting. It was President and Sister Bell's last in-person Zone Council so they opened up some time for a question and answer portion which was really awesome! 

They gave us all some great life advice and encouraged us to stay faithful and love God. I will truly miss the Bells they have become great friend to me.

Wednesday we had MLC down in St.Louis, that was probably the best MLC I've ever been in and I truly enjoyed it. We had a great council about how we can help the mission move forward especially since we are getting a new mission president in a few weeks, we talked about making the transition smooth. 

Thursday and Friday flew by we had district council, weekly planning. We helped a member move her couch, loading it into the back of our Tacoma. That was quite the experience! 

A huge highlight was when our friend Davonte came to church Sunday! He walked over, he lives right down the road. He loved it. He was following along in our lesson, participated a bit in Sunday School. He was happy to be there! 

We got some decent street contacting in this week, had some cool conversations with people on campus and downtown! You run into all sorts of people and I love them all! 

Hope you all are doing well, 

Elder Spencer 

Busy, Busy, Busy! May 30, 2022

This week was non-stop! It was great to be going all the time but I'll tell ya it is quite tiring. 

We are getting better and better at teaching together in this trio. I felt the spirit working through us as we testified of the truth of the gospel! 

We had Zone Conference this week. It was President and Sister Bell's last in-person one. That is so crazy to me. They spent the last 30-40 mins giving us life advice which was really cool. 

Some things that stuck out to me were to always set goals and make plans in life. They will help move you forward and grow. I've definitely felt that as I've been on my mission. It is easy to not set goals but it takes work to set and then achieve them.

Another thing that stuck out to me was that if it matters to us it matters to God. He won't give us things against His will but He does care about what we enjoy and like to do. 

Being in the YSA has been a blast it's fun to talk with them and learn from them. We had a missionary focused Sunday School and it was neat to hear from quite a few YSA who have been home from their missions and to get a glimpse of life after the mission. I enjoy helping them come closer to Christ there is nothing better! 

Hope you are all doing well! 

Elder Spencer

From Corner to Corner! May 23, 2022

Hey everyone! This week was insane! Lots happened. 

First of all I said goodbye to the people of Champaign-Urbana, that was hard. There are so many people I will miss and that impacted my life. Serving missions is hard that way you get close to someone and then have to leave. 

We got to the transfer meeting quite early so we sat there for a couple hours and I was nervous the whole time, but then the Assistants came out and informed us where we are going. I was told I was being transferred to Columbia, Missouri which is pretty awesome! 

Champaign is in the very north-east corner of my mission and Columbia is in the north-west corner so that was kinda funny going to the opposite side of the mission. 

My new companion's name is Elder Hurst he is from West Jordan, Utah and is super fun to serve around!  We are serving in the YSA branch out in Columbia so again no ties!! 

I'm excited to work in a YSA and teach people my own age. It has been a little weird so far but I like it. 

There are 12 companionships in this zone so it's a bit bigger than Champaign there will be lots more to do. We have some Elders who live right behind us so we hang out with them every night. 

However yesterday we received some sad news that one of those Elders is headed home so we are being put temporarily in a trio, the other Elder we will be with is Elder Furniss, he is from Pleasant Grove, Utah. 

We will be running two areas it'll be lots of fun! 

I've been thinking a bit about knowledge and how important it is to gain all types of knowledge of spiritual and temporal things. I have lots of decisions to make about what I want to study and where I'll go to school and it makes me nervous but I know it is something God wants and expects of me! 

Have a great week everyone! 

Elder Spencer 

So sorry there is only one pic, I'll try to get more for next week! 

Transfers and a Busy Week! May 17, 2022

Hello everyone!! 

This week was super amazing, flew by once again. A definite highlight was going to the temple last Tuesday. 

Other highlights include doing service for Amy a recent convert and seeing her two goats, Lucifer and Ruby in person! 

Also we had Stake Conference this weekend and it was super powerful. Many people spoke on joyfully coming to Christ and bringing someone with you! 

This was a wonderful theme to have as it mentioned many ways we could all participate in gathering Israel! 

Elder Peterson and I also had the opportunity to sing in the Stake Choir which consisted of about 24 people, so that was really fun to be in a choir again even if it was only for one song, which we rehearsed the morning of! 

Our friend DaVinci came to church and loved it! We had a couple great lessons with Denise and Shannon this past week as well, the Lord is in this work and makes it happen! 

Finally transfer news, I found out I am getting transferred. I am sad to be leaving Champaign and leaving Elder Peterson but I know the Lord needs me elsewhere. 

I will miss the many wonderful people here in Champaign and Urbana they have been bright lights in my life for which I will be forever grateful! I find out where I go and who my new companion is tomorrow morning! 

Hope you all have a great week! 

Elder Spencer 

                    Me with Elder Johnson + Storment my old comps gonna miss those two!! 

-- Ruby and Lucifer ( the goats)