Elder Spencer Call: The Full Scoop!

Area: Coaldale, Canada
Companion: Elder Pauli
District Leader
Loving his mission!

We didn't hear from Elder Call until Wednesday of this week. It was great to hear from him. As the girls said, "he sounds like the good old Spenc that we know!" After a few challenging experiences / weeks, it truly was good to feel of his happiness through his letters!

(his reply to some photos that I sent him - family hikes, Erin's State Swim meet, missionary news, etc..)

Hey that sounds like quite the exciting week!! If you see Taylor tell her that is so awesome! She'll be a great missionary. And looks like you guys had a great family outing!! Happy Family Day from Canada!! Hope you guys are all having a good time. Sorry the library was closed so I wasn't able to actually send a Happy Family Day message on the actual Family Day. But, I couldn't ask for a better family!! Thanks so much for being fantastic!! :) Oh, and go SCHS basketball!!

(his letter to me)

Mom, I feel like I should suggest reading pg. 10 of Preach My Gospel on A Successful Missionary. I know its written specifically to missionaries, but I think it applies to you as a Young Women's Leader. Involvement is a great tool! Keep involving the young women. You are doing such a great job! Ha, and yes, you did get my attention with the Stratosphere! I thought, "is this really my mom?" Ha, you are hilarious! {I told him in my letter that Lex and I went to Vegas to ride all of the rides at the top of the Stratosphere (something I would never do!), but then really told him that we went to the Vegas temple for a wedding!} But glad that you were able to go to the Temple. Congrats to Halie!! Sounds like you all had a good busy weekend. Congrats to Grace and Erin in their tournaments and meets! I am definitely having a good time. I've been learning so much about the gospel and being in a place to share that so often has been great.

Question Time!

How is it going in Coaldale? Who have you been teaching this week?

See Big Kahuna :)

How is your new companion? Name? Where from? How long has he been serving?

Elder Pauli! He's from Sacramento, California. He's been out 4 and a half months. He's pretty awesome too!

What's the best thing about your companion? Who does he remind you of?

He has lots of good ideas. I would probably say Samson Fisher would be a good comparison. So its been pretty sweet!

What's something that you have in common?? Something that's different??

We were both 18 when we came out! And something that's different? Well, our ethnicity is different! He's Samoan!

Did you get our sparkly Valentines?? {we included a LOT of glitter in our Valentines to him!!}

Yes I did! Loved them!!

Are you staying warm? Do you need to purchase some snow boots?

Elder Smith gave me some snow boots, so I'm good :)

How often are you shoveling snow - either for yourself or for service for others?

Not too often. I haven't done it for about a month or two. Not too much snow these days! I haven't worn my big winter jacket in weeks!

Well, I'll give you some more updates in the big email, but just wanted to let you know that I love you! Hope you have a great week! Thanks for all you do! You are amazing!

Love,

Elder Call

We happened to have a little "chat" (three minutes long - which never happens!). I sent him the following and here are our replies...

Here is part of Elder Josh Spencers letter from this morning, so cool!!

"Oh, so here is a cool experience.....SO. Elder Bednar has some videos on the website about recognizing the Holy Ghost. Maybe you have seen them. Anyway, he said that Heavenly Father doesn't send us angels to remind us of things or prompt us to do things when he can just send the voice of our ANGEL MOTHERS to do the same thing. I thought that was so true. The promptings of the spirit sometimes come that way. So here is the story.....

I was doing my laundry the other day. As I was putting some clothes in the washer I heard moms voice say "Don't forget to check your pockets!!!" :) just like she always says! So that's what i did....and guess what i found.....My USB stick with all of my pics on it.....that would have been like my entire mission GONE! So I'm really grateful this week for Heavenly Father and the promptings of the Holy Ghost that sometimes come through the voice of MOM's :) Ill make sure to check next time!" -Elder Josh Spencer Alpine German speaking mission

Mom again here...So I'm hoping you have the opportunity to hear my voice once in awhile, too...particularly letting you know how much I LOVE YOU!!! xoxoxooxoxox

love, mom

from Elder Call:

Thanks mom! That's a great message, and so true. I love you so much!! Oh and thank you for your Valentine's Day letters and notes! I absolutely loved them! Thanks to everyone for sharing their love with me. I hope sometimes you can hear my voice reminding you all of my love for you.

from me:

Yes!! I can hear your voice from time to time with sweet and gentle reminders of your love for us and your love for the gospel and all that it holds! I can also picture your smiling face and feel that last hug you gave me at the MTC. It still wraps around me and fills me with love. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH ELDER CALL!!!!

and lastly, from him...

Love you too mom!! :)

And finally, his letter to everyone:

Hey Everyone!

So, this week was pretty great! I got a new companion, Elder Pauli. He's Samoan! He's from Sacramento, California. Plays football, likes to work out, and he's a pretty sweet missionary.

Anywho, this week was pretty great! We are starting to teach a nine year old. His mom is less active and his father doesn't live with them anymore. But he agreed to be taught and he agreed to be baptized on March 15 after our first lesson! It was a great experience. We taught him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We had a drawing about faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, and about the Sacrament and he asked if he could keep it so when he gets angry or upset he could remember the things we taught him. He is so ready. I am so excited to continue teaching him!

We have also been working with another less active in our ward. She recently moved, just a couple blocks from her old house. During the move one of her non-member friends was there and told one of the other members helping out that she wants to start coming to our church and learning more about it. Oh man, I am so excited to start teaching her! We have a lesson with her tomorrow!! Ah, it is so great!!

The work is going great out here. I am learning a lot. I've learned just how important and how true the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. As we repent and come unto Christ and are baptized we truly can have the Holy Ghost with us to guide us, help us, and comfort us through life.

The Church is true! Oh, and Happy Family Day to everyone!

Love,

Elder Call

{it was a holiday in Canada on Monday - Family Day! Everyone has the day off to do something with their families. Pretty cool, eh??}