Elder Parker Spanbauer: Week 55 Antofagasta

March 26, 2016

Extremely Busy Week!

So as you all know, we have transfers Monday. I have been working on and planning the transfers all week. It is extremely complicated because I have to not only buy bus tickets for everyone, but I have to organize it so that no one travels alone and so that Elders don´t sit next to Sister missionaries. It has been kind of stressful but I have good news. It is my last time doing it alone. My replacement has been called to the office. His name is Elder Huffstutler. He arrives Monday and I will be training him this next transfer. Finally! I will be going back into the field! I’m seriously so excited. Time has gone buy sooo fast in the office. I have really enjoyed my time here but I’m ready to train and be a normal missionary again. I miss being able to work all day in my sector. The office has really helped me see how precious our time is as missionaries. So yeah, this next transfer Ill be training Elder Huffstutler but Elder Morales is still gonna be my normal companion. It was hard being in a trio because I was never used to teaching like that but now it will just be Elder Morales and I in Antofagasta Centro and Elder Walker and Elder Huffstutler will be working in Quito (another ward). I seriously cannot believe I have been in the office for 4 months. President doesn't like to keep Elders in the office for more than 4 Transfers because he wants them to experience more in their mission.

I have seen so many miracles here and I feel that I have grown spiritually here more than any other sector. It has been a real test of my faith being in the office. Relying on the lord and trusting that he will provide in the little time we have to proselyte. We found a guy named Cristian. I had the privilege of teaching him with an Elder that came to Antofagasta for a day to do some paperwork. We taught him for the first time and invited him to be baptized and he said yes! He does struggle with the word of wisdom but he is very humble and I feel he truly wants to change. He said he would come to church this Sunday so we will see what happens. We had our Zone Conference here in Antofagasta and this time Hermana Dalton prepared the food so we got to just enjoy this one. I learned a lot but one of the things that stuck out the most to me was how powerful the message of The Restoration is. We watched a video of two return missionaries teaching Elder Cook and his wife and by the end of it, they were both crying. It’s true, there is so much power behind this message and every time we teach it as missionaries, I feel the spirit. President extended an invitation to all of us to study lesson 1 and practice it with our companion’s everyday. He says that if we can learn to teach it with power and authority, it is impossible to be unsuccessful. We did a practice lesson today as a companionship and Elder Morales and I taught it to Elder Walker. Even in the practice lesson, the spirit was so strong. We are going to apply it and teach it to everyone! Sometimes I feel so privileged to be a missionary. My view of the mission has changed so much from when I arrived to Chile. Elder Morales and I are going to make this last transfer together our best. We are going to be exactly obedient and we are going to teach everybody... and when I say everybody, I mean EVERYBODY. It’s so easy to share the gospel. I wish I would of been more involved in missionary work growing up. Missionaries are full time teachers, but the members of the church are the full time missionaries. Nothing will stop the work from progressing. So lets help it progress faster. Invite your friends to church! Invite a non-member friend over to the house to have a family home evening! These are things I wish we had done as a family. Things that truly do have eternal significance. I pray for you all daily and I know my prayers will not go unanswered. I know this church is true, I testify that Jesus Christ is and will always be our savior.

" Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
- John 14:6

There is a reason I chose this as my mission scripture.

I love you all and until next week!

Elder Spanbauer