Week 53 Antofagasta

March 12, 2016

So as stated above, this last week passed by in the blink of an eye. We had conferences this week in the South of the mission. Monday we worked in the office until 5pm and then went to the store to buy all of the food that would be needed in the conferences. We then loaded up the van and went to bed. Tuesday we woke up at 5:30am to be on the road by 6:30am. We had our first conference in Chañaral which is about 4 hours from Antofagasta. We arrived a little late but there aren’t that many missionaries in Chañaral so it wasn’t a ton of work. As office workers, we provide the food at every conference. We made sandwiches this time! I was able to put my sandwich art to work. I Guess working at Subway really paid off hahaha. Everything went well in Chañaral and we were on the road to Copiapó by 4:00pm. We arrived to Copiapó at about 6:30pm and bought everything for the conference that would be held the next day. We then had time to do divisions with the Elders that we stayed the night with and that was a cool experience. The next morning we had the conference and we had to serve a total of 40ish people so it was a lot more work. We managed to finish it all in time and everything turned out good. Later that day we had the opportunity to do divisions in Elder Walker´s old sector Copayapu. Elder Morales and I went with Elder Jara and Elder Walker went with his trainee Elder Reyes. It too was a very cool experience. The next morning we hit the road again to drive 2.5 hours south to Vallenar! That’s right, my birthplace! I was so excited to visit Vallenar again. We had the conference and again, everything turned out okay. The best part of it all though was the fact that I got to work in my old sector! Elder Walker and I worked with Elder Perez and Elder Morales worked with Elder Cloward. The very first family I wanted to see was the Dominguez family! They seriously changed my life and they were all stunned to see me again! I remember when Emmy (The 4 year old) saw me, she had the biggest smile on her face hahaha. She was always my best friend hahahaha. I talked with them for a while and then had to say goodbye. After, we visited a few other people but they weren’t home. Later at night I went to visit Jonathan and Roxana! Remember them???? I passed by and he opened the door in shock. He then says "Spanbauer ha vuelto!!!" Which means Spanbauer has returned! hahaha it was priceless. He invited us in and I asked if we could share a message. Now if you guys remember, Jonathan was the one that saw a bunch of stuff on the internet and stopped progressing. We had an extremely powerful lesson with him and I can honestly say that I have never shared my testimony with more love and sincerity than in that lesson. I know that they both felt the spirit and they both committed to pray that night if the church was true. Will they progress? I don’t know, I hope but I do know that something was felt there that night that they wont forget. I am so grateful to have shared with them again and I truly am starting to feel how the savior felt for the people he taught. I truly believe what Elder Holland says, that the mission lets one experience a little bit of what the Savior felt while on earth. Whether that is pain, frustration, heartache, or peace, love and joy... one will experience a little bit of it all in the mission field. I know my Savior, the very Son of God lives and has provided a way so that we can return to our father´s presence. Until next week! Chao.

Elder Spanbauer

On another note, on our way back to Antofagasta, we were able to visit "La Mina San José"

This was the mine where the 33 miners were trapped for 70 days. All 33 of them made it out alive by a tiny capsule. I remember hearing about it on the news but to actually be there and touch the capsule that saved them was an amazing experience. Here are some photos!

Office team with the capsule that rescued 33 miners that were trapped for 70 days.

The 33 Flags Representing The 33 Survivors

The Office Pic

The Office Pic

Familia Dominguez!!!

Hermano Carrizo!!!

Week 52 Antofagasta

Mar 5, 2016

Wow, this week flew by so fast. Its crazy because time already flies by in the mission but in the office I am convinced it goes twice as fast. I cannot believe I have been in Antofagasta for almost 4 months now. This was a busy week because we had leadership counsel with all of the Zone Leaders. I had to buy all of their bus tickets to get here to Antofagasta. It was a little bit of a battle but I did it. I have gotten super good at multitasking. It’s kind of funny because President will send an email and say I need this and we have to find a way to do it. For example, this week he called me and said "Elder Spanbauer, the Easter initiative card template has come in and I need 30,000 more of them.... oh, and I need them in 2 days". We all started searching nearby printing companies and we found one! He said he could get half of them printed by the time we needed them. In the end, we got all 30,000 to President and he was happy. I love the office adventures hahaha. This week we taught Alan again and his wife. They both said they want to get baptized but they want to prepare themselves a little more first. We are going to put a date with them in the next lesson we have with them so they have a goal to work towards. Also, we did divisions again and I worked with Elder Walker for the day. We taught a 20-year-old kid that is super catholic.... He had a ton of statues in his house and it was hard teaching a lesson with that virgin Marry statue staring at me the whole time... hahaha. We have found several new people to teach as well. Yesterday, just about everyone we talked to was interested in us teaching them. It was cool to see how the lord puts people in our paths. The mission is amazing and I will go to my grave saying the same thing. The lord truly does make weak things strong. I remember when I had first arrived to the mission field it was always about me. What do I want? I am starting to feel some of the same feelings Christ must have felt as he taught and performed miracles here on the earth. I am convinced Jesus Christ was the happiest man that ever lived because true joy, the kind that can’t be extinguished comes from him. There is nothing more powerful than a simple testimony that comes from the heart, or better yet, the soul. I know that my savior lives and I will serve him until the end.

(Mosiah 16:9)

“He is the light and life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened”

Our District

Lunch again with the Familia Matamoros

Week 51 Antofagasta

Feb 27, 2016

This week was so awesome for many reasons.... The first being that we got to watch a broadcast of Elder Bednar and it was so good. I have never learned so much in just 3 hours. He has inspired me to be a better missionary but more than just that, a better disciple of Christ. One thing he said that I really liked was that many times as members we have the tendency to ask in our prayers for things rather than ask how we can receive those things. It’s so true! I often find myself asking for miracles when really I should be praying to be able to recognize those opportunities when they come. I realized that when we pray, its not a simple thank you for, please bless...etc. Its what can I do to receive this blessing or better yet, I promise I will do everything in my power in order to receive this blessing. Faith requires action. He gave a classic example of this when we pray in sacrament that the people that weren't able to come can come the following week. This is a completely faithless prayer he said, because it requires nothing on our part. We are simply praying that those people will magically come the following week..... That does not work. He said we should be praying and promising that we, as members of the church will go to every single one of these people´s houses on our way home from church and ask why they weren't in church. He said what we should be praying for is that we don´t all go to the same house. hahaha. I really liked this example because it’s completely true... We need to pray with faith and with the determination that we will act in order to receive. Elder Bednar really helped me humble myself in this aspect. My invitation to you all is to pray with faith and with a willing heart to act on the answer you are given. Nephi did not murmur when he was instructed to build a boat... he prayed to know how he should make it and how he could obtain the tools to construct it. Joseph Smith did not just pray to know which church was true, he prayed to know which church he should join. These are two awesome examples of praying with and the desire to act. We have been having success in our sector. We found a guy named Alan and he is from Bolivia. He is one of the most humble guys I have ever met. When we contacted him in the street we shared a little bit of what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. He was particularly interested in baptism. Later this week we had the opportunity to teach him and he is awesome! He accepted the invitation to be baptized. We still haven´t put a date with him yet but he is definitely prepared by the lord. We have been working a ton with members to obtain references. Yesterday we had a cool activity of talents. Every organization performed a dance. The priest´s quorum did a song from queen and it was soooo funny. The young men did back street boys. It was probably the coolest activity I have had in the mission. I seriously love the mission guys. I pray that you are all progressing as much as I am. I love sharing my testimony with you guys because it was something I never did before the mission. The office is going well. I haven't been too stressed so that’s good. I actually like the challenge of having to complete with my responsibilities in the office and in our sector at the same time. It’s a test of our faith. Many think that the elders in the office don’t baptize because they don’t have much time to work but that is completely false. Everything depends on ones dedication and consecration and trust in the lord. I love you all and I loved the photos and video you sent! hahaha Until next week!

Elder Parker Spanbauer

Here are the young girls I taught in Arica that got baptized last week! The parents will be getting baptized soon!

The Office Staff

Elder Morals (Center), Elder Spanbauer (Left), Elder Walker (Back)

Ward Activity of Talents

Meet Mauricio, He always does divisions with us hahaha and does a very good impression of Queen!

 

 

 

Week 50 Antofagasta

Feb 19, 2016

Hello Everyone!

So this week was super awesome! We found several new investigators! We have been trying to apply the principle "Hablar con Todos" (Talk with Everyone) and we have definitely without a doubt seen a difference. As a companionship we are really striving to be 100% obedient to the mission schedule. For example, leave and return on time, wake up on time, do exercise everyday, study everyday....ect. We have definitely seen the fruits of just doing these simple things. We designed a plan of consecration. Some might say being in a Trio is hard and lame but we have come to see that it is awesome because we can do divisions with members everyday. This helps us a ton because we only have so much time to work in our sector as it is, so having two companionship working in the same sector helps us a ton. We had some very powerful lessons with a few investigators where the spirit was felt super strong. I am learning to recognize the spirit better, which was one of my goals before leaving on the mission. I have come to know of without a doubt that Jesus Christ is our savior. I have developed a love for the people of Chile and now I feel as if I am one of them. I thank my heavenly father everyday for allowing me to be a missionary and a messenger of his eternal truths. 

This week I drove for the first time in my mission! I am one of the few missionaries that gets to drive in their missions... well at least in South America. I drove the new ford ranger we have because no one else knows how to drive stick. Life in the office is great... I am ahead on a lot of things because we have Zone Conferences in a few weeks and we are going to be traveling the mission. I am so excited! President trusts in us so much, it amazes me haha because we are just 19-20 year old kids! haha Yesterday we had an activity in the church. It was a karaoke activity but Elder Walker and I didn’t know any of the songs because they were Old Spanish songs. Our ward is so freaking awesome. Today we have a BBQ with some members in the ward so I gotta make this email quick. Don’t have many photos this week but hopefully next week I will have more. President gave us a selfie stick hahaha Love you all and Don’t Be Basic!

Elder Spanbauer

Elder Morales and Me in the office

Elder Walker, Elder Morales, and Me

Today we had an awesome BBQ with the Matamoros Family! This family is seriously so cool. Here are some photos!

Week 49 Antofagasta

Feb 13, 2016

My week was good but I’m just glad its over. This last week I was extremely busy with the transfers. I had to buy every bus pass and coordinate everything with the lunches for the new missionaries. I thought it was funny because when we meet the new missionaries, Hermana Dalton always introduces us and says that Elder Walker is the Financer, Elder Morales is the Office secretary of visas and travel and I’m the "Everything guy" haha she says basically whatever they don’t do... I do. It’s kinda true though haha I don’t really have a specific job title.... If someone has a question about anything besides finances or visas, they call me. Everything went good with the transfers and now I can finally relax and focus on my missionary purpose that is "Teach repentance and baptize converts"! Oh and I can officially drive now! President signed my papers! Being in the office is extremely stressful but I love it. I have come to love my companions and the assistants and we are going to tear it up here. Right now we are in a Trio. Elder Walker joined the companionship and so now we always do divisions with members accomplishing twice the work. I TRIED SUSHI!!! I did a contact in a new sushi place that opened buy our apartment and I felt bad not buying anything so I did and I must say... not bad! Also, I was informed that two investigators we were teaching in Arica just got baptized! They were the two daughters of la familia Julca. Now the parents are just waiting to get married and they will be baptized as well! I love hearing about old investigators getting baptized. Many times we don’t get to see the fruits of our labors but doesn't mean our efforts have gone in vane. That is something I have learned here in the mission. We had a very spiritual lesson with a new investigator we met named Mikol. We were doing divisions with members and we taught him the restoration. I felt piercing warm feeling as Elder Walker shared the 1st vision with him. I know that he felt it and I cannot deny what I felt in that lesson. I truly feel that as helping others progress spiritually, we are spiritually converted ourselves. Our church attendance has gone up buy about 20 people since when I got here and this is the time that everyone is usually out of time on vacation. Our ward, AntoCentro is amazing because there are so many members who are willing to help us in the work. Elder Gonzalez... the previous financer just went home because he had hernias in his back. Elder Walker is his replacement and for the first time in a while... there is only three of us in the office. It’s going to be tough but we can do it. Anyway, that’s the update here. Love you all and until next week!

Below are some photos we took in TGI FRIDAYS because it was Elder Gonzalez´s last PDay with us.

Elder Spanbauer

TGI FRIDAYS With Elder Gonzalez on His Last PDay

TGI FRIDAYS

Week 48 Antofagasta

Feb 6, 2015

Hey everyone! So this is going to be a quick one. This week was good. We have been working with several less active members to get references and re-activate them. We have one less active member named Jose. He is a return missionary but has stopped going to church. We have got him to read the book of Mormon and he has been coming to church every week. I can really see the change in him. We have another family that has been struggling financially and the dad has not had any luck finding a job. We promised him that if he started praying and reading as a family he would find work. That is exactly what they are doing now. We talked to him on Sunday and he said they are reading everyday as a family and now his oldest son; Christopher wants to serve a mission!!! He always leaves with us to work and it is awesome. He has started his papers and is so excited now to serve a mission! We have been teaching a guy that has been extremely tough to teach. He doesn't believe in god and says it’s a silly thought to even consider that god exists. We took Christopher to this mans house and Christopher bore his testimony and the room was filled with the spirit. This man with out a doubt felt it. I’m so glad Christopher is having these spiritual experiences because it is only going to get him more excited for the mission! We found two new Colombians and they are so receptive. They said they would go to church if they don’t get called into work. We have been having a lot of success here because we have been obedient. I know its not coincidence. Alsides is doing okay... He is still progressing but slowly. Him and the whole family he lives with committed to going to church this week. We will see what happens with all of that. What can I say, things have been good. I have been working on Transfers all week and it has been stressful because there are so many little details and things I must do so everything turns out okay and just when I think I’m done, I realize I forgot some small detail and I have to go back and change the plans which causes a ripple affect and then I have to change everything. It’s hard but I know I can do it. These transfers have been kind of weird because there have been several special transfers and that usually messes things up. Anyway, that’s the short update. Gotta finish the transfers! Love you all!

Elder Spanbauer

Also, here is a little more information from lasts weeks visit to the world’s largest observatory. We went from sea level to 8600 feet above sea level. There were FOUR large observatories (look up Paranal Observatory in Chile) on the Internet if you want to know more. Inside was incredible. The size of the telescope was monstrous! We also went to the UNDERGROUND Hotel that the workers stay in when they work at the observatory. It’s also the site where part of the James Bond movie, “Quantum of Solice” as filmed at.

Facilities at Paranal Observatory.

The complexity of the observatory tower inside.  It was amazing.

On top of Cerro Paranal, one of the several large observatories.  Notice how it can rotate.

Smaller observatories that on tracks so that they can change position.

Inside the Hotel at Paranal.

 Entrance to the hotel, which is underground.  Part of the James Bond movie, "Quantum of Solice was filmed at this hotel.

 Inside the hotel at Paranal.