Alpine German-Speaking Mission

 A little check list that Elder Spencer made for us : Just if you could do anything for me it would be the following; 1. dont cry. 2. big banners and cheering and jumping and balloons and confetti, are embarrassing. (at least at the airport) 3. dont forget that I am still a twenty year old. I stink. Don't clean up 100% of the time and yeah. So if you are expecting some perfecto.....then wait for Ry to get home :)  Goodbye to a good friend Brother Baumann  Last pday activity at the Porsche Muesum  (the first Porsche made )  missionary fun , trapped in the bedroom ...again  heartfelt love from the Ellwangen primary the Ellwangen District And this wraps it up ! well , I love you  see ya on Friday , For the Last time,  ELder Spencer

 This is the "TRUNKY " letter telling this missionary he has done a great job and its time to wrap things up  Elder Georgiev and Spencer at a local Italian restaurant One of my Goals? Well, I am really trying on "continual prayer". It has really helped me here in the last couple of weeks. I mean, Im a missionary, and at no other time in my life will i be able to always be thinking about my savior, so while i have the chance I should use it. So, I have been trying to always have a prayer in my heart, and when I have a still moment, in a train, or where ever, just to offer up a silent prayer or something. its pretty good and something im working on!

 I set a goal after Thanksgiving to read the Book of Mormon in English before I go home, so that is 6 pages a day. So I start with that everyday. And for the first 1.5 years of the mission I read the German version and it took me forever! So it is cool to kind of read it faster this time and just get more of the story. There are so many things that you can study, that you sometimes forget about the plot. So yeah right now I am reading in the beginning of 3rd Nephi. And something that stuck out to me was how much satan tries to lead us away from the path, EVEN after spiritual experiences. These people had heard the words of prophets, seen signs and stuff and then they all turn wicked. Its amazing what can happen. So just because we have a spiritual experience doesnt mean that we are clear from temptation. I mean look at Jospeh Smith, or Moses. Each of them had incredible experiences with God, and then satan came and tried to steer them away. So yeah, after I read my 6 pages, I turn...

 A real live PORSCHE!  Schwabisch Hall  apartment view from Aalen , Germany   Church was good. I felt the spirit really strongly. Probably more that any other testimony meeting on my mission. It wasnt anything special that was said, but still powerful. There is a couple in the ward who recently had their first child, and she bore her testimony and said that children give us so much joy, and they are unbelievably dirty! haha Everyone laughed, but then she said that, that is just how our Heavenly Father thinks about us. He find so much joy in us, and when we get dirty, through sin, he provides us with the best possible cleaning supply. The Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that is true. We have a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to make the right choices, but when we mess up, just like a little child, he doesn't give up, he helps us to get clean, and learn from those mistakes.            ...

"The Messiah" Stricken, smitten, afflicted and wounded, Was this humble man. The Prince of Peace, the Savior, The marvelous great, "I AM". Surely he hath borne our sorrows, And carried us along the way. But who was this man, this being, Who took our sins away? Some may say a Prophet, John the Baptist, Jeremiah, "But whom say ye?" he humbly asked, I think he is the Messiah. Led like a lamb to the awaiting slaughter, He atoned for the sins of us all. He was wounded for our transgressions, That we may overcome the Fall. Bruised for our iniquities, Dispised and rejected of men, Jesus of Nazereth, Jehova of old, Made it possible to  live again. All we, like sheep have gone astray, We've wandered from the path. Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, Desires to have us back. All we must do is follow him, And partake of his loving grace. We then one day will greet him, And be wrapped in his warm embrace. -Elder Josh Spencer Ok, and I wrote this one last night: ...

 I am really thankful for the Sacrament. I dont know if i really understand it all the way, but it is so awesome to have a chance every week to look back at the week and see where we have fallen short, and then ask the Lord for forgiveness and strength to do better the next week. In my book of mormon reading I have read alot about Laman and Lemuel and how they arent obedient but then they repent and the Lord forgives them. The Savior wants to forgive, even Laman and Lemuel.  if we have a desire so be better, to do a little more, and be more obedient, the Lord will bless us with strength and help us along the way. Its really awesome.  P-Day Fun