Week 4: August 5

 Hey Everyone!!

So I am almost done [at the MTC] and it is honestly so weird because it doesn't feel like I have been here for very long, but at the same time I am so ready to get out into the field!!

Okay so I don't have that much time because I was finally able to upload some photos so hopefully y'all will be getting those too cause that took up some of the time I have to write! But, I am going to send the highlights of the week and then hopefully next week I will be able to write more.

Last night we had our Sunday night devotional and it was amazing because President Nelson (President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) was the speaker!! He gave a powerful talk about being an apostle to the Lord and going out to declare His message. It was amazing and the spirit was so strong in the room. What made it even better is Elder Woodland sang in the choir this time so I was able to hear an incredible talk, and sit next to one of my best-friends while we sang Be Still My Soul! It was so incredible and definitely the highlight of my entire time here at the MTC. Especially because he left this morning so it was nice to spend some time together before he flew out into the field. I was able to see Elder Olsen for just a sec on Sunday night before he flew out Monday morning so that was a really nice thing! They are going to be fantastic missionaries!!

Our lessons with Francesco are going really well! After he finally understood that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are real and they do love him he has made amazing progress. Yesterday I was super nervous for our lesson because we were teaching about the Restoration and so I was going to recite the First Vision to him in Italian. I was nervous because I didn't want to forget the words, but the spirit was so strong during the lesson that it went really well and so we asked him to pray and know if the church is true and he said he would!! So I will let you know what is happening with him next week! Tomorrow we start out first Skype lesson where we teach a 30-minute lesson with someone from Italy so I am super pumped  and stoked for that!!

We haven't taught Maria this whole week because she has been out of town but hopefully our lessons will continue to go well with her! (Just a sidenote: none of these "investigators" are real in the MTC. They are normally our teachers or members who have volunteered so that's nice except some of them are really good actors!!) Like some will help you with the language if you are struggling to find the word but then others will just stare at you and say "No Capito" which means I don't understand so it definitely helps with the language teaching these lessons!

On a completely different note... So my dad sent me pictures of my family that I taped up onto my wall as a motivation for me to work hard because why would I leave my fam for two years and slack off and not give my mission my all? So when I am having a hard time I look at those pictures. Anyway, so all of the elders have discovered that I have a "Super Jacked Dad" hahahah!! Like the first night they all came in and looked at the pictures and they were just like "Wow his arms are HUGE" and I was like yep that's my Dad hahah. But it’s great cause we are all getting super close as a zone, district, and roommates. Like Sunday night I was trying to write in my journal but couldn't really cause all 5 of my roommates decided that they wanted to sit in my bed and talk haha.. Stuff like that so it is nice to have a lot of unity because we are all here for the same purpose.

Okay last thing. So I was released as a Zone Leader. Our district presidency wants to give everyone an opportunity to be a leader and learn different skills so it was great having that calling for 3 weeks. It was kinda sad just cause I finally figured out all my duties and responsibilities right when I was switched out but it was nice to serve while I had the chance. 

Well I love you all and thank you so much for the support and the prayers--it really means a lot to me!!


Arrivederci!! 

Love Y'alll!!

Anziano Spencer

Pics taped to the wall referred to above. Chestnut has special meaning going back to Mom's mission in Italy (the meaning, not the chestnut itself! ;-))

Tristan says, "Thank you Andersons for the 100 pack of ear plugs hahah!! and the nose strips for the snorer..."

Thank you Sister Nelson!!!!!

Working hard!

Tristan's classroom.

Tristan says:"Elder Walker. Gave me advice about teaching without a script."

Tristan said, "This is an Australian elder that I met!!! He is going to Germany and has the best German/Australian accent. He is a super great guy.

Tristan and Elder Smith, who Tristan says is "going to Germany as well and such a positive and nice guy. I really hope we can connect after the mission."

With Elder Woodland. Tristan says, "My favorite picture of them all!"