Now Let Us Rejoice

My new companion is Sister Prue! She was serving close by in our district and I really admire her. She has been out 7 and a half months. She is so uplifting and great at giving advice and correction. I AM GOING TO LEARN SO MUCH FROM HER. I really admire her so much.

 I LOVE SCRIPTURES. This week I studied Ezekiel 47. SO good. I MISS THE TEMPLE SO BAD.

There are such amazing things going on in this area. We updated our three month rolling plan. We feel like by the end of the transfer we could have as many as 4 baptisms! There are also quite a few that we see that could happen in October or November. When I got here we were not teaching many progressing investigators in our area... Not it is truly an example to our district

We actually saw a huge miracle in our area this week. When we were getting gas this week we were, you know, just casually talking to everyone. There was a young couple. My age maybe. And I talked to them and asked if they wanted a free bible-and they did! They asked what church we were from and I told them. I asked if they knew any Mormons.... the boy said his grandma was Dee Huggins! NO WAY!! I WAS SO FLOORED THEIR FAMILY IS SO PREPARED. He asked if he could have a book of Mormon too. I gave him one. We got his address and number. His mother is the one who is not a member that reffered herself to Salt Lake because of the influence sister Huggins had on her. It was such a miracle. There are so many in that family who are ready. Sister Huggins is preparing them.

Another Miracle came from roleplaying. We decided to roleplay searching the teaching records one day. We scrolled through area book to find a random person and make a lesson report for them based off all their information before they were dropped. When we did this we actually found a lost sheep! She was in as a gator but in her notes it said her and 3 of her children had actually been baptized in OP! WHAT.. On top of that we were in their area later on that very day! We stopped by and met them. She let us in to teach her... GUESS WHAT?! SHE HAS AT LEAST 2 CHILDREN WHO ARE OLD ENOUGH NOW TO BE BAPTIZED! We are not sure if she was ever confirmed. It is so confusing but she doesn't seem to be on any records here or in Orange park. I am not sure what to do to find her. They may potentially need to be rebaptized if they never received the holy ghost though... It was so long ago that they were baptized. They hardly remember it. Mostly they just know they have a book of Mormon and a restoration video.  It was such a tender miracle.

Since transfers we found 6 new Investigators in the last 3 days. And of our investigators came to church. We are far too blessed to be stressed. We had 5 investigators come to church. It was so great. We got to go to primary with one of them! Two of our investigators came with their families. One of the families is less active! It was so great to see them bring their grandson to church!

Sunday night we were out working and saw a guy pull into his house. we really felt like we should talk to him. IT WAS SO INSPIRED. We were able to teach the restoration and he accepted the invitation to be baptized. We will have another lesson with him this week. Heavenly Father has truly blessed us with so many opportunities to find people who are searching for truth.

Y'all Be Blessed

When Jesus Christ Was Baptized

This week Jordan was baptized and confirmed a member of the church! I am so grateful to have been able to be part of Jordan baptism saturday. He had asked me to give the talk on baptism. Wow. He has grown so much. I am so full of joy for him - I am so proud of him. It is such an incredible feeling to have been able to teach someone and see them through to baptism. It is such a wonderful experience. I remember when I was taking the lessons and I wonder if the Missionaries saw such a profound change in me in that short time. It is my most sincere desire that he will never forget how he felt after his baptism. He and his family mean so much to me. 

We had our first lesson this week with another part member family! Brother Kinder is so prepared. You can just see the spirit beam in him as we talk. He truly understands that After Baptism he will be able to be sealed to his wife. He is so in love with her and he truly has the desire to begin making covenants with God. It is truly incredible. Most of the ward doesnt realize he isnt a member. The bishop always says he is more active than most of the Elders Qurum and he is also already an active home teacher for an older woman in the ward. He always make sure she rides with them to church. When her temple reccomend expired he notified the Bishop. I am always so humbled by Mike Kinder. He is truly so Christlike. 

Sister Goeller is being transfered a bit early to Flemming Island to serve with Sister Ganir. Sister Prue will come from there to be my new companion until the end of the transfer! I am really going to miss sister Goeller.  I have learned so much from her. I do really love Sister Prue and I know it will be a great week or so! I know that there is so very much I will be able to learn from her. We have served around eachother the past two transfers and I am excited to be her companion! I have no idea what will happen at transfers. I know that Whatever happens it will be inspired and It will be so great!

I love being a missionary so much. It is such a blessing to be able to serve the Lord, my Mission President and my Companions. I have learned so much about myself and my savior. Thank you all for all the support you have given me!

Y'all be blessed!

Pictures to come!

Sister M. Leona Spangler

Florida Jacksonville Mission 

March 2017 - September 2018

Ps. Not sure if you can tell, but there is certainly a gator in the water there!  

Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel- Push Along

HAPPY PIONEER DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is so good. I am so grateful for the faithful saints who acted in faith and made it possible to live and enjoy this gospel. We are way to blessed to be stressed.

 Everthing is good here. Friday and saturday I served in Normandy with Sister Pereira. It was great. I love trade offs.

 We have a baptism on saturday for Jordan. 

On sunday we were talking to a part member family and the husband has decided to get baptized! It is a sincere miracle. he is practically an active member already. I am so grateful for his desire to make this covenant with our heavenly father. 

Pictures soon!

I Feel My Saviors Love

What a wonderful spirit-filled week here in Middleburg! Sister Goeller and I have been really busy with lessons! Bill and Nita are doing so great. Jordan is SO CLOSE to being ready for his baptism on the 29th! We only have a handfull of lessons left! He is really excited. It has been really beautiful to see the changes in Jordan since we started teaching him. I know that he feels the spirit and that Heavenly Father is helping him to be prepared to make and keep his covenants! I am so proud of him. I know that his family is very excited  because he is the last child to be baptized in his family! Since the Living Christ Fireside the ward has been really excited about missionary work. Everyone is wanting to know who we are teaching more closely and they are wanting to find ways they can participate in the  work. Member Missionary work is so invauluable. We could never do the work we are called to do without members to help the people we teach learn and grow and feel comfortable in ways we just cant.  Love y'all so much! Pictures will come in a bit!

Wow! This has been a crazy week! We set a baptismal date and had 4 investigators in church. Yesterday we held a fireside as a district. It was so incredible. We had a great turn out. We received a lot of referrals this week.  It was so fun having such a full schedule. Sister goeller is so great! 

Sister M. Leona Spangler
Florida Jacksonville Mission

How Firm a Foundation

Wow this week has been full. Wednesday we had dinner at olive garden with two really sweet sisters. We painted rocks this week with a member too! It was so fun. we went to a genesis concert and performed with some other missionaries. It was great. Saturday night we had transfer calls. I will be staying here and I will be receiving Sister Goeller as a companion. She has been out a bit longer than I. she is really nice and sweet!! We had 6 investigators in church on sunday!! BILL AND NITA came. And Gene Got baptized!