ljuap w juan

"You can EXPECT God to provide at least one new person every time you go out in the rain"- AP Peacock. (APeacock if you will.)

RIGHT AS I'm telling sister clark this promised blessing, we turn around AND ALMOST SLAM INTO THIS BIKER & HIS DOG. 

Meet Shane. 

The new friend God gave us because we went out in the rain. 

Shane choked up as we read from the Book of Mormon. 

Shane biked to his car and then drove BACK to the pavilion with an umbrella so his brand new Book of Mormon wouldn't get a drip of rain water on it. 

Shane reminded me how much I love being a missionary. 

Oh how I love it. 

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." 3 Nephi 5:13 

I will never get over the feeling of the Spirit FLOODING into a person's home, or front porch, OR street corner as I have the PRIVILEGE to declare His word. 

I am deeply humbled and honored that Heavenly Father allows me to teach His children. 

And oh my goodness I love teaching. 

NOTHING fills my soul more than teaching people about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. 

This is my most favorite work. This is the most fulfilling work. This is His work. Forever thankful I get to be a part of it. 

Prepping for ZOCO was like taking a trip back to high school. Four little missionaries POURING over a group project at the public library. 

The result?? A bomb presentation & an even firmer testimony of Joseph Smith. 

A+ for sure. 

Sister Baham CARRIED our lesson with Juan about the plan of Salvation. 

I wish I spoke Spanish. 

Anyone looking for a new mechanic?? 

Employee of the month award goes to... SISTER CORREIA! 

Who would have thought that a simple check of the fluids would turn into our truck being towed away from sight??? 

Someone please let her know that coolant should NOT be poured into the break fluid....... 

Also I wish I never saw Rhonda CRAB WALK past our lesson with Erika, with her shirt PULLED over her head. 

Picture an EIGHTY year old.... Shirt PULLED over her head....Crabwalking. 

Wait no. Don't picture that. Please. 

A needed contribution to our lesson about eternal families. Thank you Rhonda. 

Someone remind me to PACE myself next Thanksgiving!! 3 different meal appointments SHOULD mean 3 plates.....uhhhhhh 9 is more accurate. BUT MY PLATE at Juan's had AUTHENTIC curry, homeade tamales, AND the Thanksgiving day classics. CAN YOU BLAME ME?????? 

Felt like Rhonda when she put a McDonald's bag on her head and started running into walls over and over again. 

PAM is becoming truly converted. 

She has been smoking since she was TWELVE YEARD OLD, but she handed us ALL of her cigarettes with a promise to obey the word of wisdom. Stomping on that pack of cigs and chucking them in the garbage was a POWERFUL moment, "...and we do JUSTLY ascribe it to the miraculous power of God." (Alma 57:26) 

"How did you guys get me to do that?? No one has been able to do that." 

Oh pam pam pam, we had NOTHING to do with this. The power of God is REAL & LIFE SHAKING. 

And Hammond is SHAKING from His power. 

15 year old Alayna Smith comes right up to us at church and says, "okay, I'm ready to be baptized. I want to be sealed with my family forever." 

Alayna's whole family got baptized the month before I came to Hammond, but she didn't join them. 

We've been PRAYING for a change of heart and the Lord provided. 

-SISTER SPANGLER

veneers

"I could eat a vat of lard with a straw and I'd feel justified because I biked today" -sis correia 

Usually I feel the same way, but after 4 MASSIVE bowls of Lynn's chili I felt like I was drowning in a vat of lard. 

Lynn said the Hammond ward feels like her perfect home. ME TOO LYNN ME TOO. 

BUT someone tell them to calm down on the chili dogs! Please! I can't eat anymore! 

My stomach has started BARKING at me. 

Tracy thinks my name is Sister Sparkles. I have never and will never correct her. 

BLITZED AMITE!!!!!! 

14 missionaries helping an area with less than 5 active members...that branch EXPLODED the next Sunday. 

A whole day with Sister Tassin???? 

SISTER TASSIN IS A "ren fest" enthusiast, gothic fairy princess who is 70 years old... wearing a corset & hot pink lipstick IN HER BRIGHT YELLOW CAMARO??????

"I'm just a baby in Christ. Teach me." -Pam

OKAY! So we took all her cigs & blessed her home. 

CHRISTINE BOURLET WAS BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED!!!!!! 

Brother Bourlet's parents didn't know that he was ordained into the office of priest, so when he walked out in his jumpsuit they said, "uh they won't let you do that??"

The GASP that emanated from that woman when he told her he was able to baptize his wife... 

Not a dry eye in the room. 

Accidentally unplugged the font too early.... the draining sounded like someone was SCREAMING during the holy ghost talk... 

I said the most fervent prayer I've EVER prayed for it to STOP RIGHT THEN AND THERE. 

My sweet Heavenly Father answered my prayer so fast, the ward members said they were shocked it actually stopped SLURPING almost immediately. 

I love prayer. 

ALMA 49 is what I like to call...a spiritual banger. 

Captain Moroni does it again!!!! Confounding his enemies and trusting in God. 

I love throwing myself into this story. 

Imagine that YOU are preparing for a WAR against SATAN. 

He's coming at you with EVERYTHING that's he's got, his arrows, his soldiers, his temptations, his lies...etc.

BUT YOU ARE READY.

SO ready, that he his UTTERLY astonished at your preparation. 

Captain Moroni knew the Laminates were coming!! Did he sit & wait for them to come??? Hoping and praying God would just help them??? 

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! He got ready for battle!!!! He PREPARED with everything he had. And it paid off. 

"But behold, to their uttermost astonishment, they were prepared for them, in a manner which never had been known" (Alma 49:8) 

You know what that army did?? 

They turned around and left!!! 

They couldn't get through their fortifications!! 

They decided to search for a weak spot instead. 

Of course Satan doesn't quit trying.... so he decides to hit you where you are weakest. 

Maybe in a place he's even been able to affect you before! Peer pressure, self doubt, laziness, or whatever it may be. 

Captain Moroni knew the army would look for an opening, so he refused to give them one. He took his weakest city and turned it into his strongest. 

 

"But behold, to their astonishment, the city of Noah, which had hitherto BEEN a weak place, had now, by the means of Moroni, BECOME STRONG, yea, even to exceed the strength of the city Ammonihah." (Alma 49:14) 

That "weak spot" the army was looking for was now the EXACT opposite!!!!! 

Picture your weakness, your own city of Noah, a STRENGTH!!!! 

Imagine being so prepared that Satan CANNOT even tempt you. 

PICTURE SATAN COMING TO DRAG YOU DOWN AND INSTEAD HE IS ASTONISHED TO SEE HE CAN'T!!!!!!!!! 

Picture your very own city of Noah FORTIFIED and STRENGTHENED!!!!!! 

What is your city of Noah??

Where does Satan hit you the hardest?? 

Fortify yourself!! ASTONISH him! 

He won't even know what to do with himself. 

Bye bye Satan!! 

-SISTER SPARKLES 

15302 Stones Throw CIR Apt 1702 Hammond, LA 70401 United States

dream on

Sitting in institute feeling good!!  Rashard leans over to me & whispers in my ear, "yo, why you smell like tacos?" UMMMMMMMMM I want to die????? 

President encouraged us to start blessing homes when we feel inspired to. INSTANT POWER & INSTANT SPIRIT. 

APPLES FILLED W CARAMEL 

COVERED IN A PASTRY 

COATED IN CINNAMON & SUGAR

THE SUPERIOR FALL TREAT. 

I still dream about that baked goodness. 

The Elijah Nelson apartment complex is going to be lifted up to Heaven by the time we are done with it. We LIVE at that complex and now, so does the spirit. It was really lacking a couple of weeks ago.... 

Christine bore her testimony about how she FINALLY has found the full truth she has so desperately been searching for.  No more confusion, no more holes, and no more emptiness. 

The full and complete gospel!!  SHE'S FOUND IT! 

I love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

Also her husband was just ordained to the office of Priest and is DYING to baptize her on Saturday. 

This week was OVERFLOWING with miracles and happiness. (when is it not???) 

I go into SO many different homes everyday with so many different people, so many different families, lives, struggles, backgrounds, addictions, blessings...etc. 

I know so fully that the ONLY way to feel and find TRUE joy is by PERFECTLY STRIVING to follow the guidance of our Heavenly Father and His prophets. 

I see it EVERYDAY!!!!! IN EVERY HOME!!!! 

If you're not doing that right now, and you think you are truly happy...I hate to break it to you but you are not. THERE IS SOOOOOOOO much more just waiting for you. All you have to do is choose it. It's so simple. So worth it. 

Put God FIRST.

Keep every little commandment!!! Every bit of counsel from our Apostles!!! KEEP YOUR STANDARDS PLEASE. 

ONLY true joy comes from it. You cannot experience it UNLESS you are doing what He asks of you. 

Juan broke up with his girlfriend because she doesn't like the church. 

"She invites me to HER church & I tell her I'll go but I don't tell her which one I'm going to..." 

She texts me "I'm here!" And I say, "I'm here too!!.... but I'm actually at Jesus Christ's church" 

YES JUAN YES. GOD FIRST!!!!!!!!

Been contacting at Southeastern, our college campus, and AGH I LOVE IT. 

SLU BABY!!!!!!!! LSU who?? 

Kidding I'll go there too. 

-SISTER SPANGLER