Elder HJones: 2019!!!

So we are starting to see more progress in our area. We have found more people that have the desire to learn more and follow Christ! But the sad thing is, I am leaving. We had transfers. But the transfer is really small. I will be in the same branch, and will just be changing areas. My new companion is Elder Ambao from the Phillipians (thinking maybe I can learn a third language...??).

This past transfer was a little difficult. We worked a ton but didn't see the progress that we wanted to see. We found some awesome people and families, but they didn't progress and didn't want to act. Sometimes its frustrating when you do everything you can and they still don't want anything. But I'm sure that's how God feels. He does everything in His power to help us. He answers prayers, sends revelation, send other people to help us. But in the end we have agency. God can do everything in His power to help us, but we have to accept it and do it.

But now I am excited to be in a new area and find new people to teach!

Elder ZJones: Happy New Year 2019!!!

So we had transfers this past week. I am still in the same area with Elder Burk. We are staying together. I am excited! We get along and he works hard, so it has been fun.

This past week we baptized Bruno and Julieta which was a blessing. There dad came right when they were getting baptized. He is a less active but he wanted him kids to be baptized. We are hoping that this will be the first step of helping him to come back to church!!

We are teaching 3 families.
1. Familia Salinas. There are 3 in the family. A single mom with 2 girls. The Mom came to church with us, the others weren't there. But she has a kiosko. She hasn't been getting many who are buying. We promised her that if they come to church they will have people who will buy from them. She came and loved it. She was participating and everything. Pray for them, Cecilia, Martina, and Delfina.

2. Familia Castro. Sebastian, Monica, Alexander, and Aylen. They have come to church with us. They love talking with us and learning. They don't have such a great desire to read The Book of Mormon though or be baptized. Pray they they will pray so that they will know that there family can be eternal.

3. Familia Guzman. Santos, Graciels and they have 3 younger kids. They absolutely love church. When we went by on Sunday to wake them up and pick them up, they were already walking to get on a bus. We were contacting somebody and they ran passed us so that they could get on the bus and get to church. Santos is going to Bolivia for 2 weeks. They want to get baptized but want to wait. Pray they they will feel and know of the blessings that they will receive if they are baptized!

Happy New Year!!!! I am excited for a new year. I told my companion that 2018 was the best year of my life. It is the only year during my life that I served God all year without worrying about other things!! I am pumped for 2019 and can't wait to help more people come unto Him!

Have a Wonderfilled New years!! Love you!!

Elder EJones: Happy New Year!

Where do I start?

This week was so amazing being able to see all of my family and to talk to them. That was the best Christmas gift!!

This week has been good, hot and rainy. Lots of our appointments this week fell through and so we did a lot of contacting. Literally, contacting is not the funnest especially because it's so hard to find some people that will actually be there when you say you're gonna return. And I need to remember to keep my teaching simple. Very simple. Because it's difficult to understand the gospel when you don'y know it. It makes me realize how spiritually weak I am compared to the Savior, and I can't be impatient with people, because I know the Savior isn't impatient with me.

So this week we finally got the Liahona from General Conference. Yay! And I have modified my daily reminder, the first part remains the same, but I have added another line (phrase) from this conference. So I have October 2017 and October 2018 in one....

REMEMBER TO PUT JESUS CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE TODAY....BY BEING WILLING TO TAKE HIS NAME UPON YOU

I'm trying to be better and strive to live and love every moment in my mission. It's really hard sometimes to be completely focused, but I'm setting more and more goals, and New Year goals: to improve and to become the servant of the Lord that He needs me to be; to help gather Israel and do what I've always wanted to do; to be a missionary; and here I am, so I'm trying to not waste one moment.

Lots of fireworks, drunk people, parties, and not a lot of people in their houses is what happens here for Christmas and New Year's. But things are good, and my goals for 2019 are motivating me right now!!

Elder EJones: Conferencia de Navidad

This week we had our Christmas conference with President Rodriguez and his wife. Presidente talked about the importance of having faith in Jesus Christ. To have faith in Him as the Son of God, to have faith that God is our Heavenly Father, and to have faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We can't have faith if were not willing to act. Not willing to change to become more like Jesus Christ.

And what better time do we have then to come unto Jesus Christ now? The Spirit of Christmas isn't in the snow, it's not in the traditions, the food, or the music. The Spirit of Christmas is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the gift the Lord gave us. I know that as we give as he gave, we will find joy in Christ. Joy in his birth, and in the restored Gospel.

In Spanglish....Christmas....CHRIST-mas (more Christ).

Elder EJones: It's NOT Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

Another week down, and they just keep getting faster it seems like. Things with Elder Bello are really good!! We are getting along really well together. He speaks English and is basically fluent so the fun thing is to talk with him in Spanish and he responds in English and everyone looks at us weird in the trufis and micros and stuff haha. And yes, we are working hard and trying to find and talk to more and more people everyday.

Christmas in [summer] is something else. Eating watermelon and mangoes and things like that makes it feel more like the 4th of July here and not like Christmas. But it's really good. I think here there's lots of fireworks and stuff on Christmas. People do have Christmas trees and lights and stuff here so that's pretty cool.

The food here is good. Lots of rice and chicken so that means lots of mass, so eating less and working out more in the mornings helps to stay healthier from all the rice we eat. jaja.

This week I learned more about faith. Faith is sincere and lasting repentance. To be sincere is to have meaningful, full purpose of heart in repentance. Lasting repentance is that we continue to repent day by day, and continue to change to align our lives more with the Lord. Literally with faith we can do all things with the Lord. We have to be willing to have faith, and act on that faith to receive the answers in the Lord in his time.

I know that Christ lives and loves me. He wants me to come unto him and I can as I exercise faith in him and strive to be better daily!!

This week were were able to baptize Olga Rodriguez. She has been progressing and learning since a few weeks before I got here to El Quior 2. I have been able to see the power of the Lord work in our area with investigators like her.

The Lord is willing to bless us as we are willing to follow his example to keep his commandments. He gave the commandments,

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

As we love the Lord with all our hearts, we are willing to follow him and keep all his commandments. We can find true happiness as we do so, and true joy that we want to and are willing to share!! Merry Christmas!

Love you,
Elder Jones

Elder HJones: Miracles Come by the Spirit

 

So I can tell you guys right now that it is not beginning to look a lot like Christmas. It's super hot here and it doesn't feel anything like December. But there are lights and decorations, so it helps a little.

So last week, was had the awesome opportunity to baptize two individuals. Sebastian and Angel. They are way awesome and were literally answers to our prayers. I am so grateful that God really does here our prayers and helps when we call to Him.

And we had our Christmas conference with President this week. It was really awesome. We talked about the Spirit and the role he plays in the work. We talked a lot about how the Spirit is the teacher, we a missionaries are the instruments to help the people feel the Spirit, and the people are the ones that accept him and follow through with their promptings. If we work side by side with the Spirit, that is when we see miracles. 

Feliz Navidad!

Elder Jones

Elder EJones: The Waters of Baptism

And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

This week Elder Reyes and I had the opportunity to baptize sisters. It was cool to witness the power of baptism and the Holy Ghost in the lives of those that we teach. baptism is the gate in which we enter to receive the blessings of Christ in our lives. To learn to be a light, and to represent Jesus Christ at all times. The gospel is true and Christ is the way.

Love you,
Elder Jones

P.S. Random side note...so Elder Reyes and I sang "Peace in Christ" this week at the baptism. Elder Reyes sang a verse in English; I sang another in Spanish; and then we sang together. It was pretty cool even though the both of us cannot sing. The first counselor in the bishopric was there and he was sick, with his whole body hurting. The next day, in sacrament meeting, the last thing he said after all the talks was that he went to the baptism in pain. Then, looking directly at me said, (in Spanish, of course," "But the elders sang a musical number and one of them had an amazing voice and in the moment he started singing my pain went away." It was kinda cool to hear that.

Elder ZJones: God is Good!

At the Buenos Aires Temple

This week has been crazy!

To start off, we baptized Lorena and Aylen this past Friday! It was a blessing to see there desire and the love they felt after they received the Holy Ghost. We will be planning on helping Gabriel and his little brother, Juan Pablo, to be baptized this week. Pray for them that they will continue to change and love the gospel.

Baptism of Lorena y Aylen

So we had Stake Conference this past Sunday. Our ward is big so they divided one ward into two. There were six missionaries here in the area of Gral. Rodriguez. They took out a pair of elders, brought in the sisters from our area and put us in the other side of Gral. Rodriguez. So we will be working to find new people to teach and trying hard to help the new ward that we will be in. It was require some work to take it all in, in the beginning, but we know that God knows better than we do and that He can bless many peoples lives as we find them.

There is a part member family with two kids that want to be baptized. Right now, the Father doesn't have a big desire like the kids. Please pray for him that the his two children, Bruno and Julieta can be baptized  this weekend!

Some fun news: So a missionary who served in Antofagasta, Chile, who served in the same mission as Hyrum,  just finished his mission. He is from my old area and during stake conference, I got to meet and talk with him. He said that Hyrum and I look exactly the same (like everyone does) and we got to talk for a little bit about him and the mission. It was a cool experience and one to remember.

Hermano/Elder Sequira

Thanks for everything! Love you all!

Elder Jones

Elder HJones: Tender Mercies

A funny story to start out. Last Saturday I was teaching an English class to some of our new friends. They asked me to pray in English. And to be completely honest, it was hard. Every time I prayed out loud, I pray in Spanish. I am not used to praying in English. So during the prayer, I wanted to speak in English but Spanish words left my mouth. I guess I need to practice now. haha

So this week was a big improvement in our area. When I arrived here two weeks ago we didn't see much progress. It was really different from my past areas and it was a little more difficult to see the progress that I wanted to see. But we have worked hard and we continue working hard and now we are started to see more progress in our area.

I was thinking about the things that we do to see the success and miracles from God. And I thought of three simple things that we do to see miracles from our Father in Heaven.
1. Diligence
2. Obedience
3. Trust in God

These three things are very important. Sometimes they are difficult to have. Sometimes everything fights against you and makes it almost impossible do them. But I have seen in the mission that nothing is impossible. If we do these three things, miracles will come. This weekend we are planning on baptizing two people. Sebastiana and Angel. Please pray for them. that they can continue progressing this week and that they can stay firm to their decision.

Something else I have learned here is that it is important for the missionaries to "win" the trust of our leaders. The other day, we passed by the house of the branch presidente. I hadn't talked with him a lot before,  and I had the impression to pass by to talk with him, ask him if he needed any help. We only talked with him for  5-7 minutes. We shared a scripture with him. And before we left, he expressed his gratitude to us for passing by to talk with him. He said that it had been a while since the missionaries have stopped by his house to talk with him and to ask if he needed help with anything. And now I can feel that he trusts us more. Because, in reality, we are on the same team. We are working towards the same purpose. So that was pretty cool this week. And yesterday he was talking with us quite a bit and I can tell that everything is going well between us.

Love you all! Have a great week!

Elder ZJones: The Temple

This week was awesome! We are helping a the Vergara Family! And they are doing really well. We are preparing Lorena, Gabriel, and Aylen to be baptized this week! We are excited for them because my companion and I have seen such a big change in them. In the beginning, Gabriel didn't really believe in God. After reading the Book of Mormon, praying, and sharing with his brother, he now believes in God. Aylen bore her testimony yesterday at church. She knows the church is true.

We have stake conference on Sunday. There are about 150 people that come to church, so they will be dividing  the ward. Our area is close to the church and the area of the sisters will change. We are hoping that we don't lose everything with the division! haha

Elder Burk and I went to the temple on Thursday-- it was the first time in 14 months and it was awesome! Presidente Resek wanted all the leaders to go to receive revelation and to prepare themselves for this last month of the year. It was a blessing to be able to go to the temple and feel of the Spirit to know exactly what my companion and I can do to help  the zone! I know this is God's church and that He loves us!

We want to find families this Christmas season to help families come unto Christ! Pray for us and the zone!

Elder Jones

Elder HJones: Vallenar

So Vallenar is different.
We don't say "difficult" here in mission, we say different. And Vallenar is really different from my last sector. We have to work extra hard here to find people that want to listen and come to church.

The church house is really far away from our area. And most people don't have cars. So to go to church people either have to walk 30-40 minutes or pay a collectivo (bus). So it's a sacrifice for the people here.  But this week we are going to work extra hard to get people to church with us.

I feel like ever since I got here Satan has put in my head that things here in Vallenar are "impossible." Many things are working against us and it's true, things here are different, but we are just going to work harder. I know that it isn't gonna be easy, this week was pretty hard getting used to everything, and I got angry a couple times, but I know that God is at the head of this work. And I am just going to trust in Him and go to work.

Con caleta de amor,  Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: Family

What a week and what a change! I'm in my new area with my new companion, Elder Burk, and we are lost! The area is huge and we are both new. We are helping our zone to accomplish their goals and to work hard in their areas. Much of the time during this past week, we have been contacting to find new people to teach because when we came there wasn't much to work with.

So we started contacting houses one by one. When we got to the third house we met a man outside. He was watering his plants and explained that his son doesn't believe in God. He invited us in and we taught his family. There are 8 in the family, but there are only 4 who have the interest in listening. The parents, Juan and Lorena, want to see a change in the family. We are teaching and trying to help them understand the importance of faith, that through faith they can see a change in the family. Two of their children, Gabriel and Ayalen, are interested in our message, as well. Gabriel does't  know if he believes in God, but wants to know. Pray for them, the Familia Vergara, that they will continue to grow in the gospel. They came to church with us yesterday and loved it!

We have the goal to find families this week. The gospel is centered in the family. Pray that as we work, we will find families that have a desire to change and accept the Savior in there lives!

Love you all! Have a great Week!

Elder Jones

Elder EJones: Capilla Abierta

This week we had the opportunity to do a Capilla Abierta, which is basically an open house for our Church building. Members and investigators are invited to come and to invite others to come and to learn more. We teach them basic principles and show them around the building. We introduce them to things like the Primary, Elders' Quorum, Relief Society and other things. It was really cool to be part of this experience. Member have an important role to help all to come unto Christ as well. We all can and should be missionaries.

This week my companion was sick so we didn't do a whole lot. But it gave me lots of time to study and to just learn more from the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets. As we strive to learn from the living prophets, we will see the hand and the power of the Lord in our lives. He loves us and is happy when we strive and make the best choices to follow him.

This week was good. We had district council on Thanksgiving so I was able to talk with other Americans and wish them a happy Thanksgiving. I made pancakes and eggs for our dinner to make it as American as I could haha. Things with the comp are really good. We are working together, laughing a lot more, and I'm beginning to enjoy my mission more and more.

The members are good. Our ward boundaries are cut in half. My companion and I have have half and the other missionaries have the other half. So there's some where I don't know if they even live in our boundaries, but it' good. We had 5 investigators this week in sacrament meeting. The weather is good and I just need to buy a rain jacket because "every time it rains it rains..." and haha yeah so my blow dryer died this week, so no more of that haha. And we have a member that does our laundry, but occasionally we do our own.

This week I learned more about my purpose on the earth and as a missionary. My purpose is to have joy, and I can only have joy through Jesus Christ and his gospel. ¿How am I treating my life like it is a blessing from God? The best thing I can do is share the joy. We learned about light the world for this year. And that's exactly how everyday as a missionary should be. Light this dark world with everlasting light. Who is Jesus Christ. He is the only way, the perfect example to me and all of us!!

With love,
Elder Jones

Our Thanksgiving Dinner

Elder ZJones: Apostle of God

This past week we had the great chance to listen to and meet Elder Gerrit W. Gong from the Quorum of the Twelve. It was such a great experience and the Spirit was felt. I am grateful that Christ's Church has been restored on earth and that we have prophets and apostles on the earth.

Elder Gong explained about the doctrine of Christ and how important it is in our daily lives. He also talked about the name of the Church. He explained that it is a testimony, and that the name teaches
it is THE Church of Jesus Christ. It is His church that he has established on earth. It is not the church a prophet or a man, but the Church of Jesus Christ Himself.

As we share and show that it is a testimony to us, it will help others feel the same. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His Church that it can guide us and lead us back to him presence.

Pray that Ever, Adaluz, and Susanna will prepare themselves to be baptized this week.

We had transfers. And I will be leaving. I am staying in the same zone which is about 20 minutes in train from the area that I am in now. My new companion is Elder Burk from Idaho. Pray that we will have success in our area and find the people that we need to! Have a great week!

Elder Jones

Pday Field trip

Elder EJones: Once Upon a Time

Intercambios

Once upon a time there were two missionaries, Elder Reyes and Elder Jones, and they had "one" investigators show up to church, and witnessed the miracles of the Lord in their service as missionaries.

This week we found a family. Felix and Sofia are progressing really well. They have two kids and, they are married!! Which is a bonus because most of the time people here live together and are not married. So were teaching them on Saturday and invited them to come to church with us. They live about 15 to 20 minutes away from the church and we suggested to them that we can come pick them up.  They said they could come on their own...which raised our doubts. So Sunday comes and we get to church with some of our other investigators, and there they are!! They stayed for all 3 meetings too!! I am able to feel the Savior's love--the love that He has for all his children and that some people are ready to receive his word!!

A little pet I found

This week I read in Matthew about the parable of the sower. There were 4 different ways in which the seeds could fall, where they could land. Only those that landed on true soil were able to take up root and to grow. We have the opportunity to plant our root in the the soil. To plant it in Christ. And if we are truly planted in Christ, persecution, and affliction won't affect us because we know where we are planted!! So plant your seed in the Lord and He will bless you!!

Love you all,
Elder Jones

Elder HJones: I Can Do All Things Through Christ

This week was really good. A little slow because my companion was sick the whole week. But we pushed through and he survived.

On Tuesday, we had a zone conference with Presidente Ferriera and it was really awesome. I always learn so much from him and he always teaching with so much love and power. We also received transfers this week. And I am leaving! After 10 months in Copiapo I am leaving to a city 2 hours south called Vallenar. It's really green and the smallest zone in the mission.

I am going to miss all the people in Copiapo. I had 10 months in Copiapo and I am going to miss all my converts and the members. But that's alright. God needs me in Vallenar. Y vamos a hacer todo lo que Dios quiere que hagamos!

One of the things that we teach the people here in Chile is that we all have difficulties. It is part of our lives here on earth. We are here to be tested, to fail, to use the Atonement, and to improve. But the only way that we can improve and progress is if we use the Atonement of Jesus Christ and look to Him. Though Christ we can do all things. Even if things seem impossible, they are possible through Christ! 
 
Philippians 4: 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Con mucho amor, Elder Jones

Elder HJones: MILAGROS!!!

Everything is going super well here in Chile. It is burning hot [because it is going into summer], but we are still working really hard.

This week was AWESOME! We saw miracles and God blessed us a ton.

So to make a long story short, we baptized SEVEN people yesterday!! It was super awesome! We baptized an entire family and it was really cool to see. It was the grandma, the mom, and five children. One thing that  have learned during my mission is that we can never give up on people.

We knocked on their door a while ago. The grandma was really awesome. But when we past by their house again, they didn't progress a lot because they could never find time to listen to us. So we stopped passing by. And that is what I have learned in the mission, we can't give up on people. It's not going to be easy, but we can't throw in the towel so quickly.

So a couple weeks later we were talking to some kids in the street. They were playing soccer so we started to talk with them. well, we meet up with one of the kids that lived in the house. He was really receptive and in my mind (I'm sure it was the Spirit telling me), I knew that he and his family were going to accept the gospel. Something told me that God was calling the people that lived in that house.

So we started passing by again and they were all so receptive. They listened. They asked questions. They felt the Spirit. And they all came to church and all of them wanted to get baptized. They were definitely prepared! So yesterday, seven of God children entered in the water of baptism!! Silvia, Erika, Bayron, Brandon, Jacob, Tati, and Gregory! Miracles!

We have a couple more friends progressing as well. Two girls that always come to church with a member: Nicil and Francisca. They are always in the church during activities and such. They want to get baptized but we need permission from their parents. Nicil and Francisca work a lot so it's really hard to find them. And we are also going to focus on a young adult named Rody this week. Another friend of a member. He is really awesome. He is about 24 years old and really receptive. Please pray that he can feel the Spirit and that he can show his faith by coming to church. He works on Sundays, but his boss is a member. So she is willing to give him work off, but he needs to ask and show that he wants to do it. 

And tomorrow we have a conference with Presidente. Three zones are meeting with Presidente. I am always excited to have zone conferences with him because the Spirit is so strong. Today we played soccer with Presidente. And when we were starting, he told me that tomorrow at the conference, I have to talk in front of everyone and tell them what we did to baptize the seven people this weekend. So that's gonna be fun...

And this week we have cambios! I am not sure what will happen. I feel like I am going to stay in Copiapo. My companion has quite a bit of time here, so I think that he is going to leave, but I am not sure. But I am pretty sure that I will stay and end up having more then a year here in Copiapo! yeah!

So that was my week. Full of miracles and blessings from God. I am so happy to be a missionary and to be a instrument on God's hands!

Something crazy about Chile (and I think South America in general) is that everyone drinks soda. With every meal it's soda. So the members are always giving us soda to drink. When I was in Arica it was more juice, but here in Copiapo, pure soda pop. I am getting fat. haha just kidding

It's weird that Christmas is just around the corner. People are already putting up decorations, which is weird, because there is no snow and it's not cold.

But everything is good here. I LOVE being a missionary. I think I am just gonna live here, so don't expect me to come home. haha

Love, Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: The Holy Ghost

We saw many blessings this past week.

The Holy Ghost has helped Sara, Cielo, and Jeremias a lot this week. In the beginning, as we taught them, they didn't have a big desire to read The Book of Mormon or to pray. It always made it difficult for us to try to help them progress and to be baptized. We almost stopped visiting them but my companion and I both felt that this gospel can help them and that the Lord will help them. As we passed by this past week, they all wanted to pray and read with us!! They were listening and tried to understand what we were telling them They came to church and loved it!

It was raining a lot on Saturday as we were trying to find a lady's home. We knocked a door looking for her, but found somebody else. We talked with the lady that was home and she explained all the problems in her family. She has nine kids but is now separated and doesn't live with them. She said her husband was bad to her so she had to leave. She is now married to another person. We shared with her God's love for her and the blessings of this gospel. She came to church with us and loved it. She explained that she felt included and that she wants to come again. Her name is Susanna and we will be helping her so that the Spirit can be her guide.

Two of our friends, Ever and Adaluz, are progressing. As we have been teaching them, they love the gospel. They love the Plan of Salvation and love the opportunity that we have to choose and one day if we want, live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again. It is a blessing to see that they are loving it and that they are looking to learn. We are planning them to be baptized this week. Pray for them that all will go well.

Guess what? Elder Gong will be visiting our mission on Friday! We are excited on what he will have to say! Love you! Have a great week!!!

Elder Jones

Elder EJones: It's Raining, It's Pouring

Lost

So this week was quite the week.

On Wednesday we received rain like I've never seen before. We were mid-proselyting when it all came down. And we were drenched!! It was like jumping into a pool. Luckily, the only thing that didn't really get wet in my bag was my scriptures...miracle one of this week!!

Drying out wet stuff

Miracle two this week was with one of our friends we are teaching, Mary Dias. She's 14 years old and was a reference from members who just moved to our area from the Santa Cruz North Mission. We had a lesson with her and talked a little about baptism. Then, she said, "I want to be baptized." It was so cool and strengthened my testimony of the Lord preparing his children to receive his message.

We made pancakes!

Miracle three this week: We had 10 friends show up to sacrament meeting!! It was a miracle and Elder Reyes and I were so happy. "The Lord is more willing to perform miracles than we are willing to receive them, so work hard and expect miracles" (a quote my mom sent with me).

This week I read in Preach my Gospel, "a great indicator of ones personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others" (President Howard W. Hunter)

Taking a taxi with the elders in our pench

This is the Lord's work and we show our love for Him as we share His eternal message with others. Never been more happy than to be a missionary and representative of Jesus Christ!! The gospel is true!!

Love, Elder Jones

Selfie!

Futbol!!!

Elder ZJones: Finding and Teaching

This past week we baptized three children and confirmed two of them.

We had a great miracle this past week. On Saturday we were contacting and invited people to church. At about 12, we didn't have anyone else to visit. Every one of our citas (appointments) dropped. My companion suggested we visit a man who really doesn't want anything to do with us or the gospel. He just likes to talk. But we went anyways, oh me with little faith. When we stopped by, he wasn't there. And there you go. A miracle!

Just Kidding. . . .

The neighbor was walking by and said he wasn't there. So, of course, we started talking with him. He has been to church before and his son was baptized in the Church. He is MARRIED and we invited him to come to church and to be baptized. He accepted. He didn't come this week but we will be passing by and hoping that he and his wife will progress. There names are Ever and Adaluz.

We are also trying to help the bishop's nephew. He is 16. His name is Matias. Pray for him that he will have a desire to grow a testimony and not just go because his cousins go!

Oh and Happy Halloween. It isn't big at all here. There were like 20 kids in the street! haha

Elder HJones: Service = Growth

So this past week we had a zone training and we talked about the Holy Ghost and the important role that He plays in missionary work. We also talked about the people that we teach, that we should focus on them more then ourselves. We are here to teach them and through service we grow more and become better servants of God.

One thing that was said during the training really reflects the power of service. "When we work and help others, and focus more on them and not in ourselves, the attributes and characteristics of Christ come into our lives with more power and strength."

And it's true. When we focus on others, we grow.

This past week was a little better then the last one. Our district improved a little and overall it was a little better. I went to the area where the sisters have been struggling and worked a little more with them. They did a little better this week and now have some people that are progressing a little.

Yesterday five people came to church with us. Four of them are planning on getting baptized this weekend!! Please pray that everything will work out for them. Their names are Byron, Brandon, Tati, and Jacob. Last week we went to their house to talk to them. We entered (for the first time) and we were able to talk with their parents. In the beginning, the mom didn't want to give permission. She said that her kids already have been baptized when they were babies. As we started to explain a little more, she started to understand. Then she got really excited that her kids can get baptized like Jesus Chirst. Ella dijo, "El verdadero bautismo." Milagros!! 

 And next week we are planning on baptizing another one. His name is Francisco. He is really awesome. And we have a couple more people that can get baptized this month. Nicol and Francisca need permission from their parents and Rody needs to come to church. He is ready to hear the gospel. He was prepared from God! So we are working a lot with them and doing our best to help them progress to eventually get baptizing this month!

My companion is doing really well. He is improving a lot. He is getting more confident with himself. It is awesome to see the progress that he is making. His Spanish is improving a lot as well. 

The food here is good. A lot of chicken and rice. Like, A LOT of it. And I do have to say that now I like mayo. I guess I have just gotten used to it because Chileanos put it on everything!

So everything is going well here.  We are praying with faith that we can baptize four of our friends this weekend. I know that this is the true church. The only true church. This is where we are happy.  

Les amo! Elder Jones

Elder EJones: Family Search

Hola all!!

Halloween!

This past week, in our email from President Rodrigues, he challenged us to look for families. To find families to teach them the gospel so they can enjoy the power of the gospel and of the priesthood in their homes. He also challenged us to find those that would be future possessors of the priesthood as well. I'm learning that the Lord provides all the tools necessary to do His work, I just have to know how to use them, and use them in the right way.

We found a couple families today that have the desire to learn.

Waiting seven hours for our visa . . .

I learned while reading about the Savior coming to the Americas, the need for baptism and a remission of sins through repentance and the Holy Ghost. I thought a lot about the power I have as a missionary, to be able to preach the same things the Lord did as he visited the Americas.

Pray this week that the families we found, and will find, will open their heart to this message so that they can receive the blessings of the Gospel and of the priesthood in their lives!!

Love you,
Elder Jones

We got A/C . . . what a blessing!

Elder HJones: Dedication of the Concepcion Temple!

Yesterday we had the wonderful opportunity to listen to and watch the dedication of the temple in Concepcion.

It was awesome!!

The Spirit was really strong and my testimony for the importance of the temple as grown. President Nelson spoke and he had so much power in his words. (So much so that the earth shook where we were when he was giving the dedicatory prayer!) I know that Pres. Nelson is a prophet of God. I know that temples are important. Temples are necessary for us to make ordinances and enter in the kingdom of God!

And this past week we baptized Ignacio. He was super prepared when we found him. God prepared him. We just found him, taught him, and baptized him. I love being an instrument in the hands of God! And this next week we are planning on baptizing Luis. Please pray that he can feel the Spirit and have the desire to do it.

Elder Jones

Elder EJones: Week 6!

This week has been a lot better. My companion and I have grown a lot: learning better together and laughing more. This week marks the first 6 weeks of my mission, the first transfer in the mission but it has been really good, I'm excited to make this next 6 weeks even better.

This week I read in Helaman about Samuel the Lamanite (Sam the Lam haha) and in his three or four chapters he mentions repentance 26 times. I'm learning that I need to do a better job at crying repentance. And that doesn't mean they have to be doing something bad or wrong, but to change. Like to start reading the Book of Mormon or start praying. And these are the same things Christ teaches when He visited the Americas. He taught the people to repent and be baptized in His name. This week was hard. Not a lot of people progressed and it feels like were losing some of our investigators. But I'm learning to submit my will to the Lord and do all I can to find people. He will help me find those he has prepared.

No weird food this week, just the normal. We always have soup and rice and chicken, it's all good. My health is still really good, so I'm glad. And I'm learning to be more happy, and that as I smile the happier I am. So don't forget to SMILE!!

Love you,
Elder Jones

P.S.
Just for the record. This week we helped some random lady bury her dead dog and helped other people figure out some electrical work in their house! It helps that my companion likes electrical work so we figured things out together! And it's so weird, I have the "work bug" alot!

(Definition "Work bug" what happens when you are compulsive about cleaning).