Elder HJones: The Fruits of our Labors

This week was full of blessings from God! Its so amazing to serve a mission, because you see so many miracles and blessings through hard work. One thing I have learned a lot on the mission is just that. If we are willing to work, do everything we can, God will bless us. He knows are hearts and intentions and wants to bless us.

God's blessings are like the rain. A non-stop rain storm. He wants to get us soaking wet, He is constantly raining blessings on us. Its us that use an umbrella and stop the blessings from reaching us.

This week we had two baptisms for Ismael and Leandro! Super awesome to see them get baptized! We also had seven investigators in church with us! Through our hard work, we were able to see great things happen this past week!

Another awesome thing: I was able to confirm one of our baptisms, to confirm him a member of the church and give him the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a cool experience that was! Maybe one of the coolest experiences in the mission thus far! The best part of the mission is definitely being able to bless the lives of other people!!

Love, Elder Jones

Elder CJones: Paciencia con 16 Meses

"As the Lord is patient with us, let us be patient with those we serve. Understand that they, like us, are imperfect. They, like us, make mistakes." -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I have been slacking in the mass e-mail that gets sent home every week, so I decided to start with writing it this week.

The mission is always a place to learn and to grow. For different situation there will always be an opportunity to get better. The mission is the greatest place to learn, no matter if you have 20 days or 20 months. I have been learning about patience, as well as many other attributes of Christ.

Ward Valentine Party

It is finally clicking that I am one of the older missionaries in the field. I have been able to understand that now that I have to be an example and be patient with the other missionaries. I know that the experiences and qualities that I learn and apply here will help me in the future. They will help me in my marriage, my family, my career, and my schooling.

The mission is an amazing thing. A mission is a place where, whomever serves, will learn so many qualities that are essential to a successful life in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I want to give some advice to those that are thinking about going on a mission and those that are barely starting for the mission.

1- Throw that ego out the window, on the mission you will truly learn the meaning of humility, you are nothing and God is everything, without Him, you are NOTHING. Learn it now or it will be harder when you get out in the field.

2- After that harsh point, the mission is the greatest thing you can do up to this point in your life.. It will help you grow into the person that God wants and needs you to be, not what you need or want to be.

I know the mission is a blessing, it will test if you are truly willing to follow the example of Jesus Christ

--
Elder Corom Jones

"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." -John 21:17

At the U.S. Border at Matamoros

Elder ZJones: It's the Spirit that Converts

This week I went on divisions with Elder Maneses. He has about 20 months, is from Brazil, and one of the craziest guys I have met. He has so much energy for the work. I say that because once you talk to people with 20 plus months, they are more mellow and calm about missionary work because they are close to finishing. But Elder Maneses is working hard and has so much energy to work. (I wished I took pictures of us playing soccer and us in the apartment!) I have learned so much from him.

Anyway, this week we went and taught a lesson to an older woman. Her whole family are members. We weren't planning on going over, but he changed plans so that we could. We talked about The Plan of Salvation, Eternal Families, and Baptism. I felt the Spirit the strongest I have ever felt on my mission during this lesson! As we bore testimony and testified to her of truth, the Spirit could not help but be present. She accepted a fecha (date) for this month. Such an awesome experience. One thing Elder Maneses taught me was, "It isn't the language that converts the people, it's the Holy Spirit!"

Many times I have thought of the language and the gospel. And of course, my Spanish is not perfect. But the gospel is, and I am teaching it. It is through the Holy Ghost that the hearts of the people can be touched and they can know that this Gospel is true and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. 1

Nephi 33:1 "...for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men."

This week has been pretty busy. We have been working hard to prepare Ismael for baptism on Friday, which is exciting! He came to church, is reading and praying. We are still helping him understand how the Book of Mormon can help him in all parts of his life. He loves the Bible and has read many different versions, so he likes evidence from the Bible. And he knows this is the true church and has the desire to be baptized. We are helping him understand the importance that the Book of Mormon is in his life and all that it can do to lead and guide him.

I think we can each ask ourselves, "What is the Book of Mormon to me?" "How can I use the Book of Mormon to lead and guide my life?" The Book of Mormon is the key to conversion. The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ, God's plan, and how we can make it back to Him. In the introduction to the Book of Mormon, we read: "[The Book of Mormon] puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come."

Just as President Monson and President Nelson has stressed, the Book of Mormon is a key part of our testimony and helps us know this gospel is true. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and all it has done to guide my life. My parens taught me of its importance which has helped me have a testimony of these things. I always talk about the Book of Mormon because it is always something I am sharing with investigators and vital that we have a testimony. If I don't have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, how can I help others to do the same? We can pray often to know the Book of Mormon is true, and receive a witness through the Holy Ghost that it is true!

Guess what? I am talking next week in Sacrament Meeting! It going to be my first REAL talk in Spanish. My topic is on Testimony. I have 10 minutes to speak. 10 minutes! I have already started studying, reading, and praying to know what to say to the people. Pray for me that all will go well! 

Also, please pray for these investigators this week please:

Daniel- He has gone to church for almost a year with a friend. He just needs to know that he is prepared to be baptized.

Veronica- She needs to get married. She knows baptism is important and wants to get married. We are trying to help them move forward with these things.

Analia- She just went through some tough times and could use some prayers. Also pray that she can read and know the Book of Mormon is true.

It is so weird to think that I have actually been out here for 6 months. It doesn't feel like it, time has been by so fast. The Spanish is coming, still not perfect and sometimes hard to understand, but I have seen it improve. The more and more I teach, talk, and listen the better it will be. I also continue each night to ask the Lord for The Gift of Tongues, so that I can teach faith, repentance, and baptism with power and authority.

Love, Elder Jones

Elder HJones: The Book of Mormon Unites

So this week was good, a lot of new people to teach and work with. The sector that I am in is gold, so much potential because there are so many people to bring to Christ. We had stake conference this past Sunday. It was awesome. An Area Seventy and our Mission President were there and spoke.

Just for my Pops and Zeram!

One thing that was said in this conference that has stood out to me was, "The Book of Mormon unites families. The Book of Mormon saves marriages." And its so true! This is why its so important to READ IT! To have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, of this restored Gospel.

Sometimes its hard to get our investigators to read the Book of Mormon. They don't have "time" or they "forgot." This is why we stress so much for people to read and pray if the Book of Mormon is true. Because the Book of Mormon unites.

Its true. If you read it and pray with faith, with a desire to know, you will receive an answer. I promise.

Please pray that we can baptize more, help the less actives return, and know what to do to receive help from members.

Thanks so much! Love you!

Elder Jones

Yeah

Futbol on Pday

Mas futbol on Pday

Le Bus

Elder HJones: Hay Oposición En Todas Cosas

This week I learned a lot about opposition. I learned even more that Satan is real, and he doesn't want us to be happy. He does everything in his ability to make us miserable, like himself.

We were planning on having a baptism this past Saturday for a 15 year old girl named Tiare. She is super awesome. Friday night, the day before her baptism, she called us. She told us that she was leaving for vacation the next morning (the morning of her baptism) and she wouldn't be able to be baptized. This was hard. So hard. We were so excited to see her get baptized, but it didn't work out. But she returns in March, and we are gonna work with her when she gets back.

Throughout the mission I have seen Satan at work. More then I ever have before. He is real, and he knows that the message we have is true. That our message brings happiness and exaltation. And he uses any method to hinder our progression, whether it be friends, vacations, or fear. But if we build our testimony in Christ, we cannot fall.

Helaman 5:12--
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God,that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo,because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

And this week, I also learned a lot about love and the importance and the blessings that come from love.

One of the hardest parts about the language is when people make fun of me. The other day, this investigator in another area (I was on intercambios) kinda made me angry. We were talking with him and I was speaking wrong or I understood wrong. Well, he started making fun of my Spanish, thinking that I didn't understand, but I did. I felt like an idiot. I try so hard with the language, then people bring me down.

But I learned amor (love). It is only through love that I can help personas venir a Cristo (come unto Christ). So even if people laugh at me or compare me to their 5 year old son, all I can do is laugh at myself and love them.

Yesterday we had two investigators in the church. They are really awesome. One is a nine-year old boy named Ismael and he is super awesome. He wants to get baptized really bad. 

Have a great week!

Love, Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: New Area

New Area

Sorry about not emailing last week. I had a lot going on. My new area is Jardines in the city of Moreno in Buenos Aires Argentina. It is a pretty big area. And it is great. I feel a lot more support from the members here. The area is ready for us to find, teach, and baptize.

There are four missionaries in the area. We share the same apartment but the other companionship is in a different district. Elder Garnica is from Arizon, but his parents are from Mexico. He has one year on the mission. Elder Quintero is from Spain and has 8 months.

Oh funny story. On the day of transfers, I left my carry on in the offices. So for 2-3 days or so I thought I lost it. haha. It had all my bathroom stuff and a pair of shoes. So, guess what?  I didn't brush for three days - - -

just kidding-- I bought a toothbrush!

Right now, we have one investigators we have been focusing on named Ismael. He is gaining a stronger testimony and continues to read and pray. If you can pray that he can continue to prepare to be baptized, that would be awesome! We have a baptismal date with him for the 24th. He has the desire and keeps all the commitments that we give him. He reads and prays, so when we go by we answer any questions that he has. He even came to church yesterday!

Mate

It's kinda funny. With members and investigators, we talk about our families, and sometimes the topic of parents serving missions comes up. So when I tell them that my dad served here in Argentina and that he still drinks mate all the time, they love it! They ask if I drank it before the mission and if my family made Argentine food (YES! Yes we did!) It is always fun to talk about.

We had Zone Conference this week as well. Talked a lot abut baptism and how we can baptize four each month.

In Alma 26:37 we read:

Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

I know this to be true. He is mindful of me, my companion, and my investigators. And as we know this we can have this joy and thanksgiving. I invite you all to be more like our Savior and be mindful of all people. In so doing you will receive more joy!

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers! Please pray for Elder Sena and me that we can find those who are ready!

Elder Jones

Elder CJones: Matamoros

Last week, we had transfers. I was transferred from Rio Bravo to Matamoros. It is the biggest city in our mission. I am here with Elder Ancco from Lima, Peru.

Also, a couple weeks ago they announced changes to our mission. Presidente Regalado  has already shared them with us. The Church is going to close the Mexico Monterrey East Mission and add most of the missionaries and the area to our mission. A small portion will go to the Mexico Monterrey Mission. We will add about 25 more wards and 3 stakes. So, we are preparing to get more missionaries from the Monterrey East Mission and begin to help the other areas. Everything will happen on the 1st of July.  I will only have three months left on my mission by then. But,  I've noticed that there have been fewer missionaries coming out every month, so they are adjusting to the changes in that way, as well.

Today was my first P-Day in Matamoros. I went on splits with another missionary that has had time here in Matamoros. We walked through the city and showed me the different places, sadly, my camera battery died and I couldn't take any pictures. We saw the international point, so I did see the United States. This area is great! It's big and the bishop is AWESOME!! He is helping us and the ward to grow. Our goal is to reactivate a lot of people and baptize so it can be split into two wards. There are about 130 active members of a ward of 850! We will be working with everyone to get all of them to church.

There are just four of us in our district. Like I said, my new companion is from Lima, Peru and is really, really cool. He has been a member his whole life but was inactive for a time. He has six months in the field and LOVES soccer. When he was inactive he played a ton of it and became a really good shot. He also has a cool crown tattoo on his right leg. Ha ha.

Elder Annco (left)  y Elder Mera

The weather here is TERRIBLE! It's already really, really hot and it's only February. I don't do so well in the heat. This is the city that gets the hottest in the mission because it is right next to the ocean. However, other than that, everything is going well and we are working really hard!! Thanks for everything, love you tons!!

Love you all!!
Elder Corom Jones

Elder Torrico

Elder HJones: Me Encanta la Obra Misional

See how far apart Arica is from Paipote?

 Me encanta la obra misional. La obra es dificil, pero yo he apendidio mucho y recibido mucho bendiciones en la mision.

I love missionary work. The work is difficult, but I have learned much and receive many blessings in the mission field.

In the short six months that I have been on the mission, my love for this gospel and missionary work has grown so much. It is truly a blessing to serve people of a different country and share with those the message of happiness that we have.

Right now, the area that I am in is kinda difficult. There are many less active members. It's crazy to me that the true church, the only true church in the world, can have so many problems in an area. But, I have learned that it isn't that the Church and the gospel that has problems, it's the members. The gospel and the Church are perfect, but the people in the church, the members, are not.

My new companion is Elder Perez from Columbia. We have been out in the mission for the same amount of time. His family consists of just his mom and him. He was a convert to the church and baptized at 16. He is awesome and works really hard. We work really well together, and both of us are growing as missionaries.

Elder Davis is also in my zone. It is so great to see him.

Me and Elder Davis