Elder HJones: Work for Blessings

"Nadie recibe experiencias grandiosas con mínimo esfuerzas."

This was a hard week for me. Not really because the sector was bad, more kinda personally. I have learned in the mission that Satan wants everyone to fall. He doesn't want our investigators to progress. But he also doesn't want missionaries to progress. This week was hard with the language. It's easy to get frustrated with myself when the language isn't as good as I want it. When people in the street or members constantly tell me that they can't understand me, or I need to improve my Spanish. I know its not there intention to make me feel bad, but sometimes it just stinks.

So this week I learned that no matter my circumstances. No matter how hard the mission is, physically, mentally, personally, I still need to work hard. Con animo, con el Epíritu. It's easy to give up or slow down when it hard. But the blessings come when we get up and press forward, even when its difficult. I have learned this week that my efforts, in every moment, mean something. That when things are easy and successful, I need to continue working hard. And when things are hard and I feel like I'm failing, I need to continue working hard.

I had my birthday this week! And it was Elder Perez's birthday (my companion), this week too! It was good. We spent some time with members in our branch and ate a lot of food.

We can't receive great blessings, miracles, and experiences if we don't work for it. Blessings are like a cake. If we want these blessings, we need to bake a cake. We need to work for our blessings.

We cant wait for miracles to come, we have to get up and look for them.

Love, Elder Jones

Miracle Story:

So last Monday I lost my wallet. It had my mission card and my personal debit card inside. I left it in a collectivo (taxi). I called the mission office about it that night. They canceled my mission card. But they said that they cant do anything about my personal card. That I needed to wait a week to email my parents to cancel it.

I was worried. Because I am from a different country my card works like a credit card, so you don't need a pin to use the card. So someone can take all of the money that was on the card. I prayed so hard during the week to either find it, or that a crazy person wasn't using it. In my prayers I pretty much told God that I trust Him. That I cant do anything about it, but that I can trust Him that everything will be alright.

Anyway. The collectivo driver found us in the street driving past and gave it to me. Oh man...super grateful. Strengthens my testimony that God cares. Even the small things in our lives. And through faith, we have no need to worry!