This week was hard to get people to come to church. But we had one person who came. This week we are working with Yessica and Emanuel for them to be baptized at the end of this week. Pray for them that they will feel ready and that we can prepare them.
We had an awesome blessing this past week. We passed by an investigator who said she was busy but wanted us to visit her daughter who has been sick for weeks. We has passed by because we knocked on this house before but they shut the door on us, but this week they let us in. We talked with her and gave her a blessing of health. Her health still isn't changing much, but we are teaching her and her children. She has a lot of children!
So about district stuff: Sometimes it is hard to teach in district meeting for an hour and a half about a particular topic. But with time, it will be better. My companion is good. He works hard and wants to baptize a lot. We are a good companionship.
Elder Jones
Monday, July 30, 2018
Elder HJones: Be Ye Therefore Perfect
This past week was good. We are working a lot with three investigators Daniela, Eveling, and Alonso. They need a mighty change of heart. They need to soften their hearts to hear the message of the gospel. So we are praying and and helping them change and see the many blessings that this gospel has.
As missionaries we are representatives of Jesus Christ. We teach the things that Jesus Christ taught. We do the things that Jesus Christ did. We wear His name on our chest, we do our very best to follow His perfect example.
Jesus taught and lived the statement, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) Jesus commands us to be perfect, but can we really follow this commandment and be perfect? I have talked to many many people during my mission and many use this word "perfect" to stop themselves from progressing. They put in their heads that to go to church, to be baptized, and to live the gospel, perfection is neccesary. Yes, we should all strive to be perfect, but as we all know, its impossible. But Jesus Christ did the impossible and performed the infinite Atonement. He gave us a tool that we can use. We can never be perfect, but we can always follow His perfect example and use His Atonement.
Hasta Luego!!
Elder Jones
As missionaries we are representatives of Jesus Christ. We teach the things that Jesus Christ taught. We do the things that Jesus Christ did. We wear His name on our chest, we do our very best to follow His perfect example.
Jesus taught and lived the statement, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) Jesus commands us to be perfect, but can we really follow this commandment and be perfect? I have talked to many many people during my mission and many use this word "perfect" to stop themselves from progressing. They put in their heads that to go to church, to be baptized, and to live the gospel, perfection is neccesary. Yes, we should all strive to be perfect, but as we all know, its impossible. But Jesus Christ did the impossible and performed the infinite Atonement. He gave us a tool that we can use. We can never be perfect, but we can always follow His perfect example and use His Atonement.
Hasta Luego!!
Elder Jones
Monday, July 23, 2018
Elder CJones: Trayendo Almas a Su Redil
Hellos to Everyone!!
I hope this letter finds everyone well and faithful in the Church. I know this Church to be true, and I testify that with all my heart. I know this work is the work of the Lord and he leads it. He has His
hand in all of it and we are work as His representatives.
It is now really really hot here in Reynosa. We get to about 105° everyday and there is not one cloud in the sky. The sun beats down on us all day, but we are working really hard to find the people that are looking for the gospel!
This last week we baptized three members of a part-member family and they were so excited to be baptized!! We will finish the month almost completing the mission goal of five baptisms a month per companionship. We are really happy that we had success this month and we are excited to see what the Lord will reveal to us during this next month.
For the first Saturday in August, we are working with an 18 year-old named Esmeralda. She is really excited to get baptized because she knows that she will receive the blessings that she needs for her
daughter that she will have in December.
I want to invite everyone to remember to read the Book of Mormon everyday. I know that if we do we will be in better position to resist temptation everyday!!
--
Elder Corom Jones
"My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart." --Thomas S. Monson
Elder ZJones: Truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
My companion is great. He is from Peru. His name is Elder Oviedo. He is a hard worker and wants everyone to receive the blessings of our message. He loves teaching and he loves sharing our message.
My district is awesome. It includes Elder Oveido and me, and two companionship of sister missionaries. Together, we are working hard to help the people here in Lujan.
We are working with a lot of people in this area. One person we are working with is Jessica. Her husband is a member and we are planning to baptize her this Saturday. She has the desire to be baptized and we are going to help her family receive the blessings of an eternal family. There are also three children who want to be baptized, but their parents do not want them to be. Pray for them that we can help the parents understand the importance of baptism. And then there's Emanuel. His children were baptized two weeks ago and he is the only one who hasn't been baptized in his family. Pray that he will pray and be ready to be baptized.
In our missionary call it says, “As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
I know that this is true and that we can receive the blessing and the help in everything when we put our efforts in the Lord's hands. We will receive His help in teaching, finding, and changing the lives of those we meet.
Have a great week!
Elder Jones
Elder HJones: This Week in Paipote
So this week was good, full of new things to do.
It's different being a district leader. Before, I could just worry about my own sector and be good to go. But now I have responsibility for two other sectors and five other missionaries going through my my head and I think of things I can do to help them. Now I find myself thinking about the other sectors a lot and their investigators and how I can help them. But I am very new at it and sometimes I feel like I don't know what I am doing. But I know that God is helping me.
I was able to do some baptismal interviews as a district leader and that was really cool. I interviewed three individuals this past week. One interview was for a 16 year old boy and two interviews for 10 year old girls. The boy didn't go to church this past week, so he cannot get baptized this week. One of the girls will get baptized on Saturday and the other needs permission from her parents....and they want to wait a couple months. But I was way cool to do the interviews and I am planning on doing a couple more this week.
Yesterday kinda stunk. We didn't have anyone in the church. It was the first time in my whole mission when I didn't have someone come to church with us. But this week we are going to work really hard to get people to the church. We have some awesome people we are teaching, but they need to come.
I have learned a lot this transfer about patience. I pray for strength and patience everyday. And I know that God his helping me.
Con Amor, Elder Jones
It's different being a district leader. Before, I could just worry about my own sector and be good to go. But now I have responsibility for two other sectors and five other missionaries going through my my head and I think of things I can do to help them. Now I find myself thinking about the other sectors a lot and their investigators and how I can help them. But I am very new at it and sometimes I feel like I don't know what I am doing. But I know that God is helping me.
I was able to do some baptismal interviews as a district leader and that was really cool. I interviewed three individuals this past week. One interview was for a 16 year old boy and two interviews for 10 year old girls. The boy didn't go to church this past week, so he cannot get baptized this week. One of the girls will get baptized on Saturday and the other needs permission from her parents....and they want to wait a couple months. But I was way cool to do the interviews and I am planning on doing a couple more this week.
Yesterday kinda stunk. We didn't have anyone in the church. It was the first time in my whole mission when I didn't have someone come to church with us. But this week we are going to work really hard to get people to the church. We have some awesome people we are teaching, but they need to come.
I have learned a lot this transfer about patience. I pray for strength and patience everyday. And I know that God his helping me.
Con Amor, Elder Jones
Monday, July 16, 2018
Elder ZJones: The Gospel All Around the World
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| My new area will be: Lujan |
We had an awesome blessing this past week. We were walking in the street and a family was pushing there car because it wasn't starting. They asked for help and we helped push it to their home about five streets away. As we started talking with them we learned that the mom is a member and has not been to church for years. But they have three children ages 18,16, and 10. They have a lot of faith, want to come to church, and want to learn more. Pray for them, the Familia Ojeda, that as my companion teaches them they will go to church and progress.
This week I thought a lot about the gospel and where it is today. It is in all parts of the world. There are missionaries in all those areas who are bearing testimony of Jesus Christ and of the eternal blessings that we can receive. The blessings of the gospel are available to everyone. Anyone can receive the same blessings. We have different paths and ways that we can receive it, but in the end, the blessing of eternal life can be the same.
Have a great week! Love you all!
Elder Jones
Elder CJones: Start of the Canicula!
Hello Everyone!!
I am still here in Puertas del Sol, Reynosa. Still with Elder Bueso!! We are working really hard to be able to continue and work during the hot season!
This week we had six people in church!! It was so great!! We also had one baptism this week, an 80 year old man named Manuel!!
This week we will be working really hard to be able to baptize three more people this week that are really excited to get baptized!!
I love you all so much!!
--
Elder Corom Jones
Elder HJones: Transfers
So this week was cambios (transfers). And when cambios come you can never be sure what will happen. I was almost sure that I was leaving...but I am staying in Paipote! I guess God has a different plan then I do. I already have six months here in Paipote and will be here longer, so I guess there is someon in Paipote that I still need to find. And we are having success here, so I am excited to stay and work another transfer with Elder Matos. And I was also called as district leader, so that's pretty exciting.
There are six missionaries in our district. Elder Matos and me, and four sister missionaries. Some new sisters are coming to our area next week so I will tell you more about my district. But I am excited, happy to be a leader to help other missionaries. I know this assignment will help me grow a lot.
As I have been on the mission I have really learned to love the people. We don't walk into a home and teach the lessons just because we need to. We learn to love the people and desire their salvation. And it's sad when people don't want to progress and make the steps to receive the blessings that God has for them. Sometimes, people don't realize how much we really do love the people. We walk everyday, all day. We talk with everyone we meet. We study, pray, and fast for the people because we love them. And it's hard when people don't see the gospel as something that will change and bless their lives. This gospel is the greatest blessing that we can receive. If we apply it and live it, it will change our lives.
And it was a kinda hard week. We have been teaching an awesome family. A single mom with five children and two of the children are interested in the gospel. They came to church and love to pray and read. This past week we challenged them to be baptized. It didn't go that well. Their mom doesn't want to give permission and the kids want to wait until they are older. It kinda broke my heart. We promised blessings, bore testimony...but nope. They are a really humble family and they don't have much. It makes me sad that they don't want to make the necessary steps to receive the blessings that God has for them. This gospel can change their lives, and they want to wait. It's sad for me. But hopefully in the future they will accept it.
This gospel is such a great blessing. It changes lives. In Mosiah 2:41 it says that we receive blessings spiritually and temporally. This gospel is a blessing for everything in our lives. It brings happiness. And it makes me sad when people don't want to accept it. But people have agency. Vamos con fe!
Have a great week! Elder Jones
There are six missionaries in our district. Elder Matos and me, and four sister missionaries. Some new sisters are coming to our area next week so I will tell you more about my district. But I am excited, happy to be a leader to help other missionaries. I know this assignment will help me grow a lot.
As I have been on the mission I have really learned to love the people. We don't walk into a home and teach the lessons just because we need to. We learn to love the people and desire their salvation. And it's sad when people don't want to progress and make the steps to receive the blessings that God has for them. Sometimes, people don't realize how much we really do love the people. We walk everyday, all day. We talk with everyone we meet. We study, pray, and fast for the people because we love them. And it's hard when people don't see the gospel as something that will change and bless their lives. This gospel is the greatest blessing that we can receive. If we apply it and live it, it will change our lives.
And it was a kinda hard week. We have been teaching an awesome family. A single mom with five children and two of the children are interested in the gospel. They came to church and love to pray and read. This past week we challenged them to be baptized. It didn't go that well. Their mom doesn't want to give permission and the kids want to wait until they are older. It kinda broke my heart. We promised blessings, bore testimony...but nope. They are a really humble family and they don't have much. It makes me sad that they don't want to make the necessary steps to receive the blessings that God has for them. This gospel can change their lives, and they want to wait. It's sad for me. But hopefully in the future they will accept it.
This gospel is such a great blessing. It changes lives. In Mosiah 2:41 it says that we receive blessings spiritually and temporally. This gospel is a blessing for everything in our lives. It brings happiness. And it makes me sad when people don't want to accept it. But people have agency. Vamos con fe!
Have a great week! Elder Jones
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Elder ZJones: Behold the Man!
We had a super week! We baptized Analia this past Saturday, which was a great experience. She
wasn't feeling well but still came and had the faith to be baptized. It was awesome Sunday to confirm her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I know that this is His church and it has everything that we need.
I read a talk this past week by Elder Uchtdorf, called, Behold the Man! He talked about Jesus Christ, His suffering, His Resurrection, and His life. He talked about all the things that he has done for us and is doing now. There are many in this life who see His as he is, but they don´t behold Him. There is a difference. Faith is more than seeing, but acting on our answers and what we need to do. When we behold Jesus Christ, we will get to know him more as our brother and as our friend!
We are trying hard in finding a family who are always gone when we pass by. I know that prayer can help us receive what we need.
Have a great week! Love you all!
Elder Jones
Monday, July 9, 2018
Elder HJones: RAIN!
This week it rained! It never rains here in Paipote, so it was awesome. It was the first time that I saw rain in a long time and the first time that it has rained here in Copiapo in over a year! It only rained for like two minutes in the morning when we were studying. The people here are scared of the rain. In 2015, it rained a lot and they had a huge flood and many people died and homes were destroyed.
This past week I learned a lot about work. We need to work for our answers, for revelation. We will never receive an answer if we are not willing to work for it. Just like the boy Joseph Smith. He received his answer after reading, pondering, and praying. And if we follow his example and are willing to do the necessary steps to receive revelation, God will rain answers and blessings upon us.
Love you all! This gospel is happiness!
Con Amor, Elder Jones
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| Cooking s'mores on the 4th of July |
Monday, July 2, 2018
Elder CJones: Working Really Hard!
The mission is great! The secretaries are heading out today to Monterrey as well as Presidente Regalado. We don't know much about the new missionaries or the new areas quite yet, but we will!
We are teaching a ton of people right now. We worked really, really hard this week and found some new families to teach. Probably one of the best weeks of my mission., just working really hard!!
We are teaching a ton of people right now. We worked really, really hard this week and found some new families to teach. Probably one of the best weeks of my mission., just working really hard!!
Elder ZJones: The Blessings of Faith
This past Sunday our faith was tested. We passed by a lot of people Saturday and they told us that they wanted to come to church. So on Sunday morning we made pancakes and left early to help people come to church. But guess what? Every home we passed by the people who said they wanted to come to Church said they had things to do and didn't have time that morning to go to church.
We were pretty bummed.
We decided to pass by the home of Marisol, Kevin, and Lautaro. This is the family we contacted a few weeks ago because we liked the music they were listening to. And, to our surprise, they wanted to come to Church! We shared some pancakes with them and they came to church. Marisol has a lot of hardships right now and she loved church. She said she wants to come next week as well. I am grateful for the Lord. Sometimes everything that we want isn't in the exact way that we want. But I know God knows best and will help us.
Doctrine and Covenants 4:2: Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.
I love this scripture. As we serve God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, in the last day we will receive numerous blessings. As we have been working to find and teach, we always talk about two words, Diligence and Urgency. As we work for our Father in Heaven, these two things are important. As we are diligent in serving him, we are always thinking, pondering, and praying. We study for those who we will serve. As we are urgent, we don´t waste time. We are always looking and always preparing to serve.
I know that as we serve and are diligent and always looking for those opportunities, they will come and we can bless the lives of others. It is through our works of faith that we can serve and have the confidence that they as well as we will be blessed!
Have a great week!!!
Elder Jones
We were pretty bummed.
We decided to pass by the home of Marisol, Kevin, and Lautaro. This is the family we contacted a few weeks ago because we liked the music they were listening to. And, to our surprise, they wanted to come to Church! We shared some pancakes with them and they came to church. Marisol has a lot of hardships right now and she loved church. She said she wants to come next week as well. I am grateful for the Lord. Sometimes everything that we want isn't in the exact way that we want. But I know God knows best and will help us.
Doctrine and Covenants 4:2: Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.
I love this scripture. As we serve God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, in the last day we will receive numerous blessings. As we have been working to find and teach, we always talk about two words, Diligence and Urgency. As we work for our Father in Heaven, these two things are important. As we are diligent in serving him, we are always thinking, pondering, and praying. We study for those who we will serve. As we are urgent, we don´t waste time. We are always looking and always preparing to serve.
I know that as we serve and are diligent and always looking for those opportunities, they will come and we can bless the lives of others. It is through our works of faith that we can serve and have the confidence that they as well as we will be blessed!
Have a great week!!!
Elder Jones
Elder HJones: Live the Gospel
This week was definitely one to remember.
This week I had two conferences with President Ferreira. One conference was in Antofagasta. I had to travel 8 hours in a bus to get there! The other conference was in Copiapo, really close where I am serving. I learned a lot! One thing that I really liked was something that our mission president said, "Cuando vivimos el Evangelio, empezamos a entender y sentir mas." This is true. When we live the gospel, when we keep the commandments, we will understand more and feel closer to our Heavenly Father. I have seen it this past week. When people start to change and live the gospel, they are happier. Because this gospel brings happiness!
So here's a funny Story: On Saturday my companion and I were picking up baptismal clothes for our baptisms. We met the person bringing the clothing in front of a casino... a really expensive casino! And we were about to leave and President Ferreira pulls up in his car with his wife and daughter.and he invited us to eat lunch with him! And we ate at a really expensive nice place. It was way good!
This week we had four baptisms. God has blessed us a lot. They are all daughters of less active members. Their families have experienced a lot of difficulties both inside and outside of the church. But now they are coming to church. We are helping them to become eternal families!
Hasta Luego,
Elder Jones
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| Amanda, Ayleen, Jasmin, and Valentina |
This week I had two conferences with President Ferreira. One conference was in Antofagasta. I had to travel 8 hours in a bus to get there! The other conference was in Copiapo, really close where I am serving. I learned a lot! One thing that I really liked was something that our mission president said, "Cuando vivimos el Evangelio, empezamos a entender y sentir mas." This is true. When we live the gospel, when we keep the commandments, we will understand more and feel closer to our Heavenly Father. I have seen it this past week. When people start to change and live the gospel, they are happier. Because this gospel brings happiness!
So here's a funny Story: On Saturday my companion and I were picking up baptismal clothes for our baptisms. We met the person bringing the clothing in front of a casino... a really expensive casino! And we were about to leave and President Ferreira pulls up in his car with his wife and daughter.and he invited us to eat lunch with him! And we ate at a really expensive nice place. It was way good!
This week we had four baptisms. God has blessed us a lot. They are all daughters of less active members. Their families have experienced a lot of difficulties both inside and outside of the church. But now they are coming to church. We are helping them to become eternal families!
Hasta Luego,
Elder Jones
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