So last week we had transfers and . . . we had a couple problems. I was going to take a flight to my next area but a couple of things happened and we missed the flight. So in the end, I ended up traveling in a bus for 20 hours!!!! 20 HOURS!! That obviously wasn't fun. But now everything is good and I am here in Arica working in my area.
To be honest, when I heard my transfer everyone told me that it was bad. That my area was hard, that the members don't help, that people don't progress, that there are few baptisms. But in just one week here working I know that those things aren't true. We have seen so many miracles here in the past week and I'm super glad to be here.
Arica is the most north city in the mission. It's right below Peru. And here there are so many foreigners. So many people from Cuba, Venezuela, Peru, and Bolivia. We are teaching many people that aren't from Chile. They are really humble and open to hear the gospel.
This past week my testimony on faith was strengthened. When I got here many other missionaries told me that I am in a hard area, that nobody progresses in this area. But we have been working super hard and are seeing so many miracles. We are teaching so many people and we are planning on having a couple of baptisms this weekend.
I am enjoying my time here. Miracles are real. I have a testimony of that.
God is good.
And faith brings miracles!
Love you lots!
Monday, June 24, 2019
Elder EJones: True Disciples
This is the last week with our Presidente, Presidente Rodriguez, and next week we have conference with our new presidente. Exciting times!! Bermejo is good, warm this week, but its been a good week.
This week has been good, but it has also been kinda rough. We are working with The Velasquez family so that they can get baptized this week, but we haven't been able to find them this week. One problem is that there was no water in Bermejo on Wednesday or Thursday, so they left to another place where there is water. It was kinda funny that there was no water, but we kept working like normal. So we weren't able to find them this week, and it's been hard. They have almost all the lessons. We need to teach them a few more commandments, then they'll have all the lessons. But we are hoping and praying that we can find them this week so that they can get baptized!!
This week I was able to read more in the war chapters of the Book of Mormon, and the faith and diligence of Moroni. I love what the meaning of the Title of Liberty is:
They entered into a covenant with the Lord to fight only for these purposes. It helped me to think and really ponder that we can make personal covenants with the Lord. That we improve in how we follow him, that we can and will receive blessings. And like they did, and how it explains in all the book of Mormon, "si guardáis mis mandamientos prosperarais en la tierra." (if you keep my commandments, you will prosper in the land).
I love that promise. I love how the Book of Mormon is filled with many things to learn, to love and to cherish. Also, if they were willing to fight for all those things, we, too, are fighting against the devil spiritually. But what are we fighting for, and why are we fighting? If we know why and for who, the Lord, we will have His strength to always be with us!!
Also this week, I was reading the talk from President Nelson from the April 2019 Priesthood Session this phrase stood out to me... "And all who meet you need to know what a true disciple of the Lord looks like and acts like."
What are we doing (am I doing) to resemble a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
We are all disciples of Jesus Christ. All of us who have taken upon us His name, as we do in baptism and every week as we participate in the sacrament. But a true disciple is someone who doesn't have fear to share the gospel. Someone who loves, gives, smiles, teaches, listens as Christ would. As we strive to pattern our lives after Jesus Christ we will become more like him. Better disciples of him!!
I know that He lives. He is my example!!
Love you all,
Love you lots,
Elder Jones
This week has been good, but it has also been kinda rough. We are working with The Velasquez family so that they can get baptized this week, but we haven't been able to find them this week. One problem is that there was no water in Bermejo on Wednesday or Thursday, so they left to another place where there is water. It was kinda funny that there was no water, but we kept working like normal. So we weren't able to find them this week, and it's been hard. They have almost all the lessons. We need to teach them a few more commandments, then they'll have all the lessons. But we are hoping and praying that we can find them this week so that they can get baptized!!
This week I was able to read more in the war chapters of the Book of Mormon, and the faith and diligence of Moroni. I love what the meaning of the Title of Liberty is:
In Memory of....
Our God
Our Religion
Our Liberty
Our Peace
Our Wives
Our Children
They entered into a covenant with the Lord to fight only for these purposes. It helped me to think and really ponder that we can make personal covenants with the Lord. That we improve in how we follow him, that we can and will receive blessings. And like they did, and how it explains in all the book of Mormon, "si guardáis mis mandamientos prosperarais en la tierra." (if you keep my commandments, you will prosper in the land).
I love that promise. I love how the Book of Mormon is filled with many things to learn, to love and to cherish. Also, if they were willing to fight for all those things, we, too, are fighting against the devil spiritually. But what are we fighting for, and why are we fighting? If we know why and for who, the Lord, we will have His strength to always be with us!!
Also this week, I was reading the talk from President Nelson from the April 2019 Priesthood Session this phrase stood out to me... "And all who meet you need to know what a true disciple of the Lord looks like and acts like."
What are we doing (am I doing) to resemble a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
We are all disciples of Jesus Christ. All of us who have taken upon us His name, as we do in baptism and every week as we participate in the sacrament. But a true disciple is someone who doesn't have fear to share the gospel. Someone who loves, gives, smiles, teaches, listens as Christ would. As we strive to pattern our lives after Jesus Christ we will become more like him. Better disciples of him!!
I know that He lives. He is my example!!
Love you all,
Love you lots,
Elder Jones
Monday, June 17, 2019
Elder ZJones: Power Outage at the Church
Yesterday morning at 7:00 there was a power outage in all of Argentina. As we were looking for people to take to church, it was pouring rain and nobody had electricity. When we got to church there were members waiting for the meeting to start. We just had sacrament meeting.
It was a blessing to be able to partake of the sacrament. Even in circumstances were there is no electricity or power, we were able to take part in an important decision for the week, go to church and renew our covenants.
On Saturday two families in our ward were sealed in the Temple. The fathers of the families were asked to share their testimonies about there experiences. The spirit was strong and it was awesome to hear the changes that covenants have made in their families. They both had different journeys, but they both can now receive the same blessings! I know this church is true and that temple covenants will bring us back to Him!
Elder EJones: Weekly Wonders
I cannot write today because my hands are freezing cold!! haha. I did buy coat this morning so hopefully that treats me well.
This week, like you know, was full of lots of stuff. A lot of helping people and a lot of finding people so that they can come unto Christ. One thing that my comp and I have talked a lot about this week is the need that we have to promise blessings to those that we are teaching, If we don't, they won't have a reason to change and to follow Christ. But if they know the blessings that there are, and we are able to share our experiences with them, they will want to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.
This week I read the talk from President Dallin H. Oaks from April 2019 General Conference. He said, "We must repent of all of our sins---all of our actions or inactions contrary to the commandments of God. No one is exempt."
In reality, we all have sins. We sin daily. But we have the need to repent daily and call upon the Lord to help us to overcome the temptations that easily beset us. I love how he said, actions and inactions. Too many times we look at sin as the things that we do wrong. But not only that, it is the things that we are not doing that are good. It's just as bad to be doing something contrary to the will and commandments of God as it is to not do the things that are the will and commandments of God.
We all know what our weaknesses are. Satan does, and the Lord does. And that is the difference. Who do we want to win in that battle. Satan to use our weaknesses against us, or the Lord to use our strengths for us? We have the decision to change. I love how The Book of Mormon talks about the need that we have to repent. That even the people who lived before Christ, looked forward to His coming in gratitude, for the remission of their sins that He would take upon them. And later that after He came, they looked to him in gratitude for the sins and pains He took upon himself.
* * *
This week was full of little miracles and wonders that the Lord placed in our lives. First off this week, I had an intercambio (exchanges) and while we were contacting, we found a 19 year old who is the friend of a member of another branch. So we went with him to his house and started teaching him. He has progressed really well. This week we were able to teach him 3 times and he accepted the invitation to follow Jesus Christ and to get baptized. Then he showed up to church this week by himself!!
The next miracle of the week is that we are teaching La Familia Velasquez and they are progressing well. But this week we couldn't find them we passed their home about a million times and they weren't there. So we were kinda upset and discouraged that they didn't what to talk to us anymore. Then, on Sunday after we had been at church for 10 minutes, they showed up!! Up to that point, we had to always pick them up for them to come to church, but on Sunday, they told us that they wanted to come! We are working with them to get baptized next week. too.
So pray for Family Velasquez, Alex and Michelle, that they can reach their goal, follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized!!
President Nelson taught, "True repentance is not an event. It is a never-ending privilege. It is fundamental to progression and having peace of mind, comfort, and joy."
I know that he is called of God and we must hearken to his words. The Lord loves us enough to help us, even if that is helping us to repent and change, it may be hard, but it is always worth it. He loves us!!
This week, like you know, was full of lots of stuff. A lot of helping people and a lot of finding people so that they can come unto Christ. One thing that my comp and I have talked a lot about this week is the need that we have to promise blessings to those that we are teaching, If we don't, they won't have a reason to change and to follow Christ. But if they know the blessings that there are, and we are able to share our experiences with them, they will want to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.
This week I read the talk from President Dallin H. Oaks from April 2019 General Conference. He said, "We must repent of all of our sins---all of our actions or inactions contrary to the commandments of God. No one is exempt."
In reality, we all have sins. We sin daily. But we have the need to repent daily and call upon the Lord to help us to overcome the temptations that easily beset us. I love how he said, actions and inactions. Too many times we look at sin as the things that we do wrong. But not only that, it is the things that we are not doing that are good. It's just as bad to be doing something contrary to the will and commandments of God as it is to not do the things that are the will and commandments of God.
We all know what our weaknesses are. Satan does, and the Lord does. And that is the difference. Who do we want to win in that battle. Satan to use our weaknesses against us, or the Lord to use our strengths for us? We have the decision to change. I love how The Book of Mormon talks about the need that we have to repent. That even the people who lived before Christ, looked forward to His coming in gratitude, for the remission of their sins that He would take upon them. And later that after He came, they looked to him in gratitude for the sins and pains He took upon himself.
* * *
This week was full of little miracles and wonders that the Lord placed in our lives. First off this week, I had an intercambio (exchanges) and while we were contacting, we found a 19 year old who is the friend of a member of another branch. So we went with him to his house and started teaching him. He has progressed really well. This week we were able to teach him 3 times and he accepted the invitation to follow Jesus Christ and to get baptized. Then he showed up to church this week by himself!!
The next miracle of the week is that we are teaching La Familia Velasquez and they are progressing well. But this week we couldn't find them we passed their home about a million times and they weren't there. So we were kinda upset and discouraged that they didn't what to talk to us anymore. Then, on Sunday after we had been at church for 10 minutes, they showed up!! Up to that point, we had to always pick them up for them to come to church, but on Sunday, they told us that they wanted to come! We are working with them to get baptized next week. too.
So pray for Family Velasquez, Alex and Michelle, that they can reach their goal, follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized!!
President Nelson taught, "True repentance is not an event. It is a never-ending privilege. It is fundamental to progression and having peace of mind, comfort, and joy."
I know that he is called of God and we must hearken to his words. The Lord loves us enough to help us, even if that is helping us to repent and change, it may be hard, but it is always worth it. He loves us!!
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Elder ZJones: Crazy Week
I think just about everything happened this past week!
- I got sick this week with a fever and headache
- I had my interview with Presidente Resek! We talked a lot about the importance of having a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
- We had Stake Conference. Elder Clayton from the 70 came and spoke to us. He spoke a lot about sharing our testimonies and sharing the gospel with those around us.
- My companion broke two toes while playing futbol. He had a cast on for a couple days and can barely walk! We will see what happens with him!
- Baptisms. We were able to baptize 3 kids from a part member family. They loved it. The mom cried during the baptism and they are excited to continue to come to church. We are going to help the parent get married!
- Elder Clayton and Elder Bragg came and talked with our mission
I know that this is the true church! I know that the things that I learn here on the mission about conversion, obedience, diligence, etc are meant to help me for after the mission and during my life!
Elder Jones
- I had my interview with Presidente Resek! We talked a lot about the importance of having a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
- We had Stake Conference. Elder Clayton from the 70 came and spoke to us. He spoke a lot about sharing our testimonies and sharing the gospel with those around us.
- My companion broke two toes while playing futbol. He had a cast on for a couple days and can barely walk! We will see what happens with him!
- Baptisms. We were able to baptize 3 kids from a part member family. They loved it. The mom cried during the baptism and they are excited to continue to come to church. We are going to help the parent get married!
- Elder Clayton and Elder Bragg came and talked with our mission
I know that this is the true church! I know that the things that I learn here on the mission about conversion, obedience, diligence, etc are meant to help me for after the mission and during my life!
Elder Jones
Monday, June 10, 2019
Elder ZJones: A Week of Everything!
- I got sick with a fever and headache.
- I had my interview with Presidente Resek! We talked a lot about the importance of having a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
- We had Stake Conference.
- Elder Clayton from the 70 came and spoke to us. He spoke a lot about sharing our testimonies and sharing the gospel with those around us.
- My companion broke two toes while playing futbol. He had a cast on for a couple days and can barely walk! We will see what happens with him!
- Baptisms. We were able to baptize 3 kids from a part member family. They loved it. The mom cried during the baptism and they are excited to continue to come to church. We are going to help the parent get married!
- Elder Clayton and Elder Bragg came and talked with our mission
I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church! I know that the things that I am learning here on the mission about conversion, obedience, diligence, etc. are meant to help me for after the mission and throughout my life!
Elder Jones
Elder HJones: Better than Last Week
So this week was a lot better them the last. We had more people attend church from the zone, so that was good. Sometimes I feel so much pressure from the assistants, but I have learned that it's something good. Pressure can be good when it helps us do more an become better. So although I don't like a bunch of pressure, I have learned that it is good for me. It helps me work better.
We are seeing more people progress in our zone, that's good too. And in our area we have more people progressing too. A mom and her son came to Church with us this Sunday. They are way awesome. They have a lot of faith and they want to change their lives. Please pray for them. Their names are Nicolas and Margot.
We are also teaching another family. They are super ready to be baptized. The children, Fiorela and Estefano, want to do be baptized. But the mom wants the dad to be present in the baptism. I don't blame her. But the only thing that stinks is that he wont be here until the middle of July. A lot of time, and many things can happen in this time. And the dad doesn't really like us. He doesn't really want his kids to get baptized. So its a little complicated. And we have cambios and I probably won't even be here to see them get baptized. :(
So yes, we have cambios this weekend. On Friday we will know. This Friday we are also traveling to Antofa for the last conference with Pres. Ferreira. I'm excited. And I'm gonna miss him. I'm pretty sure that we are going to receive our cambios while at the conference. I'm not sure what will happen. I have 5 transfers here, that's a lot of time. It's common here in the mission that the zone leaders train or become district leaders their last transfer. Mabye that will happen with me. But I'm not sure. But we will see what happens.
And my one of my converts has a calling of teaching Sunday School ever other week to all the adults. And she only has one month as a member. It is super cool to see it. She doesn't have a lot of knowledge about the gospel, but she teaches with the Spirit! It is awesome.
That's pretty much it. Throw in a couple drunk people and the cold, and that was pretty much my week.
Love you guys! Thanks for your examples!!
Elder EJones: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?
Hello from Bermejo, Bolivia!
This week has been good. I was able to study this week a talk given by Elder Matthew L. Carpenter from October General Conference 2018 titled, "Wilt thou be made whole?"
He talked about how the Lord loves us and knows us. He knows us better than we know ourselves and has a plan for us. He is the one who can help us as we turn to him and seek for his guidance.
Heavenly Father knows [our]:
1. physical struggles
2. physical pains due to (illness, disease, aging, accidents, birth disease)
3. emotional struggles (anxiety, depression, mental illnesses)
4. injustice or abuse
5. weaknesses
6. temptations
He knows how to heal us and to strengthen us. He will always be there for us, as we turn to him. "We must not delay, we must act today"
I know that the Lord will bless us as we do our part. I have been able to see that as a missionary. In the life I live as a representative of Jesus Christ, in the lives of the members, and investigators here. The Lord is waiting for us to turn to him. He waits with open arms because He loves us!!
* * *
This week has been good. I was able to study this week a talk given by Elder Matthew L. Carpenter from October General Conference 2018 titled, "Wilt thou be made whole?"
He talked about how the Lord loves us and knows us. He knows us better than we know ourselves and has a plan for us. He is the one who can help us as we turn to him and seek for his guidance.
Heavenly Father knows [our]:
1. physical struggles
2. physical pains due to (illness, disease, aging, accidents, birth disease)
3. emotional struggles (anxiety, depression, mental illnesses)
4. injustice or abuse
5. weaknesses
6. temptations
He knows how to heal us and to strengthen us. He will always be there for us, as we turn to him. "We must not delay, we must act today"
I know that the Lord will bless us as we do our part. I have been able to see that as a missionary. In the life I live as a representative of Jesus Christ, in the lives of the members, and investigators here. The Lord is waiting for us to turn to him. He waits with open arms because He loves us!!
* * *
So here is the coolest thing that my last companion, Elder Calkins, showed me. He told me that his grandpa always gave out smiley face buttons to people and told them to smile. Later, Elder Calkins's mom found this in his grandpa's scriptures, this verse marked like this:
2 Nephi 9:39
O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be Spiritually-Minded Is Life Eternal.
Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal = SMILE
It's way cool!!! I have learned to love the Book of Mormon. I love how it allows us to have a surety that God lives, and the Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He lives and loves us. I love the Book of Mormon. It is the most important thing that I have. I was thinking the other day of the game plan..."If you could save anything in a fire what would it be?" THE BOOK OF MORMON!!
Love you all!!
Monday, June 3, 2019
Elder HJones: Hay lluvia (RAIN!!)
It rained this past week!! It was cool. It was the first time that I saw RAIN in 2 years! And that's why I sent the video! The people here kinda freak out because nobody is prepared for rain. Many times there are floods and stuff, but it was nothing crazy. It was only a couple of minutes, but it was still really cool.
We went to Anofagasta on Tuesday. It was really awesome. It was Pres. Ferreira's last consejo de lideres (Leader's council), it was sad. I have learned to love him and respect him. This week, on Wednesday, we travel to Copiapo to have a zone conference with Presidente. And next week we travel to Antofagasta to say goodbye to Presidente. We are going to have a testimony meeting or something like that. And that will be that. In a couple of weeks Presidente will be gone. This week I will have my last interview with him. :(
In 2 weeks we have transfers. I'm still not sure what will happen. Maybe I'll stay here in Vallenar for my last one. jaja That would be kinda crazy. I want to stay has zone leader, but we will see what happens. I'm up for whatever. I just want to work up until the last minute.
We are working with a really family awesome. Daniela, Fiorella, and Estefano. Please pray that they can continue progressing. We are also working with a really humble family from Venesuela. Luiggi, Tania, Eliana, Milexi, Yoander. I want them to come to church SO BAD! I have grown to love there family. But they are always working on Sunday. But this weekend they are going to try to attend. Please pray for them too.
One thing that I learned this week is the God sees more then what we can see. Many times during my mission I have looked back on a week and thought that I really haven't done much. The results aren't there. I worked hard, but there aren't results to show it. But this week, I came to realize that God can see more. God can see the physical results and the spiritual results. He knows our hearts.
It reminds me of a scripture on 1 Samuel 16:7
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
Love you guys!
Elder ZJones: Stake Conference This Week
Hola!
I am excited for this week! We have Stake Conference this week and Elder Clayton, a General Authority, will be coming to speak. It will be blessing to be able to hear from him and apply the things that he teaches.
I have thought this past week a lot about the importance of fasting. To prepare I thought of how fasting will not only bless me but others.
It explains in Gospel Principles
When we fast wisely and prayerfully, we develop our faith. With that faith we will have greater spiritual power. For example, Alma (a Book of Mormon prophet) tells the story of meeting again with the sons of Mosiah many years after their miraculous conversion. He felt great joy when he learned that they had strengthened their faith and had developed great spiritual power. They had gained this power because “they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation”
As we fast, we will receive the strength that we need for whatever lies ahead. The Lord will bless us and help us to feel a greater joy!
Elder Jones
I am excited for this week! We have Stake Conference this week and Elder Clayton, a General Authority, will be coming to speak. It will be blessing to be able to hear from him and apply the things that he teaches.
I have thought this past week a lot about the importance of fasting. To prepare I thought of how fasting will not only bless me but others.
It explains in Gospel Principles
When we fast wisely and prayerfully, we develop our faith. With that faith we will have greater spiritual power. For example, Alma (a Book of Mormon prophet) tells the story of meeting again with the sons of Mosiah many years after their miraculous conversion. He felt great joy when he learned that they had strengthened their faith and had developed great spiritual power. They had gained this power because “they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation”
As we fast, we will receive the strength that we need for whatever lies ahead. The Lord will bless us and help us to feel a greater joy!
Elder Jones
Elder EJones: Bermejo
This week I had cambios and left Los Olivos with my comp Elder Calkins. I am now here in Bermejo which is at the very bottom of Bolivia, on the border of Argentina. It has been a crazy week with lots of changes. My new comp is from Ecuador and he has the same time in the mission as I do.
We found and taught lots of people this week. We are teaching the Velasquez family as well as Alfredo and Natalia. Pray for them that they will be able to open up and keep being receptive to the gospel. Pray that the gospel will be able to touch and open their hearts so that they can feel and know that this is the true church, and what we need in our lives.
I found something that I really liked in my personal study this week...
Alma 24:18-19
18 And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man’s blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.
19 And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.
I love how the Lamanites made a covenant with God. We know they did to not take up arms against their enemies, but it also teaches us that they covenanted to labor abundantly, and to give rather than to take. And they would rather suffer death then to commit sin.
I know that as we come to know of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we will come to love Him more and more. We will come to the knowledge to not sin any more, but to follow Him with faith.
Thats this week!!
Elder Jones
We found and taught lots of people this week. We are teaching the Velasquez family as well as Alfredo and Natalia. Pray for them that they will be able to open up and keep being receptive to the gospel. Pray that the gospel will be able to touch and open their hearts so that they can feel and know that this is the true church, and what we need in our lives.
I found something that I really liked in my personal study this week...
Alma 24:18-19
18 And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man’s blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.
19 And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.
I love how the Lamanites made a covenant with God. We know they did to not take up arms against their enemies, but it also teaches us that they covenanted to labor abundantly, and to give rather than to take. And they would rather suffer death then to commit sin.
I know that as we come to know of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we will come to love Him more and more. We will come to the knowledge to not sin any more, but to follow Him with faith.
Thats this week!!
Elder Jones
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