Elder EJones: A Day of Rest

This week has been a good one. It was slow, but also really fast, so it was kinda weird.

This weekend was presidential elections here in Bolivia. Elections only happen every five years. So out of precaution for lots of things that could happen (riots for a new presidente or riots for the same president), we had to stay in the house yesterday. So we really didn't do much, because there is not much to do. Read the scriptures, eat food, rest, read more scriptures. So lets just say I'm happy to be out again preaching the gospel.

Yesterday we weren't able to go to Church so that was rough. It was truly a day of rest. A day for many things. Studies in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenents. I made some no bake cookies. I played my uke, some good hymns that I've learned. Surprisingly, I didn't nap...since when did I not nap? And I continued to honor the sabbath in my Sunday clothes. Staying in Sunday clothes helps me to better understand the why behind what I do. The why the Sabbath is a sacred day. And even though I wasn't able to take the sacrament yesterday (we asked our bishop, but it was restricted from the area), I was still able to feel it as a day of rest.

This week we had an amazing lesson. About 2 weeks ago we found a family. A mom, and her 10 year old kid. Calicsta and Luis. We taught them once and got to know them, and she said she wanted to know more. Missionaries had gone to her house before, but never returned. But she showed interest to learn more. We went the next time, and she was already ready with chairs set outside so that we could teach her and her son. We have taught them twice now. This week we explained to them the Book of Mormon. That is testifies of Jesus Christ. And we read with them the first chapter of first Nephi. It was a super good lesson, and she had super good questions, and said she was excited to keep reading. Then she told us that she is going to take out 2 hours of her crazy work schedule to come to church. Then when she prayed...ahh, we could definitely feel the spirit.

Pray for her. Pray for her son Luis. And pray for her husband that we will be able to find him, and that he will have time to listen, so that they can become an eternal family.

This week I loved a scripture that I came across about the conversion that Amulek really had to the Savior, and the support and love his companion, Alma showed unto him..

Alma 15:16, 18

"And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;"

"Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord."

True conversion to the Lord requires true sacrifice. And true discipleship and chirstlike love comes as we reach out to others, even though we may be facing for many trials ourselves.

Here's what I know.
The Book of Mormon is true and the key to our religion
Prophets, ancient, and modern day have been called by the Lord
Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.