Elder EJones: Thanksgiving Week--Crazy!

How are you? How has your week been? It's crazy that this is Thanksgiving week. I can remember last thanksgiving like it was yesterday. I was here in the mission!! But this week is gonna be super good. I'm super excited. Elder Mathias Held from The Seventy is coming to our mission and we are going to have a conference with him on Thanksgiving.

Things are back to normal here in Tarija. We can leave the normal hours so it has been really nice. But this week has been really long, I'm not gonna lie. My companion is really cool. Sometimes it's a little hard to understand him when he mixes Portuguese and Spanish. Ha.

Other then that it has been a good week. It has been hard to find out investigators this week, but we were able to find them near the end of the week, and they still have desires to keep learning and progressing.

I was able to read lots in 3 Nephi this week, and it is amazing. I love the connection that the Bible and the Book of Mormon have together. I have decided to compare the Lord's sermon in Matthew, and in the Book of Mormon. It has been super cool to see the similarities and differences. I challenge you to do the same. What I love is that when He was first on earth He had not yet completed with what the Lord had commanded Him. But after His resurrection and ascension, He had completed the will of the Father. And when He came to the Americas, He testified and completed with past promises He had made.

I like the comparison of these two verses that my companion and I shared in a lesson with some members.

Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

3 Nephi 12:48
Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

I love how the Lord always invites us to become more like him. It is found more than anything in His sermon in the Americas. And sometimes I think to myself, "Well, how can I be like Christ? He is perfect, and I am full of errors." But I realize that it's not really about being perfect, because He was the only [Perfect One]. But it's doing what He would do. Being strictly obediente. Keeping my covenants, and living worthy of the Holy Ghost!!

I love this gospel and the blessings we can receive to being members of the Church of Jesus CHrist of Latter Day Saints!!

Elder E Jones: New Companion

Hola!!

Eu tenho um novo companheiro. (That's I have a new companion in Portuguese!)

My new companion

We had cambios this week and I have a new companion. I am still here in Tabladita, and the work is progressing really well. My comp is from Brazil and his name is Elder Lage. He is really cool, and iI'mexcited to work and learn with him this week. We have finally been able to get back to normal, at least in our mission. All the North Americans in Cochabamba were relocated to Brazil. But for now we're safe, I don't think much more will happen.

This week the Lord helped six of our investigators to come to church with us!! The Lord is full of miracles that He wants to give us. I know that as we trust Him, and give Him our all, He will help is in all that we need.

I was able to read about talents that the Lord gives us. And realized the importance to use them to help others. I know that as we try to develop them more, the Lord will help us to magnify them!!

My old companion

This week I loved this scripture that I read in the Book of Mormon: Moroni 7:48

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."

I love the invitation of how to pray to Heavenly Father. With ALL the energy of our hearts. The only way to truly become like His, is to come to know Him. That is why he allows us to pray to Him. And I know that he answers prayers. I know that He is our Father.

Love you all. Have a good week!

Elder Jones

Elder EJones: A Normal Week for Us

Well, this week was super normal for us. It's kinda weird because it's probably been the most crazy of all the weeks. But our area is out in the middle of nowhere, so we are super safe. Nothing happens. Except dogs, they're mean.

Don't really know a whole lot about what is happening here. Missionaries don't know much. But we'll see how this week goes. We've only been able to leave until 7:30 pm this past week, but we can wear our normal missionary clothes, we just can't contact doors.

Well here are the highlights/news this week:

1st: We are teaching Lucero. She's 20 and has talked to missionaries before. But we found her a few weeks ago and she has progressed a lot. She came to a baptisms with us on Saturday, and it was a great service, really key for her to come to feel the Spirit more. Then she came to church with us yesterday and told us she liked a whole lot. She is progressing a lot so pray that she will continue to have that desire to follow Christ.

2nd: CAMBIOS....Yes we have cambios. So we won't switch until Wednesday, but here are what they look like. My comp is going to another area. But it's funny because it's the area right next to ours right now. He's going to companions with an Elder that goes to the ward after us, so it's not a huge change. I am going to be with a Brazilian elder who has the same amount of time as my comp right now. I'll help him finish his training. And I am still DL, so I'm excited for that. Our district has changed so I'm excited to see how that goes.

3rd: I love this scripture that I read this week in personal study.

Helaman 8:18
"Yea, and behold I say unto you, that Abraham not only knew of these things, but there were many before the days of Abraham who were called by the border of God; yea, even after the order of his Son; and this that it should be shown unto the people, a great many thousand years before his coming, that even redemption should come unto them."

I love the power of a prophet. To testify of things of how they were, how they are, and how they are to come. The Lord gives them power. But they see that power to testify of Christ. I know that is what they have been called to do. From Adam to Mormon to Russell M. Nelson!! I love their teachings.

Well that's all for this week. Hope you have a great week.

Love you,
Elder Jones

Elder EJones: Back to Church in Church Clothes

This week was good. We have been able to leave each day in the morning and then in the afternoon. We leave from 9:30 to lunch and then after lunch until 6:30. And it has been super hot here. It's like Utah in the hot, hot summer. And I got super dark and then it peeled because I also got sunburned. But I found some sunscreen this week so hopefully I can really dark again haha. Our mission presidente doesn't really want us to contact door to door. So it's basically just talking with people in the streets and visiting new and old investigators.

Yesterday was the best. The first time in two weeks that we were able to wear our normal church clothes to church. We were also able to proselyte yesterday in the afternoon in our normal Sunday wear without our badges. I have come to realize how much power our badges as missionaries give us. It tells it all. Our names, who we represent, and the name of the church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So I hope that things will begin to clear up more so that we can leave in our normal clothes again. It's not bad here at all in our area, but we still need to follow the precautions that come.

Some people have had their hearts softened more for all the bad that has been happening. And all the members are hoping that it all clears up so that things can get back to normal.

I have been able to read lots in the week in the Book of Mormon. And where I'm at is perfect in its application to what is happening here. I have been able to read more about Captain Moroni as a chief leader over the Nephite armies. I love the spiritual implications that we can learn from it. Like the fortifying of cities, in their weak spots, so where the enemy could attack before, is no longer a good option for him. To put on the whole armor of God to protect us in every possible way against the attacks of the enemies. And I love that in all that they do, they fight for their God, their religion, their liberty, their peace, and their families. And that is what the Lord needs us to do. But the battle is spiritual...maybe its physical here, but we need to protect ourselves from the devil and his sly ways so that the Lord can protect us. I love this gospel. I love the applications of the Book of Mormon in our lives.

Everything is good here. I'm good and my comp is too. There are supposed to be cambios this week, but idk how those will go down. Hope that you have a good week!

The field from Walter Mitty, i'm like 98% sure