2020? Hello!!
Well these past two weeks have been great here. It's been a mix of really rainy and burning hot. This week we were able to teach and find lots of good people. We were able to give out gift bags to people for Christmas-- it was the best. Not much new has happened. We had a Christmas conference and talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon. I know that it is true and will help us come unto Christ and come to understand his promises. Hope you all have a good new years!!
Got bit by a dog this week, but surprisingly there is no mark
Got bit by 14325 mosquitos too, and there are many marks haha
Monday, December 30, 2019
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Monday, December 16, 2019
Elder EJones: Another New Companion
Well this week was good, my last week with my comp the mini missionary. He is super cool, said bye to him yesterday and today I got my new comp. My new comp is a gringo. He is from Utah, from Bryce Canyon. His name is Elder Tebbs. I picked him up today, so we'll see how it goes. He is really cool and came in the same group as my other companion, Elder Thuet. I am still district leader here as well. Now there are three districts in our zone. It will be helpful to me so that I can focus more on helping people with more focus on only a few areas.
This week was kinda hard. We were able to reach lots of lessons, but lots of people haven't been keeping their commitments, so it makes it hard for us to help them, when they don't do what they need to do to know if this message really is true or not.
This week we did an activity in our district a Christmas caroling way to contact. It went....i would say exactly well haha. Lots of people just said they didn't have time. Some people just closed the door in our faces mid hymn it was kinda funny, but at the same time it's hard for me to see people reject the message of the restored gospel without even listening to the message we have to give. In reality it's not that hard. We ask our investigators to do three things. Read, pray, and go to church. That is the only way that they will be able to know if the message we share is true or not. But my job is to give them the message, its up to them to use their agency to accept or reject it.
The Christmas bags are in process. We are trying to find out who we need to deliver them to and who needs them most this Christmas season. It's the best to be able to help members and investigators to think more of Christ and share his love with others.
We have our Christmas conference this coming Friday. And on Christmas morning we are going to have some breakfast. It'll be fun. It has been a little colder here so it feels more like Christmas haha.
Esta semana pude terminar el Libro de Mormón. Se que es verdadero. No tengo ninguna duda de eso. Se que los profetas de la antigüedad fueron inspirados para escribirlo. No se como seria mi vida sin el Libro de Mormón. A mi me encanta ensenar del Libro de Mormón. Puedo sentir su poder cuando hablo de que testifica de Cristo y nos da la evidencia de su amor para nosotros, y su iglesia restaurada hoy en dia!! Me gusta lo que dice Moroni...
Sí, venid a Cristo, y perfeccionaos en él, y absteneos de toda impiedad, y si os abstenéis de toda impiedad, y amáis a Dios con todo vuestro poder, mente y fuerza, entonces su gracia os es suficiente, para que por su gracia seáis perfectos en Cristo; y si por la gracia de Dios sois perfectos en Cristo, de ningún modo podréis negar el poder de Dios.
Anote cuántas veces él decía os exhorto. Lo dice muchas veces. Se que cuando hacemos lo que nos indican los profetas seremos bendecidos porque siempre testifican de nuestro Salvador Jesucristo.
Can't wait for Christmas!!
Monday, December 9, 2019
Elder EJones: Almost Christmas
 |
| It's beginning to look a lot . . . |
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| . . . like Christmas!! |
It's almost Christmas.
It feels more like Christmas than last year because it has been colder, and it's raining. This week we were able to make Christmas packages to give to people in our area so that they can feel the joy of Christmas.
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| Elder Van-Pelting |
Well here is the kinda crazy, not so much news. I think I'm gonna get another mini-missionary for the next cambio. One of the assistants called me and told me that they were doing cambios and asked if my comp could stay with me for another 3 weeks but he leaves for his mission in 3 weeks. So he told me to look for another mini missionary or be in a trio. I will not be in a trio haha. So I guess we'll see how it goes, I'll know more for next week.
This week I was able to read in Ether 12. And I love how it is very similar to Hebrews 11, they both talk about faith in Jesus Christ. I like that all the miracles that have ever been done by the apostles and prophets is because of their faith in Jesus Christ. And as we have faith in Him, He will become our anchor and foundation so that we can be secure where we are. And we still live by faith. For our faith we too can do and see things, and come to know the mysteries of God. It marvels me to think of how much faith Joseph Smith had if he was able to see God the Father and Jesus Christ. It made me think of the scripture Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
I can't imagine His faith. But we too can develop firm faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and loves us. I know that as we learn to trust in Him, He will lead, guide and even walk beside us!!
Monday, December 2, 2019
Elder EJones: Lots Have Happened!
Well lots has happened this week. It's been quite the week, but it has been a good one. Here are some of the things that happened:
1. [Another] New Companion
My companion Elder Lage went home on Tuesday. He got permission because his dad is really sick, and there is nobody else to care for him. The church in Brazil offered help, but his girlfriend doesn't want anything to do with the church, so that's that. He was happy to go back to his dad, but at the same time didn't want to leave. So on Tuesday I was in a trio with the zone leaders until Thursday when they were able to find me a mini missionary. A mini companion is basically a member that can be my comp for a few days. His name is Elder Tarraga. He will leave on his mission in January to The Buenos Aires North mission, so it's been cool to have him as a comp. He lives in our stake here and we get along really well.
2. Zone Conference
This week we had zone conference with Elder Held from The Seventy. He talked about lots of things that really stood out to me. One thing that I loved was that he compared us to lumberjacks. We are here to cut down trees (or to do missionary work). And we are given the tools necessary to complete the work. We have a saw and a whetstone to sharpen the saw. Those instruments in the mission are the Book of Mormon and the Holy Ghost. But what we need to do is know how to use them. If we work hard but don't sharpen the saw we have, we won't find lots of success. Our purpose is to use the tools the Lord has given to us, the scriptures, prayer, our testimonies to help others come unto Christ. He also referred to his talk in General conference of the need to look at things with a spiritual vision so that we can see the full picture. He is super cool.
3. Stake Conference
This week we also had stake conference which was amazing. We were able to hear from President Stanford and his wife and our stake leaders. One of the things that I loved that Presidente Stanford talked about was when he was called to be a mission presidente. Lots of people asked how he could leave his family, home, and all he knew to go. And he would say its because he made a covenant with the Lord to give all that he had to Him, not just part. As disciples of Christ we need to be willing to give our all to Him. Another youth talked about four things we can do to become better disciples of Jesus Christ.
-Pray to God with real intent and with real faith
-Studying the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon
-Be humble before God
-Learn to recognize, trust and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost
I know that the path of discipleship isn't hard. It wasn't easy for the first apostles of Jesus Christ, who gave their lives for His cause. And it isn't easy for us. But it is always worth it. I know that Christ lives and loves us. He knows the plan. If we learn to follow Him, we will find true happiness in our lives!!
Love you lots.
1. [Another] New Companion
My companion Elder Lage went home on Tuesday. He got permission because his dad is really sick, and there is nobody else to care for him. The church in Brazil offered help, but his girlfriend doesn't want anything to do with the church, so that's that. He was happy to go back to his dad, but at the same time didn't want to leave. So on Tuesday I was in a trio with the zone leaders until Thursday when they were able to find me a mini missionary. A mini companion is basically a member that can be my comp for a few days. His name is Elder Tarraga. He will leave on his mission in January to The Buenos Aires North mission, so it's been cool to have him as a comp. He lives in our stake here and we get along really well.
2. Zone Conference
This week we had zone conference with Elder Held from The Seventy. He talked about lots of things that really stood out to me. One thing that I loved was that he compared us to lumberjacks. We are here to cut down trees (or to do missionary work). And we are given the tools necessary to complete the work. We have a saw and a whetstone to sharpen the saw. Those instruments in the mission are the Book of Mormon and the Holy Ghost. But what we need to do is know how to use them. If we work hard but don't sharpen the saw we have, we won't find lots of success. Our purpose is to use the tools the Lord has given to us, the scriptures, prayer, our testimonies to help others come unto Christ. He also referred to his talk in General conference of the need to look at things with a spiritual vision so that we can see the full picture. He is super cool.
3. Stake Conference
This week we also had stake conference which was amazing. We were able to hear from President Stanford and his wife and our stake leaders. One of the things that I loved that Presidente Stanford talked about was when he was called to be a mission presidente. Lots of people asked how he could leave his family, home, and all he knew to go. And he would say its because he made a covenant with the Lord to give all that he had to Him, not just part. As disciples of Christ we need to be willing to give our all to Him. Another youth talked about four things we can do to become better disciples of Jesus Christ.
-Pray to God with real intent and with real faith
-Studying the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon
-Be humble before God
-Learn to recognize, trust and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost
I know that the path of discipleship isn't hard. It wasn't easy for the first apostles of Jesus Christ, who gave their lives for His cause. And it isn't easy for us. But it is always worth it. I know that Christ lives and loves us. He knows the plan. If we learn to follow Him, we will find true happiness in our lives!!
Love you lots.
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