Elder HJones: Faith Brings Miracle

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!

Elder HJones: Eternas Puedan Ser Las Familias

This past week went pretty well. We are seeing a lot more progress from our friends interested in the gospel and they are taking the steps closer to baptism.

Maria is planning on getting baptized on the 23rd. This week she is going to the beach and will return next week. So she will get baptized next week!!

Thiare can get baptized this weekend. We just need to teach her and help her understand a little more. She is a little scared, but I know that this week she willbe able to do it. Her parents are way awesome, Jaime and Yesenia, but they aren't married, so they aren't progressing as fast, but they always come to church and they want their daughter to get baptized.

Elena and Carlos are the parents of our recent convert, Brian. They are way awesome. They both attended church yesterday and loved it. And they want to get married in the temple! I know that they are going to be an eternal family. They can also get baptized this weekend. So please pray that they can have the desire to do it. They have felt the Spirit, now they just need to act a little more!

Daisy is a single mom and she has a daughter named Kimberly. They also came to church yesterday with us. And they loved it! They are friends with the branch president, so he invited them. They are progressing a lot.

This weekend we are going to travel to Antofagasta to have a meeting with Elder Renlund! I am super excited to see what he has to say and teach to us. And how I can be a better missionary.

And in the north of Chile there has been a bunch of problems with massive rains. Here in Vallenar we are okay. It's crazy that it's raining so hard in the mission! There are a bunch of floods and the cambios this week were crazy. The mission office had problems with the missionaries traveling, because people couldn't leave the cities. A bunch of rain! But here in Vallenar nothing. We are all good.

We had transfers! Elder Amboa left. I thought that we were going to stay together, because he finishes the mission in March. I am now with Elder Stevenett from South Jordan. I can feel that we are going to have a bunch of success this cambio. Tiene cualquier fuego.

Les quiero mucho. Gracias por todo.

(Sorry, my fotos don't want to send this week).

Elder ZJones: Look Unto Me in Every Thought-Doubt Not, Fear Not

It was a good week.

We helped Brian and Sol to be baptized. It was a huge blessing for us and awesome to see the change in their lives. Brian is 18 and we contacted him a while ago in the park. He was lost and talked to us a lot about the devil. We helped him to grow his faith and now he had a lot of friends at church and his mom is preparing to be baptized.

Sol is 9. We found her brother in the street. She was excited all week and her family is coming to church. We are going to help them that they can continue to go. We don't just baptize, but we help them to continue to grow, to become converted.

We are preparing this week to baptize the Vegapuente Family. They came to church and love it! They are feeling the Spirit and know that these things are true. They asked about the responsibilities that they will have after baptism. We talked to them about the commandments and taking Christ's name upon themselves. We are excited for them. We have a lot of futures, or people that still need some progression, but we know this week will be great.

Cambios this week .... Elder Burk will be leaving. He will be going to Junin. It's the farthest area in our mission. He has been assigned as a traveling AP. He will be in charge of the campo. Presidente wants to make the campo area a stake before the October General Conference. So he put a lot more missionaries there so that they can reactivate and teach people who can have the priesthood in there home. I will be staying here in Rodriguez and will be receiving Elder Rivera as my new companion. He is from Mexico. This is his last transfer in the mission. He is really mellow and works hard, so I'm excited. Please pray that we will work well together and that we can have an awesome transfer where the Lord can use us!

What else happened?

Well, we did service for the Guzman Family right after the baptism, and Brian came to help us! We moved dirt into a home they are building to level out the ground. They are excited to go to the temple and get sealed in a year. On Sunday, Santos received the Aaronic Priesthood. I really want to come back when they are sealed in the temple! We will see!

It was a good week. Sad to see Elder Burk leaving but I know that he will do some big things where he is going!

We are preparing a family to be baptized this week, The Vegapuente Family. There are four in the family, Enrique, Jessica, Naomi, and Philipe.

I read this scripture block this morning: Doctrine And Covenants 6:36-37

Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

I know that it is through Christ that we will have hope. He will guide and give us the light that we need. Look to Him in everything and follow His counsels.

Thanks for everything!

Elder HJones: Working Hard!

So this week went pretty well. Honestly, it was pretty crazy!

So on Monday there were cambios. (transfers)

And on Thurday we had consejo de lideres (leader's council). When the zone leaders go to Antofagasta to have a conference with presidente. With the conference and cambios really close together, the cambios were kind mixed up, so for most of the week our zone was empty. We didn't have that many missionaries in Vallenar. So my companion and I were working in three areas to keep things going. By Friday, all the missionaries had arrived and everything was back to normal. But we walked a ton!!

On Thursday, I traveled to Antofagasta for the conference with presidente and it was really awesome! One of the best conferences that I have attended in the mission! We talked about chapter 8 in Preach My Gospel, about goals and plans.

My new companion is cool. Elder Ambao is from the Philippines. His Spanish is really good. There are about three missionaries from the Philippines here in our mission and their Spanish is really good. So maybe their language has some similarities. He has 20 months in the mission, which means he only has two cambios left. (He's my first companion, besides my trainer, that has more time then me in the mission! Crazy!) And we are getting along! Everything is good. And the new assignment as zone leader is good. I'm learning as I go. I have only been zone leader for one week, so there is still much to learn.

And this past week we worked SUPER HARD. Elder Ambao and I both are just giving everything and this past week was awesome. We always got to the pension super tired, but we worked during the day with everything we had!

And we have some awesome people that we are teaching:

Sebastian- 19 years old, he has already come to church a couple times, but wants to receive an answer that the church is true. Please pray that he can recognize his answer.

Bryan- 16 years old, he always comes to church and wants to learn more, but his mom doesn't want him to listen to us or get baptized.

Angel, Jocelin, Yaritsa, Angel- and family that we found, they are super awesome! They want to come to church and get baptized.

Jose, Artemia, and Fam.- The mom and dad are really receptive.

So that was my week. Full of things to do. But that's the best part of the mission. There is no time to relax, we are here to WORK!

Elder HJones: 2019!!!

So we are starting to see more progress in our area. We have found more people that have the desire to learn more and follow Christ! But the sad thing is, I am leaving. We had transfers. But the transfer is really small. I will be in the same branch, and will just be changing areas. My new companion is Elder Ambao from the Phillipians (thinking maybe I can learn a third language...??).

This past transfer was a little difficult. We worked a ton but didn't see the progress that we wanted to see. We found some awesome people and families, but they didn't progress and didn't want to act. Sometimes its frustrating when you do everything you can and they still don't want anything. But I'm sure that's how God feels. He does everything in His power to help us. He answers prayers, sends revelation, send other people to help us. But in the end we have agency. God can do everything in His power to help us, but we have to accept it and do it.

But now I am excited to be in a new area and find new people to teach!

Elder ZJones: Apostle of God

This past week we had the great chance to listen to and meet Elder Gerrit W. Gong from the Quorum of the Twelve. It was such a great experience and the Spirit was felt. I am grateful that Christ's Church has been restored on earth and that we have prophets and apostles on the earth.

Elder Gong explained about the doctrine of Christ and how important it is in our daily lives. He also talked about the name of the Church. He explained that it is a testimony, and that the name teaches
it is THE Church of Jesus Christ. It is His church that he has established on earth. It is not the church a prophet or a man, but the Church of Jesus Christ Himself.

As we share and show that it is a testimony to us, it will help others feel the same. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His Church that it can guide us and lead us back to him presence.

Pray that Ever, Adaluz, and Susanna will prepare themselves to be baptized this week.

We had transfers. And I will be leaving. I am staying in the same zone which is about 20 minutes in train from the area that I am in now. My new companion is Elder Burk from Idaho. Pray that we will have success in our area and find the people that we need to! Have a great week!

Elder Jones

Pday Field trip

Elder HJones: Cambios y Bautismos

So we received transfers this week. And after five transfers (7 months) in Paipote, I am finally leaving. But I am not going that far. It is only a 20 minute car ride to get to my next sector. Now I am working in the center of Copiapo. My new companion is Elder Colson. He is from Grantsville and has two months in the mission and I will be finishing his training.

We baptized two children this past week: Ignacio and Luis. They were super ready and were way excited to get baptized. We also saw the power of the gospel and how it changes the hearts of the people.

Also, we have been teaching a family that have a lot of problems. The mom didn't want her children to be baptized. But little by little the gospel started to get to her. Drop by drop she felt the peace, joy, and happiness that this gospel brings in our lives. And now she wants her kids to get baptized! She had a mighty change of heart! So this week we are planning on baptizing two more people, Daniela and Alonso!

On Sunday we didn't have sacrament meeting. We received a transmission from President Oaks. Elder Christofferson also spoke. They talked a lot about temple blessings, ministering, and tithing. They are things that need to improve here in Chile. And they put a lot of emphasis on those things to see more progress of the church here in Chile.

This week was a week of miracles. I didn't get the change to say goodbye to the people in Paipote. We had a baptism last night and didn't have time. But my 7 months in Paipote will be 7 months that I will never forget!

2 Nephi 28:30  For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

Con mucho amor, Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: The Lord Blessing His Children

This last week was awesome! We had the great blessing of baptizing five people! On Saturday, we baptized four and on Sunday, one. It was such a great experience and they were all excited to be baptized that they wanted to stay in the water. The next day they were saying that they wanted to be baptized again! haha

This next week we are preparing three people to be baptized. But it will take some work. Kayla is 11. Her mom, Alejandra, is a member but was baptized as a kid and never went again, so she doesn't remember much. Alejandra just needs to come to church. We are also helping her to quit smoking, which is her addiction.

We are also teaching Ana. She is the mom of two of the kids that we baptized this past week. We are helping her to receive all the lessons and to continue with her desire to be baptized. Javier and Rocio are great. They are still working towards marriage and are planning to be baptized on the 22nd of this month! Pray that all these people can progress and that we can help them through the help of the Lord.

We have transfers this week--actually tomorrow. I will be staying here in Lujan. My companion will be leaving and will be going to an area in Moreno. He is excited but doesn't want to leave. He was a great companion. I will receive a new companion, Elder Rivera from Peru. He has about 11 months on the mission. Pray that the Lord will help us in the months of September and October!

Love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: The Gospel All Around the World

My new area will be: Lujan

Transfers are this next week. And I will be leaving. I have been in this area, Jardines, for the past six months. I have learned to love the people, the members, and my companion here. I am grateful for my time here and know that the Lord is blessing the people. I am now going to an area called Lujan. It is more city than my other area. My new companion is Elder Oviedo. I don´t know anything about him, but excited to work with him and get to know him.

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 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

Elder HJones: Remember Him

So we had transfers (cambios) and just as I had assumed, I am staying in Paipote. I will continue working with my companion Elder Estes and finish his training. He is super awesome and I am super excited to work with him another next transfer. 

There is a scripture that really describes the mission. It is found in Helaman 12:3,

3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.

I have seen this a lot in the mission. We, as missionaries, experience many difficulties and trials to help us grow. We go through hardships so we can remember Him, so we can trust in Him. This past week our baptism fell through. Because he was under 18, his mom made the decision that she didn't want her son to be baptized. It was hard because I was super excited to see Bastian get baptized. We have been working with him for a while and have really become friends.

But, like in Helaman 12:3, we don't understand everything. Sometimes we are a little prideful, caught up in our own success. And without the help of God through trials we will never truly be successful.

Les amo! Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: Staying in Jardines

We have transfers this week. I am staying in Jardines again but receiving a new companion. Elder Marquez is heading to a new area about 3-4 hours distance from my area. I am receiving a Chileno names Elder Rivas. I served with him in one of my past districts. I am excited to work with him and know that we can get a lot of work done here in this area!

This week I was reading in my personal study and found this scripture that I like.

Words Of Mormon 1:7
And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will

The Lord works in us to fulfill His purposes. He puts His trust in us and wants us to help Him with His will. We know His will is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. As His disciples and members of His church, we can help him fulfill His purposes. He knows all things and he can help us know the things that will help us become more like him and progress to live with Him someday! Have a great week!

Elder Jones

Elder CJones: In A Hurry

Everything is good here, tomorrow I have cambios and I will be serving in Matamoros.

Elder HJones: The Gospel = Happiness

Saturday was a super special day. We had the awesome opportunity to have a baptism for Maria Alvarez. She is 70 years old (mas o menos), reads the Book of Mormon everyday, attends church every week, and seriously has HUGE faith. We have been teaching her for months, since October. She has a fear of water, which kinda stopped her from getting baptized before. But, she was finally baptized on Saturday! Her grandson, who is member, baptized her. Her son and I helped her go into the font. When she came up, she was shaking, because she honestly has a fear of water. But after everything was over, the joy was unreal!! It was really a special moment of my mission.

It was such a special moment to see her get baptized, to watch her become a member of the church. This church is true. This gospel brings true happiness. I saw it on Saturday with Maria. Only through this gospel and Jesus Christ, we can have true happiness in our lives and in our families.

We had cambios. I am now serving in Copiapo. I took a PLANE to my next area. A bus would take 20-22 hours, so I took a plane because it is something new the mission is doing if areas are really far away from each other. My new companion is Elder Perez from Columbia. He has the same time out as me in the mission. Super excited to work with him and work with new investigators.

I had to say goodbye to all of the members and my converts in Arica. It was kinda hard, but I didn't cry. I have really grown close to them. They have become my friends, so it kinda stinks to leave them.

I have learned so much my past three cambios in my first area. I have learned so much from my trainer, Elder Lopez. He will stay in Arica and will train there his last two cambios of his mission. He has helped me to learn Spanish, even thought I am still trying, and the taught me how to become a missionary. It's good to change, though. Good to find new people and work with new people.

The mission is crazy, but it's totally worth it!

Elder ZJones: Transfers

Family Home Evening with investigators
(Lorena and Ludmila)

Transfers. I am leaving my first zone of Marcos Paz and going to Jardines in the city of Moreno. It is a new zone. Elder Sena and I are staying together. We are both excited to work in a new area. Please pray for us that we can find people ready to hear the gospel and we can teach by the spirit.

In Moroni 7:25 we read:

For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

Something that I learned from this week: We all make decisions. Everyone of us. No matter our age, height, how many people are in your family (I would know haha), etc. We all have choices that can help us in the long run or make it harder for us afterwards. But with these decisions, we all have the Spirit and light of Christ. And this helps us know how these decisions will help us in the long run. We can know the consequence beforehand and the warnings through the Spirit of Christ. And it always brings us to Christ. We have the ability to follow these promptings.

Familia Suarez

I am grateful for the Spirit and all it does to lead and guide us. It is a great gift that we can and have from our father in heaven. I know it is always ready to help us and give us the strength we need  through any situation.

This week, I also thought a lot about the temple and I miss it! I miss going to the temple almost every week with my brothers and sister. We talk about it sometimes in Elder Quorum and I explain that I lived 10 minutes from the temple and how much of a blessing it has been for me. I was definitely blessed to go to the temple with my mom and dad the day I left for Argentina.

Prestando Servicio

This week I was reading in 1 Nephi 6:4:

For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.

This is my purpose on the mission. I am here to persuade people to come unto Christ. I think the word persuade can mean many things. It is not solely just to change minds to believe what I believe,
but to invite others to open their hearts to remember what they used to know. I can help them through reading of the Book of Mormon, through prayer, through going to church, and through baptism. I am grateful I was taught these things ever since I was young. One lady asked me, "How long have you been studying this church?"  I had to chuckle inside as I smiled and explained that ever since I was born my parent have taught me and helped me learn this gospel. I was able to bear my testimony with her about how much this gospel blesses families and the impact it has had in my life.

Have a wonderful week!

Elder Jones

Elder CJones: Family is of God

"Pray as though everything depended on God.
Work as though everything depended on you."

-Saint Augustine

Well to start it all off, I got to Video Call my family this week!! It was great to talk with them and see them all--LIVE--face to face. I know that families are of God and I am so grateful for my family!

Today has been crazy! Along with the Mother's Day present, we also received transfers this week! I am one who is getting transferred again. I will be headed to another city called Valle Hermoso. Valle Hermoso is a small city a few hours from Rio Bravo and Reynosa. It's more to the south.

Image Source: http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Valle-Hermoso

I will be leaving some really great people and investigators here in Rio Bravo. Recently, we were teaching a man named Adrian. He has been having some doubts about the Church and he has a lot of questions, but he has a desire to read the Book of Mormon and find the truth. He works a lot and doesn't have a lot of time to go to church. He is a really cool guy and I am praying that he will progress and one day be baptized.

We recently met another family, the Morelos family. They have been searching for the truth for a very long time. They are hoping that through the Book of Mormon and our discussions they can find the truth and find out which church is the true church of Jesus Christ. They are praying to find the answer as they read and study, their names are Sergio and Ana.

Our last investigator from the Mexican state of Campeche. Her name is Ezperanza. She is here helping her daughter take care of her baby. We passed her house one day and knocked on the door. She answered and we talked about her life down where she is from. She has come to church once and plans to read the Book of Mormon we gave to her. She has really strong faith and feels the the Gospel and the message that we bring is right. I pray that she will follow her desires and the promptings of the Spirit.

I know this work is true. I know that even when things go wrong (and they always will). May we be willing to rise up and never stay down when we will find times that are truly tough. Sometimes, it will be hard to follow up on something when it never seems to be going our way. Sometimes, we feel let down and sometimes we feel alone. At times, we my feel that we are the only ones suffering through the pain and disappointment. But there is Someone out there who wants to help us. His name is Jesus Christ and He knows all of our pains and afflictions. He is our greatest Friend and Helper and when we feel that we don't deserve anything good, He knows the best. He will always help.

One of my favorite movie series of all time is that of the Batman Trilogy by Christopher Nolan. I have learned some great lessons from those movies. One of the examples is in the first movie "Batman Begins.' After he is trained and is given an option to destroy his city, he makes up his mind to help the city and he would help them as long as they let him. Batman's trainer becomes angry because Batman will not destroy the city. In the past, I have thought about this and the importance of how this can apply to the Gospel. Those bad murderers in the movie are like Satan, he knows that we are imperfect and wants to destroy us, our Savior is like Batman. (Yes and I am really comparing this). Our Savior wants to help us but only as long as we let Him. Though Jesus Christ anything is possible. Yes, it's hard. Yes, we will suffer, and yes, it will hurt.  But just like Batman is said, "The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming."

I testify of the grace and mercy of our Savior Jesus Christ and the power that comes through his Atoning sacrifice. When we turn to the Lord, our hearts will change and we will become like Him.

Love you all,
Elder Corom Jones

"Your compassion is a weakness your enemies will not share. That's why it's so important. It separates us from them." -Dialogue from Batman Begins

Elder CJones: General Conference and Transfers

"Church sleep is the healthiest of all sleeps" -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

My email isn't that long this week. I have to go home and pack all my things. I will be serving for at least the next six weeks in Rio Bravo, Mexico. Rio Bravo is a smaller city about a half an hour drive east of Reynosa. Rio Bravo is more of a sketchy place. There are drug cartels everywhere and it's a more dangerous city than Reynosa. I am really excited to go and serve the people there.

Image Source: http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Rio-Bravo

As I have listened to some of conference and as I have worked out here in the mission field, I want to bear my testimony of the truthfulness and the amazing qualities we have in our church. I have seen people that don't have the full blessings of the church and I have also seen people change their lives--and the joy they get in their lives as they completely feel the joy that comes to them as they come to church and get baptized.

General Conference was amazing!! Even though I was not able to watch everything. It was amazing as I got to watch in English. The internet services here and the televisions aren't the greatest things ever, so we went to a little internet place to watch conference. Even though we had to pay to watch, we were able to feel the Spirit in that little place.

This week I have been studying a lot about the power of covenants. It's amazing to see the power of covenants and what we can do with them and how they effect our lives. I will share more about what I have been learning about that next week! But it all starts in Alma 24.

-- Elder Corom Jones

"One kind of service is not above another." -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Don't look around, look up." -Elder Yoon Hwan Choi

Elder CJones: Transfers, New Year's, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ

This week has been very interesting, but before, I would like to apologize for my grammar. The Spanish language has really been messing with my speech and my writing so I will do my best to express myself.

First off, I'm getting transferred!! Transferred to a new area in the northern part of the city, which means more malos (People for the Cartel) and more poverty. I am so excited to start in this area and teach the people. The people here are so humble and such great members.

This week started with a goal, the goal was to teach at least 2 people the first lesson. Well, we taught one person and she will hopefully join the church in the future. The work this past week was super hard. The holidays are huge here in Mexico and we have to be very careful about what we do on the holidays. The people here throw on crazy parties and get so drunk that they have no idea where they are, they love to sing when they are drunk, so after all the parties, we can walk down the streets and hear drunk people singing to the radio.

New Years' Eve, what a day to remember, we had to be very careful in the streets, even more so in the evening. A family hosted us that night, we had some amazing food and had an awesome karaoke party.

Story time---

Before my mission, I took Spanish in Junior High and 3 years in High School, in the 5 years I had 3 teachers. My last teacher, Mr. Draper, I had for a year and a half, and was probably my favorite teacher ever. He loved music and loved soccer. He served his mission in Uruguay, and during the mission he was given the privilege to listen to the radio to learn Spanish. He listened and found some amazing groups to listen to. During class he would play these groups on the big speakers he had in his room. I liked this music and listened to some before my mission. There was one group, Reik, that I really loved and I listened to them all the time as I would practice my Spanish and I just loved the style. Eventually I memorized the lyrics to some of the songs and I would sing with it. Anyway, at the party, they started playing some of the songs that I know the lyrics to, so I started to sing with them and they were so shocked that I knew the words to the songs that they were playing. We continue to sing until we had to go home. The family was so great to host us for the night, there are 3 daughters in the family and they are all learning English, so we help each other with the languages.

Since I am being transferred, I was able to visit some of the members of the ward. I went to visit our ward mission leader as well as the bishop of the ward. The bishop reminds me of my dad years ago when he was the bishop. Our bishop has 3 little kids and they are off-the-walls crazy, so that would have been my brothers and me, and my mom had to take care of all of us. I love the people of this ward and I am going to be sad to leave, but I know that it's what the Lord needs of me, so I can grow and so I can bless the people in the other area.

I want to share with you a tender mercy of the Lord that was expressed these last 2 weeks. When I arrived to the field, I got to our house and it was a mess, there was so much junk everywhere, so the next few weeks when I would get the time to clean I would, I would find dead cockroaches, like 4 inches long, and I bunch of stuff, but one the the greatest things I found was a box of books. They are books about different subjects on the gospel and I was really interested in them. I asked the other missionaries and they said that they weren't their books so I took most of them and began looking through them. They are books by apostles, like James E Talmage. I stopped at one book, "The Peacegiver" by James L Ferrell. It's a book about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I decided to read and as I read I learned so much about the book, I finished it in one night after we returned, this was the week before Christmas.After I finished, I went back through the book and studied the scripture references and the stories that we written in the book, everything that was shared was something that I needed to hear about me, and about my role and what I need to do to have the full power of the Atonement's expressed to me. It tells of two stories in the Bible, the stories of Abigail and David and also the story of Jonah and the example they both are for the Atonement. I know that Christ has cleansed all of us through the Atonement, that we can all overcome anything if we just show an open and willing heart to the Savior.

I love this work. I wish I could share it with everyone in the world. I have been out 76 days, 2 months and 15 days, and I have already seen my testimony grow and my understanding of the doctrines of the gospel have been a blessing to me as I have studied and applied the teachings to my life. I testify that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can overcome and accomplish anything. The Atonement is there for us to use so we can live with our Father in Heaven again.

I made some goals for this next year, I am going to give you a challenge. Find a way, in your talents or abilities, to share the gospel in your daily life. I know that if you do, you will see a flood of blessings in your life and the Spirit will be more prominent in your lives. I love this gospel and I am to thankful that I am about to share this joy with the world.
--
Elder Corom Jones

"Being mistreated is the most important condition of mortality, for eternity itself depends on how we view those who mistreat us."  --James L Ferrell