Elder ZJones: Christlike Attributes

It has started to get cold at night and in the morning, but during the day it is hot! It's the change from Fall to Winter.

We started working in an area where we never worked before and we found a family that I taught in Jardines! They are helping us teach their neighbors. Abril, one of their neighbors, will be getting baptized this weekend. We will be helping her other two siblings to get baptized next week!! Please pray for them that they will continue to have this desire and that all will go well. We worked hard and 6 people came to church with us this Sunday! We also found a family that wants to learn more. It is the Saldaña family. It is a single mom and she has a ton of kids. We talked with 5 of them and they all want to come to church! We will be helping them so that they can come with us this Sunday to church. Pray for us that we will be able to commit them well so that they will feel and know that they should go to church!!!

We had zone conference this past week.

One thing that I loved was when Presidente Resek explained why Christlike attributes are so important. He explained that it is how we receive exaltation. As we become more like Jesus Christ and learn to live as He did, we will receive exaltation and receive a place in God's Kingdom!! I know it is true. I will be studying better Christlike attributes. I will be sharing the things that I learn with you. This week I will be studying paciencia!!

Elder EJones: Let Us Be Faithful

This week was good, and yes, it was incredibly fast. I've learned a lot with my new companion, and right now were working with 3 investigators that are progressing really well. Erika and her daughter Madaley have come to church about 4 times, and have a fecha por el 13. So please pray for them. They come, but need prayers so that they can really feel that the message that we are giving to them is true, and that it testifies of Jesus Christ as our Savior. The other that we are teaching is Yolanda, shes from Venezuela and is 14. She is also progressing really well and has lots of help from some members that are helping her to progress.

I CANT WAIT FOR CONFERENCE. Literally, my comp and I have been talking a whole lot about it and how excited we are, and how slow this week is gonna be, and yes we did like conference before it was cool, if you know what I mean. And now everyone wants to join the bandwagon when we are the real originals. But yes, I've already noted some questions, and yes some predictions as well, I'm amazed at how many rumors we hear about conference here in the mission.

I like a part in PMG that says, "al crecer su propio entendimiento el la expaicion de Jesucristo, aumentara en usted el deseo para compartir el evangelio." I know that that is true! As we learn to love and live the teachings of Jesus Christ, we learn to love him more. We learn what it was that he really did for us. He suffered, bled from every bore, a pain that was hard for the Son of God to even bare. He was mocked, spit upon, tempted and more. In Alma 7:11-13 it talks about what He did for us and I found a few things he suffered PAINS, AFFLICTIONS, TEMPTATIONS, SICKNESS, INFIRMITIES, WEAKNESSES, SINS, AND TRANSGRESSIONS. Sometimes, I don't even realize all that He did for me. He was then crucified, He experienced physical and spiritual death. Nothing that we will ever face in life will ever come close to a portion to what He did for each one of us individually. I know that He loves us, and that His atonement was and is eternal.

I think of all the things that we taught this week in our lessons was faith. But too many times we don't understand faith. Its not only to believe, but to act. To use what we do know, and to act upon that.

Nephi explains, "Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him."

We don't just have faith, we have faith in Jesus Christ. Faith that he is the Redeemer of the World and our Savior. He loves us, and wants us to follow him. This week we are working with three investigators, Erika, Madaley, and Yolanda. Pray for them that they can and will exercise their faith in Jesus Christ, so that they can receive all the blessings that the Lord has for them.

Love you all,
Elder Jones
(and a little too excited for general conference)

Elder ZJones: Cambios

This week we have transfers. And I will be staying in Gral Rodriguez! I am excited to continue working here. My Companion, Elder Rivera, just finished his mission today. It was such a blessing to be  able to work with him and learn from him. We worked hard this past week and baptized two people, Pablo and Deysi this past weekend! He was super excited and the family as well. There parents want to be baptized, but they need to get married. We are helping them with the process so that they can be baptized in the Church Of Jesus Christ.

My new companion is Elder Candela! He is from Spain. He has about 16 months on the mission. I am excited to work with him and know that we will see a lot of miracles!

There is a line in Preach My Gospel that says:

As your understanding of the Savior’s sacrifice, also known as the Atonement of Jesus Christ, grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase. You will feel, as Lehi did, the “great … importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth” (2 Nephi 2:8).

As we study and learn more about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our desire to become more like Him and to follow Him will grow. We will have a true desire to take upon ourselves the name of Christ and always remember him. As we follow Him and His commandments , He will be bless us.

Have a great week!

Con Amor,

Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: Why We Preach and Teach

This week has been a crazy one. A lot of rain at the beginning of the week. It wasn't the best experience, especially when I am riding on a dirt road on a bike. Half the time I am pulling and pushing my bike through the mud!

Our investigators are doing great. Bibiana is going to be baptized this Saturday. We are all excited for her and the decision she had made to be baptized. We also met another guy named Sebastian. We taught him the Restoration. He had many questions and really wants to believe that our message is true. We are working with him to help him and his family.

A funny thing that happened this week. On Saturday we met a guy on the street. He was really drunk and we started talking with him. We invited him to church and he actually came. He was drunk when he came, though. He slept in principles class and started snoring really loud. During Sacrament Meeting, he sat quietly and listened. I don't really know if he is interested or not. Along with the bishops, we talked to him a little about coming to church. He wants to change his life so we are trying to figure out how to help him.

My Companion goes home today, meaning tomorrow, and I will receive new companion. I know his name is Elder Sena and he is from Brazil. I'm excited but also not sure what to think because our area just doubled in size and there is a lot of work that needs to be done. I am hoping that we are both ready to help and teach in this area.

I was reading in Preach My Gospel and read this:

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: “We do not preach and teach in order to ‘bring people into the Church’ or to increase the membership of the Church. We do not preach and teach just to persuade people to live better lives. … We invite all to come unto Christ by repentance and baptism and confirmation in order to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and daughters of God. No one else can do this”

The most important thing for me to do and the my purpose in Argentina is to help people come unto Christ. By helping them come unto Christ I need to help them repent and be baptized. It is good if they hear the words that we speak to them, but it is important and vital that they come into the fold of God and do the things necessary to live in the presence of God one day. I know this is true and that this church and the message I share can truly change people lives!