Elder HJones: The Will of God

This week was full of ups and downs. Parts of the week I felt unstoppable, but then God would humble me and give me a difficult day. It reminded me of a Mormon Message called, "The Will of God."

Sometimes, we think that we know our future. We think that we have everything figured out. But we don't. We are like plants in the garden of life and God is our Gardener.

Sometimes we want to grow to become what we want to be. God knows who we need to be and who we can become. So many times, He "cuts us down." He puts trials, afflictions, and difficulties in our path. He does this to help us grow, to help us become. I feel throughout this week God has "cut me down," and helped me grow. I know it's helping me become a better missionary.

My Spanish has really grown. I still has a long way to go, but I can really tell it's better. Understanding was the hardest part when I started, and I feel like I'm slowly starting to understand people. I have really felt and seen the hand of God helping me with my Spanish.

We had another baptism last week for a 14 year old named Alexander Mamani. It is truly a blessing to see people accept the gospel and join the church.

This church is true. If you are going through difficulties, pray. God hears you. He is our Father and we are His children. He wants to hear from us, and he is willing to pour blessings upon us when we do.

Love, Elder Jones

Elder CJones: The Pressure of Work

Selfie

Not a lot happened this week. Here the work is really hard. Not a lot of people like to listen to us. Contrary to what people like to say about Mexico, it's really hard to find people who will listen and who are really ready to hear the Gospel. The people are really humble and really religious. So, they believe in their religion very strongly. Sometimes it gets hard, but I know that we are here to find the people that are ready to change their lives.

I have been out almost a quarter of my 2 years. 21% done. The mission goes by really, really fast and we have these two years to find people that are ready 100% to hear our message, change their lives, and be baptized. I really love this Gospel and really love the things that happen here.

We found a guy that is a member and just moved here. We started to talk to him and found out that he was born in Cuba. He moved to the U.S. and lived in Miami. One day, he was browsing the internet and saw a video about the church--a video about a pastor from another church just bashing our church. He then searched our church and wanted to be baptized because he felt that if someone was bashing a church that bad, there must be something good about it.

There are so many good things that we can do to share the Gospel with the people around us and it is so easy. I hope that all of you will try to share the Gospel with someone around you and find that joy that only comes to us when we have the Gospel.

P-day at Taqueria Payaso

 I'm sorry this week's letter is not too long. Other than the normal contacting and work, we are just getting the things done that we need to do. I love the work and wish that I could share with you the amazing things that happen when we turn our lives more to Christ and feel of the blessings that come when we do.

-- Elder Corom Jones

 "Heavenly Father's interest in you does not depend on how rich or beautiful or healthy or smart you are. He sees you not as the world sees you; He sees who you really are. He looks on your heart. And He loves you because you are His child." -Dieter F Uchdorf

Exchanges with Elder Hargis

Elder CJones: Fightin' Battles

Well, this week has been a week of contacting a lot and just trying to keep the faith through the hard times.

It hasn't been easy. I have yet to have a baptism and the zone leaders are planching people that don't have them yet. One thing that I learned this week, and have been learning for the past couple weeks, is that the people who are truly converted to the church will want to change their lives. Some people will just go through the motions but will never be baptized because they haven't had that change of heart that is talked about in Alma 5.

We had a couple more baptisms fall this week because they weren't fully committed to a life in the church. We are working with the members a lot more than before and making sure that we can be
successful in finding people that are ready to be 100% in the church. I really love teaching the people here and it's getting easier every week.

Me encanta enseñando las personas aquí porque a veces siento que cuando yo enseño con mi compañero estoy creciendo mi testimonio del Evangelio de Jesucristo. Es bien difícil escribir en Español pero, es cierto que para hablar, es más fácil.

This week has been a week of personal learning and growth. I am so grateful for this gospel and am so grateful that we can change our hearts.

There are a lot of people here that never are fully converted. A big problem here is that the people will say they are converted, but after the baptism, they become inactive and never go back to church. That is one of the things that we, as missionaries do. We go and reactivate the people and bring them back into the fold of God. We go to their homes and teach them about the blessings and doctrines of the Gospel.

Faith is one of the first things we teach because it is through faith that we can truly be changed. It is through faith we can do anything and I want to share with you what I personally have thought about faith.

In Ether chapter 12 we learn a lot about faith. Moroni interrupts the teaching of Ether and writes this,

"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

Our faith is not faith unless it is tried. When we show our faith, we are showing that we want to follow God. God challenges that faith to see if it really is strong and true. When we pass the test of our faith, God then knows He can bless us when we need it. But remember, He will never give us more than we can handle. When we have that faith we then know we can turn to God for anything, thus comes the counsel later in the chapter,

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Only through faith and works does God truly make us strong.

Love you all!!
Elder Corom Jones

"Fight all your battles on your knees and you will win every time."
-Unknown (Sent to me by my brother, Hyrum)