Elder EJones: Week 2

Me and the mango tree in front of my pension

This week has been a week of lots of learning and lots of progressing.

First off, I learned that I can't understand a word that anyone here is speaking. So I'm learning to trust in the Lord more and more, and to rely on the Spirit more and more as I do all I can to listen and to learn Spanish.

I also feel much better than I did. Last Tuesday I was up and running back to normal, thanks so much for the prayers. I've been feeling good health wise, but the language is hard. It's hard to understand what others are saying, and I'm learning patience to be able to speak the language and understand it.

The food is good. Lots of rice and potatoes and chicken. Things are good with my comp. He doesn't speak much English, so I help him with English as he helps me with Spanish. I'm learning how to have patience as a companion, to overcome our differences, and trust in the spirit to guide us. Elder Reyes is a great companion.

The heat isn't too bad . . . it's the humidity that is killer! haha.

This Sunday was great! We had ward conference and the coolest part to me was to be able to sustain President Nelson. This is something I'll be able to do this Saturday, as well. And I was abler to focus more. I am just grateful for the same gospel and Spirit no matter where I am. We did have a couple friends come to church, but as many as we invited actually came when we went to pick them up.

I've learned this week a lot about patience. That I need to be patient and things will work out. Especially with learning and understanding Spanish.

This past week we met lots of people through contacting. The people here are really receptive to listening and allowing us to share messages with them. This week we found two new friends to teach, Andrea, and Jose. Both are learning so much. Andrea is going to school and is receptive to what were teaching, and has a baptismal date for the 27th of October. Jose is learning a lot, and has been really receptive to it all, he has a really good understanding of the Bible, and everything is just clicking with him to why we have and need the Book of Mormon.

This week has been hard, but I'm learning. Can't wait to continue to be able to preach this message of Joy and love that the Lord has for us. And I CANT WAIT for General Conference. I know that prophets and apostles are called of God!!

With Love,
Elder Jones

Elder HJones: My New Area

So this week was pretty good. I am in a new sector. I have a new companion and a new district.

My area is good. It's really big. It takes into it the center of Copiapo, which is like a huge mall. So we don't work in half of our sector because it is just stores and people that don't live in our area. The sector here is different than in Paipote, and I am excited to learn how I can find, teach, and baptize people!

My companion is cool. His name is Elder Colson and he's from Grantsville. He is really tall and likes to play basketball. And, he loves the Utah Jazz and Donovan Mitchell. He tells me that Mitchell was super good last year. Elder Colson has two months in the mission so he is still learning how to communicate with the people and how to teach in the lessons. I have been really cool to be able to help him with those things. He is growing a lot. And I am also learning a lot as his trainer.

I like training. One thing that it does is it kinda forces me to be proactive. Sometimes I like to wait for someone to tell me to do something first. But in this week, with my new companion, I have to do more. Training a non-native  it is helping me grow. My last companion was really awesome and I learned a lot from him. But, because he was a native, I really didn't have to be so proactive about the language, about talking to people. But now with Elder Colson I feel the challenge to do better and be proactive.

And my district is really good, too. I am the district leader of the sisters again. They are way awesome and work really hard. Our goal for baptisms this month is 10! Vamos!!

This coming week we are planning on baptizing Carlos. So please pray that everything works out for him to get baptized. He wants to make the commitment, its more of family issues that would stop him.

And Spanish is funny right now. Because now that I have a new companion that cannot speak the language, I have to do almost all the talking--So many people tell me that my Spanish is perfect and then, so many people  tell me or laugh at me because they can't understand me that well at all. It's kinda funny! haha

This past week, I was able to go back to my old area in Paipote to perform a baptism. It was really awesome. It was awesome to see how the people we taught had changed. In the beginning, the mom didn't want anything with us. But now that her children are baptized, she is going to church and it is slowly softening her heart. Its awesome to see how God works and how He changes the people that we teach. He really does prepare.

I just want you all to know that everything is good here in Chile. It is really hot. We are entering the summer season here, and its super hot during the day. My skin is darker so everyone thinks that I am a Latino. Seriously, so many people think that I am from Argentina, it's kinda funny. And all the Chileanos are preparing for the 18 of September. Its their Independence Day and people say that it's HUGE. So people are already really excited for it.

This week we are going to focus a lot in finding people. We are going to do our best to find chosen people. So please pray that we can find the people that God is preparing now and pray that they can recognize us as representatives of Jesus Christ.

Les amo! Elder Jones

Elder HJones: Work for Blessings

"Nadie recibe experiencias grandiosas con mínimo esfuerzas."

This was a hard week for me. Not really because the sector was bad, more kinda personally. I have learned in the mission that Satan wants everyone to fall. He doesn't want our investigators to progress. But he also doesn't want missionaries to progress. This week was hard with the language. It's easy to get frustrated with myself when the language isn't as good as I want it. When people in the street or members constantly tell me that they can't understand me, or I need to improve my Spanish. I know its not there intention to make me feel bad, but sometimes it just stinks.

So this week I learned that no matter my circumstances. No matter how hard the mission is, physically, mentally, personally, I still need to work hard. Con animo, con el Epíritu. It's easy to give up or slow down when it hard. But the blessings come when we get up and press forward, even when its difficult. I have learned this week that my efforts, in every moment, mean something. That when things are easy and successful, I need to continue working hard. And when things are hard and I feel like I'm failing, I need to continue working hard.

I had my birthday this week! And it was Elder Perez's birthday (my companion), this week too! It was good. We spent some time with members in our branch and ate a lot of food.

We can't receive great blessings, miracles, and experiences if we don't work for it. Blessings are like a cake. If we want these blessings, we need to bake a cake. We need to work for our blessings.

We cant wait for miracles to come, we have to get up and look for them.

Love, Elder Jones

Miracle Story:

So last Monday I lost my wallet. It had my mission card and my personal debit card inside. I left it in a collectivo (taxi). I called the mission office about it that night. They canceled my mission card. But they said that they cant do anything about my personal card. That I needed to wait a week to email my parents to cancel it.

I was worried. Because I am from a different country my card works like a credit card, so you don't need a pin to use the card. So someone can take all of the money that was on the card. I prayed so hard during the week to either find it, or that a crazy person wasn't using it. In my prayers I pretty much told God that I trust Him. That I cant do anything about it, but that I can trust Him that everything will be alright.

Anyway. The collectivo driver found us in the street driving past and gave it to me. Oh man...super grateful. Strengthens my testimony that God cares. Even the small things in our lives. And through faith, we have no need to worry!

Elder HJones: Hay Oposición En Todas Cosas

This week I learned a lot about opposition. I learned even more that Satan is real, and he doesn't want us to be happy. He does everything in his ability to make us miserable, like himself.

We were planning on having a baptism this past Saturday for a 15 year old girl named Tiare. She is super awesome. Friday night, the day before her baptism, she called us. She told us that she was leaving for vacation the next morning (the morning of her baptism) and she wouldn't be able to be baptized. This was hard. So hard. We were so excited to see her get baptized, but it didn't work out. But she returns in March, and we are gonna work with her when she gets back.

Throughout the mission I have seen Satan at work. More then I ever have before. He is real, and he knows that the message we have is true. That our message brings happiness and exaltation. And he uses any method to hinder our progression, whether it be friends, vacations, or fear. But if we build our testimony in Christ, we cannot fall.

Helaman 5:12--
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God,that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo,because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

And this week, I also learned a lot about love and the importance and the blessings that come from love.

One of the hardest parts about the language is when people make fun of me. The other day, this investigator in another area (I was on intercambios) kinda made me angry. We were talking with him and I was speaking wrong or I understood wrong. Well, he started making fun of my Spanish, thinking that I didn't understand, but I did. I felt like an idiot. I try so hard with the language, then people bring me down.

But I learned amor (love). It is only through love that I can help personas venir a Cristo (come unto Christ). So even if people laugh at me or compare me to their 5 year old son, all I can do is laugh at myself and love them.

Yesterday we had two investigators in the church. They are really awesome. One is a nine-year old boy named Ismael and he is super awesome. He wants to get baptized really bad. 

Have a great week!

Love, Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: Families Are Forever

This week has been one to remember. A lot went on that has helped me grow spiritually.
I got a new companion this week. His name is Elder Sena. He is from Brazil and has been a member for three years. He is 21 years old an

d has been on the mission for 14 months. He mostly speaks all in Spanish, and now that he is my comp, I am speaking so much Spanish throughout the day, which is hard at times. I don't know much and I can't get everything across that I say, but I know that this companionship will help strengthen my Spanish. I am still trying to understand my companion and figure him out. It is hard to do that with a language barrier.

I had my first baptism and confirmation this week. It was such an amazing experience. It was awesome to see how much it impacted Bibiana by being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost. Seeing this has given me more energy to go and teach. In a year, Bibiana and her family can go and be sealed in the temple. This is such a great blessing and gift that we have received from the Lord, being able to live with our families forever. This gospel truly does bless families and truly wants us to be happy. Speaking of families, one thing I really miss being out here on the mission, is having family home evening every week. But I know that I have another work I am doing right now. A work that is not centered around me learning, but centered in teaching others.

We are still teaching the Escobar Family and they all came to church on Sunday! They are an awesome family. Right now, we are helping them get married.

This week  I gave my first, Spanish priesthood blessing. During lunch with a member, her son (who isn't a member) was eating with us. He is in his 30's and explained that he has many problems and questions in his life. We taught him about prayer and how the Book of Mormon can answer his questions. We explained about priesthood blessings and he asked for one. He asked me! And, with help at the beginning from Elder Sena, I gave him a blessing. It was such an awesome experience and the Spirit was strong. I am grateful for the priesthood that I hold and the many things I can do to bless the lives of others.

I know this gospel is true and the Spirit is here to teach. To be completely honest, the past 13 weeks of Church have been difficult for me because I can't understand the speakers or a lot of what is being said. But, I do feel the Spirit. The spirit knows all languages and can help us feel of Gods love and power though I may not understand. I love this gospel and work. This work truly does change peoples lives and makes them happy!

Elder Jones

Elder HJones: Mountains to Climb

It was a rough week. But that's good because without bad weeks I wouldn't know good weeks. The members here don't always find time to help us, so it is difficult to have lessons with members. So this next week Elder Lopez and I really want to help the members find joy in missionary work.

Today for P-Day we made milanesa! It was way good. And we finally got to do a service project. We painted a fence light green! The best part is that we did it in our white shirts!

We also had a miracle this past week. With an investigator named Lilian. I don't want to tell you the story until she gets baptized though. Ha ha. But pray for her. She really has a desire to find the true church. She is one of those investigators that I know God prepared beforehand for us to teach!

On Wednesday, I went on intercambios (24 hour companion switch) with one of the zone leaders, Elder Sheridan. My companion went somewhere else and I stayed in my area so I had the opportunity of leading our area for that day. At first I didn't want to, my Spanish isn't that good, and I don't know the area that well. But it turned out to be one of the best experiences on my mission so far. I learned so much about myself and I really felt the Saviors help.

We are constantly given "mountains to climb." We are given trials and difficulties, but its good for us. These difficulties strengthen us, and help us learn more about ourselves. I am grateful for trials!

 Love you all, Elder Jones

"Be faithful unto the end, and lo, I am with you. These words are not of man nor of men, but

of me, even Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, by the will of the Father."  D&C 31:13

Elder ZJones: Spanish is HARD

Mission weeks are full! There is so much that goes on in the mission field and a lot that needs to get done. Teaching, contacting, investigators, and studies. It makes the day full. I am still trying to get used to everything and transitioning to be a missionary. I think the hardest part is the language.

First, is trying to understand. There are some days where I can pick out words from conversations and get the jest of what is being said. Then, there are other day where I am totally lost. Second, is speaking. I am very limited on what I can say. I know the gospel but not the words. This can be frustrating at time in lessons and contacting people. There have been times where my companion turns to me to answer and I have no clue what happened! I just need to be patient. It will take time. I just have to continue to try to speak and understand the people.

The daily schedule is good. We get up at 6:30. We have 30 minutes to workout. We have until 8:30 to eat and get ready for the day. Afterward, we have daily planning and personal study. After that it kinda depends on what we planned for the day. There are some things we have to do. We fit in companionship study, language study for an hour a day, and doce semanas 12 weeks), my training. If we have citas (lessons), we work around them. We do contacting to find people to teach. We don't have a siesta, we usually contact during that time. We are in our pension (apartment) at 9:00 and go to bed at 10:30.

How we receive investigators most of the time is through contacts. As we contact people in the streets, we are able to teach lessons to them later through the week. As we are able to teach them more about the gospel and principles that can help them, I have seen a difference in how it has affected them. For some, it is easy to understand and for others it is harder. I think the hardest thing I have seen so far is authority. It is hard for them to understand that there is one true church and God's authority is important. Many believe faith is enough. Elder Oakes and I are trying hard to help them understand more about the importance of the power of God that our church as been given.

I don't understand the layouts of the streets just yet. We have bikes but also do a lot of walking to contact people on the streets. A lot of people walk pass and don't look at us. Most people say hello back but aren't interested. I like how my companion gives me opportunities to speak to people in the streets. My comp has been here for two transfers. There are two other elders in out same area and ward. Elder Williams came with my group and is new like I am. He is from Syracuse, Utah. The other elder has been out eight months. He is from Montana. It is always fun to talk with them.

Let me just say that church here is nothing like church in Utah!! The wards are so small. The building is very small, as well. We live about 10 minutes walking from the church building. We were able to have two of our investigators come to church, which was a blessing. It was Fast Sunday yesterday and I went and introduced myself. It was awesome, though my Spanish was probably wrong. haha

I still don't have words to describe the mission. I am so excited to eventually learn the language and help the people in the best ways that I can. The mission is hard, but it changes us. It helps us focus more on others rather than ourselves.

There are long weeks ahead that I know will change my life!

Love, Elder Jones

Elder HJones: God Has A Plan for Everyone

Taken my first day

This week was pretty hard. I literally don't understand anything people say. It's hard to speak, too. I want to talk to everyone and understand everyone, but that's gonna take patience. People talk to me, and I have no clue what to say. So I pray literally 24/7 for God's help. It's frustrating sometimes, because I know what I want to say, I just can't say it. I just need to realize that God knows I can speak Spanish. I got called to Chile for a reason.

Some days, I feel like the mission will never end. Like I will live in Chile for the rest of my life. Its hard, but the best feeling I get is when I bear my testimony in my terrible Spanish. I really feel close to God and that I'm doing His work.

Our schedule is pretty much exercise and plan in the morning, work and eat lunch, work some more, then return to the casa and go to bed. I actually wake up at 7:30am and go to bed at 11:30pm. Everything is shifted one hour ahead.

I had my first sacrament meeting in the mission. It was comforting. I guess for the first time in my mission, I didn't feel so far from home.

Yesterday, we had two investigators come to church with us, so that was great! Not a lot of people are members here, so the ward was really small. We meet a lot of members at church, but its hard to find them during the week. We knock doors quite a bit. We live with two other Elders. Elder Camara is from Brazil and Elder is Perez from Bolivia. We live in a member's home. All the elders in our house speak Spanish, so I really am immersed in the idioma (language).

The food is really good. I never ate salad at home, and I'm kinda forced to eat it here and I would be lying if I didn't say that I actually kinda enjoy it. They also put mayonnaise on a lot of things. I am getting used to that, too.

Arica, Chile looks nothing like Utah. The homes are a lot different. Dogs are everywhere so I hear barking all day long. Borrachos (drunk guys) are everywhere, too. Yesterday, a borracho walked up to us and starting talking to us. He was talking about Joseph Smith, but I couldn't really understand him. I was so confused but it ended with him wanting to fight me. YES, FIGHT ME!!! We finally kinda walked away but it was pretty strange. God protected me so I know I am safe.

And I know God has a plan for all of us. My companion, Elder Lopez, and I are teaching two sisters. We learned that their abuelo (grandfather) was very sick and died the other day. It's amazing how right when a tragedy occurs in life, God sends someone to help. I am grateful that God has a plan for everyone. Sometimes we don't understand why things happen but God is always with us trying to help us.

The mission is hard. I feel like I am never gonna learn the language, but it is a blessing. It is so hard to understand people. People talk to me and I have no clue what they said. So it's a work in progress. I just need to learn patience. I am not gonna learn a new language in two weeks.

Thanks so much for your prayers!

Love, Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: My First Real Week in Argentina

What a crazy week!!!

I left the MTC last Tuesday morning. From there, I met my mission president, President Resek, and received my trainer. My trainer is Elder Oakes! He is from Yuba City, California! He is really awesome. He speaks English which is nice because he helps me understand a lot of what is going on. I am his very last comp. He leaves home in November!

I am serving in the area of Marcos Paz. It is an area about an hour out from Buenos Aires. There are two wards in this area and six missionaries. Apparently, this area isn't an area that baptizes a lot and not a lot happens. But we want to change that. There are a lot of dirt roads and mud. It rains pretty good down here. I have a bike, which is nice. We can get around faster. We also get around by bus and they get so full of people!

The language is difficult. I did learn some things in the MTC, but it isn't the same. I can't really understand any of what the people are speaking. I am very limited on what I can say. My companion is great and helps me a lot on what people ask me and what we are talking about. We have done a lot of contacting and placing Books of Mormon. This past week, we have taught some lessons and I have gotten to know more about some of the people we will be teaching.

The food here is great! They have a lot of meat with their food--which is awesome! I have had soup, Milanesa, Choripan, and other things. Still getting used to it, if you know what I mean. We also receive food a lot from members. We don't have siesta time so ​members feed us lunch then we go teach or contact. I love contacting people even though I don't understand the people. My comp helps me out.

And there are dogs everywhere here. All over the streets you can see dogs sleeping and trying to find food. The driving here is crazy as well! I am so glad that I am not driving here. I know it wouldn't end well! ha ha

General Conference was awesome. I learned so much and was able to watch it in English! One of my favorites was the talk from Elder Ballard. He said that we need to welcome anyone who is making their trek today towards this gospel. I need to use my energy, strength and testimony to bring the blessing of the gospel of the Restoration to them. Because this gospel is for every, single one of God's children, not just an elect few. I need to talk and share the gospel with as many people as I can out here.

I am grateful that I am able to serve a mission. Though I can't understand the people here I know that they need the gospel and want it. The best thing we can do is to bear our testimonies to them and help them feel the Spirit. I know the gospel is true and am already loving Argentina!!!

Love, Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: Proselyting

Hello Everyone!!! I am doing great! I am half-way through the MTC now!!! What an experience it has been. There has been tons and tons of studying. But I have learned a lot. My Spanish is still very bad but it is getting better.

I did have my first hair cut and it is very short!!! But I am going to have to get used to it for the next two years.

I have two MTC instructors. Hermana Carduz served in the Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission and is from Argentina. My other instructor is Hermano Ledesma and he served in Mexico. They are both pretty awesome and have taught me a lot!!

We don´t have a gym here. We are able to go outside where they have courts and goals. I play both basketball and soccer. It is way fun to play soccer with the Latinos. They are sooo good! 

There are a lot of dogs here!! Last week during Physical Activity, we were able to witness two dogs fighting!! It got all our hearts racing!! It is something I don´t want to witness again!

I had the chance to go proselyting last Friday and it was an awesome experience. The best thing that happened was when my companion and I taught a quick lesson to a guy who was probably about 25 years old. We first started talking about soccer because he was wearing a Messi Jersey. He then asked us who we were and why we were in Argentina. We were able to explain to him our purpose and beliefs. He is Christian and believes in the Bible. After talking with him we gave him a Book of Mormon and we asked him if he would read it!! It was such an amazing experience to share what we believe with others. Me and my companion couldn't stop smiling afterwards. We were so happy and couldn't wait to talk to other people!! We also talked to some kids and handed out some cards. It was such an awesome experience, one I won't forget!!

On Sunday we watched a devotional given by Elder Oaks. Two things that I learned were

1. The Lord helps those who help themselves.
            We have to do our part first. I feel like a lot of the time we think that the Lord will do everything for us, that He will give us the Gift of Tongues and have us speak the language. But this doesn't work if we don´t do our part. We have to put in the effort to receive these blessings.

2. We aren´t here to be thanked, we are here to serve.
             I am not in Argentina to have those around me to thank me. I am here to serve. We should worry about what other people think of us. I saw this a lot while I was proselyting. Many of the people muttered under there breath when we walked passed or yelled at us. But this isn't something we need to worry about. We need to worry about serving these people. They are the ones that need the help and need to know the truthfulness of the gospel that can help them want to serve.

I am getting shots on Monday. I have to get a flu shot and another one and apparently everyone gets sick from it!! Can´t wait for that!

I know this gospel is true. I am grateful to be here and learn so much. I pray for you and know that Heavenly Father loves you!! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Elder Jones

Elder HJones: Week One - Nothing Like I Expected

Mexico is nothing like home.

The plane flight was good, was about 4 hours, so I just slept most of the time. When we got off the plane in Mexico City and just chilled until the buses came to take us to the MTC. Let´s just say that this week has been LONG.

The mission was nothing I expected. It was difficult making the transition to the MTC. What has felt like two years at the MTC has only been a week. The environment, the food, and sounds, it´s completely new. It was hard jumping into something I really wasn´t expecting. But I´ve gotten used to listening to Spanish everyday, eating food that really is not that good, and hearing fireworks and police sirens every night while I go to bed.

The MTC is such a crazy place.

I´ve only been here a week and a half, and I've already learned so much. The language is hard to learn, but they kinda force it on you. We have language class every day, and we have to teach investigators in pure Spanish. I'm just really glad I took Spanish in high school, it did more then I thought it would. The MTC isn´t too bad, but I can´t wait to go to Chile and start working.

My companion is Elder Larsen. He´s from Salem UT. He´s a pretty cool dude. My district is awesome. Six of us are going to Antofagasta, three are going to Honduras, and one is going to Santiago. We have eight elders and two hermanas, and our district is honestly the best thing ever. All of us are from Utah, except for one hermana, she's from Nevada. We have gotten along super well, and I´m just grateful for the examples each one of them are to me.

Today I get to go to the temple. I´m pretty excited, just have to wait to see how thats like. I get to go my first 3 p-days here at the MTC.

I´m grateful for this gospel and for my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that bringing this wonderful gospel to others brings true happiness. I have relied on prayer and my Heavenly Father to help my through everything. A mission is hard, but it´s possible through Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Adios,
Elder Jones