Elder EJones: This week I was sick

Well, this week I was sick. I got sick in the stomach. I don't know what it was, but it started on Monday, wasn't that bad until Wednesday and Thursday and it stuck with me. I called the Doc and he sent me some meds and by Sunday I was good again. It has been a rough week. I was sick and we didn't have much success in finding new people or getting people to church. But hey, that's okay, this week will be better. I don't let bad weeks get to me like other missionaries do. I am happy and healthy.

I was contemplating this week when I wasn't feeling good of how grateful I am for Heavenly Father. If you can believe it, this has only been the SECOND time on my mission that I have been sick. The first time was during my first week. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed me with health. I have nothing to complain about, only to thank Him for loving me and caring for me.

I cant believe that it is already 2020. It is celebrated here eating pork and watching fireworks, nothing too big. It feels kinda like the 4th of July in the United States.

My companion, Elder Tebbs and I have been listening to talks all the time now. That is one of my new year's resolutions, to listen to a talk everyday this year. I either do it when I'm showering in the morning, or getting ready for bed at night. I'm excited to listen to at least 365 this year.

I was actually talking to my companion the other day of what President Nelson said, his question, "How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?" It's quite the question and made me think. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. For the opportunity I have to read it daily and ponder how it helps me come unto Christ. This week I was able to read in 1 Nephi about the vision he was carried up in. I marveled at all the things that Nephi saw...the birth and ministry of the Savior, His Crucifixion and resurrection. He saw the colonization of the Americas. The coming of the Bible to this continent. The significance of the vision of the tree of life, the coming of Christ to the Americas, and as he says many more things that he couldn't write. I know that as we come to know the Book of Mormon it will really teach us about Christ. It is the base of our testimony needed to survive spiritually in the last days. I know that we too can receive that revelation that we need to be able to know the Lord's will for us.

Well it's been quite the week, this next one will be a good one too!!

Elder ZJones: Crazy Week

I think just about everything happened this past week!

- I got sick this week with a fever and headache

- I had my interview with Presidente Resek! We talked a lot about the importance of having a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

- We had Stake Conference. Elder Clayton from the 70 came and spoke to us. He spoke a lot about sharing our testimonies and sharing the gospel with those around us.

- My companion broke two toes while playing futbol. He had a cast on for a couple days and can barely walk! We will see what happens with him!

- Baptisms. We were able to baptize 3 kids from a part member family. They loved it. The mom cried during the baptism and they are excited to continue to come to church. We are going to help the parent get married!

- Elder Clayton and Elder Bragg came and talked with our mission

I know that this is the true church! I know that the things that I learn here on the mission about conversion, obedience, diligence, etc are meant to help me for after the mission and during my life!

Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: A Week of Everything!

I think just about everything that could have happened, happened this past week!

- I got sick with a fever and headache.

- I had my interview with Presidente Resek! We talked a lot about the importance of having a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

- We had Stake Conference.
- Elder Clayton from the 70 came and spoke to us. He spoke a lot about sharing our testimonies and sharing the gospel with those around us.

- My companion broke two toes while playing futbol. He had a cast on for a couple days and can barely walk! We will see what happens with him!

- Baptisms. We were able to baptize 3 kids from a part member family. They loved it. The mom cried during the baptism and they are excited to continue to come to church. We are going to help the parent get married!

- Elder Clayton and Elder Bragg came and talked with our mission

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church! I know that the things that I am learning here on the mission about conversion, obedience, diligence, etc. are meant to help me for after the mission and throughout my life!

Elder Jones

Elder EJones: Week 1 in Bolivia

Elder Reyes y yo

Hello all!!

This week was quite the journey. We left the MTC Monday morning at 7:15 and were on planes all through the night.  It wasn't too bad recovering from jet lag, but the plane right was the most amazing napping I've ever gotten haha.

We arrived in Bolivia Tuesday morning and spent that day resting and spending time with the mission president and his wife (Presidente y Hermana Rodriguez). On Wednesday, we got our areas and companions. My companion is Elder Reyes from Lima Peru, and he doesn't really speak any English, so it's different speaking Spanish all the time. It's hard to speak and understand, and people are probably sick of me telling them to repeat what they said, but I'll eventually get it.

Another thing about this week: I got sick this week and still am kinda sick. On Saturday, I came down with a fever and threw up, had a fever and a headache and stomachache like all of Sunday, and today my stomach isn't doing too well, but it's better then yesterday. It's probably just because I'm getting used to the food and stuff.

Mi Casa

However, the best part of this week is just being able to teach the gospel even though I don't really understand anything. The Spirit is real.

My area is called El Quior and is in the outer rings of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is laid out in rings, and the farther you get out of the city, the more poor and humble the living circumstances become. It's been crazy to see how people live on so little, yet are so happy.

Funny story from this week. We were teaching at a member's house with some nonmembers there and one of the non-members was talking about his brother who didn't shave his beard or cut his hair because Jesus never did. He then asked if it was against the commandments to have a beard and long hair. And at that moment, my comp turned to me to answer the question. haha it was kinda weird, but I just kinda testified about the commandments we do have, and that long hair and beard wasn't, but it was just kinda weird overall haha.

"Pure love is the true sign of every true disciple of Jesus Christ." (Elder Massimo De Feo)

I know that as we learn to love Christ, and live everyday in loving him, we will be able to receive the blessings he has for us in numerous ways. I know He loves us and that this gospel is true.

Love you all,
Elder Jones

La Cuidad de Santa Cruz

Elder CJones: 11 Days to the Field!!

Hola!!

This week has just been a great week, as the weeks get farther into the MTC and as we are getting closer to joining our fellow missionaries in the field, we feel the comfort of God everyday as we work hard and study harder and love the hardest. The MTC experience is amazing, there is a strict schedule everyday but it's for the best, so you can work hard and become a better missionary.

Great things and not so great things happened this week, as I told you, on Friday we had to go to the Embassy to apply for our residencies, there were tons of people, and a couple of us tried to place some Books of Mormon to people walking around the building. The Mexican people are amazing!! They are such hard workers and they love the missionaries. The church hires people that live nearby to work inside the MTC, they do tons of yard work, they are chefs, they clean and they are so respectful of us as ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Friday, a good majority of the missionaries here were served chicken that had something wrong with it, a few guys, including me got sick from it, it's all good though, I know that the Lord is watching over all of us and I know that it is a blessing because that's what it will be like out in the field for the rest of my mission.

Out here in the MTC and I know it will happen in the field, Lucifer and his army is trying to make the missionaries feel that they aren't good enough, that they can't do the work of the Lord and it's hard for some missionaries here to see that. But as we have bi-weekly testimony meetings as a district and really get to know each other, I know that it is important to develop a good relationship with your companion as well as others in your district because they will help you through the hard times. The power of the priesthood is real and it works!! There is no shortage of it here in the MTC as we give blessings a lot to help other elders get through the hard times looming ahead.

I know that God loves us each individually and that he cares for each one of you. as we practice teaching and as we play the part of an investigator for other missionaries, we understand and feel the Spirit as it resonates in our lessons. The Lord really loves us and works hard to help us feel of that love. I know he loves each one of you and that he is willing to testify that to you is you work hard and never ever take the Gospel for granted.

As all of us got into week 3, which was 2 weeks ago, we are all just ready and prepared to go out and serve, they have really made it so we can learn the language here in the MTC and I know that it will be harder as I get out in the field and work, we all know how to speak the language in basic form now, we are all speaking it very well in our classes and in our lessons, I know that as we have all worked hard and studied that the Lord has blessed us with the Gift of Tongues.

More about the MTC! It's on a 30 acre property of land, it is beautiful!! It was once an old high school but they converted it years ago, it was more of a boarding school because of the houses on the property. One of our teachers went to high school here and told us more about it.

I really love everything that you learn here, and if you have a desire to go on a mission and bless the lives of so many other people, than I know it is the correct choice for you. I promise you that the Lord will bless you as you turn to Him and He will help you change the lives of so many people.

Don't EVER let the adversary get to you, he is deceiving and will do anything he can to destroy a person close to Him. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that if you read it with a real intent to learn and pray with faith that you will receive as well as pray with a sincere heart, you will receive an answer on the power of the Book and the truthfulness it contains.

Oh!! One of our teachers is really stressed with all the things going on in his life. his name is Nefi Alvarez, please keep him in your prayers, it was his birthday this week and we tried our best to make it a great day for him. As well, keep all the missionaries in my district in your prayers because we all need them: Elder Christian Pratt, Elder Tad Richardson, Elder Thomas Payne, Elder Eli Martineau, Elder Jacob Chidister, Elder Ethan Heiner, Elder Grae Hargis, Elder Jacobsen Cole, and Elder Drake Jennings.

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Love you all,
Elder Corom Jones

Feliz Cumpleanos, Hermano Alvarez!

Elder Jennings and Elder Jones