Elder EJones: Lots Have Happened!

Well lots has happened this week. It's been quite the week, but it has been a good one. Here are some of the things that happened:

1. [Another] New Companion
My companion Elder Lage went home on Tuesday. He got permission because his dad is really sick, and there is nobody else to care for him. The church in Brazil offered help, but his girlfriend doesn't want anything to do with the church, so that's that. He was happy to go back to his dad, but at the same time didn't want to leave. So on Tuesday I was in a trio with the zone leaders until Thursday when they were able to find me a mini missionary. A mini companion is basically a member that can be my comp for a few days. His name is Elder Tarraga. He will leave on his mission in January to The Buenos Aires North mission, so it's been cool to have him as a comp. He lives in our stake here and we get along really well.

2. Zone Conference
This week we had zone conference with Elder Held from The Seventy. He talked about lots of things that really stood out to me. One thing that I loved was that he compared us to lumberjacks. We are here to cut down trees (or to do missionary work). And we are given the tools necessary to complete the work. We have a saw and a whetstone to sharpen the saw. Those instruments in the mission are the Book of Mormon and the Holy Ghost. But what we need to do is know how to use them. If we work hard but don't sharpen the saw we have, we won't find lots of success. Our purpose is to use the tools the Lord has given to us, the scriptures, prayer, our testimonies to help others come unto Christ. He also referred to his talk in General conference of the need to look at things with a spiritual vision so that we can see the full picture. He is super cool.

3. Stake Conference
This week we also had stake conference which was amazing. We were able to hear from President Stanford and his wife and our stake leaders. One of the things that I loved that Presidente Stanford talked about was when he was called to be a mission presidente. Lots of people asked how he could leave his family, home, and all he knew to go. And he would say its because he made a covenant with the Lord to give all that he had to Him, not just part. As disciples of Christ we need to be willing to give our all to Him. Another youth talked about four things we can do to become better disciples of Jesus Christ.

-Pray to God with real intent and with real faith
-Studying the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon
-Be humble before God
-Learn to recognize, trust and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost

I know that the path of discipleship isn't hard. It wasn't easy for the first apostles of Jesus Christ, who gave their lives for His cause. And it isn't easy for us. But it is always worth it. I know that Christ lives and loves us. He knows the plan. If we learn to follow Him, we will find true happiness in our lives!!

Love you lots.

Elder ZJones: Stake Conference This Week

Hola!

I am excited for this week! We have Stake Conference this week and Elder Clayton, a General Authority, will be coming to speak. It will be blessing to be able to hear from him and apply the things that he teaches.

I have thought this past week a lot about the importance of fasting. To prepare I thought of how fasting will not only bless me but others.

It explains in Gospel Principles

When we fast wisely and prayerfully, we develop our faith. With that faith we will have greater spiritual power. For example, Alma (a Book of Mormon prophet) tells the story of meeting again with the sons of Mosiah many years after their miraculous conversion. He felt great joy when he learned that they had strengthened their faith and had developed great spiritual power. They had gained this power because “they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation” 

As we fast, we will receive the strength that we need for whatever lies ahead. The Lord will bless us and help us to feel a greater joy!

Elder Jones

Elder ZJones: The Temple

This week was awesome! We are helping a the Vergara Family! And they are doing really well. We are preparing Lorena, Gabriel, and Aylen to be baptized this week! We are excited for them because my companion and I have seen such a big change in them. In the beginning, Gabriel didn't really believe in God. After reading the Book of Mormon, praying, and sharing with his brother, he now believes in God. Aylen bore her testimony yesterday at church. She knows the church is true.

We have stake conference on Sunday. There are about 150 people that come to church, so they will be dividing  the ward. Our area is close to the church and the area of the sisters will change. We are hoping that we don't lose everything with the division! haha

Elder Burk and I went to the temple on Thursday-- it was the first time in 14 months and it was awesome! Presidente Resek wanted all the leaders to go to receive revelation and to prepare themselves for this last month of the year. It was a blessing to be able to go to the temple and feel of the Spirit to know exactly what my companion and I can do to help  the zone! I know this is God's church and that He loves us!

We want to find families this Christmas season to help families come unto Christ! Pray for us and the zone!

Elder Jones