Querida familia,
While I was praying last night, I realized just how quickly Father in Heaven answered my prayer... while I was praying just a few seconds later! Wow. He answers prayers really fast! As I thought about this, I thought and realized even more just how much he loves me and each and every one of us. As I thought about this I realized even more how important it is to respond to the promtings of the Holy Ghost immediatley to show our love for Him... we are obedient because we love Him. Oh how I love this Gospel!
We found a girl named Natalia Franco who is 17. She is incredible. She told us how she has stopped going to a church because she hasnt felt like any of the churches are true. She was so excited when we talked with her telling us, "its been a year since i have been asking for an answer!" These types of lessons are dreams for missionaries!
Lilliana and Carmen are still progressing but have doubts about getting baptized so we are working with them this week. It is neat as you pray for your investigators how specific the answers can be for each of them as we pray for them and their needs.
This wednesday we will be hearing from a generally authority!!!!!! Ah I am really excited about that!
Family, I know that this church is true... I know that this is His Gopsel. I know that He loves us, His children, so much. I know that we can each return to live with Him and become like Him. I have so much hope for that. Gracias a todos for your prayers also. I know that He answers them.
amor,
su Hermana Jones
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Week 47 (Aug 13, 2012): Meet Hermana Páez & Wedding Luncheon Letter
Mi querida familia,
Well, all I can say is that SO much happens in just one short week.
We had changes this past wednesday and Hermana Andrade went to the southern part of Paraguay called Incarnación and I am here with a "local"! Her name is Hermana Páez and she is from my "home" stake haah de lovely Ñemby- what a small world! When the mission is waiting for more missionaries, they call members that are interested in serving missions to serve for just one change or six weeks. She will be turning twenty-one this november (just like you jess!) and is preparing to serve a mission. She is probably the most humble person that I have ever met. I dont know how to explain it. She just wants to serve the Lord. She is extremely extremely shy but that doesnt stop her from sharing her testimony and serving as a missionary. Ah, she is such an example to me. She comes from an extremely humble background and I am very excited to have her as my companion!
Oh and a tender mercy from the Lord, H. Willnauer and H. Arnell were both having changes also, so I got to see them...two of my BEST friends! H. Willnauer is going to take harnells spot in.... ÑEMBY!!!! Ah she is going to take such good care of everyone! H. Arnell also told me that Midium and Norma, although they still havent been baptized are doing really well and come to church activities every once and a while! It is just a matter of time with the both of them!
Andd that Vincente is not doing very well, but that Marcos and Elias havent missed a DAy of church and come every sunday with a white shirt and tie! Ah that made me SOO HAPPY!! H. Arnell told me that there was a family that they started teaching who live around the corner of Marcos, Noelia and Elias and their son, who is the friend of Marcos, was baptized and the family is going to be baptized also soo they all go to church every sunday faithfully! Oh our God is a God of miracles!
Liliana is preparing to be married and wants to be baptized the first weekend in September...woohoo! She is very humble and loves to read the book of mormon. She works selling candy and has a little girl (7) named Fio.
We also found two investigadores "de oro" this week called Mia(36) and Ana(19). We are just starting to teach them, but I will let you know more!
Do you remember Martita?! The less active member that is 23 with a little girl nambed Yessica who hasnt been to the church in years!? Well she came for the first time yesterday and she looked so happy! When we introduced her to Hna. Ñunez, she told her "I am so happy because I have come back to church"!
This past saturday, Fabiola and Max were married! We stopped by for just a little bit and they were so happy! As we stepped out and started walking toward our next lesson, I just couldnt stop smiling. Max was less active for years and they have been living together for a while but now they are married!!!!! I just was so happy as I thought about how she just finshed a commandment and the next day she would finish another commandment being baptized. Oh it was so beautiful to see!
Family, sure do love each and every one of you. There is a scripture in DyC that says that Zion cannot be built without the laws of heaven... ahem or something like that... basically we cannot be a part of or "bring to pass" the salvation of souls or the "work and glory" of our Father in Heaven without sacrifice and consecration. It is so true...if we want people to repent and increase in their faith... ect. (live the Gospel of Jesus Christ) we must be willing to do what HE did..and be submissive, meek and humble (Mosiah 2;19 or cap. 3?) and willing to submit ourselves to whatever He seeth fit and willing to sacrifice all that we are and have to the service of others and to this work.
I love the Gospel. I love my savior Jesucristo y amo mi Padre Celestial. Espero que mi sacrificio puede cada día traele a ÉL gozo. I hope that my sacrifice can bring, each day, joy to my father in Heaven.
Les quiero.
amor,
su Hermana Jones
ps. The mission changes you. I am sitting at a desk and there are cocaroaches in this cyber that we are using. yup. and I am just sitting here calmly typing.
Included below is a letter that Natasha wrote to be read at Jessica and Dan's wedding luncheon on August 11th.
"Dear Jessica and Dan
Jessica is one in a billion. You will never find someone else as special as my baby sister Jess. She is the most incredible person and literaly is a light in my life.
Oh how much you have grown up! You are so so beautiful. From when you were little and would pretend to pass-out when you had too much homework or when I was thirteen and talked to my friend Hannah Bambrick because I was so worried that you would never grow out of your Sponge Bob phase haha an you never really did... but neither did Dad!
I remember how when we were little I would spend two or three hours cleaning my room and reoraganizing my furniture and you would spend those three maybe five hours playing school with Nick and Alexandra. You always make people feel special and so happy. Dan, I can not even begin to tell you how lucky you are to get to marry my sister! She is an example to me and I am sure to you in so many ways.
Jess, you always made me so happy...from when we shoved cough drops and gum in Chad Herstein´s locker, to honking the car horn in front of Mike and Loris house at midnight on a regular basis, or doing the thousands of things that we thought was funny but nobody else, to driving from seminary to school or laying on your big bunk bed talking aobut our lives, hopes and worries until dad or mom would tell us that we had to go to bed...I always know that my baby sister would be there for me and would make me happy... Dan she is going to be such an incredible wife and mom. She will make you so happy.
Now you are getting married! Turning the page in your life and starting a new part of your journey to reture to our Father in Heaven...ah! This is so exciting! His hand is so evident in your life! But now you are moving forward with your best friend... and hand in hand and step by step you will start to work and grow and love together every day to be able to live together forever as a family. Heavenly Father must be so happy right now. I am so happy for you two!
From down here in hot and beautiful Paraguay I hope you two can feel the huge (and a kiss for you Jess) and all of my love that I am sending for you Jess, my baby sister, and Dan my new big brother. I know that Alexandra and other loved ones (cat for sure ;)) are and will be at your side on your special day. Congratulations you two... FAMILIA PORTER!!!! I couldnt be happier and more excited!
amor,
Natasha ;)"
Well, all I can say is that SO much happens in just one short week.
We had changes this past wednesday and Hermana Andrade went to the southern part of Paraguay called Incarnación and I am here with a "local"! Her name is Hermana Páez and she is from my "home" stake haah de lovely Ñemby- what a small world! When the mission is waiting for more missionaries, they call members that are interested in serving missions to serve for just one change or six weeks. She will be turning twenty-one this november (just like you jess!) and is preparing to serve a mission. She is probably the most humble person that I have ever met. I dont know how to explain it. She just wants to serve the Lord. She is extremely extremely shy but that doesnt stop her from sharing her testimony and serving as a missionary. Ah, she is such an example to me. She comes from an extremely humble background and I am very excited to have her as my companion!
Oh and a tender mercy from the Lord, H. Willnauer and H. Arnell were both having changes also, so I got to see them...two of my BEST friends! H. Willnauer is going to take harnells spot in.... ÑEMBY!!!! Ah she is going to take such good care of everyone! H. Arnell also told me that Midium and Norma, although they still havent been baptized are doing really well and come to church activities every once and a while! It is just a matter of time with the both of them!
Andd that Vincente is not doing very well, but that Marcos and Elias havent missed a DAy of church and come every sunday with a white shirt and tie! Ah that made me SOO HAPPY!! H. Arnell told me that there was a family that they started teaching who live around the corner of Marcos, Noelia and Elias and their son, who is the friend of Marcos, was baptized and the family is going to be baptized also soo they all go to church every sunday faithfully! Oh our God is a God of miracles!
Liliana is preparing to be married and wants to be baptized the first weekend in September...woohoo! She is very humble and loves to read the book of mormon. She works selling candy and has a little girl (7) named Fio.
We also found two investigadores "de oro" this week called Mia(36) and Ana(19). We are just starting to teach them, but I will let you know more!
Do you remember Martita?! The less active member that is 23 with a little girl nambed Yessica who hasnt been to the church in years!? Well she came for the first time yesterday and she looked so happy! When we introduced her to Hna. Ñunez, she told her "I am so happy because I have come back to church"!
This past saturday, Fabiola and Max were married! We stopped by for just a little bit and they were so happy! As we stepped out and started walking toward our next lesson, I just couldnt stop smiling. Max was less active for years and they have been living together for a while but now they are married!!!!! I just was so happy as I thought about how she just finshed a commandment and the next day she would finish another commandment being baptized. Oh it was so beautiful to see!
Family, sure do love each and every one of you. There is a scripture in DyC that says that Zion cannot be built without the laws of heaven... ahem or something like that... basically we cannot be a part of or "bring to pass" the salvation of souls or the "work and glory" of our Father in Heaven without sacrifice and consecration. It is so true...if we want people to repent and increase in their faith... ect. (live the Gospel of Jesus Christ) we must be willing to do what HE did..and be submissive, meek and humble (Mosiah 2;19 or cap. 3?) and willing to submit ourselves to whatever He seeth fit and willing to sacrifice all that we are and have to the service of others and to this work.
I love the Gospel. I love my savior Jesucristo y amo mi Padre Celestial. Espero que mi sacrificio puede cada día traele a ÉL gozo. I hope that my sacrifice can bring, each day, joy to my father in Heaven.
Les quiero.
amor,
su Hermana Jones
ps. The mission changes you. I am sitting at a desk and there are cocaroaches in this cyber that we are using. yup. and I am just sitting here calmly typing.
Included below is a letter that Natasha wrote to be read at Jessica and Dan's wedding luncheon on August 11th.
"Dear Jessica and Dan
Jessica is one in a billion. You will never find someone else as special as my baby sister Jess. She is the most incredible person and literaly is a light in my life.
Oh how much you have grown up! You are so so beautiful. From when you were little and would pretend to pass-out when you had too much homework or when I was thirteen and talked to my friend Hannah Bambrick because I was so worried that you would never grow out of your Sponge Bob phase haha an you never really did... but neither did Dad!
I remember how when we were little I would spend two or three hours cleaning my room and reoraganizing my furniture and you would spend those three maybe five hours playing school with Nick and Alexandra. You always make people feel special and so happy. Dan, I can not even begin to tell you how lucky you are to get to marry my sister! She is an example to me and I am sure to you in so many ways.
Jess, you always made me so happy...from when we shoved cough drops and gum in Chad Herstein´s locker, to honking the car horn in front of Mike and Loris house at midnight on a regular basis, or doing the thousands of things that we thought was funny but nobody else, to driving from seminary to school or laying on your big bunk bed talking aobut our lives, hopes and worries until dad or mom would tell us that we had to go to bed...I always know that my baby sister would be there for me and would make me happy... Dan she is going to be such an incredible wife and mom. She will make you so happy.
Now you are getting married! Turning the page in your life and starting a new part of your journey to reture to our Father in Heaven...ah! This is so exciting! His hand is so evident in your life! But now you are moving forward with your best friend... and hand in hand and step by step you will start to work and grow and love together every day to be able to live together forever as a family. Heavenly Father must be so happy right now. I am so happy for you two!
From down here in hot and beautiful Paraguay I hope you two can feel the huge (and a kiss for you Jess) and all of my love that I am sending for you Jess, my baby sister, and Dan my new big brother. I know that Alexandra and other loved ones (cat for sure ;)) are and will be at your side on your special day. Congratulations you two... FAMILIA PORTER!!!! I couldnt be happier and more excited!
amor,
Natasha ;)"
Week 46 (Aug 6, 2012): The Reaping Comes After Many Years
Querida familia,
Okay i tried to write "I love paraguay!" in Guaraní but it is a lot tougher than I thought it would be. During my language studies I started to study Guaraní this morning, but decided that it would be better to focus on my Spanish haha. But I still have a goal to be able to bear my testimony in Guaraní! All I know is that the members think it is really funny when I try to speak Guaraní!
It has been a great week.
The dad of Janina and Carmen asked us not to come by anymore. The members were so excited about them... and we were too, but we still are because it is just a matter of time. The reaping comes after many years of careful harvesting. I dont know if that made sence or sounded wierd haha but basically that they were really excited and interested in reading the book of mormon and getting to know what the church is like soo they still have their book of mormon and one day they will have other opportunities to hear the gospel!
Okay and speaking of sweet tender mercies of the Lord, a member and his girlfriend are getting married in the chapel. It was postoned because he had gotten really sick and was moved to this saturday! Who else is getting married this saturday!? haha Once again. Our Father in Heaveny is perfect and blesses us in very simple but grand ways every single day.
We finished our chain of miracles!!! I will send you a picutre in the mail! It was huuge! I dont know if you remember, but we wrote four miracles every day, me and Hna. Andrade, and made a huge chain.
I lovee my mission!!! It is sooo harrdd and sooo gooDDDD!!! Neal A. Maxwell said that "consecraction is the only way to render onself completly but to leave victorious!" As I put all my heart, might, mind and strength to serving the Lord, I know that the blessings that He will be able to pour out on our investigators, the members and me and my family are uncountable.
I love Him and I love His Gospel. I know that He loves us... if we fervently pray to know this for sure, He opens our eyes and we start to see, with eyes of gratitud, that everything around us testifys that He lives and loves us.
Les quiero cada uno de uds.
amor,
Hermana Jones
Yo y la hermana andrade en barrio Chuci
Okay i tried to write "I love paraguay!" in Guaraní but it is a lot tougher than I thought it would be. During my language studies I started to study Guaraní this morning, but decided that it would be better to focus on my Spanish haha. But I still have a goal to be able to bear my testimony in Guaraní! All I know is that the members think it is really funny when I try to speak Guaraní!
It has been a great week.
The dad of Janina and Carmen asked us not to come by anymore. The members were so excited about them... and we were too, but we still are because it is just a matter of time. The reaping comes after many years of careful harvesting. I dont know if that made sence or sounded wierd haha but basically that they were really excited and interested in reading the book of mormon and getting to know what the church is like soo they still have their book of mormon and one day they will have other opportunities to hear the gospel!
Okay and speaking of sweet tender mercies of the Lord, a member and his girlfriend are getting married in the chapel. It was postoned because he had gotten really sick and was moved to this saturday! Who else is getting married this saturday!? haha Once again. Our Father in Heaveny is perfect and blesses us in very simple but grand ways every single day.
We finished our chain of miracles!!! I will send you a picutre in the mail! It was huuge! I dont know if you remember, but we wrote four miracles every day, me and Hna. Andrade, and made a huge chain.
I lovee my mission!!! It is sooo harrdd and sooo gooDDDD!!! Neal A. Maxwell said that "consecraction is the only way to render onself completly but to leave victorious!" As I put all my heart, might, mind and strength to serving the Lord, I know that the blessings that He will be able to pour out on our investigators, the members and me and my family are uncountable.
I love Him and I love His Gospel. I know that He loves us... if we fervently pray to know this for sure, He opens our eyes and we start to see, with eyes of gratitud, that everything around us testifys that He lives and loves us.
Les quiero cada uno de uds.
amor,
Hermana Jones
Week 45 (Jul 30, 2012): Relating to Alexandra
Dear family,
Ah! the lights just went out in the cyber and it didnt save my email! Sorry!!!!!
I just wrote the best letter of my whole mission and it erased it all!
I will hurry and tell you one story...
Carmen and Janina are still reading in their Book of Mormon and Carolina also. Liliana and Louise are starting to read together... I will give you more updates on them next week...
Remember how you all helped me write down my blessing from when I was set apart? Well a part of that blessing said that there would be people that would need to hear and learn from my experiences that I have had... specifically with Alexandra and our family. This is just one of many experiences...
Well the other morning, I put my pictures of Alexandra and the rest of the family in my scriptures that are normally in my scriptures in english not really thinking about it. That night we had a lesson with a lady named Gladys. IN the end of the lesson, she started crying as she told us about how much she still hurts and misses her little sister who died thirty years ago in a car accident. I was able to bear testimony of the restored gospel, that we can be with our families forever and that this life is not the end, but rather the smallest part of the plan that Heavenly Father had prepared for her and for her sister. As I did so, I was able to show her the pictures of our family and Alexandra and explain that something similar happened in our family and I testified of the healing and peace of that Atonement of our Savior.
I know that Heavnely Father wanted to hear my story and so Helped me think of taking those picures with me. He is a God of details. He is our Father and blesses us in big and small ways every single day of our lives and it is the biggest blessing when we can be an instrument in His hands to bless our brothers and sisters in big and small ways.
This is his Gospel. He lives and loves us.
Amor a todos .... les amo muchísimo!
su Hermana Jones
Hmn Antonia Aguino ("abuelita") lives right in front of Noelia, Marcos, and Elias. I fixed ehr shirt right before the picture was taken...but she didn't like it haha....Lessons are always very different with her, but have learned now to have more Christ-like love with teaching her. :-) She is really funny.
Ah! the lights just went out in the cyber and it didnt save my email! Sorry!!!!!
I just wrote the best letter of my whole mission and it erased it all!
I will hurry and tell you one story...
Carmen and Janina are still reading in their Book of Mormon and Carolina also. Liliana and Louise are starting to read together... I will give you more updates on them next week...
Remember how you all helped me write down my blessing from when I was set apart? Well a part of that blessing said that there would be people that would need to hear and learn from my experiences that I have had... specifically with Alexandra and our family. This is just one of many experiences...
Well the other morning, I put my pictures of Alexandra and the rest of the family in my scriptures that are normally in my scriptures in english not really thinking about it. That night we had a lesson with a lady named Gladys. IN the end of the lesson, she started crying as she told us about how much she still hurts and misses her little sister who died thirty years ago in a car accident. I was able to bear testimony of the restored gospel, that we can be with our families forever and that this life is not the end, but rather the smallest part of the plan that Heavenly Father had prepared for her and for her sister. As I did so, I was able to show her the pictures of our family and Alexandra and explain that something similar happened in our family and I testified of the healing and peace of that Atonement of our Savior.
I know that Heavnely Father wanted to hear my story and so Helped me think of taking those picures with me. He is a God of details. He is our Father and blesses us in big and small ways every single day of our lives and it is the biggest blessing when we can be an instrument in His hands to bless our brothers and sisters in big and small ways.
This is his Gospel. He lives and loves us.
Amor a todos .... les amo muchísimo!
su Hermana Jones
Week 44 (Jul 23, 2012): Dreaming of Carmen and Janina
Querida familia,
Mom and Dad, you just got my email for jess and so you understand why this email will have to be short... so sorry!
We started teaching two girls Carmen and Janina who are 14 and 15 and are incredible! There parents are awesome also...their dad is pretty firm in what he believes but we shared with him the other day and it went really really well! We brought them to an actividad in the church and it was so neat... hna. raquel, who is the yw leader, was so excited when she saw them and said that the night before she had a dream that two new girls came to the church and the very next day, Carmen and Janina came! That was so neat.
I am so sorry that this email is so short, but when you all to know that I am really happy down here serving the lord in Paraguay. I am so grateful and will be in debt to my Father in Heaven for all my life for sending me to Paraguay and giving me the opportunity to be a missionary here. "I feel my Saviors love in all the world around me"!
I know that this is Gods church. The priesthood has been restord. We have a prophet on the earth. Heavenly Father must love us so much. I love Him and hope to serve Him well each and every day of my mission and help others to know just how much He loves them and why HIS RESTORED GOSPEL is so important. I love you all... and promise the next week you will get a great email!
love,
hermana jones
PS I dont know if you are planning on doing this but car and bri, for their weddings had a luncheon afterwards with close family and friends and a few people always said a few words.... if you could read this for me for jess on her wedding day i just wrote something quick this morning.... or even can print it and give it to her her wedding day ifyou wont be doing a luncheon... thanks!
Dear Jessica and Dan
Jessica is one in a billion. You will never find someone else as special as my baby sister Jess. She is the most incredible person and literaly is a light in my life.
Oh how much you have grown up! You are so so beautiful. From when you were little and would pretend to pass-out when you had too much homework or when I was thirteen and talked to my friend Hannah Bambrick because I was so worried that you would never grow out of your Sponge Bob phase haha an you never really did... but neither did Dad!
I remember how when we were little I would spend two or three hours cleaning my room and reoraganizing my furniture and you would spend those three maybe five hours playing school with Nick and Alexandra. You always make people feel special and so happy. Dan, I can not even begin to tell you how lucky you are to get to marry my sister! She is an example to me and I am sure to you in so many ways.
Jess, you always made me so happy...from when we shoved cough drops and gum in Chad Herstein´s locker, to honking the car horn in front of Mike and Loris house at midnight on a regular basis, or doing the thousands of things that we thought was funny but nobody else, to driving from seminary to school or laying on your big bunk bed talking aobut our lives, hopes and worries until dad or mom would tell us that we had to go to bed...I always know that my baby sister would be there for me and would make me happy... Dan she is going to be such an incredible wife and mom. She will make you so happy.
Now you are getting married! Turning the page in your life and starting a new part of your journey to reture to our Father in Heaven...ah! This is so exciting! His hand is so evident in your life! But now you are moving forward with your best friend... and hand in hand and step by step you will start to work and grow and love together every day to be able to live together forever as a family. Heavenly Father must be so happy right now. I am so happy for you two!
From down here in hot and beautiful Paraguay I hope you two can feel the huge (and a kiss for you Jess) and all of my love that I am sending for you Jess, my baby sister, and Dan my new big brother. I know that Alexandra and other loved ones (cat for sure ;)) are and will be at your side on your special day. Congratulations you two... FAMILIA PORTER!!!! I couldnt be happier and more excited!
amor,
Natasha ;)
Yo y mi companera con Miriun (we always wrote her name wrong as Midium). I miss ehr and her girls a lot.
Mom and Dad, you just got my email for jess and so you understand why this email will have to be short... so sorry!
We started teaching two girls Carmen and Janina who are 14 and 15 and are incredible! There parents are awesome also...their dad is pretty firm in what he believes but we shared with him the other day and it went really really well! We brought them to an actividad in the church and it was so neat... hna. raquel, who is the yw leader, was so excited when she saw them and said that the night before she had a dream that two new girls came to the church and the very next day, Carmen and Janina came! That was so neat.
I am so sorry that this email is so short, but when you all to know that I am really happy down here serving the lord in Paraguay. I am so grateful and will be in debt to my Father in Heaven for all my life for sending me to Paraguay and giving me the opportunity to be a missionary here. "I feel my Saviors love in all the world around me"!
I know that this is Gods church. The priesthood has been restord. We have a prophet on the earth. Heavenly Father must love us so much. I love Him and hope to serve Him well each and every day of my mission and help others to know just how much He loves them and why HIS RESTORED GOSPEL is so important. I love you all... and promise the next week you will get a great email!
love,
hermana jones
PS I dont know if you are planning on doing this but car and bri, for their weddings had a luncheon afterwards with close family and friends and a few people always said a few words.... if you could read this for me for jess on her wedding day i just wrote something quick this morning.... or even can print it and give it to her her wedding day ifyou wont be doing a luncheon... thanks!
Dear Jessica and Dan
Jessica is one in a billion. You will never find someone else as special as my baby sister Jess. She is the most incredible person and literaly is a light in my life.
Oh how much you have grown up! You are so so beautiful. From when you were little and would pretend to pass-out when you had too much homework or when I was thirteen and talked to my friend Hannah Bambrick because I was so worried that you would never grow out of your Sponge Bob phase haha an you never really did... but neither did Dad!
I remember how when we were little I would spend two or three hours cleaning my room and reoraganizing my furniture and you would spend those three maybe five hours playing school with Nick and Alexandra. You always make people feel special and so happy. Dan, I can not even begin to tell you how lucky you are to get to marry my sister! She is an example to me and I am sure to you in so many ways.
Jess, you always made me so happy...from when we shoved cough drops and gum in Chad Herstein´s locker, to honking the car horn in front of Mike and Loris house at midnight on a regular basis, or doing the thousands of things that we thought was funny but nobody else, to driving from seminary to school or laying on your big bunk bed talking aobut our lives, hopes and worries until dad or mom would tell us that we had to go to bed...I always know that my baby sister would be there for me and would make me happy... Dan she is going to be such an incredible wife and mom. She will make you so happy.
Now you are getting married! Turning the page in your life and starting a new part of your journey to reture to our Father in Heaven...ah! This is so exciting! His hand is so evident in your life! But now you are moving forward with your best friend... and hand in hand and step by step you will start to work and grow and love together every day to be able to live together forever as a family. Heavenly Father must be so happy right now. I am so happy for you two!
From down here in hot and beautiful Paraguay I hope you two can feel the huge (and a kiss for you Jess) and all of my love that I am sending for you Jess, my baby sister, and Dan my new big brother. I know that Alexandra and other loved ones (cat for sure ;)) are and will be at your side on your special day. Congratulations you two... FAMILIA PORTER!!!! I couldnt be happier and more excited!
amor,
Natasha ;)
Week 43 (Jul 16, 2012): They Shall Mount Up with Wings As Eagles
A couple of quick stories.
Heavenly Father has blessed me with a lot of energy on the mission. Yea I always feel realllly tired to come home at night, but He always blesses me with energy to do everything that He wants me to do. Normally missionaries take naps on Pdays but I cant... there are too many things that I want to study or do and Heavenly Father has blessed me so much.
Gilberto still is planning on being baptized in the beginning of August but is afraid of not having time to go to church when he starts med school in Cuba this Dicember.
Marta, the less active member I told you about the other week is doing well. We had a lesson with her the other day and it is such a blessing to teach her because it strengthens my testimony of the Atonement. She litteraly has more light in her eyes as she starts to read her Book of Mormon again and talk to her boyfriend about the church.
Well this Friday morning, I dont know what happened but I WAS THE TIREDEST I have ever been in my liffffe! I remember at 6:30 rolling out of bed and kneeling down and just begging Heavenly Father to help me have energy to study and teach that day. This may be pathetic, but for my familiy you know that it is normal, I just cried and told Him that I did not think that I could do it that day because I felt so tired. Well as a stood up, He answered my prayer with a scripture in Isaiah40:29-30 that says, "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strengthñ they shall mount up with wings as eaglesñ they shall run, and not be wearyñ and they shall walk and not faint...He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength". "Okay...I can do it," I thought in my head. As I sat down to study for my investigators...I WAS EXHAUSTED and almost fell asleep while I was reading..that has never happened to me (unlike you dad :). Well, the day went on and I forgot about feeling so tired in the morning until I knelt down again that night and I realized that I was not tired at all and felt like I could go out and teach for two more hours. As I had served the Lord as I served His children that day He gave me the energy that was not my own. His promises are real. We are children of a loving Father and He blesses us and answers our prayers. I know that as we read and study the scriptures, we recognize and recieve guidance more quickly and specifically not because Heavenly Father starts to want to bless us more because we are reading our scriptures but because we can recognize more easily the direction that He so lovingly gives us through the words of His prophets.
I love Him. I pray that we can all be firm in our testimonies of the Savior and share the Gospel of Christ with all of those who are with us and live in such a way so that we can all return to live with Him together as a famliy...foreverrrr!!!!! the biggest blessing He could ever give me
Les amo muchisimo muchisimo.
Un abrazo fuerte a todos,
Hermana Jones
Hn Mercedes Familia, her daughter + hijo Angel & his cousins, that were visiting for the day. We had lunch with them. They are less-active family only because of the job of Evelyn...she is looking for a nursing job that doesn't make her work Sundays. Her husband died right before they were sealed & still hasn't gone to the temple but wants to. They are a really special flia - the grandma always has HOT PINK nails and enjoys talking. :-)
Elephant Legs!!! haha! Please note that before the mission, Mom, I cried when I saw these shoes when they were shiny, new, and on the rack in the store....because I thought they were so ugly!..and look at them now!! This is what nine months in the mission foes to your shoes.
Me and Hna Arnell!!! This is in Bario Cu'guazu (neighborhood big weed is what it literally means!) Half of Nemby is "Campo" green with lots of red dirt and the half is kind of in the city.
Heavenly Father has blessed me with a lot of energy on the mission. Yea I always feel realllly tired to come home at night, but He always blesses me with energy to do everything that He wants me to do. Normally missionaries take naps on Pdays but I cant... there are too many things that I want to study or do and Heavenly Father has blessed me so much.
Gilberto still is planning on being baptized in the beginning of August but is afraid of not having time to go to church when he starts med school in Cuba this Dicember.
Marta, the less active member I told you about the other week is doing well. We had a lesson with her the other day and it is such a blessing to teach her because it strengthens my testimony of the Atonement. She litteraly has more light in her eyes as she starts to read her Book of Mormon again and talk to her boyfriend about the church.
Well this Friday morning, I dont know what happened but I WAS THE TIREDEST I have ever been in my liffffe! I remember at 6:30 rolling out of bed and kneeling down and just begging Heavenly Father to help me have energy to study and teach that day. This may be pathetic, but for my familiy you know that it is normal, I just cried and told Him that I did not think that I could do it that day because I felt so tired. Well as a stood up, He answered my prayer with a scripture in Isaiah40:29-30 that says, "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strengthñ they shall mount up with wings as eaglesñ they shall run, and not be wearyñ and they shall walk and not faint...He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength". "Okay...I can do it," I thought in my head. As I sat down to study for my investigators...I WAS EXHAUSTED and almost fell asleep while I was reading..that has never happened to me (unlike you dad :). Well, the day went on and I forgot about feeling so tired in the morning until I knelt down again that night and I realized that I was not tired at all and felt like I could go out and teach for two more hours. As I had served the Lord as I served His children that day He gave me the energy that was not my own. His promises are real. We are children of a loving Father and He blesses us and answers our prayers. I know that as we read and study the scriptures, we recognize and recieve guidance more quickly and specifically not because Heavenly Father starts to want to bless us more because we are reading our scriptures but because we can recognize more easily the direction that He so lovingly gives us through the words of His prophets.
I love Him. I pray that we can all be firm in our testimonies of the Savior and share the Gospel of Christ with all of those who are with us and live in such a way so that we can all return to live with Him together as a famliy...foreverrrr!!!!! the biggest blessing He could ever give me
Les amo muchisimo muchisimo.
Un abrazo fuerte a todos,
Hermana Jones
Week 42 (Jul 9, 2012): The Miracle Chain
Querida familia,
What a week! I will nevvveeerrr be able to do anything to repay Heavenly Father for giving me this opportunity to serve as a missionary in Paraguay. Sometimes at night when I think about everything that happened during the day, I am amazed by all of the miracles that we saw during the day and all of the blessings that the Lord gave to us, those around us, and me personally. Hna. Anrade and I have started to write down four blessings or miracles that we recieved during the day after planning each night on four strips of paper. We are making a paper chain with all of the papers and more and more my testimony grows each day that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and I am His daughter and that He loves and blesses us most of the time through other people. The chain is growing longer and longer. I will take a picture for you at the end of this transfer!
We are working with Carmen. A lady who is 52 and has two sons. She reads and marks her Book of Mormon every day and marks it and has come to church probably ten times, but is scarred of leaving behind her traditions and afraid of what her family will say or think. I love her a lot and hope that she can be baptized soon.
Last night we were walking home when we stopped to talk to a girl who looked like she was about twenty. Her name is Marta Riquelme. As we talked to her we came to find out that she is a member but had moved from her home ward and had stopped coming to church because she didnt know anyone and was living with her boyfriend and his parents. She kept saying "I cant believe it, I can´t believe it! I have been wanting to find the missionaries to talk to since I moved her!" She lives along the street that is our limit with the Elders and said that she always sees them walking up the street but they have never seen her when she would shout their names! She says that she wants to come back to church and wants her boyfriend to learn more about the gospel so that they can be married and "be a forever family" is what she said :) We are visiting her tonight.
Yesterday we had a neat experience. We had promised Gilberto and his friend Liliana that we would stop by to pick them up with someone with a car because he just had surgery on his foot and cant walk. Well...long story short, the person with the car didnt show up to take us to his house and pick him up and it was 10 minutes before nine. We called the bishop as a last resort and so he met us on the corner with his truck but his wife wasnt with him so I told him that we wouldnt be able to show him where Gilberto lived because his wife wasnt in the car. Well he said, Hermana we dont have time and then drove off! Sooo we started power walking to Gilbertos house because we couldnt tell him we would come by to take him to churhcc and then not come! Just five minutes later, the bishop drove up again, this time with his wife and she said, " He alwasy taught me that the people were more improtant than the programs.". Gilberto didnt end up coming to church and we started 20 minutes late but I was left with a deep gratitude for a bishop who trys to be like the savior and follows the words of the Prophet presidente Monson... "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."
We also are starting to teach a lady named Gilda. She used to feed the missionaries about ten years ago, but had lost contact with them and the church. She has already read the libro de mormón cover to cover and says that she will do so again but this time praying to know that it is true! That was a miracle.
I know that this is God´s church that He guides and directs. I know that He live and loves us and is only a prayer away. I love this gospel. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.
Dios les bendiga esta semana.
amor,
su Hermana Jones
Hna Arnell, Elias, Noelia, Hna Ofeda, me, Israel and Marcos. Right after teaching the plan of salvation...we had an activity in the end there was a "judgement" and they got alfahoves (my favorite cookie here) to represent the celestial kingdom. :-)
What a week! I will nevvveeerrr be able to do anything to repay Heavenly Father for giving me this opportunity to serve as a missionary in Paraguay. Sometimes at night when I think about everything that happened during the day, I am amazed by all of the miracles that we saw during the day and all of the blessings that the Lord gave to us, those around us, and me personally. Hna. Anrade and I have started to write down four blessings or miracles that we recieved during the day after planning each night on four strips of paper. We are making a paper chain with all of the papers and more and more my testimony grows each day that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and I am His daughter and that He loves and blesses us most of the time through other people. The chain is growing longer and longer. I will take a picture for you at the end of this transfer!
We are working with Carmen. A lady who is 52 and has two sons. She reads and marks her Book of Mormon every day and marks it and has come to church probably ten times, but is scarred of leaving behind her traditions and afraid of what her family will say or think. I love her a lot and hope that she can be baptized soon.
Last night we were walking home when we stopped to talk to a girl who looked like she was about twenty. Her name is Marta Riquelme. As we talked to her we came to find out that she is a member but had moved from her home ward and had stopped coming to church because she didnt know anyone and was living with her boyfriend and his parents. She kept saying "I cant believe it, I can´t believe it! I have been wanting to find the missionaries to talk to since I moved her!" She lives along the street that is our limit with the Elders and said that she always sees them walking up the street but they have never seen her when she would shout their names! She says that she wants to come back to church and wants her boyfriend to learn more about the gospel so that they can be married and "be a forever family" is what she said :) We are visiting her tonight.
Yesterday we had a neat experience. We had promised Gilberto and his friend Liliana that we would stop by to pick them up with someone with a car because he just had surgery on his foot and cant walk. Well...long story short, the person with the car didnt show up to take us to his house and pick him up and it was 10 minutes before nine. We called the bishop as a last resort and so he met us on the corner with his truck but his wife wasnt with him so I told him that we wouldnt be able to show him where Gilberto lived because his wife wasnt in the car. Well he said, Hermana we dont have time and then drove off! Sooo we started power walking to Gilbertos house because we couldnt tell him we would come by to take him to churhcc and then not come! Just five minutes later, the bishop drove up again, this time with his wife and she said, " He alwasy taught me that the people were more improtant than the programs.". Gilberto didnt end up coming to church and we started 20 minutes late but I was left with a deep gratitude for a bishop who trys to be like the savior and follows the words of the Prophet presidente Monson... "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."
We also are starting to teach a lady named Gilda. She used to feed the missionaries about ten years ago, but had lost contact with them and the church. She has already read the libro de mormón cover to cover and says that she will do so again but this time praying to know that it is true! That was a miracle.
I know that this is God´s church that He guides and directs. I know that He live and loves us and is only a prayer away. I love this gospel. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.
Dios les bendiga esta semana.
amor,
su Hermana Jones
Week 41 (Jul 2, 2012): Bearing Anothers Burden
Dear family,
Hope you all have had a great week!
Yesterday...oh how I love Sundays. Sundays in the mission are just as busy as any other day of the week for us haha but that is how it should be and I love it.
I recently read in the Liahona from June 2012 the story of the two sister missoinaries called "The miracle of Spiritual Healing". First, it is neat to read in the Liahona missionary stories now because every almost every single one I can relate to!
If you want to get a feel for what I am doing or experiencing more than just my emails...read the Ensign!! As I read the article I was touched by how blessed I am to be able to be helping so many people spiritually. I realized that maybe I have always meant to be a nurse...both spiritually and physically. I love what I do and I am not alone as I do His work. I can often feel that Heavenly Father is right beside me and blesses me constantly with the words I need to say and the direction I need to take in every aspect of the work and my life right now. He is so aware of my needs and because I know and have started to recognize that even more, I am able to search out the small needs of my companion, the investigators and the members here... small needs but they are important to them so they are important to Him...our Maker and Creator.
A neat story from yesterday...we had stopped by the house of a lady named Fátima to pick up her and her girls to go to church but they were still sleeping. As we walked to the chapel someone behind us honked. It was a recent convert named Carlos who was baptized about a month ago. He is about 46 and reminds me a little bit of Brother Leisure! Well he had just picked up a few other less active members and drove us the rest of way to the church with them. We told him how Fátima and her girls were going to come to church but hadn´t and he said, "well they don´t know what they are missing!". Then as we walked into the chapel he sighed to himself and said, "hogar, dulce hogar" or home sweet home. He has a strong testimony and loves the Gospel of Jesucristo. I love to see and feel of the recent covnverts testimonies.
I also never shared a story from Ñemby. As you know Mom and Dad and Jess... Heermana Arnell could barely even walk for a few weeks because her feet hurt so bad and she was having so many problems with the surgeries that she has had. I call her my Captin Moroni companion and this is why... before I got my bapckback from H. Plummer that works a LOT better my back had started to hurt REALLY bad to the point I thought I would cry before putting it on every day to leave the house. (not a surprise i know haha). I dont think I ever told H. Arnell because she was in so much more pain but she could tell that my back hurted and would ask to carry my backpack for me. No way was I going to add one more load on her! So I would always tell her no, but sometimes after lessons she would pick up my backpack before I did and would carry both of them for me while she could barely walk. She told me before I left that when she did that, there was still pain in her feet, but a lot of the pain was taken away. As she took on my load for me and served me, her burdens were lightened. I know that the Lord lives and loves us oh so much. This is His work. This is His gospel...and we are His hands.
Les amo a todos muchisimo.
amor,
su Hermana Jones
Hna Ojeda Hna Arnell Yo. I was going to send this one to Hna Ojeda but it got wet, so here you go...we are proud to be...American? Parguayo? Depende :-) Our colors are the same:-) I have been so blessed with every single companion :-) (Our kitchen is behind us... the size of our towel closet)
Hna Arnell, me, Hna Carmen & Hno Moguel. They drove over when we had gotten home late Tues. night to bring "alfahoves" (the most amazing cookie in the world) & to say goodbye. I love these people so much. Thank you for helping me serve a mission so that I can meet people liek them/help them. :-) Extras, the mansion that I never realized we were so spoiled to live in. :-)
Hope you all have had a great week!
Yesterday...oh how I love Sundays. Sundays in the mission are just as busy as any other day of the week for us haha but that is how it should be and I love it.
I recently read in the Liahona from June 2012 the story of the two sister missoinaries called "The miracle of Spiritual Healing". First, it is neat to read in the Liahona missionary stories now because every almost every single one I can relate to!
If you want to get a feel for what I am doing or experiencing more than just my emails...read the Ensign!! As I read the article I was touched by how blessed I am to be able to be helping so many people spiritually. I realized that maybe I have always meant to be a nurse...both spiritually and physically. I love what I do and I am not alone as I do His work. I can often feel that Heavenly Father is right beside me and blesses me constantly with the words I need to say and the direction I need to take in every aspect of the work and my life right now. He is so aware of my needs and because I know and have started to recognize that even more, I am able to search out the small needs of my companion, the investigators and the members here... small needs but they are important to them so they are important to Him...our Maker and Creator.
A neat story from yesterday...we had stopped by the house of a lady named Fátima to pick up her and her girls to go to church but they were still sleeping. As we walked to the chapel someone behind us honked. It was a recent convert named Carlos who was baptized about a month ago. He is about 46 and reminds me a little bit of Brother Leisure! Well he had just picked up a few other less active members and drove us the rest of way to the church with them. We told him how Fátima and her girls were going to come to church but hadn´t and he said, "well they don´t know what they are missing!". Then as we walked into the chapel he sighed to himself and said, "hogar, dulce hogar" or home sweet home. He has a strong testimony and loves the Gospel of Jesucristo. I love to see and feel of the recent covnverts testimonies.
I also never shared a story from Ñemby. As you know Mom and Dad and Jess... Heermana Arnell could barely even walk for a few weeks because her feet hurt so bad and she was having so many problems with the surgeries that she has had. I call her my Captin Moroni companion and this is why... before I got my bapckback from H. Plummer that works a LOT better my back had started to hurt REALLY bad to the point I thought I would cry before putting it on every day to leave the house. (not a surprise i know haha). I dont think I ever told H. Arnell because she was in so much more pain but she could tell that my back hurted and would ask to carry my backpack for me. No way was I going to add one more load on her! So I would always tell her no, but sometimes after lessons she would pick up my backpack before I did and would carry both of them for me while she could barely walk. She told me before I left that when she did that, there was still pain in her feet, but a lot of the pain was taken away. As she took on my load for me and served me, her burdens were lightened. I know that the Lord lives and loves us oh so much. This is His work. This is His gospel...and we are His hands.
Les amo a todos muchisimo.
amor,
su Hermana Jones
Week 40 (Jun 25, 2012): Ita Enramada
Querida familia,
I am starting my time in Ita Enramada. It is SOOO different than Ñemby but I know that it is my time to be here and that I finished my work in Ñemby. There are a few poorer areas but the home are HUGE here and everyone has cars. I felt really out of place my first couple of days and just gaped at the homes as we walked around. Paraguay is a country were most of the people are extremely poor or extremely wealthy and I was in for a little bit of a shock when I left Ñemby! I am really close to downtown Asunción and we can look across a river on the edge of our area and see Argentina!
It was so hard to say goodbye...so many of the members were so kind to me as I left and came over to drop off food and letters and things like that before I left. Hna. Leanor gave me a purse that she has that she thought I might like...this is coming from someone who barely has anything. They are so humble and so giving. Marcos and Elias were baptized this past Saturday...that was really hard to tell them that I wouldnt be there and it is hard to explain why I cant make an exception for just an hour for them, but the rules are there and I am here in Ita Enramadad where the Lord needs me.
We are working with a guy named Gilberto right now. He is 21 and loves the lessons. He has a lot of finals this week so we will need to work on helping him still read his Libro de Mormón... we are stopping by every day to drop off cards with different short scriptures to read. He is preparing to be baptized the second weekend in July!
I am so excited to start working here even though I miss Ñemby so much! We went over to the chaple my first night and a bunch of the RS sisters were sitting in a room watcing a cooreagraphy of some Paraguayan dance and were all dressed up in long red skirts. When I asked Hermana Parini, the gospel doctrine teacher, who is about sixty or seventy years old what they were doing, she said, "Hermana we are adding a little bit of spice and color to the RS!".
The ward is great. My companions name is HNA. Andrade and she is from Mexico. I know that the Gospel is true and I know that I have a hight title to live up to...missionary...representativeof Jesucristo. I am so grateful Hevenly Father has given me this opportunity.
Amo a todos de uds.,
su Hermana Jones
"Mini Missioanries - All of Ita Enramada is very "chuchi" or fancy except for barrio Jukutu (same name in Giuarani). We can't be in their neighborhood when it gets dark because it is really dangerous (haha don't really mean that mom....only a little)
I am starting my time in Ita Enramada. It is SOOO different than Ñemby but I know that it is my time to be here and that I finished my work in Ñemby. There are a few poorer areas but the home are HUGE here and everyone has cars. I felt really out of place my first couple of days and just gaped at the homes as we walked around. Paraguay is a country were most of the people are extremely poor or extremely wealthy and I was in for a little bit of a shock when I left Ñemby! I am really close to downtown Asunción and we can look across a river on the edge of our area and see Argentina!
It was so hard to say goodbye...so many of the members were so kind to me as I left and came over to drop off food and letters and things like that before I left. Hna. Leanor gave me a purse that she has that she thought I might like...this is coming from someone who barely has anything. They are so humble and so giving. Marcos and Elias were baptized this past Saturday...that was really hard to tell them that I wouldnt be there and it is hard to explain why I cant make an exception for just an hour for them, but the rules are there and I am here in Ita Enramadad where the Lord needs me.
We are working with a guy named Gilberto right now. He is 21 and loves the lessons. He has a lot of finals this week so we will need to work on helping him still read his Libro de Mormón... we are stopping by every day to drop off cards with different short scriptures to read. He is preparing to be baptized the second weekend in July!
I am so excited to start working here even though I miss Ñemby so much! We went over to the chaple my first night and a bunch of the RS sisters were sitting in a room watcing a cooreagraphy of some Paraguayan dance and were all dressed up in long red skirts. When I asked Hermana Parini, the gospel doctrine teacher, who is about sixty or seventy years old what they were doing, she said, "Hermana we are adding a little bit of spice and color to the RS!".
The ward is great. My companions name is HNA. Andrade and she is from Mexico. I know that the Gospel is true and I know that I have a hight title to live up to...missionary...representativeof Jesucristo. I am so grateful Hevenly Father has given me this opportunity.
Amo a todos de uds.,
su Hermana Jones
Week 39 (Jun 18, 2012): Leaving Nemby
Querida familia,
I will be leaving Ñemby, my first and only area, this Wednesday. I have been here for seven months! Woohoo!!!! It was really hard when I first found out, but I feel a strong confirmaion that my work here in Ñemby is "done"...at least for now...it never really stops because I will always remember so many of the people here. I love them so much...each and every one.
Noelia, Marcos and Elias will be getting baptized this Saturday!!!!!!! Noelia was a little nervous so they didnt get baptized this past saturday so I wont be able to be here for their baptizm, but I have been able to be here teaching and preparing them and that is enough for me! We are teaching them about tithing tonight with an activity that we have planned out. I am going to miss them a lot. Oh and we are starting to teach their MOM!!!!!!!
A quick story and lesson that I learned. We had a lesson with Antonlia abuelita the other day and had it in her daughters house who lives a 3 minute walk from her house. She told us she was going to walk home as we stood up to leave and so we asked if we could help her... but recieved the usually answer of, "no". We then walked over to Noelia, Marcos, and Elia´s house ( who live right in front of Antonia) and had a lesson for 45 minutes. As we left their house, I could see down the little hill that Antonia was slowly making her way up. With her heart attack that she had about three months ago and other health problems she walks with two canes and walks very very slowly. She had been walking and struggling back to her house for almost an hour when it takes us only five minutes to get there. We stopped again and asked her if we could ¨PLEASE help her get home and she got a little frustrated and said no.
As we walked away I realized how much we are all like that sometimes. We have sins that we struggle with that slow us down in our spiritual progression and dull the feelings of love and foregiveness that our Savior so freely gives us and as the Spirit gently prompts us to change and repent, so often we grudgenly say no and just like Antonia, take so much more time getting to where Heavnly Father wants us to be (spiritually and emotionally and temporally...in every aspect) because we are too prideful to accept the atoning sacrifice of our Savior. He pleads with us to come to Him and learn of Him. All that He asks is that we be like Him. Oh, I am so grateful for the Gospel. I know that it is true and I know that my Savior lives and loves me. I want to follow Him and be like Him.
I love you all... les quiero cada uno de ustedes. ¡Que vayan con Dios!
amor,
su Hermana Jones
Antonia- The first time my WHOLE mission that I have seen her smile! That meant a lot to me. At the end of the lesson she said... God loves everyone like you both love me. Where I know that He loves us SO much more, I felt a sacred sense of trust from my Father in Heaven and felt really grateful that I could meet Antonia.
Hna. Leanor- we still dont know where Vincente is, so that was hard. She gave me a very sweet gift of one of her purses...
Our neighbors...they dont want to come to church or hear the lessons, but we have become really great friends and I love them a lot.
Hna. Leanor, Hna. Franco and Mariela- Hna. Franco has always helped us and come to lessons with us when she can. Mariela has become good friends with Noelia and is coming with us to a lesson with Noelia, Marcos and Elias tonight!!!
Hno y Hna Cabdevilla- the parents of Mauricio (best friend is Carlitos who was going to be baptized)...we had luch with them yesterday and with the Hna Bracho... oh and her daughter Flopìe in the picture... the most shy girl I have ever met but FINALLY she will give me kisses on the cheek and thinks we are friends!
We live next to the familia Lanzoni (our landlords and munos activos)& they have: mandarine, mango, lime, bannana, and avacado trees. Picking mandarins on P-day...I ate four to six every day for a week. :-)
I will be leaving Ñemby, my first and only area, this Wednesday. I have been here for seven months! Woohoo!!!! It was really hard when I first found out, but I feel a strong confirmaion that my work here in Ñemby is "done"...at least for now...it never really stops because I will always remember so many of the people here. I love them so much...each and every one.
Noelia, Marcos and Elias will be getting baptized this Saturday!!!!!!! Noelia was a little nervous so they didnt get baptized this past saturday so I wont be able to be here for their baptizm, but I have been able to be here teaching and preparing them and that is enough for me! We are teaching them about tithing tonight with an activity that we have planned out. I am going to miss them a lot. Oh and we are starting to teach their MOM!!!!!!!
A quick story and lesson that I learned. We had a lesson with Antonlia abuelita the other day and had it in her daughters house who lives a 3 minute walk from her house. She told us she was going to walk home as we stood up to leave and so we asked if we could help her... but recieved the usually answer of, "no". We then walked over to Noelia, Marcos, and Elia´s house ( who live right in front of Antonia) and had a lesson for 45 minutes. As we left their house, I could see down the little hill that Antonia was slowly making her way up. With her heart attack that she had about three months ago and other health problems she walks with two canes and walks very very slowly. She had been walking and struggling back to her house for almost an hour when it takes us only five minutes to get there. We stopped again and asked her if we could ¨PLEASE help her get home and she got a little frustrated and said no.
As we walked away I realized how much we are all like that sometimes. We have sins that we struggle with that slow us down in our spiritual progression and dull the feelings of love and foregiveness that our Savior so freely gives us and as the Spirit gently prompts us to change and repent, so often we grudgenly say no and just like Antonia, take so much more time getting to where Heavnly Father wants us to be (spiritually and emotionally and temporally...in every aspect) because we are too prideful to accept the atoning sacrifice of our Savior. He pleads with us to come to Him and learn of Him. All that He asks is that we be like Him. Oh, I am so grateful for the Gospel. I know that it is true and I know that my Savior lives and loves me. I want to follow Him and be like Him.
I love you all... les quiero cada uno de ustedes. ¡Que vayan con Dios!
amor,
su Hermana Jones
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