7 Enero 2013

Dear Family,

Can you believe it is a new year?!  It's amazing how many things...amazing things happen in just one year!  Today I wanted to share some stories:

#1  As we were in sacrament  meeting (I am the ward pianist and it stresses me out!!  ha ha just a little)  It was fast and testimony meeting and the meeting went over almost thirty or forty minutes because so many people wanted to bear their testimonies!  but, two testimonies stood out to me.  The little daughter Katia of the less active member, Hermana Goday (who comes regularly now) stood up and said, "I am so grateful for my mom, she is the most marvelous mom in the world because she brings me to church each week."  ....then the daughter of a recently baptized family (la familia Martinez who were baptized a year ago) stood up and said how grateful she was that her dad, "is always there with the Book of Mormon, teaching me how the things are and how I should be..." You could feel the spirit testify of the power of the Gospel and how it changes lives.  The ward's goal, with three pairs of missionaries, for the year 2013, is to have 40 baptisms...They accomplished 24 in 2012!

#2  I was thinking of the power of the Atonement y...........
Yesterday as I was studying, we could hear sirens outside.  I remember my freshman year in BYU and one of my first nights there, there was a huge, terrible accident in the intersection that was in front of the stadium, and I remember all of my rom mates wanted me to go outside with them to see what had happened, but I said I had to go to the bathroom and I went and closed the door and sobbed silently on the floor, just shaking because it felt like the accident all over again.  Well, years later, I don't cry...sometimes I do, when I hear an ambulance.  Yes, it makes me sad, and I naturally always pray that they will be okay, and that Heavenly Father will send angels to them.  It was interesting as I realized and recognized the change- the healing that I had received as I said a prayer and said, "thanks for taking care of them."  I know that He cries when we cry and wants us to recognize and realize that, "O esta, todo bien"....All is well.

 

17 Diciembre, 2012

Dear Family,

Well...I am here in a new area!  I was so sad when Elder Narena (from Hondura) told me that we were going to be having changes.  I started to have tears in my eyes...poor Elder...he had been in Ita Enramada for the six months that I was there and was used to the fact that "Hermand Jones cries"  ha ha.  He came up after and said, "uh....are you okay, Hermana Jones?"  I asked for a blessing and...I know/I knew that it was where the Lord needed me but I love the people there so much and I did not want to leave them.  So, I asked for a blessing, like I would have asked Dad, and I felt so much better afterwards and so much excitement.

The ward that I am in now has double the church attendance and I have never received a bigger "bienvenida" from a ward.  They are SO, SOO excited to have sisters.  It kinda scares me!  About 10 different Hermanas came up to us and told us they could go with us to lessons any day, all day!

We were able to talk in sacrament meeting (oh...and I am the ward pianist ahora jaja..I am grateful that Mom always taught us to play and made us practice and that Dad always made me feel special when I sang or played so that I could have this talent).

Well, I felt like I should share very briefly about Alexandra.  I held up that blue card with the family pictures that I made for everyone two or three Christmases ago and testified of the importance of the Gospel.  Our investigator Lourdes came just for sacrament meeting.  The other day she just cried and cried in a lesson saying that she just wanted paz en su vida.  As I sat down next to her after talking, she asked to see the picture.  As she looked at it, I could feel the spirit strongly.  I said, "Lourdes, my family and I found that peace that you were looking for in this church and gospel...that peace you are looking for, "I whispered as Hermand Espinoza spoke, "it is her."  She didn't say anything, but I know she knew what I said was true...the Spirit bore witness of it.

Well, I love you all.  Jess, your story about the Book of Mormon made me cry.  Thanks so much for following the spirit.  You will never know in this life what great impact you had on her and her daughter's life...for sure her daughter has listened to missionaries on the other side.  "Sister Porter", keep following the Spirit to share the Gospel.  (una escritura  que me ha ayudado hacer las cosas pequenda...Alma 36:6-7)

Dad and Spencer, thanks for your notes-your card about Alexandra touched me.  I feel that she is helping me serve this mission with me.

Nick, we can talk all the Spanish you want. :) And, you can teach me German (everyone asks me if I am from Germany) and Russian and Mandarin!  I don't doubt you can learn them if that's what you want to do!)

Mom...I am sorry, but in 5-20 of your emails you have asked me if anything from my packages was stolen.  ha ha...no worries! I was overwhelmed with the gifts and felt once again your love, from you and Dad.  Thanks so much!

Hermana Jones

Handwritten letter sent on Nov. 11th, .2012

"Dear Mom and Dad",
Every time I think of all of the gifts you sent to me and Hermana Santiago, and all of my Paraguayan faily, I can't talk because I feel like I'm going to cry. 

#1  Dad, I thought this might make you feel better to know that we have to pay for our packages to receive them and because you both sent me half of WalMart and the DI (like the Salvation Army in Utah), I don't have money this month to wash clothes, so I bought 50 cent soap and am "super quapa" as they say and wash by hand for the month!  Please don't feel bad...I'm only telling you this because I am grateful...it is teaching me to know how it feels  to "need"...just a little. :)

#2  When my District Leader received the "announcement" that I had four packages waiting for me...he asked jokingly if I had been ASKING for packages...(Let me clarify...Shauna, who is typing this...the Mom...Our ward donated dozens of skirts, white shirts and ties and the Achievement Day Girls and Young Women made flower headbands to donate to all the people in Natasha's area and investigators who wanted, but didn't have, nicer clothes for church...this lead to me sending several packages and for her companion to have a Christmas, too.  I also sent several bottles of mosquito spray one time, because of all the heat, humidity and annoying mosquitos...so, no...I don't just go to WalMart and randomly send Natasha lots of extra stuff) :)
Natasha...continued...My district leader asked if my parents were really worried about me or something...ha ha...nope, they just love me lots and want to be a part of my mission, too, by blessing the people that I love here in Paraguay!

#3  Hermana Santiago hasn't received a single card from her family.  We opened my Christmas boxes that day because I assumed we will have transfers and I wanted HER to have the gifts because she has so little.  Mom and Dad, she felt so special.  I think the thinks that you sent her are some of the nicest things she has ever had.  As I pulled out the CDs, skirt...then the earrings, etc. and everything else, she looked so surprised!  "Wow", she said, almost with tears in her eyes...."it's too much."  She said softly with a smile.  (no, they didn't steal anything from our packages, Mom :)

#4   I can't make a list of "thank you for the watch, the book the piano music, the music CD's skirt, etc. because I would never be able to it it all on here.  I carry the gum around and it's so fun to give.  Small, silly gifts actually soften people's hearts to be willing to listen to the Gospel. 

Thank you Mom and Dad for the gifts.  It was so much and I feel overwhelmed as I look at them and then I think of my friends that are in my area that have barely enough to buy cheap bread.  Oh, Mom and Dad, we are blessed so much in every single aspect of our lives.  Thanks for teaching me the Gospel of Christ so that I could learn to love others. 

Tu hija,
Hermana Jones

 

Week 76 (March 4, 2013): Meeting the Zitzmans

This has been a great week.  I was lazy and didnt write a single day in my journal so i am not sure what to write about! haha but Mom you will be proud of me to know that I have almost filled all three journals that you sent to me.  Incredible!!

We are starting to work with another family named Sarah and Dario... Zitzman!  haha his dad is German but it is a really weird name for here in Paraguay.  Dario is 26 and Sarah is 23 and they have a little boy named Arturo who is 2 and is the happiest toddeler.  They are so humble.  It has been neat to see how the Lord works in His work... Cristian just recieved the priesthood and now the familia Paredes is helping us teach the familia Zitzman. I LOVE IT!

The Paredes family will be going to the temple to do baptisms during Easter break in a few weeks!  We taught them about family history and they are so excited.  I want him and Cyntia to talk to you mom and dad so bad... we just need to learn spanish!!!  haha no but one day we will talk to them on skype and i will translate... Cristian said that he wants to talk to you dad.  He is kinda stressed about his little girl Cyndi because she never listens and I always laugh and tell him that you had told me too one time that you and mom were worried about me when i was little and i turned out GREAT!  right?!  No but really ... one day you will have to talk to him.  They are amazing parents and all of the changes they are doing come from a deep love of God and for their little girls.

Hna Espinoza and I have a phrase for this change.  It is from Philipeans 4:19 ( i think! ahah)  Whenever we think that something is hard or we start to get discouraged we ask eachother, "who are you? or who are we?" and the other has to respond and say... " I am or we are daughters of God"... "and what can we do as daughters of God?"... and I have to respond... basically quoting the scripture... "I can do all things in Christ, who strenghthens me.".  The scriptures have a powerful affect on us and the way that act... I love the scriptures.  I love being a missionary and I love my family and my family here in Paraguay.  I thank my Father in Heaven for allow me to represent His Son and thank you all for praying for me and my friends here and being so supportive. Have a great week!!!!

Love,

Hermana Jones

PS President has asked me ... or better said the Lord :)... to stay here in Ciudad del Este with Hermana Espinoza for my last change to prepare for the new sister missionaries!  I am so happy to finish my mission here... within a few months there will be almost 50 instead of 10 or 12!

Hermana Espinoza and me!  I sure do love this sister.

Saying goodbye to Yámile.  Elder Nielsen, our district leader has helped Yámile a lot and she was super sad that he was leaving... Norma her mom!

Our new district... it is hard to have changes but it is neat to work with other elders also!  Alcídez is our ward mission leader.

 

Week 75 (Feb 25, 2013): We Must Be Persistent

Dear familiy,

Yesterday, after the baptism and confirmation of the paredes family, i heard to most beautiful words that i think that i have ever heard.  You would not believe how much the gospel is changing their lives... who they are, what type of spouse and parent they are...it is so beautiful.
Last night we talked to them about the priesthood!!! Ah exciting!  In the end, Cristian and Cyntia both told that we were... us a word in guartaní that means... hard headed.  And then went on to explain that it was a good thing and meant persistent and persevering no importa what others say or do.   hahah Cristian said, ¨ No really, because you were so persistent, I with my daughters and wife have a chance to return to live with Father in Heaven together.¨ 

Oh I love my mission.  It will never stop.  Our whole lives are to be dedicated to His service ... to bringing our brothers and sisters to Him.  We must be persistent.  It doesnt matter if we have already invited them to church 10 times or if they have said that they wont read the Book of Mormon... this is their salvation.  We have been so blessed to have the Gospel in our lives that helps us to be purified.  Let us be persistent and follow the spirit and we will have the privilege of returning to fathers presence with our friends.  I love you all.

Hermana Jones

Todos juntos' everyone together... they were all so happy!!!

 

Entrevistas! They fnished up their interviews and were so excited to be baptized!!

 

La familia gamarra' a family in the ward that lives really close to our house... david, hna gamarra, hna ramona y raquel, evelyn, y yésica!

Filling up the water!' yes we were going to try to fill it up with water from the fire hose, but the fire department couldnt come,... cristian and cyntia came up with their girls and i had to laugh instead of feeling stressed out as i explained to them that there was NOT water, but that we were still filling it u`p... 8 hours later!  haha

 

Norma y Yámile... they will be getting baptized in two weeks!  She is one of my favorite people i have ever met!

 

We started to fill it up with trash cans again... my first thoughts... americans, be greatful that you always have water when you need it!!!! Within two hours it rised up about an inch or two!

Week 74 (Feb 18, 2013): Cyntia and Christian Decide to Get Baptized

Dear family,

Oh I am so happy.  I hope you are all very, very happy!

Well Cristian and Cyntia are going to be getting baptized this upcoming saturday!  I cant even tell you everything that has happened up to this point to help them get to this point... or better said, I cant even believe how much THEY have done over the years to get to this point.

I just want to share with you a part of my journal entries...

Friday- they had their interview and are SO ready and prepared... but Cristian just keeps saying that he wants to wait until he knows more so that he "can just be sure".

16 feb. 2013- sábado

"Last night i prayed that i would be able to increase my faith... and today the trial came!  Oh boy. i love it. As we were finishing studying spanish and english, we got a text from cyntia that said, "When is our baptism gain?"... I couldnt wait and almost screamed and tackled hna. Espinoza with a hug while she waas praying.  We called and asked her if Cristaian had decided, but she said that she was still talking to him.

Well when we called the Elders, and then ran over to the church and cleaned the font... including the jhuge stupid cocaroach... and hten ran ove r to her house to help her... o sea, Cyntia.  Elder nielsen and vega came to the chapel to help us filling the font.  When we got to their home, she explained that she wanted to be baptized and thea Cristian was doubing a little if he wanted to today... I cant even remember the scriptures read or all of the words said, the spirit was so strong... my sister fani (who is mmember and her husb. is bishop) in argentina is worried that if we dont get baptized soon, we will not be getting baptized.  They are going to call us at two when Cristen gets home from work.  We knealt downand asked her, do you believe that god can work a miracle and help cristian to be baptized... yes she said...and then she prayed..."

To make a long story shorter, after another lesson and priesthood blessings and everything and inviting the whole ward...(which we felt so strongly to do... without having recived a yes from cristian... ) and trying to fill up the tank with plastic trash cans and buckets for hours... Cristian said that he did want to be baptized but not yet... "I still want to know more".  In the end of the day... we returned home... having spent the WHOLe day preparing a baptism that didnt happne and felt the spirit so strong.  We had shown our faith... all that we had.

17 - domingo

Today in gospel princuiples we watched the Touch of hte Masters Hand... we had felt to watch it.  In the end, as I looked up Crisitan and cyntia just had tears in their eyes... we had felt to watch it.  In the end, we asked the class what they had learned... and cytia raised her hand, "when god calls us... we must answer.  we read alma 7_11-15 and said "I invite each of you to act with what the spirit has taught you .  when we feel we must do something, we must act.  That is what god excpects.

Later today we said a quick prayer before the lesson with them asking for divine help.  They are so ready to be baptized... cristian is just scared. We didnt even finish the scripture when Cristian said, "i want ot be baptized... i know that s what i need to do for me and for my family and god.  Cyntia had hte biggest smile... and almost started crying.  She didnt even know that he had made that decision. 

"You believe that joseh smith was a prophet of god and that this is his restored church?"  "Yes we do."  "and who taught you that?" i asked.  The Holy Ghost through you guys.  angels god has sent us.  cristian said.  What a sacred privilage.  May faith will keepo increasing if i choose.  I know now that I will recieve no witness untill after the trail of my faith".  Thank you Heavenly Father. 

I know that He lives and that we are His children.  That should affect every aspect of our lives.

I love you all.

Amor,

Hermana Jones

Elder vega and us playing in the primary room waiting for Cristian to finish his interview

Us on Sat after hours of getting soakd filling up the tank in the rain

 

Cyntia and Cristian were SOOO HAPPYYY.

 

Me and my Planner

Us with Hermana Raquel who washes her clothes and her daughter

 

Us and Eli and her little brother Celso... he is 17 and excited for the mission

 

Week 73 (Feb 11, 2013): "Is there anything that you could ever do that would make Him stop loving you?"

Querida familia, 

Ah i am so happy!  I thought that i would send you a quick story about what had happened this week. 

5 febrero 2013

" I had forgotten to write about a neat lesson that we had the other day with (sarah... changed the name :)I had read the story of the Prodigal Son in Lucas a while back and had felt to share it with them.  I read and re-read the story and shared it with the Hna. Espinoza, but we neer felt to share it in a lesson until we taught sarah a certain commandment.  After we finished teaching the commandment, she sobbedas she shared with us the guilt and the unconfidence in herself that she felt because shen she was very young and her parents not only didnt teach and protect her, but most likely made it even harder for her to keep the commandment.  "Do you know - believe that God loves and can forgive you Sarah?"  we asked.  "I do," she said, "but sometimes it is just hard to believe that He can when I have made the mistakes that I have.  "Oh what JOY i felt as we read together in Luke 15 and read the words, "I will arise and go to my Father and will say, "father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son... (how often do we feel that way when we have sinned!?) and then read together how the Father ran,kissed, blessed and forgave without even looking back.  The question taht dad always aksked me rang in my mind... "Sarah, is there anything that you could ever do that would make Him stop loving you?!"... "no, she said with a smile... and we testified of repentance."

Oh i love my mission and I am so happy to be here.  This is Gods work and we can all be a part of it if we live the Gospel.  

Love you all!

Love, 

Hermana Jones

Oh i love pictures! I am so happy that I can send you more!

We had interchanges so i went to the city this past tuesday and was able to meet a lot of new people.  As I woke up the next day, there was this sunrise... every time I see things like this i just have to say, "Wow, Heavenly Father loves me". 

Us with Vanesa, one of our investigators.  She is in med school and is 19 years-old. There was a rainbow over the chapel right before our ward activity. 

Hermana Espinoza taught Karen (member) and Cyntia how to cook ají de gallina on friday!  Cyndi was really excited to help!

Cyntia... the smile after a great lesson!!!  I am so excited for them.  

Laura... she finally decided to serve the mission!!! 

Leaving the neighborhood one night... Paraguay is beautiful... someone told me that a general authority said that he felt as if christ had walked here in paraguay. 

Hno Rosalino, one of my favorite members.  He hasnt been able to walk for 10 years because he was shot while at work as a security guard, but he never misses a sunday and is so sure that he is going to be able to walk again!

 

Members in a class or activity that we had a few weeks ago about la obra misional

 

After the activity... I love my district!!! From left to right- Elder Hauser (AZ), Elder Martinez (Kaysville), Elder Nielsen (DC), Elder Vega (Colombia) and Hermana Espinoza and me!! 

 

Week 72 (Feb 4, 2013): Teaching Cristian and Cyntia

Querida familia, 

Oh I love you each so much.  I am happy and learning lots down here.  I will be honest... I think I would be happy to see snow haha! But I cant complain because months ago when i would use five sweaters and pajamas below my skirt i promised Him that I would never complain about the heat again!  So i LOVEE IT!! :)

I hope that you enjoy the photos that I sent!  It is always more fun to see pictures that to read paragraphs! 

Cristian and Cyntia are an incredible familiy that we are teaching right now.  They got married when they were both 19 years old and are both 27 years old now and have two beautiful little girls named Cyndi (4) and Luciana (1). They have passed through some very hard times with the ways that their parents did and did not raise them and the first day that we started to teach them, there was just a real sence of humility.  They said, "we just want to repent and help guide our girls and helps them follow Christ... because we never had that".  Cristian we say is our future bishop.  It is incredible how the spirit has already taught them so much.  We are helping to prepare them to be baptized for the 16th of febuary.  As we teach, they already know that it is true.  The Spirit has prepared their hearts for a long, long time.  Pray that they can have the courage to be baptized and that Hna. Espinoza and I can just do everything that we need to do.  We cant loose them because we know that they are so ready to be baptized and repent.  That is all that they want!  Many times, I feel like I already knew many people here before I came to earth... it just strengthens my testimony of the plan of happiness that Father has for us. 

Well, love you lots.  I bear testimony that Crist is our savior... that He has already payed the price for our sins.  To repent, there is no "part" that we pay, but rather we give it all to Him.  I know that we just have to be humble and follow His example.  I love the Gospel, because it alows us to do that.... and to just be happy.  That is why I am here... that is why we are here. 

Love you alll.... 

Hermana Jones

 

Nosotros with David Domiguez

My favorite fruit... Mburuguay!!!  We make fruit juice every morning from mangos... ect.!... better than jamba

Our "faith is like a seed" family home evening experiment... Alma was right!

 

Yamile... with Yesica and Naty Lugen.  They are cousins that like right around the corner of our house and are super excited to serve missions.  They always want to help us teach.  Yesica is 16 and Naty is 17!  We gave them a PMG and they are so excited reading everything. 

Us with Eli Vera and her little brother Celso... right after lunch one sunday.  They always are willing to drop everything to leave with us to teach and always help look for everyone to take them to church. 

 

Ahhhh... Cristian and Cyntia!!! The most prepared family that I have ever met... I LOVE THEM SOO STINKIN MUCH!!!!

 

Us and Cyntia and her baby girl Luciana!  Their other girl is named Cyndi and would color and draw for hours and hours!

 

...oh yea... and sometimes Cindi's reward for letting us teach and talk to her mom is drawing with her afterwards! haah.

Our chaple.... the street name is my favorite fruit!  (see name above :)

Weekly planning... or plan guazu for three hours... it doesnt seem like enough time!

It poured after a mission council meeting and well... we were dumb and wore white shirts and so ... we had to improvise... haha

Week 70 (Jan 21, 2013): Extending Mission to Train New Sisters

Mom, Dad and Jess, Nick, Spencer and Caden,

Okay i need to explain.  Thank you for your email mom.  I have permission to "chat" today if you have any questions that you want to make becuase i knew that you, the planner of the family, have already put a LOTT of time and effort into planning everything.  Please please forgive me.  This has been the easiest (in the sence that i feel so strongly that it is what i need to do) but hardest (because it wasnt necesarily my plan or my timing or my will either... all of which i have to change).  With all of the new sisters coming in (there are 12 sister here now... we will be recievineg 15 to 20 in the lapse of just 12 weeks... meaning opening lots of new areas and training lots of new sisters), it will make it extremely hard for pte. agazzani and a bunch of missionaries if i leave in march.  we had interviews this past thursday and president asked me to think about it.  I seriously prayed for over half and hour writing down everything that came to mind, crying and begging heavenly father to help me to understand what i need to do.  and I know that I need to finish apr. 11th.  My work will be left unfinished if i dont.  I hope and pray that you each feel the spirit testify that this is what i need to do so that it isnt so hard for each of you.  To be very honest, i thought of the movie 17 miracles.. when John (or whatever his name was) was finally starting to go home after his mission to finally be with his son... after 3 or four years and Willie asked him to extend his mission just a few weeks or months to help the saints get to salt lake.  Thats basically what is happening. 

To be very honest I have NOO idea how i am going to finish my studies in time to apply for a nursing program... from what i had planned before, it will be impossible or near impossible i think.  Everything I think goes against this decision, BUT I told Heavnely Father all of this and explained why I was worried and do you know what the anwer was?... all that came to mind was Dad holding out his hand to help me cross... we were hiking or something and there was something that i didnt want to cross because i was scared... and then the words came to my mind, "can you trust me?".  I know that Heavenly Father has greater blessings for me and each of you as i finish out my mission. 

I am SO sorry for making you all sad.  I KNKOW that you are becasue i was too, but i feel the spirit so strongtly each day confirming that this is waht i need to do... we need to do. 

As for classes, I wil NOT be attending spring term.  I have already decided that and feel good about that.  Summer possibly... i think i need to.

I love you all soooo much!

Well I am happy and enjoying the work.  I love each of you more each day and serve the way I do because I want to show my Heavenly Father that I want to be able to be with each of you forever.  I testify that He lives and loves us and we work WITH HIM in His work... saving His sons and daughters.
 

Hermana Jones

Oh and dad, one of our investigators saw a picture of Elder Neal A Maxwell in my planner and asked me if it was my dad... hahah i thought you would feel falttered.

Firmina and Hector... the mom and son that we are teaching!  She is incredible and so giving..

Hno Rosalino

English class!  We teach for an hour every Wednesday... half are members... lots of investigators come too! 

 

A butterfly landed on my finger!

Picture of a picture... antonio and marta after their baptism... "we are happy" he wrote on the picture :)

Sergio and Alexander!- sergio said that we are happy baptized mormons now! on his card!

David, Sabrina and "Gordo"... the children of Roberto and Celia who we were teaching... they are a little unsure about being baptized right now...

Yamile and her mom Norma right after teaching the plan of salvation... we only got to "our life on earth and the atonement" because Norma talks  a LOT! haha we will finish the lesson tonight!

Week 69 (Jan 14, 2013): Milena and Nygeli Find Out That It Is True

Dear family,

I just love 2013!  Its been a great start to a new year!  I am so excited!

Mom and dad, I wanted to share with you also something that just gives testimony of the role of mom and dad and how you recieve revelation for your children.  Well, to start this new year (just like we always did with daddy-daughter blessings at the beginning of every school year), I asked my district leader, Elder Nielson, for a blessing of "council".  I had thought a lot about different goals for this year and had been praying to know what I should do.   Well in my blessing I recieved a lot of council concering the goals that I had made and that very night I sat down and wrote everything down.  Well, it was interesting to see as i wrote and pondered how, just days before, I had sat down to read a DearElder from you Dad that talked about the scripture in Mateo11 about taking upon us the yoke of Christ.  I wont share everything, but basically the letter was a continuation of the blessing that I had recieved... it was the direction that Heavenly Father wanted to give me and did by two worthy priesthood holders... a missionary and then he saved a part for you to complete, because you are my dad and he knows, better than anyone, that it gives you joy to bless your kids... both you and mom.  Thank you Mom and Dad for praying for me and the people that I love here in Paraguay.

As for Ciudad del Este...

Roberto y Celia-

They are a very very special family who were going to be baptized a little over a month ago, but there had been a lot of family problems, so Celia was a little scared and we are helping them to gain a testimony again and decide to be baptized.  There kids call us "tia"... haha I love it. They are a very special family that love eachother very much.  We had a very powerful lesson about the tree of life, and they are going to start reading again to make a decision to be baptized this week.

Milena and Nygeli (another Nygeli!!!)-

are two little girls (10 and 9 respectively) who have soo much faith.  They are the cousins of Laura and Mirium Vera who are two of our "helpers"in the ward... they are always going out with us and helping to teach!  After the first lesson, their cousin Laura told us that she overheard them talking in the living room and Milena said to Nygeli, "lets go and pray and ask God if its true".  Laura peaked in on them, and they had gone to their bedroom and were praying with hteir eyes sweezed shut.  Later they came in and told Laura, "I just felt so warm inside and felt ... i dont know... proud."  It made me want to cry when i heard that because I could just imagine Father in Heaven looking down from heaven feeling so "proud" of His two daughters.  They want to be baptized so much, but their parents are not happy about that... just like Nygeli Cuellar (whoes mom was in prison) i know that they will be able to be baptized also... we just have to have a lot of faith!

Well I know that God loves us and that we are His children... when we really understand who we are, we are obedient and follow His Son and the Gospel of Christ allows us to do just that.  Lets keep pressing forward... taking upon us "the yoke of Christ".

Les quiero a cada uno de uds.

amor,

su Hermana Jones

PS  Mom i just wanted to make sure that you understand... i am NOT washing my clothes by hand anymore (or at least until I am tight on money again) haha so dont be too proud!

PSS  Elder Nielson just gave me my cards and hna. santi y willnauer sent me picutres... ANTONIO NAD HIS WIFE MARTA IN INTAENRAMA WERE MARRIED AND BAPTIZED AND ALSO SERGIO AND ALEXANDER.... ANTONIO WAS ABLE TO STOP DRINKING... DO YOU REMEMBER HIM WITH THE BAD SHOULDER!?  THANKS FOR PRAYERING FOR THEMMMMM

Week 68 (Jan 7, 2013): "We are fighting for souls who are our brothers and sisters."

Querida familia,

The Lord always keeps His word.  He is our Savior.  Our perfect older brother and we are to show that we love Him by living His Gospel....and then He promises that we will be sooo happy!

It has been another week of miracles.

Sahari has been having a LOT of opposition from her family and so hasnt been doing so well this week, but she wants to change her life so much and loves the book of mormon so much we are "luchando" or fighting for her.

We are helping a mom and her 24 year old son... hector and firmina.

Firmina says all of the time how she is trying to find the true church but that she cannot find it and she says, "when I get an answer that this is His church, I wont even blink one eye and will ask to be baptized that very day!"

Es una lucha... it is a battle... I never really understood all of those "missionary" hymns that we sing until I came to paraguay.... we are fighting for souls who are our brothers and sisters.  I love them and am learning how to be more christlike.  Sometimes it is frustrating as I continue to learn just how imperfect as I read the scriptures and learn what He is like and how He wants me to be because I know that if Christ was here he would baptized hundreds every day!... but I am not perfect and I too am working out my own salvation.  Que suerte that our Father is patient and so loving!  What a blessing it is to be a missionary here and the rest of my life!  We all are... it is our duty as members of the church of Christ to fight for our brothers and sisters.  I say fight because it is not easy...

but just as Elder Holland says, "it never was supposed to be easy because salvation was never a cheap experience".  I stand all amazed.

Keep praying for us and all of our brothers and sisters in Ciudad del Este.

LES QUIERO!

Hermana Jones

Have a great week family!

PS Happy Birthday CADEN!!!!! you are so big my brother! I LOVE YOU THIIIIISSSSSS MUCCCCHHHHH AND LOTS MORE! (one week late... sorry:)

Week 67 (Dec 31, 2012): Saharí's Hunger for Truth

Hey familia!

How are you all doing!?  We are doing great here in Ciudad del Este...

We have started teaching a 20 year-old girl who is 20 and she is incredible!!!  She is reading so much in the Book of Mormona and will be baptized this month.  Saharí has had trials bigger than any other person that I have ever met in my life.  After her first sunday a few weeks ago, we had asked her how she liked church and she said,"I loveed it!  It was just like how Jesus taught His disciples in the Bible!  We sat and talked together about what we were learning and what we thought and I came home and felt like a bird ... I was so happy that I could fly!" haha she is kinda dramatic... she always says that she is going to "internarme en la peluquería todo el día" ... she cant go a day without her nails done... and she is so special.  We taught her about the plan of salvation and i have never taught someone in my mission that was so eager to know everything that she could know about Gods plan. She just kept asking questions and more and more questions, we taught her for almost two hours.  She is so excited to repent also.  Even when some of the commandments are hard for her or will be hard for her to keep, she sighs and says, "this isnt going to be easy, but I will do it!".

We are also wokring with a mom named Firmina (45) and her son Hector (24).  They are incredible.  She is Brasilera and married a paraguayo.

Love you all!  This is the Lords work... thanks for praying for me and my investigators...

Hermana Jones

Christmas dinner

 

Mission Council! Hno Martinez is the most incredible mission leader ... he is one of those one-year converts who is "on fire".

 

We went with Rosi Aquino to find and teach her friend... after one hour we found her house in the edge of our area!

Week 65 (Dec 17, 2012): "I had a dream that a girl with blonde hair came to my door"

Querida familia,

Hey grandpa!  I am almost serving in Brazil!  haha we had transfers this past week and I was called to come to a city called Ciudad del Este.  My companion and I are learning a little bit of Portuges!  I am companions with Hna. Espinoza from Perú and we are so excited about our area!  We are along the fronteir of Brazil and our area is HUGE!!!!  There were elders here before but now we are "opening the area" and we had NO idea where we were on Wednesday when we got here!  It takes almos an hour to walk from one end to the other of our area.

They told us our transfers this Tuesday in district meeting, and at first I was SO SADDD about transfers.  Luciana and Reynaldo were just about to be married and baptized and Sergio and his brother, Alexander too... and I just love them so much... all of them.  It was really hard to say goodbye... but I was filled with excitment about my new area because I just felt the spirit so strong teach me that so many people were waiting us here.  It has been 17 years since sisters were here because a few missionaries had been shot and mugged so it was too dangerous for us.  Just kidding mom, but it was more dangerous earlier! 

We took a bus and drove through the red hills of paraguay and seven hours later, we got off the bus, got the keys to the apartment and our map, went to the apartment, planned the best we could with our area book and left to get to work!  I was SO SCARRED because we litterally didnt know anything but as I prayed on the bus a scripture came to mind from Jacob 5 (i think it is in 71-72) and it says that the servants of the vinyard left... or left Ita Enramada and went to Ciudad del Este... and "the Lord worked with them".  I bear testimony that this is not the work of the missonaries... but of the Lord.  HE works his vinyard and He has guided us so much these past couple of days. 

We have seen so many miracles.  Just one example... as we left our third story apt. our first day we saw the door open to one of our neighbors.  We talked to her and started teaching her... come to find out that she had left home years ago when she was 13 (her name is Noelia) so that she could be baptized and is now living with her boyfriend and her baby Mia and never leaves her apartment and so she never knew where the church was but has been wanting to come.  She is nineteen now and we have started teaching her and she is SO excited and her boyfriend came to church yesterday and is starting to read the book of mormon.  The Elders never taught her because her boyfriend, German was never at home but she was right there... one door away! I cant tell you how many people we are have been able to start to teach because they, for whatever reason, could not be taught by "elders". 

Another family we went to teach ... at the beginning of the lesson the grandma said excitedly after asking us who were were and everything, "last night I had a dream that a girl with blonde hair came to my door and I asked her how old she was and she said 22! That was you!"  We testifyed that the Lord had sent us and now she and her family are excited to come to church.

Oh so many stories of how the "Lord is working with us".  I testify that this is His work.  We are all children of God and need the Gospel because we need to be happy.  It is the only way.  Love you all.

cariñosamente,

Hermana Jones

 

Week 64 (Dec 10, 2012): Nygeli's Baptism Helps Other Members of the Family

Querida familia,

Oh it has been a HARD and JUST SO GOOD week!  I can never remember what was hard about the week, but just all of the amazing things that happened!  That is a testimony for me of the atonement of Christ.  He already suffered for those discouragements and trials that I had and so as I remember my blessings (or remember Him and recognize His hand in my life) I dont feel those burdens... they are completly washed away from my memory and I almost never write them in my journal so when i look back, I remember just how INcredible it was to be "Hermana Jones" for 18 months.  I love it!  Thanks for your prayers... they are felt also... a lot.

Well Nygeli got baptized... finally!!!! It was such a special baptism.  There were SO many people that gave up a lot to help Nygeli be baptized.  I remember about two months ago, kneeling down at night and feeling so sad and just crying and saying, "Father, please help us help Nygeli to be baptzied..." She would tell us that she was praying so that her mom would let her be baptzied.  At this point, her grandma who takes care of her wansnt very strong in her testimony.  I remember feeling very strongly that she would be baptized... but "not now" and that it would be for the benefit of her grandma and mom who is still in prison.  Yesterday we had a lesson with Hna. Clotilde... I cry just thinking of the changes I have seen in her these past three months as Nygeli has been waiting to be baptized.  She is EXCITED about paying her tithing even when they dont have food sometimes...she gives so much gracias a Dios when she prays that her grandaughter had been baptized and is "folling a good path" when three months ago, she didnt think it was inmportant... and she has come to church more this past month than she ever did my first four or five months here in Ita Enramada combined.

I love this Gospel.  I know that the Atonement of our Savior is for everyone and if we belive in Him, we WILL repent... until our last day here on earth (Helaman 14:8,13).

It is possible that I will leave this area on Wednesday.  I know that it is depending on His will... I just hope that my will turns out to be his will and i can stay here!  Oh, and Luciana and Reynaldo are still progressing... geeting ready for baptism!!!!!

les amo a TODOS!!!

amor,

Hermana Jones

 

Mini Zone Conference!

Milagros de las flores! mom and dad... i got the flowers and have given almost all of them out!! There was a lady who loved going to church (the one in the black shirt) and has stopped coming because her husband doesnt like the church. Well when we passed by, we went into her house to share with her sister and niece that are living there, but she didnt want to share with us! We gave her little toddler a flower right before having the lessson with her sister and then and only then did she accept to listen and share with us... it has been over 8 months and now she is planning on being baptized the 29th of this month!!! Service sent from ohio softens hearts! thanks so much!

NYGELI!!!! The spirit was soo strong at her baptism, we felt like it was because almost four months of sacrifice of so many people went into making it possible that she could be baptized... including your prayers! Marta and Antonio (I wrote about them two weeks ago) are at the right.

 

I cant even explain just how happy and excited they all were that my family and ward family had wanted to give them something for christmas... THEY LOVEEED THE FLOWERS!! And as we kept working yesterday and today, whenever we see them, they are wearing their flowers! Thank you mom, dad and young womens!!

This is Sergio. He is an 11 year old boy and NIck... he is so much like you! He is so friendly to everyone and is preparing to be baptized on dic. 19th with his little brother! He is going to be a great missionary.

Hna. Clotilde... she made me sheets! This is Nygelis grandma!

Emarrasing... four packages later (one from grandma and grandpa!!!! thank youooo!!!) the elders had to help us take it to our apartment after district meeting. They think that my mom thinks that i am dying or something because the packages were so big!!!! haha but no complaints... thanks mom and dad for the skirts ... all 60 or more of them!