Monday, October 21, 2013

Monday, October 21, 2013

It's been a tough week not going to lie. I've learned oh so much! But before I start...can you believe Halloween is next week? So crazy! I see decorations everywhere but here, they have also started Christmas and playing Christmas music. So weird. So anyway......hope you guys are doing well! I appreciate you guys saying that I'm a good missionary. I am so hard on myself and sometimes just need those kind words and that you guys are proud of me. This week, we had a multi-zone conference with Elder Amado of the seventy. He came and talked with us. It started Friday at 8 and ended at 5. He talked for 4 hours just about different things. I will share everything he said when I get home. It was awesome. But President gave an excellent talk about Heavenly Father and who He is. I'll send you guys a copy of it. Wow. I realized that Heavenly Father loves me more than I think He does. I always think that He gets mad because I'm not meeting expectations or I do something wrong. He knows my potential and loves me so much! He wants me to succeed and not be so hard on myself and beat myself up because I'm not perfect. I'm just trying to be a good missionary. It was so good! I'll seriously send you guys a copy because it's something we all need to remember.

So...area....good. We had two baptisms planned last week that both fell through.  But we contacted them and they said we can come over. We are going to visit them tomorrow and hope we can calm them down and help them know that we are inviting them and not forcing them. It is a challenge – when people know that the things that we are teaching are right and true. They just have commitment issues and fears about changing. These are things that we are working on. We meet and teach – and they want to be baptized and then they get scared or are afraid to change their behavior or are afraid to go to church because of how they have felt about other churches that they have attended and have had bad experiences. Have to help with that. Then another family...Nadim, Patricia, Sylvia, Ivan, Martha, and Isaac...all of the kids are between 25 and 18. We are teaching them and they are doing great! They came to church except for the two young boys. Our goal is to baptize all of them together. The dad has accepted. The mom said...not without her children and the daughters said...church was great...different and we liked it. So that's where we are at with them. Ha-ha. They are so awesome. I'm getting to know more members and starting to feel more comfortable in my area! Starting to get around more. The area is so big and stretched out. When my comp leaves, I’m going to put a map up and organize the area. We have had nothing but RAIN! Like.....flood rain! Some days it's like...holy cow....downpour. I’ve never seen rain like this. The streets are literally flooded and we just continue to walk. Ha-ha. It’s great! All wet. The most difficult is teaching lessons with the storm pounding on tin roofs. Ha-ha. You just laugh it off. Many give us some hot chocolate or a drink called agua dulce that's super good. 

Promise I'm teaching and helping people. Things are going well. Being happy each day and realizing I control my attitude...not others or other situations. It’s all good. But got to go. Love you so much. Talk with you next week for Halloween! Woot woot. xoxoxoxo

Hna. Jones

 Us with Martha and Sylvia. Their parents are Nadim and Patricia. We are teaching their whole family. They are progressing so well and love coming to church. Sylvia with the curly hair is taking the lessons and coming to church...has 3 times. We taught her one lesson that was incredible! Spirit was so strong. She said yes to baptism but no to date. They want to be baptized as a family so just have to get teaching all the kids. Yesterday at church...Nadim said to Patricia...look at the font...are you ready...I think it's time. She got nervous and said...wait for the kids. So we have 6 preparing for baptism in this family. The boys are listening to the lessons now as well. We'll see. Pray for them!!!

A family in the ward that fed us. They remind me of Yeudi and Pricila. The ward is so awesome and so helpful. They always leave with us and try to help us in any way that they can.

The rain was and is crazy! It's like a river everywhere. No joke. We are always walking in water.

 Teaching Santa the gospel.

Us with Fransisco and Dayanna. They also want to get baptized. Fransisco was married and divorced. Scared to get married again. Dayanna wants to get married. They come every Sunday to church....we are teaching them this week with a couple who also had the same problem. Hopefully, it will help them out. Pray for them as well. They are progressing!!!!They are such wonderful people. So grateful to have met them!!!!