Life in Guate :: November 30, 2015

Hello everyone!

Not much time to write but I realized I never told any details about where I am and for those of you who have asked, more details!

I am serving in an area called Las Flores, in Mazatenango. The ward is really amazing and super supportive and helpful. My companion is from Mexico and the two of us live in a house by ourselves. We eat with members everyday.

Training is going well! It is a privilege to be here during Christmas. The spirit of Christmas is so strong and people are very open and loving to us. We had a Thanksgiving lunch as a zone on Thanksgiving and that was super fun and wonderful! We also all performed in a Christmas talent show on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. They have Black Friday here too!

We are teaching a guy named Joe from California and that has been really interesting, teaching in English and getting to know him better. We are also teaching a family and the mom has always disliked Mormons and been a strong catholic, but she for some reason let us in and we have seen a big change of heart with her. She says she doesn't know why she did it but she wants to get baptized! The day has been clean from smoking and drinking for months and wants to change his life. It is incredible to see how the Lord works in our hearts.

Prayer, gratitude, faith, love! When we feel negative or dark, we know we are not possessed of the spirit of the Lord and these are things that will help us. The Lord is on our side and He loves us tremendously!!!

Hermana Jessop

Baptism :: November 23, 2015

We had a baptism with a family this week. It was so, so so incredible. When you go on a misison, everyone tells you that you are going to teach and baptize and I used to be kind of annoyed with the goals and numbers before going on a mission but I am learning that it is so much more than that. It is a beautiful covenant with God. It is incredible and life changing. The mom's name is Elisa and she wanted to get baptized for a long time but she needed to get married first and so she said that she prayed every night that something would touch the heart of her boyfriend that he would want to get married and after a little while, he agreed! And so we had a wedding and a baptism with this beautiful, amazing family. They did not want to smile in the photos, but they were so happy. It was an inspiring and incredible experience.

My ward is amazing, trainer, everyone. Doing well, swimming in rain and heat, continuing! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

MISSION TIME :: November 16, 2015

Hola!

There is not a lot of time to write but I wanted to send some photos for all of you asking since I was not allowed to in the CCM. There is a group photo from the CCM of all the hermanas before we left. I am in the front row, second from the left. The other photos are of my and my companion, Hna McBee in the CCM. Other are from my first week in the mission field!

The Lord sent me to the most beautiful and loving mission in the entire world. It is so green here, the people are incredibly loving and it is just an amazing place! I am in a pretty rural area and feel like I am camping all the time, which of course I love! The food is good. I love the refried black beans they serve and of course eggs. Oh, and they say it is humid and hot. Well, everyone was right. Good thing I love Bikram Yoga, because it feels like I am in class all day everyday. I never stop sweating. Oh and the torrential downpour is real. I love the rain, the sun, the cold, even the mosquitos! Everyday is an adventure and for that, I am so so grateful. God is real and he is here! With all of us! Miracles, miracles, miracles.

Everything is good, nothing to complain about. The first week has been an adventure. Lots of learning, really difficult times as we are adjusting as well as really great and and amazing moments. We have a baptism with a really sweet family this weekend and I am learning Spanish slowly but surely. My trainer is amazing. She is from Mexico, so much fun and absolutely amazing. Christlike in many ways- patient, kind, open, fun.

Love from Guate,
Hna Jessop

Last week in MTC :: November 4, 2015

Hola!

Not much time to write today, but here we go! Excuse my grammar and poor spelling. This is my last P day in the MTC and we leave on Tuesday morning around 6 am to take a bus to Retalhuleu.

I am excited to head to the field! I am amazed by how quickly the last month has gone by and how much has changed but at the same time stayed the same. Some fun things first off: President and Hermana Cox did a fun Halloween dinner for us with lots of candy and decorations. That was fun and a little piece of home. One night, we had a fire alarm in the middle of the night and everyone was supposed to evacuate. Well, the elders did, but all the Hermanas just kept sleeping through it. It was funny because the fire alarm was actually an accident because someone pulled it. So, a good 100 elders were outside at 3 am. Also, me and 3 girls sang at a devotional for a member of the Seventy. That was really cool. I love to sing, in Spanish or english. It powerful how music really bring the spirit.

A huge theme in my mind this week has been faith. If we have perfect faith, we know everything is as it should be and that there is nothing we cannot overcome through the Lord. Many spiritual experience by praying for faith and working on faith this week. Really amazing fast Sunday. I love fast Sunday- i have never had one like it and the spirit was incredibly strong and it was cool to be able to bear our testimonies in Spanish. I have been really praying for questions and waiting on answers from the Lord- they say "if you want to talk to God, pray, and if you want to hear from God, read the scriptures", I am learning how powerful the scriptures are, how much there is to learn, and how much God LOVES US! We can receive personal revelation and the Lord answers prayers! As I went to the Lord with specific questions this week, I received very direct and clear answers.

I have also been thinking a lot about confidence and how we can have everything inside of ourselves and all the potential, which we all do, and we all have gifts from God himself, but if we do not have the confidence in ourselves and in the Lord, we will not be able to use these talents to help others and enjoy life the most we can, and this confidence, this unshakeable confidence, comes only through knowing that the Lord is with us and knowing our true potential. He wants us to fly on the wings of His spirit!

I am happy and I know without a doubt Jesus Christ lives and the Lord is watching out for us and guiding us. If we seek Him, ask questions, pray to Him humbly, He is right here to help us. His love conquers all. By praying for charity and having love for others, we are able to see ourselves and other people as they truly are, then we are more grateful, happy, and we all benefit much more. This journey is about all of us.It is a gift from God to be able to open up and share ourselves with others as well as receive the gifts from being around another person's true spirit.

"God has not created us to be cowards, but to have power."
"It is not love until you use it"
"Faith does not come by chance, but by choice."

Courage, conviction and unshakeable confidence. Live fearlessly, everyone! The Lord loves us!

Love you all,
Hermana Alexis Jessop