Hi!
This week, I had transfers and am now in an area called Catarina with Hna Harris (from California). My companion is really awesome and we like our area a lot! The members are really supportive and the area is big, so we have the opportunity to do a lot of work. The area is about 30 minutes from the Mexico border and also the hottest place in the mission, so it is kind of funny that I am coming from the coldest place in the mission. I feel like I came from mini-Spain and am now in mini-Mexico. I like it here!
That is all for now! Have a great week, everyone!
Hna Jessop
Monday, October 31, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
Happy Fall! :: October 24, 2016
Hi Everyone!
I am still loving the mountains, my area, my companion, everything! Yesterday, Ami received a calling in the young women's presidency and both of her sons passed us the sacrament. It was so cool!!!!! They are loving reading the scriptures, praying, and serving in the gospel. I love this family with all my heart and never want to leave them!
This week, my companion and I have been thinking a lot about our individual potential. Who were we before we came to Earth? How did we progress? Why are we here? What is our purpose? Many times, we sell ourselves short and do not think we are worthy of great things. We often do not push ourselves because we think we are meant to be ordinary or that we weren't made for great things. This is false, because we all have a great potential and plan for us. The only way to achieve this potential is to come unto Christ and allow Him to mold and change us. If we made our own life plan, it would be very different than His plan for us.
When we understand better who we are and where we came from, we are more confident AND humble before the Lord. There is a grand link between confidence and humility. Humility does not mean selling ourselves short. Humility means recognizing where our true strength comes from and that the Lord will prepare us for all He needs us to do. It means developing our talents and abilities to serve the Lord and our fellow men. We can be both humble and confident, humble and courageous, humble and happy, humble and everything!... all because we know we are children of God and He loves us immensely and wants us to achieve.
There is a talk that has really changed some things for me and I hope everyone reads it!!! The link is below:"Approaching the throne of God with Confidence"
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/approaching-the-throne-of-god-with-confidence?lang=eng
Hope everyone has an excellent week. Love you!!
Hermana Jessop
Monday, October 17, 2016
Synchronicities :: October 17, 2016
It has been another crazy, amazing week here in Valle Real. I have learned a lot in my time here and have seen the hand of the Lord in every step.
This week, Ami and her sons were baptized. I cannot explain the joy I feel and the changes we have seen in each member of the family. I love this family with all my heart. They are the most beautiful family and remind me of my own.
When we first met Ami, she wanted to talk to us so she could learn better english. At first, we couldn't really find her and didn't think she was interested in hearing the gospel. One day, about 2 months ago, we went to her house and taught the Plan of Salvation. I think that was a big turning point for her. She was amazed by the message and said that she never knew this plan existed. That Sunday, the week of my birthday, she went to church for the first time. Her testimony began to grow as she came to church for a while and was reading the Book of Mormon and praying. As her testimony grew, she wanted to get baptized, but had a lot of opposition from her family. She did not want to go through with her baptism without family support. She really wanted her sons to get baptized as well.
Her sons were shy for about a month of us teaching them and did not want to come out when we taught their mom. Little by little, they also started joining the lessons and learning about the gospel. Her oldest son, Alejandro, was baptized about 4 years ago, but has not been active for all this time. Through the process, he has been able to reactivate himself in the gospel. He has been a big blessing to his family as they have all grown in the gospel together.
I have seen how the gospel really does bless families. I cannot describe the changes we have seen. This is the Lord's work. As a family, they have all entirely changed. They have had some difficult family situations, but through the gospel, much of the pain they have felt has been healed.
Alejandro, the oldest son who is a member, about a year ago, had a dream that all of his family was dressed in white, being baptized in the church. He did not know when it would happen, but he knew that he would be reactivated and his family would come unto the Lord's church. Alejandro is now in mission preparation classes, filling out his mission papers, preparing to serve a fu-time mission for the Lord. On Saturday, he baptized his mom!!! This will be the first of many baptisms he will be part of in his life and on his mission.
Ami has a calling in the young women's presidency and Hugo (12) and Adrian (17) received the priesthood on Sunday. They will be blessing and passing the sacrament this next Sunday. They have already left with us to do visits and teach their friends who are not members. This is true conversion!
We went by their house the day of the confirmation and they were all so happy. Their light fills an entire room. Ami said that there is a hole in her heart she never knew was there and it has been filled with love, light and truth. Miracles, miracles, miracles. The Lord changes lives. I know that as we live the gospel, the Lord can make more out of our lives than we ever could alone.
I know the church is true. I love being a missionary because I get to walk alongside my Savior as He does HIS work. As long as we are diligent, obedient and humble, the Lord uses us to do all He needs us to do. It is a privilege to be here, serving for the Lord.
Thank you for all you do! Love you all so much.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Miracle Work :: October 10, 2016
Hi!
It has been a super week. I still love refried black beans and the mountains part of the mission. Missionary work is my favorite work. I love being a missionary. The most impòrtant thing is our own obedience and diligence. The Lord does all the work as long as we are wiling to be His instruments and do what He wants us to do. We are here because Jesus Christ cannot be. Serving a mission is the best thing I have ever done. I do not think I understood what happiness was before my mission.
Things I have learned this week...
Today for P Day, we played volleyball and had a barbecue. We wore our matching shirts from the woman's conference with our names on them. That was cool. Things are fun in the mountains because it is not so hot! It feels like Utah in the spring in the daytime.
Love you all!
Hna Jessop
It has been a super week. I still love refried black beans and the mountains part of the mission. Missionary work is my favorite work. I love being a missionary. The most impòrtant thing is our own obedience and diligence. The Lord does all the work as long as we are wiling to be His instruments and do what He wants us to do. We are here because Jesus Christ cannot be. Serving a mission is the best thing I have ever done. I do not think I understood what happiness was before my mission.
Things I have learned this week...
- Creativity comes from the spirit
- There is a huge link between confidence and humility. Humility is not self -deprivation
- Don't ever sacrifice what you want for what you want right now
- The Lord always provides a way for us to accomplish what He asks of us
- The Golden Rule does not just apply to actions. It applies to everything. We should treat, think about, and love others in the way we want to be treated, thought about, loved, and judged
- If we are doing our best, the Lord's grace always covers us. We don't have to be perfect. We just have to try.
Today for P Day, we played volleyball and had a barbecue. We wore our matching shirts from the woman's conference with our names on them. That was cool. Things are fun in the mountains because it is not so hot! It feels like Utah in the spring in the daytime.
Love you all!
Hna Jessop
Monday, October 3, 2016
George and Joseph's Mountain Adventures :: October 3, 2016
Hola!
This has been one of those weeks that remind a missionary why they are a missionary. It has been remarkable and enriching.
I completed a year in the field! Crazy how fast time goes! The pictures I have attached are of some nice things some of the sisters gave me for my year. It was really sweet! The pictures are funny, but they are all we have for this week. Ha... I love my companion! She is the best!
We had a women's conference with all the sisters in the mission. It was fantastic because we had a psychologist come and talk about self-image, happiness and other mental-health topics. I thought it was very helpful, considering that most women struggle with self-esteem. I was grateful I had the opportunity to teach the sisters about healthy eating and exercise. It was fun to be with all the sisters and see everyone.
I learned more about the power of the Book of Mormon as well. This month in our mission, we have been focusing more on the Book of Mormon and with it, I made a choice to read the BOM in September, from start to finish. It was a little hard at first, but as the days went on throughout the month, I began to really see the power and difference in my day and how I felt as I made reading the BOM more of a priority. The stories really came alive as I read chapter after chapter and got to know the prophets.
I was on exchanges with Hna Clifford on Friday and we met a guy named Obispo sitting outside his house on a hammock. We started talking to him and learned that he has had a lot of trials in his life. He asked us why such bad things happen to good people and why there are so many difficulties in life. Automatically, we felt the prompting to pull out the BOM and turn to 2 Nephi 2 where it talks about the Plan of Salvation and how there is opposition in all things.
He stopped reading and was struck by the power of the scripture. He told us that nobody had ever been able to answer his question in that way and that he knew it was true. He said he felt that it was God speaking to him, that the scripture was profound, not just something pretty or nice. He wanted to know more about the book we read from, so we left him the BOM and made an appointment to return with him. I learned about the power of the BOM, how it can answer every single question we have, whether it is a temporal or spiritual question. I also learned about the importance of teaching to the investigator's needs.
I also saw the power of how members and missionaries need to work together. Missionaries are full-time teachers and members are full-time finders. A member, Juan Carlos, introduced us to his friend, Rigo. Rigo is 25, lives alone, and has been searching for more meaning in his life. We visited Rigo this week and challenged him to be baptized. He accepted and said it is time for him to change. He wants to give up smoking and drinking. He went to the priesthood session of conference on Saturday and the afternoon session on Sunday. He said he really enjoyed it and we are returning with him this week! Juan Carlos, the member, is super helping us and is Rigo's greatest supporter. This is why we need members who share the gospel! We are all miracles. I hope everyone at home can think of someone they know and give the reference to the missionaries. That is how missionary work should be! Miracles!
One of the very best moments of the week was seeing Ami and her entire family come to church. We have never been able to get her and all of her sons to church together, but they all showed up as a family and came early. We went to her house later and she told us that she loved the conference and knows the church is true. She said that she has never felt like she does now in her entire life, that she feels unstoppable peace and joy and is ever looking back. Her oldest son, who is a member wants to serve a mission and has the Aaronic Priesthood and will be able to baptize his mom and two brothers.
Walking away from their house, Hna George and I could not contain ourselves. We are in love!!!! We love this family. I know that there is no greater joy than being able to participate in the joy of bringing a soul unto Christ. I have never felt so much true, lasting joy in my life. The church is true!!!! I am now understanding more of what my brother-in-law, Braden told me before my mission, that there is nothing like seeing how the Atonement can change someone's life.
I am happy. The Church is true. I love the Plan of Salvation. I know my Savior lives and makes it possible for us to be happy here and now!! Like Elder Nelson taught in conference, we were made to have JOY!
Love always!
XOXO
Hna Jessop
This has been one of those weeks that remind a missionary why they are a missionary. It has been remarkable and enriching.
I completed a year in the field! Crazy how fast time goes! The pictures I have attached are of some nice things some of the sisters gave me for my year. It was really sweet! The pictures are funny, but they are all we have for this week. Ha... I love my companion! She is the best!
We had a women's conference with all the sisters in the mission. It was fantastic because we had a psychologist come and talk about self-image, happiness and other mental-health topics. I thought it was very helpful, considering that most women struggle with self-esteem. I was grateful I had the opportunity to teach the sisters about healthy eating and exercise. It was fun to be with all the sisters and see everyone.
I learned more about the power of the Book of Mormon as well. This month in our mission, we have been focusing more on the Book of Mormon and with it, I made a choice to read the BOM in September, from start to finish. It was a little hard at first, but as the days went on throughout the month, I began to really see the power and difference in my day and how I felt as I made reading the BOM more of a priority. The stories really came alive as I read chapter after chapter and got to know the prophets.
I was on exchanges with Hna Clifford on Friday and we met a guy named Obispo sitting outside his house on a hammock. We started talking to him and learned that he has had a lot of trials in his life. He asked us why such bad things happen to good people and why there are so many difficulties in life. Automatically, we felt the prompting to pull out the BOM and turn to 2 Nephi 2 where it talks about the Plan of Salvation and how there is opposition in all things.
He stopped reading and was struck by the power of the scripture. He told us that nobody had ever been able to answer his question in that way and that he knew it was true. He said he felt that it was God speaking to him, that the scripture was profound, not just something pretty or nice. He wanted to know more about the book we read from, so we left him the BOM and made an appointment to return with him. I learned about the power of the BOM, how it can answer every single question we have, whether it is a temporal or spiritual question. I also learned about the importance of teaching to the investigator's needs.
I also saw the power of how members and missionaries need to work together. Missionaries are full-time teachers and members are full-time finders. A member, Juan Carlos, introduced us to his friend, Rigo. Rigo is 25, lives alone, and has been searching for more meaning in his life. We visited Rigo this week and challenged him to be baptized. He accepted and said it is time for him to change. He wants to give up smoking and drinking. He went to the priesthood session of conference on Saturday and the afternoon session on Sunday. He said he really enjoyed it and we are returning with him this week! Juan Carlos, the member, is super helping us and is Rigo's greatest supporter. This is why we need members who share the gospel! We are all miracles. I hope everyone at home can think of someone they know and give the reference to the missionaries. That is how missionary work should be! Miracles!
One of the very best moments of the week was seeing Ami and her entire family come to church. We have never been able to get her and all of her sons to church together, but they all showed up as a family and came early. We went to her house later and she told us that she loved the conference and knows the church is true. She said that she has never felt like she does now in her entire life, that she feels unstoppable peace and joy and is ever looking back. Her oldest son, who is a member wants to serve a mission and has the Aaronic Priesthood and will be able to baptize his mom and two brothers.
Walking away from their house, Hna George and I could not contain ourselves. We are in love!!!! We love this family. I know that there is no greater joy than being able to participate in the joy of bringing a soul unto Christ. I have never felt so much true, lasting joy in my life. The church is true!!!! I am now understanding more of what my brother-in-law, Braden told me before my mission, that there is nothing like seeing how the Atonement can change someone's life.
I am happy. The Church is true. I love the Plan of Salvation. I know my Savior lives and makes it possible for us to be happy here and now!! Like Elder Nelson taught in conference, we were made to have JOY!
Love always!
XOXO
Hna Jessop
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