Happy Holidays :: November 28, 2016

Hi! It has been a great week! There is not a lot of time to write today, but I have included some photos. Things are going really well and we are working hard. Thanksgiving was fun because my companion and I with the zone leaders made lunch for the 30 missionaries in our zone. It was a lot of work but gave me a lot of respect for my mother! I don't know how she does it every year.

I hope everyone has a great work and a great beginning to the holiday season. 

XOXO
Hermana Jessop

Some of the sisters we work with

Sunset

Jorge and Florida lma, Investigators

Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner

The Zone

Hna Meza and I are together in a zone again!

P-day Slip-N-Slide

Mini Missionaries and Guatemalan Gratitude :: November 21, 2016

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone. It is fun to reflect and think that last year at this time, I was here in Guatemala. A lot has changed in that time, but many things are the same. The Gospel is still true, we have a Savior who loves us, and I still love being a missionary. I have been in this beautiful country for over a year. Reflecting on how fast the time goes and has gone, I have been asking myself lately if I have really lived every moment fully, if I have really taken every opportunity to learn and grow? When time is passing so quickly, are we waiting for time to pass or are we living every moment?

I have the deep impression and promise that all is as it should be, that as long as we try our very best to live the gospel, the Lord helps us use every moment and live to the fullest. There will always be things we could have changed or done better, but if we do our best to live in the moment and be grateful, the Lord teaches us what we need to learn to be who HE needs us to be. We partner with God to co-create our lives!

So, in each moment, I hope we can ask ourselves if we are truly are living in the moment, if we are truly cherishing life and showing gratitude for all we have. This is something that has helped me a lot when times are hard... just trying to live in the moment with God and be grateful for all I have.

We are so blessed! I am grateful to be alive, to have the gospel, to wake up everyday and be a missionary. I am grateful for my family, friends and life in general! Thank you all for being part of my life.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

All my love,
Hermana Jessop

My district

Also, photos of the sisters in our zone. 

Photos... this week, we had the opportunity of having 4 mini-missionaries work with us. They are 16 to 17 year old members who went out for 4 days to work as missionaries. It was fun having them with us this week! We also were able to give a short lesson at the conference. 

Some sisters from our district, Sister Wright and Sister Rementeria

The School of Life :: November 7, 2016

Hi everyone!

This week has been one of much reflection and learning. It has been a powerful one, but also a very challenging one. When new trials come, I am always reminded about how the Lord throws us outside of our comfort zones so we can learn and become who He needs us to be.

I am learning that the Adversary is real and tries to influence us daily in our thoughts. He does not have a body, but if he can influence our thoughts and change the way we feel and act, he is happy. He tries to put as much distance between us and the Lord and he can so we don't accomplish all the Lord needs us to accomplish.

Overall, this week, I have been reading a lot about how we can take more responsibility for our spiritual growth and be powerful to resist Satan's temptations. I am learning that the first step to accomplishing something and allowing the Lord to help us (and to withstand Satan's temptations) is deciding what we are going to accomplish. One of my best friends sent me a quote that really helped me this week. It says:

"Most people fail at whatever they attempt because of an undecided heart. Should I? Should I not? Go forward? Go back? Success requires the emotional balance of a committed heart. When confronted with a challenge, the committed heart will search for a solution, The undecided heart searches for an escape. A committed heartdoes not wait for conditions to be exactly right. Why? Because conditions are never exactly right. Indecision limits the Almighty and His ability to perform miracles in your life,. He has put the vision in front of you--proceed...."

Once we decide what it is that we need to accomplish, it is important to act with faith and courage. Once we know we have chosen a righteous desire, we can have the assurance that the Lord is going to help us achieve it. Many times, we are the ones standing in the way of our own potential because we use our agency to give into Satan's temptations. If we feel timid to go forward, it is important to ask ourselves, What would I do if I let go of all fear? That is something my mom and sister both sent me that really impacted my thought process this week.

We are strong with Christ. We cannot fall. As we take responsibility for our own spiritual well'being and growth, choose righteous desires, and move forward with faith, we will accomplish great things. I know it with all my heart!

I love my Savior and am grateful to learn and grow here in the mission field. This church is true. The gospel is what we need to find true happiness in this life and in the eternities.

What would you do if you lost all fear?? If you knew you could not fail?

Think about it.

I love you all! Have an excellent week.
Hna Jessop