Nest Building :: July 18, 2016

Word of Wisdom dinner lesson with some of our favorite converts

Our Kids singing Families Can be Together Forever.. Unforgettable

The best thing about being back in the same zone is visiting converts!!!

Hermana Hill and I

Hi!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I am still loving my area. We are seeing more success after 4 weeks from opening the area. The Lord has definitely blessed us with many miracles as we have been working hard and doing our best to follow the spirit and do his will.

I especially love the community in San Antonio. There are some really amazing members. Something I really loved this week was sharing a lesson about the Word of Wisdom and teaching about caring for our bodies. We made a dinner focusing on healthy foods. It was so much fun!!

Another highlight was being with a family we are teaching that has 10 little kids under the age of 12. They are the coolest little kids. The first time we showed up at their house, all the kids came running to us and we sang Families Can Be Together Forever. Every time we go to their house now, all the kids sit and sing to us. It is powerful. I will never ever forget these little kids! They have all been to church and we are planning their baptisms for this next weekend.

Another amazing thing about a mission is the way the stories of others heal our own wounds and give us more awareness of who we are and who the Lord needs us to be. If we let the Lord, He heals our hearts so we can be better and stronger through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As I sat across from an investigator this week (Juana), I was deeply touched by her story. She found the church and has a strong testimony of the truth of it and the truth of the Book of Mormon. She wants to get baptized but in order to live all the commandments, she will either have to get married or leave her husband. It is difficult because she has had 8 kids with him and she and him have been together for 22 years. In these 22 years, she has been living in a very abusive situation. As I sat across from her and felt her strong spirit, I began to reflect on my own family's situation.

Twelve years ago, my mother was faced with a similar situation. She could continue living with my father in an abusive situation or courageously leave him in order to give us, her girls, a better life. My mother took the counsel of many of her leaders and took us away from a toxic situation. Yes, it was difficult, but through these experiences, we have been able to grow in ways I do not think we would have otherwise. We have seen the Lord's hand through every moment, every phase, and, even if it was hard, these experiences have really edified us and been for the better. And most importantly, we have been able to learn to trust more fully in God and his plans for us.

Walking by faith and following spiritual promptings is a formula that will never fail us, because the Lord knows His plan and walks with us, hand in hand. He wants us to be happy.

This month, as pioneer day approaches, I think of my mother, my ancestors, and pioneers everywhere, all around the world, sacrificing all they had, walking by faith, and following spiritual promptings with the hope that all would turn out right, that their children would be able to prosper. I feel deep gratitude for my pioneer ancestors and their courage and strength as they crossed the plains. There are pioneers in every part of the world.

So, how are we pioneers today, and how can we trust the spirit more fully and walk by faith, even when we do not know what the Lord has in store for us?

Throughout The Bible and Book of Mormon, there are several accounts that confirm that the prophets did not exactly how their writings would benefit the world. They only knew that they needed to write and take good care of the plates for future generations. Look how we are all benefiting today because of the courage of prophets. So much truth would be lost without these pioneers.

I hope we can all walk by faith, follow spiritual promptings, and prayerfully and humbly make sacrifices for future generations. We may not know what will happen, but God will not lead us astray. We are all pioneers, paving the way for God's greater purposes. We are here for a great purpose and must press forward with courage, strength, and trust in God. Only the Lord knows the end from the beginning. Let us be grateful for our ancestors. Let us be grateful for the faith God has given us. Let us have courage and vision like Mother Eve.

Have a fantastic week. Love to you all!
XOXO
Hermana Jessop

San Antonio :: July 4, 2016

Happy 4th of July!!!! I am so proud to be an American!

This week has been crazy but really amazing! There were some more changes, so my new companion is named Hermana Hill. She is also super amazing. We are opening area in San Antonio. The members are super willing to help us and the bishop is very focused on retention, so I am especially excited to focus on working with converts and finding the chosen ones who want to have a lasting change as full life members of the Lord's church. It is refreshing to be here in this new area. It all feels right.

My testimony of the Holy Ghost has really grown this week. The Spirit does not just lead us and guide us, but it also sanctifies us and helps us to know that everything is just as it should be. With all the changes, we both feel comfortable and so pumped up in our area. 

For the fourth of July, we planned an activity where we had a little barbeque. It was a lot of fun. I really like my zone! 

Highlights from this week..

• One of our converts gave Hermana Hill and I a chihuahua 
• Our new president, President Goodman, is amazing!
• Some of my converts came and visited because I am now close by!
• An investigator painted her lips with the American Flag for the 4th to celebrate with us

Most importantly, through the ups and downs, we always learn and grow to be more of who the Lord needs us to be. God lives and loves us! I love my Savior with all my heart and what He did for each of us. Everyone questioning whether or not they should go on a mission, prepare and gooo!

Have a great week. 

Love you all!

Hermana Jessop

Photos with Hermana Perea before changes

Hermana McGuire and I (We came to our missions at the same time)

Smoke from the volcano (there are two here in Retalhuleu)

Goodbye in Coatepeque

Here are some photos from my last days in my last area. My camera wouldn't upload the photos last week.

I was sad to leave and am missing the members and converts, but loving my new area! 

 

Changes :: June 27, 2016

This week, I had changes and am back in Mazatenango, where I started my mission. I am happy to be here because I truly love Mazate! Some of my converts came and visited today, which made me so so happy.

My area is called San Antonio. It is really big, so we get to meet a lot of people. The ward is average sized and the members are overall really supportive from what I have seen. I have only been here a few days but overall, it has been a good few days. The changes are always challenging, but with time, we adjust and the work of the Lord continues!

My companion is named Hermana Perea. She is also from Lima, Peru. She is also 23 and graduated from college as an architect. I love having conversations with her because she is really intelligent and an amazing teacher. We have a LOT in common, like our interests, talents and opinions, which makes things really fun and interesting. 

Our mission president goes home tomorrow and we get a new mission president, President Goodman!!!

That is all for now.

XOXO

Hermana Jessop

Graduation and Goodbyes :: June 20, 2016

This week, we had a multi zone conference. Here are some pictures from the conference. My trainer, Hermana Mendoza, is going home to Mexico! 

The sisters from our zone

A member's alligator. They caught it in the river and are waiting for it to get bigger so they can eat it. They eat just about every animal here.

Hermana Meza graduated from her training so we had a fun little graduation ceremony with our family. It was really fun. We had a traditional Guatemalan dinner and all wore matching clothes.

For P-day, some of us made a little celebration out of those going home and finishing their missions. Hermana Castillo is from Mexico, Elder Mendez is from Peru, Elder Hala is from the USA and Elder Garboza is from Peru, so we made a traditional food from every country and had a little party. Guess what our American food was??? Hamburgers...ha ha ha

I am sending photos of different activities from the week. It has been a busy and good one. We are loving the Lord's work and learning through the ups and downs. I am especially excited this week because I have a brand new nephew!!! Welcome to the world, David!

This week, I have learned a lot about grace. It is a beautiful principle.

We have access by faith to his grace. Romans 5:2

As I learn more about my Savior, I am more and more blown away by his grace and grand act of love for each one of us. After we work in faith, doing all we can, He makes up all the difference. If we are humble and trying, the Lord will always make up for the things we cannot do because of our human limitations.

I love my Savior with all my heart and know He lives.

Have a great week, everyone.

The Magic of People :: June 13, 2016

I have felt the Lord's love very strongly this week as we have been able to pass time with many different, colorful, vibrant people. I am amazed by the world that lives inside of each individual person and the magic that brings our souls to life when we are authentic and true to who God has made us to be, to our individual talents, abilities and stories. In my time in Guatemala, I have learned more about my own life story and am growing to really love it. As humans, we must share our stories, our lives and our authentic selves, lose the privacy and arise together, helping one another. 

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Here are some of the photos from this week of our family here in Dalmacia...

The Linares Family. About 3 years ago, the missionaries came to their house and started teaching them. They had never attended any church before in their lives, but always believed in God. They started receiving missionary lessons. Florencio (the husband) started really taking into consideration the doctrine he was being taught and prayed to know if what the missionaries taught was true. He received his answer and immediately asked the missionaries when he could be baptized. The missionaries, of course, were so excited that Florencio had received his answer and prepared the baptism. 

Florencio talked to his wife and told her he didn't want to do it alone, that he wanted his exaltation with his eternal companion. She told him that she would follow him wherever he went, that she also believed the message was true. They both were baptized and exactly a year later, they were sealed in the temple for all eternity. It is the sweetest story. 

Something else that really impresses me is that Florencio had never learned to read and he wanted to learn so he could read the scriptures, so he taught himself just a couple years ago. He is the most devoted servant of God I have ever met. I love their sweet love story and their devotion to serve God. They live only off the sales of their banana trees, which isn't a lot, but they always find a way to pay their tithing and do all the Lord asks of them. 

Hermana Meza and I... She has really taught me a lot of lessons. I feel so privileged to be her companion and be able to learn from her everyday. 

Hermana Meza left notes by my bed this morning and it really made my day. Think of little things you can do for those around you. I know this act really meant a lot to me.

We all showed up to church wearing the same colors without knowing it, so we had to take a picture. (From left to right) Mama Maritza, Our little sister, Lilia, Hermana Meza and I, and Jessica with her little boy. 

Papa Felix. Felix lives across the street from us and always watches out for us and helps us with whatever we need. He is one of the happiest, kindest people I have ever met in my life. He is a newer convert to the church. Just a year ago, he tells us that he was discouraged with his life and was a big smoker and drinker. The elders started teaching him a few months ago and when he listened to their message, he told them that he knew it was true and said he would never smoke or touch alcohol again. He was baptized and since is very involved in serving others and doing what God would have him do. 

Abuela Dorita... She was one of the very first members of the church here in Coatepeque and says she will fight to the end for God's kingdom. She invited us over to dinner last night. We were soaking wet from the rain so she gave us her clothes to change into. All of the lights in the city went out because of the storm, so she lit candles for us and cooked us a traditional dinner of platanos, beans, and eggs with toast.

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Home is wherever the people we love are. As we open our hearts to those around us, the Lord will use them to help us and vice versa. The whole purpose in life is that we all learn, grow and progress together in Earthly families. Reach out this week to those around you who need your help, or if you are struggling, listen to those around you. Heavenly Father very often answers our prayers through other people. I am also working on opening up my own heart to the people around me, being vulnerable, and allowing the Lord to change me through others. I know God has a plan for each one of us. 

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We have been teaching the Hererra Family for a few weeks now. They recently moved to Coatepeque from Xela. They speak one of the mayan dialects, K'iche'. All the little kids speak it too. It is so cool to listen to them!

Justa (the mom) and Francisco (dad) have been going to church for about 6 months in Xela. They really want to get baptized but there are some complcations, so they are not able to quite yet. But, what amazes me, is that despite their challenges and not being able to be members quite yet, they actively serve and follow all the commandments, like paying their tithing and keeping the sabbath day holy. 

Justa's dad is a pastor of the Evangelical Church and for a long time, she was frustrated when the missionaries would come over. She did not believe in Joseph Smith or the doctrine of the church. It was difficult for her to accept it. But, one day, as she was watching the video of Joseph Smith that the missionaries brought to their house, she felt the spirit testify to her that it is true. She said that the spirit touched her in a new way and from that point forward, she has learned more about the gospel and her testimony continues to grow. Justa is a woman of elegance and strength and I really look up to her as an example to me. As she bore her testimony last week in Family Home Evening, I felt the power of her words. I know the church doctrine can seem funky from a worldly perspective, but I know that as we really try to understand it and come unto Christ, He will make all things known unto us through his holy spirit. 

Justa and Francisco allowed their son, Daniel to be baptized on Saturday. He is 11 years old and full of fun. I love the Hererra Family!

XOXO

Hermana Jessop

Do all things with great love and courage!