Mountain Life & Hania's Baptism :: September 5, 2016

Hi! Happy Labor Day!

The mission seems to get busier and busier, but it is amazing how much we learn in such a short time! We really have been seeing miracles and I am so grateful for that! God is good!

This month of September, we are doing the September Surge, which means that we are all giving out a box of copies of the Book of Mormon within the month of September. I love the challenge. We are also committing to reading the whole BOM within the month. As I have been focusing more on the BOM, I have really had it come alive in my life and felt the power. I know it is true because I have read it and I have felt its power in my life. The Book of Mormon is true! I love that every page testifies of our Savior Jesus Christ and brings us closer to Him.

Hania was baptized this weekend. It was a gigantic miracle because she has been going to church for about 4 months. She is the coolest 9 year old because she has the articles of faith memorized and reads the BOM by herself and is doing her Faith in God booklet. She comes to church by herself every week! It is so fun to watch. She loves the primary. Baptism has been her greatest wish but she has not been able to be baptized because we havent had permission and then when we did have permission to baptize her, her grandma got sick and her family was going through some hard times. But, last week, we went to her house and it was a miracle because her mom said that she was going to let her get baptized because she saw the changes in Hania. 

The baptism was amazing. The primary kids all sang to Hania and we made cookies and it was so beautiful. AND, the coolest part was that President and Sister Goodman came to our baptism!!! It was so much fun to have them there.

It was a miracle. I love being part of God's work.

Some of our investigators are Luis, Ami, Camila, Max, and Jacqueline. All are so amazing and have questions and are really thinking about the doctrine and reading the BOM with real intent.

Marisol, our convert from August is so cool!!! She goes to auto sufficiency classes every week and is now the second counselor in the primary presidency. She reads the BOM everyday and sincerely wants to constantly improve. She is a great example to me.

Our ward is also very supportive. I have never been in such a supportive ward on my mission. I am seeing how missionary work really works as its best with member support.

That is all for now. The church is true! I love my Savior and I love being a missionary!!!

love you all
xoxox
hermana jessop

Elder Alonso :: August 29, 2016

Hi Everyone!

It has been a great week but also super crazy and busy. It is weird how the time just keeps going and going.

We were able to have a visit from Elder Alonso of the Quorum of the Seventy. He taught us so much! I am grateful we had the opportunity to be here in the mission to see him! We learned how to teach better and more simply. Also, I loved that he taught us more about how everything we want to change behaviorally is based in doctrine. If we study the doctrine and the gospel of Christ, our behavior will change. I loved that.

That is all for now! Have a great week!

XOXO
hermana jessop

Birthday and Valle Real :: August 22, 2016

Hi!

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! It was a fun day. I especially loved having my birthday on a Sunday because I was able to go to church and see all the ward family. One of our investigators, Ami, gave me a skirt for my birthday. She is amazing!!! In the night, another investigator, Hania, bought a cake and they sang to me and pushed my face in the cake (a Guatemalan tradition). It was a really fun day. We have the very best investigators and members. My companion, Hermana Gunderson, and some other missionaries made me fun cards and called. Today, we came back from running in the morning and Hermana Hill and Hermana Rosas from our zone had made us breakfast to celebrate! It was such a great day and especially amazing to reflect on my Savior and have the opportunity to have another year of life and celebrate in the mission field. Thanks everyone for thinking of me! 

It has been a great week. I love my area. We have the coolest investigators and members.

We have seen a lot of changes in our mission since President Goodman has come. All the changes are so inspired and our mission is really moving in a great direction. One of the biggest changes is a change in focus on helping to baptize people who will live in the gospel and be converts, not just numbers. That was always the goal, but as humans, it is easy to lose our purpose. The mission was great before, but we are focusing on being better, with more obedience, diligence, and love, focusing more on people's needs and genuinely helping them come unto Christ.

In this week's leadership meeting, we broke the glass plaque of all the mission numbers and records. It gave me chills. We have changed the mission to be one more focused on people... missionaries helping people come unto Christ. It gave me chills. I am happy to be part of the change. It feels so refreshing.

Another cool part of the week was that Hna Gunderson and I were able to give stress management workshops to the missionaries. I was so happy! I love teaching about health and well being.

Ami, the coolest investigator in the world, is still progressing and really has seen the changes in her life by living the gospel. She is like our mother here and is always watching out for us. She is a single mom of 3 boys and we have really been able to see the changes in herself and her boys.

I love being a missionary. I know my Savior lives. He died for us. He wants us to be happy. He is always here for us, no matter what. Because of Him, we have hope for a better future!

Remember... there are two types of people... those who we love and those whose story we don't know. 

I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Hermana Jessop

Getting ice cream on one of our many trips to the coast with our fun zone leaders

The Mountains

Hna Gunderson and I with Elder Myers, an elder from our group.. He is like our brother.

San Marcos :: August 15, 2016

Hi Everyone!

Thank you for all the early birthday wishes! I will respond to more emails next week. There is not too much time today, but I wanted to say thank you so much for thinking of me beforehand!

I had transfers and am now in the mountains, in San Marcos, in an area called Valle Real. I love it!! We actually get cold, which is strange coming from the coast. I am still adjusting to wearing sweaters and sleeping with 7 blankets. It is amazing and beautiful and reminds me of home. The ward members are also really great. I feel kind of like I am in The States here. It is a more advanced in some ways. Also, we are about 5 hours away from the mission office, so we take a lot of buses. It is fun though because i love the scenery and traveling!

My companion is named Hermana Gunderson. She is so much fun!!! I love being her companion. I have learned so much from her!! She is an amazing missionary. We have been working hard and are really tired, but so happy! We like to laugh all the tiiimee.

Marisol was baptized this last weekend. She went to church for 2 years and has had a strong testimony of the church for a long time, but her husband did not like her going to church, so she just went to church when he was out of town for the weekends. Finally, one day, she started going to church when her husband was there too. She eventually told him she wanted to get baptized even though he was not completely happy with it. He is coming along too and getting to know the church. Marisol is absolutely amazing and has such strong faith and a strong testimony.

Another investigator is named Ami. She speaks great english and wanted to be able to pass an english test so that was her first motive in meeting with us. But, as we have gotten to know her and have been teaching about the restored gospel, she tells us that she originally just wanted to learn english, but has come to find that the church is true and has exactly what she has been looking for for many years. She calls us her daughters and always gives us limes from her lime trees.

I am so happy to be in the mountains. Everything is different here. I am super excited for the new experience. I love being a missionary!!!

We have a new mission rule that we have to drink CoCa COla everyday. For those of you that know me, I am working on that one.... ;)

Thank you all for your support and love. Love you all!!!

XOXO
Hermana Jessop

Adventures :: August 1, 2016

Hi everyone!

This week has been one of many adventures. I am mostly just sending a lot of photos this week. We explored, taught, and had a baptism in a river. It was an amazing and spiritual week. 

XOXOX

Hermana Jessop

The Elders' Baptism in Chicacao

Sucely.. she feeds us lunch everyday and is the best, funniest person 

We share a ward with Elder Tumbaco and Elder Reymundo. Love them.

The hill by the Bishop's house

Learning to fly a kite

P Day activity scavenger hunt

Girls from our zone

Open Doors :: July 25, 2016

Robin and I... one of my favorite converts in the whole world 

Juana's Baptism

Hermana Hill's Birthday

The Good News About the Goodmans.. First of all, our new mission president, President Goodman, is absolutely amazing! I am so excited for all the changes that are coming to our mission. We had interviews this week. He and his wife are super incredible.

This week, JUANA got baptized!!! After 22 years of living in an abusive situation, she moved away! When we talked to her about her options a few weeks ago, she told us that she would not be moving. But then, one day, we went to her house and everything was gone. Nobody was living there. We found a family member who went and showed us where she had moved to. When we visited her, we found Juana, so full of strength and courage, moved in with a family member. She told us that she had finally realized that she needed to choose God and let him carry her. She told us that she wanted to keep all of the commandments and get baptized. She is absolutely amazing. Such an example of faith and courage!!!

Also, today is Hermana Hill's birthday. We have had a fun day, going to breakfast and celebrating together.

Life is beautiful. All is well here. 

Do all things with great love and courage!

XOXO
Hermana Jessop