MERRY CHRISTMAS :: December 19, 2016

I am very grateful to have the opportunity to spend another Christmas here in Guatemala. It is a beautiful country with magical people and means even more to me because I have found my Savior's love and learned so much about his plan of happiness serving here as a full time missionary. A mission is something sacred that goes by so quickly. I cannot believe how fast 2016 has gone. Even though there have been trials, I hardly remember them. The Lord is molding us constantly!

This Christmas, I want to testify to all of you that I know my Savior lives. I know He loves me. I know He is always here for every single one of us. He died for us and was resurrected so we could have the hope that there are always new beginnings. I love the Atonement. It strengthens me every single day as I go to my Savior in prayer and pour out my heart. I know that because of the Atonement, we are able to forgive and be forgiven of every sin we have ever committed. I love the Plan of Salvation and the hope I have of becoming like my Savior as I live the life He needs me to live.

It is interesting that even as a missionary, where we are preaching the gospel all day long, we can still become very distracted by the little unimportant things, like taking pictures and having parties, etc. etc. I have been reflecting on what is really important and at this Christmas season, I hope we can all remember the most important things... our Savior Jesus Christ, the many blessings we have, and the love we can share with all around us! Jesus is joy, peace, love, and tranquility.

I love you all and hope you have a very merry Christmas!
XOXO
Hna Jessop

I love being a missionary!

We did a skit and dressed up in cultural clothing. 

Christmas Devotional

Sister P Day Activity

Finally got some birthday packages from August!

Pedregal :: December 12, 2016

Hi Everyone!

This week, I had transfers to Pedregal, by Retalhuleu. I love my area! It is small, but really quaint and the members are really supportive. My companions are Hna Clifford and Hna Hopper. It is fun to be in a trio! I am learning a lot from both of them and am looking forward to this transfer!

Things I remembered this week...

1. Obedience is the first and most important law in life. If we are obedient to God's commandments, He blesses us with the Holy Ghost, which is the most important gift we can have. The Holy Ghost edifies, heals, strengthens and blesses us. It helps us to know the truth of all things.

2. Our own personal conversion is the key to the mission. BUT, we cannot be converted unless we do the missionary work. A mission is about doing all the Lord ask of us when He asks us to do it. That is where our true conversion comes from. It comes as we serve others in the Lord's way.

3. It is important to have integrity. Having integrity includes having integrity for who we are. We have the responsibility as humans to share who we are with those around us. We were born to be who we are!

4. We, as humans, cannot run faster than we have strength. We all need time to rest and rejuvenate.

I hope everyone has a great week! Love you all!!

XOXO
Hermana Jessop 

My companions and I

The nurses and I (Hna Diego and Hna Hill)

Us and the nurses

Presents received from the states! Office Picture

25 Days of Christmas :: December 5, 2016

Hi Everyone!

Hope you all had a fantastic week! This year, the church has launched a Christmas Initiative. It is a way that we can focus more on serving others this time of year! If you have not seen the video, go to mormon.org. There is a service video for every single day of the week. It is really incredible and easy! This week, we have been focusing on really doing service projects and using service to teach the gospel! We have seen a lot of miracles.

On Friday, we were looking for some service opportunities. We talked to a local business who said they didn't need our help with anything, but they referred us to a lady up the street who owns a store. We went and talked to her and as we got to know her, she opened up about her life, trials, dreams and desires. She listened as we taught her about the Restoration. As we finished, she told us she wanted to go to church on Sunday. She showed up on Sunday with her four daughters! Then, in the night, she went to the Christmas Devotional and really liked it. She is definitely a prepared person and we are grateful to be able to teach her!!

Throughout the week, we were able to participate in different service activities. For this reason, it has been one of my favorite weeks in my mission. We built a house, cleaned up yards, cooked for members, etc. It was really fun and a unique experience!

I hope that everyone everywhere can get more involved in service. You don't have to do something gigantic like build a house, but look for ways to serve people around you in small ways! Service is the way to greater happiness.

Love you all! Have an excellent week.

XOXO
Hermana Jessop

  

Bishop Longos

Ward member, Julian

Lesson with our investigator, Jorge, in the park

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

Catarina :: October 31, 2016

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