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

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