January 24, 2011

well its been a good week, we had a couple of experiences this week that really are the kind of experiences i live to have on the mission. i told you about Flor last week, she is amazing. we went and had a lesson with her this week and she really opened up with us, her testimony of the gospel is growing and she is doing great. she has always been a really faithful woman but told us that she feels she has finally found what she has been looking for. we talked to her about quitting smoking and she told us that she has tried several times without success so we have a little plan laid out to help her and she seemed really excited to get to it. along with her we have been teaching a man named Richard for a while now, i am sure i have told you about him. the first time we met him he told us that he knew God had a purpose for us being there, it was an amazing feeling to hear that. this week when we went he opened up to us alot about exactly what is going on in his life. he has been living with a woman for about 5 or 6 years now and unfortunately they are very unhappy together. he told us the only reason that they are together is for thier son. they arent married and he told us that it is not a step that he wants to take with her and has been praying for the means to resolve the situation so they can go their separate ways. although it was sad to hear he said that he finally feels that it is the time that he can put his life in order and that he has so many things in his past that he wants to erase, but amazingly enough he understands the process of repentance better than anyone i have taught yet. he wants to make God a permanent part of his life and knows that there are many changes to be made and that he needs to feel forgiven of the things that he has done. he REALLY understands the gospel and i cant tell you how far he has come. he shared his testimony with us of the scriptures and wow really hit me like a brick wall, having moments like that make all the hard times worth it. we left these two lessons squieling like little girls we were so excited. Richard has yet to come to chuch because his girlfriend isnt too fond of the idea but i am confident he is going to make it. just have to be patient sometimes...... or always haha.

we had a zone conference and interviews with the president this week, always makes me more excited to go out and work. in my interview he asked me if you,mama, had the chance to watch over me on the mission, what kind of a missionary would you say i am, really made me think. we had a really great interview, i always get a bit nervous and i am sure my spanish was horrible but oh well. i did tell him that i am a bit nervous to have more responsibility, because i know that it will come soon, like training, i dunno, just feel like it is going to happen, and my companion is convinced too. haha i was expecting a bit of comfort but he was straight up with me, he said, yup, you are going to fall, and its going to hurt, but you will get back up and be forever stronger from those experiences. but i know that if the lord trusts me with a new missionary or whatever else he puts in my path, is there for a reason and i can handle it with his help.

this week during my studies it kept coming to mind to read in Romans chapter 8, and man i love it. i will share with you what really caught my attention, in verses 18, 28, and 37, it reads, ¨sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.... and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose... we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.¨ really was an answer to my prayers and peace to my worry. we really cant measure what we will learn from the challenges that we have right now, but in the eternal perspective, all things work together for good, we learn from our challenges and are made stronger disciples of Christ. we can conquer any obstacle that is in our path through Him. I am so greatful for my Savior and the strength that he gives me each day to keep going.

well i love love LOVE you!!!!...... as always. i hope that all is just peachy and great for you all and that you are staying healthy and happy. i love you millions.... ill love you forever, ill like you for always....... much love, Jess