miracles on miracles on miracles

Christmas miracles are real people, because we are living them up here in Sauces this week.

I hope that this email finds you all sound and well, and I hope you all enjoy this list of Christmas miracles:

1 - We had a baptism. We've been teaching a part member family for a while now and the dad is taking forever to get baptized (we're making sure he's nice and ready but he's got lots of doubts) His daughter has also not been baptized yet! Well she has now, but this past week the Hermana got in touch with us and wanted her daughter to get baptized before they went out of town for Christmas! So we ran around to ´put everything together and Romina got baptized on Saturday!

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2 - I have learned around 4 more or less complicated songs on the piano this week, and have played for about 1000 people in total. That's quite a miracle that it didn't sound terrible. If you guys remember the event I mentioned a few weeks ago that we did for light the world...we did two more on an even bigger scale on Saturday and Sunday! I played several pieces between the two days. There are no videos from the event of me playing (that I have), but I'll be making one public that I have on google drive of a duet that Elder Jacobsen and I played during the event, we will also be playing in a talent show on Friday. (WARNING ITS A VERY ROUGH DRAFT, IT DOESN'T SOUND GREAT) but I hope you all like it. Here's some fotos of my compa and I and Elder Jacobsen at the event on Sunday.

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3 - I haven't died yet. I've been quite sick since Monday (hence the sweater, jacket, and scarf in those pictuires) and then being outside in the cold all Saturday and Sunday night didn't help the most. I've been taking very yucky medicine and doing all kinds of Mexican home remedies to try and stay alive, and I'm still sick, but I'm also still alive. Pray for me people.

4 - This is probably the biggest miracle: we went to the movie theater today to go and watch Coco. The area president sent a letter to all the missionaries this past week telling them that the missionaries need to go and watch Coco. So they gave us permission to go to the movie theater and watch it . So that is exactly what we did today:

​I can now say that Coco is my favorite movie of all time, and I promise you all that the movie is way better in Spanish with all the expressions and stuff, and it's even better when you've actually lived most of what's seen in the movie haha. I thought it was really interesting watching the movie how much it has to do with family history. The movie is based in the catholic religion with the ofrendas and stuff, but I think it's really interesting how much importance the movie puts into remembering our ancestors (it took me a while to remember that word) and never forgetting them. In the movie, when the people in the world of the dead are forgotten, they disappear forever, and it's kinda the same in real life. When we forget our ancestors, they disappear, because if we don't remember our family, people who aren't our family are definitely not going to remember our family. So I think that would be the odd invitation for this week leading up to Christmas. to first off, watch Coco if you haven't seen it because it's the best movie ever, and also, remember our families more, so that they don't get forgotten forever and "disappear." 

Those are some miracles I've seen this week! Last invitation would be to think about the Christmas miracles you guys have seen! Because they're always there, we just have to search for them. Also go watch this video: because its cool:

https://drive.google.com/a/myldsmail.net/file/d/17gYEtI1TQYju48amvGvO5d-IePWr8QMs/view?usp=sharing 

If it doesn't work just tell my mom to share it on facebook haha

Love you guys! Have a great week and a Merrry Christmas!

Love,

Elder Jones

life is good

life is good everyone. i sent a short video for you all to hear my beautiful voice. but thats all ive got this week! 

​enjoy this pictures until my mom uploads the other video to facebook or the blog or somewhere. love you guys!!!

Every Christmas I think about that live nativity in Prosper, I'm pretty excited to be able to go again when I get back. It's crazy that this is my last Christmas here in the mission! Then just 8 short months and we'll be driving home from the airport. i hope you guys know that I'm gonna fight to be the one to drive the pilot home. If you still have the pilot and not some porsche by then. haha But one of the members in our area that were really good friends with who I'll probs stay in contact with for the rest of my life might by get infiniti soon, so that's cool. I've been making meat a lot with the rub haha it's always super delicious. My companion is also in love with it. But things are good!! Life is fun. Time's flying by. Love you mom! Have a good week!

lightthelmundo

That's the inciative of the church combined in English and Spanish if you were wondering. This past week has been DOPE. Lets start with last Friday or maybe it was Saturday. Anway. we had this HUGE event in a park for iluminaelmundo. There was a big tent with tables on the inside for self reliance, the Book of Mormon, the family and family history, and we had a stand for the iniciative itself, which we got assigned to cover. There were missionaries in the street that would contact and bring people to us, we'd explain them the inciative, and then a Bishop would take them right in to the other tables. It was super awesome. There was also a choir that we all sang in, and a huge inflatable dome with videos of the life of Christ on the inside. At the end we had a bunch of white balloons that we were released.  They gave me this huge bunch to let go, we counted down , and I was filming, I let them all go, and..uh...they may or may not have...

​gotten stuck in a power line... but oh well that's the story of my life. It was still fun. 

I got to make two more Texas creations this past week, which were pork loin with our famous rub and sweet potato pie. It was DELICIOUS. Some members let us use their kitchen and I  went to work. And then we took out the grill and again went to work, enjoy the picture of these beautiful creations.

​and I did it with a coal grill, not a gas grill.

​Now to start with this week, I got a new companion. His name is Elder Bowles. and as of right now he has about 2 and a half days in the mission field, which means I GET TO TRAIN!!! I've been wanting to train almost my whole mission now and finally President gave me the opportunity. His Spanish is okay, but this kid has brought some miracles. On Monday night we went out to work and we passed by this lady and I recognized her as an old investigator. We stopped teaching here because she always stood us up. So we started talking. Just earlier in the day I saw the other missionaries that had taught before. She said to me, "I actually just asked God that I would see you guys again" and so now we have an appt with her at 4 this afternoon. Pray for her, her name is Araceli. Also we found Nancy yesterday, she just let us right in her house and listened to us and said she liked the message a lot. I taught the whole time bc my compa didn't really know too well what was happening. But at the end he said "I know my Spanish isn't very good, but I want to testify of what my companion just said." He went on to give one of the best testimonies I've ever heard, and I felt the spirit so strongly. I love the new missionaries and the power they bring. Pray for her too, we meet with her tomorrow at 12. Those are small things that really just blow ones mind, and it's great to have those experiences early on in your mission.

​Me and Elder Bowles

Finally to end, I'd like to tell you all something I learned this past change. This past change I would honestly say that I changed me life. Up to that point I had a while of just working around, kinda halfing it, trying to do good but letting the natural man win a lot. But last change I really tried to just change, in the sense of humbling myself, learning to love, and serving others wholeheartedly and with everything I have. I try to spend as little on myself as I can so that I can bring my district small breakfasts, or treats, or things like that...so that they feel loved. I feel like my time to train came at a perfect moment, bc maybe I wouldn't have had the patience before last change. After 15 months, I really feel like I'm learning well how to represent the Lord. It's something beautiful to learn...how to live the law of consecration. Consecrate everything you have to the Lord....and to others. That means time, talents, possessions, and everything in between. I really do love the Lord. It's hard to express that love sometimes, but when we can learn how to show Him that we love Him, he blesses us, and we're just so much happier. I know that loving the Lord means that we're going to do something abut it. They can be small things, but we have to do them. The inciative this Christmas helps us to do just that, and be more like Christ.

I love you guys a lot!! Have a great Christmas, go do service just like Christ did! Have a great week

Elder Jones

hello

hey mom and dad ill be here on Wednesday with lots of exciting news so stay tuned love you guys talk to you soon

happy cyber monday

Hello everyone! This week will be pretty short but here's a quick run down:

It was Thanksgiving. We ate enchiladas suizas. I also made pecan pie which turned out great and the members here LOVED it. So that was nice. Now I've just got to make some Texas barbecue this next week and show Mexicans how real barbecue is. Stay in tuned.

This past week I feel like I ate a lot of food. We went to a restaurant with some members on Saturday. It was delicious. If you come back to Mexico with me I'll take you to that restaurant. Let me tell you about this GINORMOUS plate of chilaquiles (chilaquiles are basically tortilla chips with salsa verde and cream and cheese all over it, and you can put meat on in too) it sounds gross but its delicious. I had never seen such a huge plate. here ya go:

​ I also ordered a gordita (the blue thing) but I could barely finish the chilaquiles. I was happy.

We also had stake conference this week which was DOPE. Elder Castañeda a seventy) and Pres Grossen and Pres Johnson (from the temple) spoke. It was really great and we had lots of people come. I got to talk to Elder Castañeda again (I met him in the ccm) and it was super cool.

This change I've really learned to love more and be more service minded. I like to bring breakfast to the missionaries in their conferences, or think more in my companion or the members than in myself. Tomorrow we told the hermanas to get to the meeting early so that we can cook them breakfast. It's just something that I've learned to enjoy, using what I have to bless the lives of others. It makes me super happy. As we give what we have to others we receive great blessings. And we're just happier. So that's the invitation this week. Think more in others this Christmas season and be super service minded! 

Go and watch the light the world video in mormon.org and share it on twitter or facebook or wherever! And then go do what it says. 

​ Have a great week! 

Your fav papucho, Elder Jones

it's Thanksgiving?

I literally wasn't sure if it already passed or if it was this week, but from what I understand, Thanksgiving is this coming Thursday. Anyway, I think I'm going to try and make a pecan pie so everyone wish me lots of luck. 

Today is the end of black Friday in Mexico (it started on Friday) so I bought myself a new jacket and a sweater to celebrate. (sorry parents I indulged). Also Carl's Jr exists in Mexico, in case you were wondering

Work was a little boring this week so I'm just going to answer the questions my mom put in her email for me:

I did not eat anything weird or new this week. We did eat some albondigas (meatballs?) which were delicious and ginormous. The hermana hard boiled eggs, and then covered them in meat and it was a chipotle sauce and it was DELICIOUS. Also we ate cream of squash flower (I think that's how it would be said in English) which is also delicious. **If you blend together a bunch of carrots with milk and some sweetened condensed milk and salt and pepper its delicious as a soup**

We are teaching the familia Chacon. The wife is less active and the husband and kids aren't members. They're super cool. Pray for them so that the hubs gets baptized. He deserves it because he's super cool.

My favorite part of the week was getting to talk yesterday in church. I talked about the great commandments in the law, marriage (how I'm going to find a pretty girl that smells good (inside joke if you wanna know you can ask), eternal families, and tied it all into missionary work. 

My worst part of the week was getting chased by dogs like every single day. There's something about dogs here: 1. There's a million all over the place and 2. they always chase bikes. So they always chase us when are on our bikes so we have to hit them with a rod or a rock or kick them. It's not too fun.

This week I studied in 1 Nephi. Every time I read the story in 1 Nephi again I just remember how great it is. In chapter 15 (I've probs shared this before sorry) there are these two verses:

26 And they said unto me: What meaneth the river of water which our father saw?

27 And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so muchwas his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water

These verses are just super interesting to me. It says that so much his mind was swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water. This can mean a lot of things, so I'll leave it up to you guys to think about it. But it's an interesting thought, that if our minds are absorbed with other things, we wont see the filthiness of the water. 

Love you guys!!! Have a great week!

Elder Jones

My compa and I after black Friday shopping, and the the with the fam Perez and hermana Alma

Life has been good this week, just the same old work but I've enjoyed it. Especially bc I found some scriptures, the first one is in d and c 58 2-4 that talk about tribulation, and they're super good that help me kinda maintain that perspective. The other day I was just on the bike in the street and it kinda hit me that I only have 10 months left, and that's a long time but still not super long! So I've really gotta start working hard. Also I really liked what you said about Sister XXXXXXX, I'm gonna start applying that more in my work. The family Puac are pretty cool they gave us pizza. haha but love you lots mom!!! Have a great week.

i've run out of sauce quotes

Well not much this week: basically we contacted a million people this week, just walking around and talking, and talking, and more talking and no one wants to listen to us. Some christian people starting to tell us how wrong we were and that we needed to ask God what the truth was and then one guy prayed for us in the street. I was content. No one had ever prayed for me before. My compa was a little upset but hey at least they're good people, believe in God, and are trying to help others to believe in the truth (even if it's the wrong truth). 

One exciting thing was that I stood up in front of an entire bus and just started to contact them. I just shared a message with everyone and then went to pass out cards and EVERY single person rejected me. But that's okay. I was happy with my efforts.

Sometimes missionary work is kinda tough and no one wants their soul to be saved. But God still loves them. And I still try to love them. And some day they'll change.

Elder Moore shared some life changing scriptures with me this week. the scriptures are found in Moroni 10:20-23.

20 Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.

21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope.

22 And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity.

23 And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.

This scripture is awesome bc for those of you who don't know there was period in my life when I didn't believe in God (someday I can tell you the story), but after my change I really saw a huge difference in the happiness in my life before and after that change. A few weeks ago I made the connection between faith and hope, and how hope is the opposite of despair. So when Elder Moore shared this scripture with us it just blew my mind that it says it right there in the scriptures. I know that this is true. I believe that a belief in God is directly related to our happiness in the earth. If we have faith in him, we hope that He is there. And if we have hope, we don't have despair, and we can be happy. I know that God lives and loves us and that He's literally our father in heaven. He's our best friend and is always listening. He answers in mysterious ways but always answers. I love him and am grateful for all that he's given me.

Love you guys!!! Have a great week. Study your scriptures and be obedient. Learn something new!!

Elder Jones

saucin, saucin, i'm saucin, on you

Sorry guys...with an area called Sauces I can't help but keep going with the clever subject lines. :)

Packed email this week bc new area, opening area, new companion, means lots of work. And it is dope. I'll start off with our investigator called Dipti (I think that's how it's spelled) but she's Indian and has a year here in Mexico and speaks no Spanish and has limited English. So basically we taught her yesterday in her limited English (and my limited English) and it was tough. But it went well and she's really nice.

In this area the Elders used to have bikes, but about 3 weeks ago they got robbed. So a member that we met on Tuesday loves us so much that he went and bought us bikes with his own personal money. This man is a legend. He's also going to take us to Costco in about 30 minutes. Talk about a life saver. 

A few days ago we ate pozole with a member which is one of my favorite foods, but it was so spicy that I thought my throat was going to close in on me and I was going to die in that moment. Never ever have I eaten something so spicy. And I eat pretty spicy now

There's this sister in our ward that studied criminology, which she said was trying to find out why people commit crimes. She knows how to do this thing to determine the character of a person just by reading their handwriting. So I wrote Elder Jones, and then I signed my name in cursive, and she told me exactly who I was. It was freaky.

This week we've taught a lot of the lesson 1 to people, which is the Restoration. Every time I teach it I just feel the spirit and my testimony of what happened grows. It's so simple and makes so much sense! Everyone should invite the missionaries over just for 15 minutes to hear this message. Members of the church and people who aren't members. It serves us to learn a little more or to just be reminded. I know that it's true. If we read the Book of Mormon we can know that it's true. Like the prophet made the inviatino in April in General Conference, we should all read the Book of Mormon every day. If we do that, we'll be blessed with knowledge and protection every day.

Thanks for reading guys! No pictures this week but hopefully next week! Love you guys, Happy Halloween and Feliz dia de Los Muertos. Stay safe!

Elder Jones

saucin' it up

Elder Sweat and I came up with that subject line together this morning. I'll explain:

today were changes and so that means new companion, but I also got a new area, and it's called Sauces. So I'm about to sauce it up in Sauces.

"a man without sauce is lost, but the same man can get lost in the sauce"

This week was good, really the email will be pictures for you all to enjoy because this keyboard is making me angry bc it doesn't type very well. Lots of sticky keys. Anyway, yesterday we had the baptism of Carlos! He was in my same situation, questioning a lot of his beliefs about God, searching everywhere for answers, and then finally decided to do it God's way and is a lot happier now! I think it's interesting, as mentioned in a Mormon message called Lift, the dichotomy between healing the body, and healing the soul. If we want to heal the body, we focus on ourselves, taking medicine, going to the doctor, taking care of our bodies. But the soul is different. To heal it, we must turn outward, focusing on others and not ourselves. I feel like that's what turning to God does for us. Heals our souls and makes us happier. 

Heres Carlos:

That was  a joke bc turns out I didn't take a pic with him...sad day.

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​my homie Dulce and E. Hernandez

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​we made crepes with the familia Uribe

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​pretty sunset outside the church beofre our baptism

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typical​

I hope everyone has a great week!!! Say your prayers in the morning and never forget to bless your food. Love you guys!! 

-Elder Jones