The Downward Climb

This week it happened... I finally finished a whole year on the mission. and man it has flown faster and faster every change. it has been crazy quick and I have officaly made it onto the second half. I feel as if the first year was a great year for me. But it was more of a preparatory year. I've learned the language, developed some good teaching skills and have gained lots of knowledge of the scriptures. Now its really time to apply it, so I can get better and become a more effective instrument in the hands of the lord. Looking forward to another best year of my life.

As for the work this week, It was kinda a slow week... Not a ton of progression from our investigators. We've dropped Daniel and Lili. They read the Book of Mormon and pray but they seem to find and excuse to get out of going to church. Its really sad for me. They seemed like they really wanted to change but they still lack a little bit of action. But we will still try to pas by every now and then, because they do read and pray, and any second the avalanche could break.

We did find a new family to teach. they are called Famila Jil (Hill in English) I feel like they will progress. they seem open to our message. The one thing that is difficult with them is getting the parents to pay attention. The Kids do well, but the parents. They are hard. We do our best to keep them interested, but they just sit there on their phone. But the Kids are pretty cool. Their names are Maria (16) Monica (13) and Juan Angeles (11). They seem to want to go to church, the challenge will be the parents. I look forward to teaching them.

We didn't have to much success with less actives this week. Which is a bummer. Although Richard is still strong and keeps on going. He isn't less active now.

As for the recent converts... Carlos is doing amazing. He is about to finish the Doctrine and Covenants. Super cool. A little miracle happened this week. Because he was scheduled to work on Sunday but he didn't want to. But they Doctor he was assigned to doesn't usually let people off work. (Carlos is finishing his nursing school) SO we were praying and fasting that he would be able to go. And by some miracle, the doctor let him go! haha It was your classic ensign miracle, but it was a miracle to both of us.

Fransisco on the other hand is not doing so good... Hes moved out of my area but is still in the ward but hasn't been coming. supposedly he doesn't want visits from the missionaries. It is super hard for me. It was so strong before but hes changed and I cant do anything. He cuts my calls and I haven't been able to talk to him for a while. So that was super sad for me. Its rough having a convert not really be converted.

So that was a bit of a tough spot for me.

But on the other hand, Because I completed a year, I spent a lot of time really looking back at how much I've progressed. I'm really starting to see my purpose in Gods plan. I'm seeing what I can become and I can see what I need to do get there. When I was in my moment of retrospection, I realized that my testimony really had 2 foundations. 1. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and 2. Jesus is the Christ. Everything else that I believe comes from those two things. Joseph Smith, Prayer, Fasting, everything is based off those two things. I really was blessed to have been raised in a home that surrounded me with the teachings of Christ. I knew it was all true from when I can remember. I knew the Jesus atoned for my sins and sufferings. I knew it. But one thing that has changed on my mission is that I am starting to understand how much the atonement has changed my life. how Perfect the atonement was. I realized now not only the magnitude of the pain that Jesus went through, but the amount of patience, obedience, and love that he has for us. As I was walking through the street this week I saw a sign that said

It wasnt the Nails the sustained Jesus on the cross
It was his love for you.

Its true. All of it. I know it

I love you all,

Elder Jared

Paraguayan Politics

This week Paraguay had elections. I still donty really understand how the political system here works, but I do know that it kinda drove me insane. they just voted for city positions this year. But supposedly when they vote for a new president, its crazy. It was crazy just for city positions. People were driving around with huge giant speakers in their cars promoting their canidate. That really gave me a headache. because they dont just play it loudly, they BLAST it. We could hear the car coming from 5 blocks away. yeah... huge headache. The election took place yesterday (sunday) and we really thought that our attendance was going to plummit to rock bottom, but as it turned out, It didnt dip to far.  Just a little bit.

Other than the politics. nothing really has happend, WE did have an investigator go to church. His name is Federico, he is about 80 years old. Doesnt really remember everything we teach him. he just nows if feels right. He reads the same page from the book of mormon every day, because it feels good. Hes kinda crazy, but has great desires to be baptized, Its going to be fairly interesting with things and how they go. Ill keep yall updated with him.

I did have quite an interesting contact last monday. We were wating in a bus stop trying to catch a bus back home, and this guy sits down next to us. SO naturally we start talking to him. This is basically what we did when we introduced our selves...

Me: "Yo soy Elder Jared" (my name is Elder Jared)

The guy: "Oh como Mohonrimoriancomuer (El Hermano de Jared)" (Oh, like Mohanrimoriancomuer (who is the Brother of Jared)

me (All amazed...): "Cuantas veces ha leido el libro de mormon...." (How many times have you read the Book of Mormon....)

Guy: "Como 5 veces." (like 5 times)

Turns out the guy was a returned missionary. He didnt want to start talking to us just so see what kind of missionaries we were. Supposedly we passed the test. It was a very very interesting contact that lead to a super cool conversation. It was so cool. So moral of the story, for all those on the mission or preparing. Contact eveyone. because they might just be testing to see if your a good missionary. haha

Thats all for this week. love you all!!

Elder Jared

Meeting the Mormons and the Baptism!

This week was absolutely busy. we were working like ants running all over the place. But it was awesome! It hade some down points but all in all, it was a great week. Tuesday and Wendesday were all the same. Just lots of working in the rain. It makes the work hard and the day long. but thats what seperates the boys from the men. I managed to stay pretty dry the whole day so it wasnt bad at all.

Thursday we had Zone training. It was a really great conference. WE are increasing in baptisims as a mission so thats fantastic news, but we still have a lot to work on!! Our zone leaders talked about using the Book of Mormon to extend and invitation to do something. Its so awesome that we have the Book of Mormon and we can apply so many different stories to help people accept invitations. It is really great.

Friday: It was basically a normal day until the night when we had planned with the ward to do a "practice" Meet the Mormons. just to make sure that the movie worked, and all the leaders knew what to do. Also to really clean the Chapel. But really no one came. All the missionaries, the Elders quorum president and the guy to set up the projector. It was kinda stressful because the leaders didnt really know what to do the next day, but we got it all sorted out.

Saturday: The big day. I finally completed 19 years... It surprised a lot of members that I am so young, the all respond "But your so tall! you have to be like 21!" it was super funny to see their faces. they were shocked. But they day was really good. Fiorelas baptism was fantastic. It was such an honor to be able to preform the ordinace. She was super nervous at first, but after she was super happy. She told me that she felt like a new person. Thats the power of Baptism. And a little girl that understands what baptism really is. It was amazing.

The movie was absolutely amazing. although, there werent ANY non members that went. But Meet the Mormons is absolutely amazing!! I loved! although it made me Kinda trunky.... but im over it now.

Sunday: Just a nice normal relaxing sunday. Oh and the fact that Fransiscos and threw whipped cream in my face for my birthday. It ended up in a big whipped cream fight that was fun. Haha just a little bit of laundry.

It was such a great week!!

Elder Jared

The Book of Mormon

Man what a fast week it has been!! Demasiado rapido! I really enjoyeed this week and had a lot of fun and Powerful moments. It has been a week of great growth for me and my testimony. I really dont know where to begin, So I might be all over the board with Awesome expierences. I cant wait to tell you!

First, I had Divisions with the Zone leaders. I was with Elder Jensen (You might remember him from my days in the CCM) and we were working in his area in Aregua. We really had a great day but the Highlight was a lesson we had with Milagros (I mentioned her a few weeks ago when I was in the Trio) She had a baptismal date for last saturday but when we visited her she was really shaky. She had all the attendences, she was reading and praying but she said she really hadnt gotten a firm answer. So we talked about how to recognize the spirit. It was an extremly powerful lesson. I promise you that the words that we spoke were not our words. They just came from our mouths. It is amazing to realize how the lord will fill your mouth as long as you open it. So yeah super powerful. And as we left we committed her to read a chapter (I dont remember which one) from the Book of Mormon and to pray about when she should be baptized. The Very next night, Elder Jensen called me to tell me that she was going to be baptized. It was amazingly powerful.

We really havent been able to visit with Daniel and Lili for a while. Just because when we have passed by they arent home or are too busy. But yesterday we were able to meet with them and it was really good. Daniel had been reading the Book of Mormon, Lili, not so much. But when we asked if they had any questions, Daniel said "When I have questions or doubts, I read your book. It helps me a lot" Its fantastic that he has learned to look for answers in the Book of Mormon. I hope that he will go to church this weekend.

Richard has been doing really well. Techincally he is reactivated, but He was reactivated in his heart a few weeks ago. Haha. If all goes well, he should get the priesthood next sunday. He has been working really hard on getting hios older brother back to church and supposedly it almost worked too. But his older brother (Jose) found some excuse not to go. It kinda made RIchard a little bit sad, but hopefully next week, we will have to see.

Carlos and Fransisco are doing really well. Carlos had finished the Book of Mormon for the very first time and Is now reading the Doctrine and Covenants. He is in section 89 now. Lots of progression. Fransisco is in 2 nephi and he is doing amazing as well.

This week should be a great week. Our ward has an activity where we are going to watch meet the mormons so we are inviting everyone to go. I really want the Chapel to fill up. Also, Fiorela has asked me to baptize her this saturday, and we are watching Meet the Mormons saturday, and It just happens to be my Birthday saturday. It is going to be a great day.

For my Book of Mormon reading I am in Heleman, about to finish for the 3rd time in spanish. This time through I really have realized How the Profets teach the same thing. Its the same thing that Jesus taught and what we missionaries teach and that we learn today which is the Faith, Repentance, Baptisim, Reception of the Holy Ghost, and Endure to the End. From my studies, Every Book and Profet has taught that in some way or form. If you really look, you will realize that it is everywhere in the Book of Mormon. It should be a suprise because Faith repentance, baptisim, reception of the Holy Ghost and endure to the end is the Gospel of Jesus Chirst. But it is everywhere, so it must be important.

I love the Book of Mormon, Rohyhu Paraguay and I love all yall

Elder Jared

The changes

Im sure yall are wondering what the changes are for me. to keep it short and simple, There were no changes for me. Still in Aregua with Elder Calderón. Ready to work another change! haha man this was such a great week. We saw a lot of progress with our less actives. In total, we had over 12 less actives come. It was absolutely amazing to see them there.

Before I go rambling about my less actives, one quick note. One area here in Aregua closed so that means that our area lines got changed. And do yall remember Guillermo from last week? He is now in my area. How lucky am I. Seriously. Blessed.

Richard has absolutely changed my life this week. And he did it by changing his own life first. He has read the first 15 chapters in the Book of Mormon and has absolutley completely changed his life in the blink of an eye. He is really really interested in going on a mission and has been very active about talking to the Bishop to get the Priesthood. He has changed. The fact that he was active in talking to the Bishop shows it. His mom didnt have to do anything, we just told him that he needed to talk to the Bishop and he has done the rest. further evidince of his change was that he bore his testimony yesterday. It was short, but it was pure, powerful and full of faith. Absolutely amazing.

I dont have much time, so thats why the letter is a little bit shorter today, but dont take if for a lack of love because I love you all just as much as God loves you!

Elder Jared

One Quick Change

Yeah, This change is over now. It is amazing to think how quick this change has gone by, but at the same time it feels like an eternity since the change has started. Before this change started I had three companions... 3 comps for 8 months and in this change I have doubled that. Its kinda crazy. so yeah, but everything is great with my companions, Just a little interesting fact for this week.

I dont think Ill have changes, but you just never know whats going to happen. Its a great suprise. Kinda like Christmas every six weeks :) haha. For some reason I think the Bishop thinks that I will leave. Even though half of the missionaries here in aregua have been here longer than I have. But he knew that we had changes and he gave 2 missionaries a little bit of time to bear their testimony in preisthood meeting and then in sacrament meeting. He wanted me to do it in both. So I dont know if its revelation or if ill stay. luckily for me I find out tomorrow, you all have to wait another week.

This week has been really good. we have found lots of good people to teach so Im pretty excited. But there are two that I am super excited about. One is called Guillermo and the other is Richard.

We found Guillermo when I was in the Trio. He was just a street contact, he seemed very interested but the directions to his house were a little bit shaky. He lives in a different area from mine. But this week, I went on divisions to that area and it was like 6:30 at night and we were just contacting, and my Companion (elder Dswson from the Trio) said that he hadnt contacted this one street before so we just start tracting, and not the third house in, we contact Guillermos house, an absolute miracle that we found him again. But so we start teaching him and he just asked all right questions. Like he seriously would ask a question that would be answered perfectly but the next principle that we would teach I.E, He asked ¿why are there so many church on the earth today? bam, the great apostasy, then he asked ¿What makes you all different from all the other churchs? bam, Joseph Smith and the first vision. It was absolutely wonderful. He learned a lot and I feel like he will progress

Richard is the son of a less active that we have been working. Hermana Ana. HeIs 16 but he lived in a different house until this week. He was baptized when he was eight but hasnt been to church in a lon long time. He had forgotten a lot about the church and why its important. But he is very ready to learn and progress. WE felt inspired to talk to him about the book of mormon and how it could help him.  then he just asked a lot of questions and each one could be answered by a verse in the Book of Mormon. So he could see how the book really could answer all his questions. And then, HE WENT TO CHURCH!!!! Even though it was raning, he went to church for the very fist time in nearly 6 years. It was amazing. he is such a quality young man and will be a very good missionary some day. I have so much excitment for him

So there is progresion going on and there is nothing that makes a missionary more happy then seeing people progress!!

All my love,

Elder Jared

The sweetest fruit ever!

Man this has been a great week. It really has been. Although we didn't see much progression on the people that we were focusing on, we had lots of less actives go to church even though we hadn't been focusing on them. I guess it's God telling us that we have to change who we focus on! Haha!

SO this week we had the special opportunity to listen to the President of the Area, Elder Walter Gonzalez of the 70. It was an absolutely fantastic mission meeting. He talked about the Book of Mormon and how it is a book of levels and standards. Or meaning that we can go to different depths according to our studies and apply scriptures differently to our lives. It reminded me of some advice that my mom has sent me (more then once but it is fantastic advice!!) I think she got it from a member of our stake presidency. But anyway, There are basically 3 levels we can go to. The first is compared to swimming with our head out of the water. We enjoy the water but can't really enjoy what is under the water. The second would be be similar to snorkeling. Our head is under the water and we enjoy what is under the water. The third is like SCUBA diving. Really going deep and living underneath the waves. Ok now its time for the explanation. First we can read the Book of Mormon and enjoy what is really on the surface. We can have a great time reading, but we miss a huge part of the fun! Second we start going deeper. Thinking harder about the scrptures that we read. and starting to see the beauty of the scriptures. Third is the most difficult to do. It takes lots of practices, traning and paciencia. We are applying what we learn. Or basically we are living in the beauty of what we learn, really understanding the scriptures and living in them!

So I've started practicing really really going deep and learning. And I have been greatly blessed from that. There is one underlying theme that I have seen from these scrpirtures. That would be the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I knew that the atonement was a common theme in the Book of Mormon, I just didn't realize how much it talked about it. I have discovered that EVERY single verse can either apply to the atonement, or support a verse or story that can be applied to the atonement. It honestly has changed my life. I know that Jesus is the Christ. He suffered for us, He died for us. He lives for us. I know that the Book Of Mormon is the word of God. It has helped me understand life so much more and helped me get though the hard time on my mission. I feel like the Book of Mormon is the sweetest fruit that I have tasted. I love it!

We had another awesome lesson with Daniel and Lili. They are just so great. They were both sick this week so they didn't go to church. But I really feel like they have the desire to change. They have started reading the Book of Mormon and have felt a change in their life. They feel more peace and tranquility in their lives. They are feeling the spirit in their lives! more sweet fruit!!

Finally, we had maybe my favorite service ever... We picked strawberrys. Fransiscos uncle owns a strawberry farm so Saturday we helped him in his field.... We picked around 54 pounds of strawberries. I love strawberries so much. And to pick your own strawberries is the best. Super sweet and delicious!!

I love you all and hope that you will all really start going deep in your studies!

Love you more than the strawberries here!!

Elder Jared