Sacrifice Brings Blessings

Hello everyone!! 

I really don’t have much to say this week! Its still way hot out here, and we are still working hard finding those people who are ready for the gospel!! 

It’s so hot, but I am putting on sunscreen everyday. The only place on my face that has gotten burnt are my eyelids which was very unpleasant and now they are all dry and peeling. SO strange haha.

This week we decided that we were going to do a sacrifice to show Heavenly Father our willingness to find new people. So we both decided what we were going to sacrifice, and did it for the whole week. We weren’t really seeing the fruits of our labors and were still having a hard time finding new people. But finally during the weekend we found 3 new people and were able to teach them lessons SO good! The spirit was really strong and they are all really cool! I am excited to keep teaching them. I know Heavenly Father is aware of us and as we sacrifice, we receive many blessings!! 

This week I was studying about conversion. As a missionary there is nothing more desirable than your investigators gaining a testimony, and then using that testimony to become converted to the Gospel. It really is a special process. But it is also a process that we all have to pass through. It’s not a one-time thing, but a daily effort. I was studying the Bible about it and was reading in Luke when Jesus is talking to Simon. In Luke 22:32 The Savor says to Simon "But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" I thought that it was so interesting that Simon, who worked along side the Savior still wasn’t "converted”. It is a process that takes time, but I truly believe that once we are converted we can’t go back and return to our old ways. It’s a change of heart, mind, and being. As I was studying this topic I was thinking about the question: Do I have "weapons of rebellion" that keep me from being converted to the Lord? I think all of us have some "weapons" or things that keep us from fully giving up our heart for the Lord. I have made goals to get rid of those weapons, and distractions and fully convert to the Lord. And there is no better place to start than right here right now. 

Yesterday we ate lunch with the district president and another family who is preparing to go to the temple to be sealed. We shared our testimonies of eternal families and sang Families can be Forever and it was really special. I love my family!! 

So yea it was a great week!!! I love this Gospel and LOVE this work!!! 

Sister Jones