Dec 22, 2014
Cousins Elder Koval and Elder Jones serving in the same Zone!
Friends and Family,
I just want to say how grateful I am for the Christmas season. It's a really wonderful thing to be able to have my thoughts directed more towards the Savior during this time of year (although that should be the case year round). There's something about the Christmas Season that really softens peoples' hearts. I don't know about any of you, but I think that's definitely the Spirit.
This past week, we had our mission Christmas party. We had the opportunity to come together as a mission and celebrate the birth of the Savior. I had a lot of fun. The sad thing was that we had transfers the same day. 28 missionaries went home, and some of those people have become some of my best friends. It was sad to see them go, but they've served their time. It's weird to think about how that'll be me in 18 months, but I'm trying to put that thought out of my head as much as possible.
Even though all the Christmas festivities have been going on, we still were able to do missionary work! We are still handing out the He is the Gift cards (remember to #SharetheGift!) In addition to that, our mission has set some really big goals to further the Work here. They want the mission to have at least 1400 member-present lessons a month and 720 baptisms for next year. We have started to work on accomplishing those goals. We had a lesson with a member present last week that resulted in us having a couple set for baptism! I'm super-excited to work with them; it will be challenge because they are living together (they're not married) and they smoke. But the one investigator told us that he knows the church is true, so we definitely have room to work with!
In addition to that, President Ahlander challenged the mission to read the four Gospels before Christmas. When he issued the challenge two weeks ago, I made the determination to do it. I am happy to say that I finished reading them this morning! It was tough, but I definitely learned a lot about Christ. My favorite story would definitely have to be in John 9 when Christ healed the blind man. The man, after receiving his sight, testified that he believed that Christ was a prophet of God because he healed him. The Pharisees didn't like that so they cast him out of the synagogue. These are my favorite verses:
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
I hope that we all can be like that. To recognize the miracles in our lives and realize the source of those miracles. I hope we all can remember the Savior's birth this Christmas season, but more importantly, I hope that we can remember His life.
I love all of you! Merry Christmas!
Elder Jones
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