Week 57: my second companion, the Holy Ghost

Hello my friend! that's what I hear in the streets here and its in English or its hey man! haha this is not the US!

Well this week was good Saturday I completed 13 months in the mission and i am not quite sure why time flies so fast but it is flying at rapping speeds. and  with the nice cool weather we have had this week its been an awesome week because not a lot of sweat! ha! but its been good to just see how things change as time goes by and with the nice cool weather we have been more ready to work and to just be ready to go except yesterday when we changed times haha we came to the falling back time and its great -you sleep more that night but not if the sun comes up at 5:45 and your eyes are getting hit by the nice light of the sun then you ask why!?!?!?! i would like to sleep, then my companion throws his pillow out the window haha oh wait that didn't happen but we wanted to to see if we can hit the sun haha so ya the sun is a great thing but we want more of it at night because then we can see where we are going.

the highlight of the week is the picture of the very funny and oh man more of a brother than a friend- Fredy, he got baptized. and man he was so happy. he got out of the water and gave me a hug and told me againto hold him down for 5 sec... haha i told him no and he said Elder I told you for 5 seconds not 4 haha. but what a great guy he is. I am positive he will be a missionary in a year. just saying.  what a great conversion of a mighty man of faith but was not all that easy for Elder Zambrano and I, we really worked our tails off for this young man. so ya but it was all worth it in the end. another child of god entering into the kingdom of god. what a blessing it is, mighty man. kind of like Yoda we can say, like Luke in star wars Yoda literally raised him up to be the mighty Luke like we know. the best part was probably the drive spiritually Fredy has. I don't know its a ton of work spiritually but its worth it, it always is. 

I was reading this week about the divine companionship from Elder Holland, its a talk he gave to the missionaries in the mtc in 2009, he talks about how we need as missionaries to have the spirit as our companion. so we go out as 3´s he says the spirit should always be our companion not only in our missions we need it in all of the things we do in our marriages and in our families in all things. but there is a question that he asks us to make as missionaries he says we need to ask ourselves if the spirit, or the holy ghost, was our Senior comp or our Jr. comp or was not there at all. we need to ask ourselves this in all things. if we are making a decision well did i let the spirit guide me or did i just make the decision. so ya it depends on the situation. he also says that if we as missionaries don't have the spirit with us as we are teaching then we shouldn't teach we are prohibited to teach. because the person will not progress. its like the story of Joseph and Emma when Joseph was translating and he had had a little argument with his wife. so he couldn't translate. so he went upstairs or where ever she was and he apologized and well he could translate again. when we are in the car traveling and I am angry well then the whole family is angry. haha isn't that right mom? (yes, the mother will attest to that! :)) haha and well it effects everyone, the holy ghost. so well we better use it right and we better have it always with us. its something that we learned with Fredy when we taught him throught the spirit then well he progressed and wanted to be better. then we brought him to Christ or more better to say we came with him to Christ and dropped him off to go and get more to bring them to Christ. 

Christ doesn't just say come unto me you and only you he says come unto me all. So you can say that we are in a car that is traveling there with a person at a time and well sometimes its smooth sailing and clear skies but other times its well a flat tire or they get out early. but we are then going to go back for others who want to go to the kingdom of our father together with us. so ya Fredy was a smooth sailing and well all we hit was a bit of rain but we brought him home to our father heaven we stayed for a bit there and now we are going to get some more people. its true we have a lot on our plates because well its every person in a different car. so we drive a lot haha. but that's OK we like doing it that's our job right now. 

SO ya that was my week a bit like -wow what a great week. we will just keep moving foreword and moving upward. 

 I love you all hope you all have a great week and well Happy Halloween. and here its the Day of the dead. 

Elder Jaymes Monson

Week 53:the Good Samaritan

Buenas Dias! that's what we say around here.

Hope everyone had a great week . here we are doing just dandy, I did get a new companion from well Guatemala where my brother is right now in San Juan Sacatepequez Guatemala that is my companions stake so isn't that just cool. so don't worry Tyler oh Elder Monson we will be sending you greetings from Elder Sanchez and Elder Monson.  

(This I’m sure is NOT coincindental, Tyler has a new companion for Tuxtla and Jaymes has a new one from San Juan.  Pretty amazing!)

This week was a big change, the truth is that I am still trying to jump into it.  Sometimes I forget that My companion doesn't know the area because with Elder Zambrano It was so easy we would  just run from place to place and we just worked so well together and right now i need to teach him the area and it just takes a bit to do that. anyways its been an alright week. we got our bishop on board to help us out on the mission work so that is good. i am just so glad he got on board because without him we would not be getting much success. So he is on board to help and we will just keep chugged along here in Juarez. One of the main things I have been learning this week, I have been thinking a lot about, is service and how it is so important that we serve. We can learn from Mosiah 2:17 that when we do service for someone we are only in the service of our God. but what does that mean? yesterday our bishop told us that we are all in service when we have a calling, all of us have a calling and as I pull up LDS.ORG there on the front page is a ton of things on Missionary work, hastening the work they have a bible video, a thing on what president Monson beautifully wrote about this month on how we have a responsibility to rescue. I think if you aren't getting the missionaries and members working together yet maybe double check the website. the service we do here is not to say look at me i am helping this person, NO! it is about how we are helping someone in need. Jesus gives us a parable on a this very thing its in Luke 10:25-37.

 25 ¶And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt alive.

 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

 the parable of the Good Samaritan now what is the thing we can get out of this. well our Prophet talked to us about this very thing in conference. love the lord thy god first then love those Demas. if we love others we love god if we love god then well we will most likely be doing something for someone else. this parable is a great example of loving others because well this Samaritan was not liked by the others and the people from Jericho where not liked by the people of Samaria. but this humble Samaritan healed this Jericho man because he loved his god and he loved others. it didn't matter who was on the ground, even the high people in the land pasted him by but he didn't say oh poor Jericho man no he said let me help him he must be in pain. (http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/parable-of-the-good-samaritan?lang=eng) watch the video from the church. the thing is it doesn't matter who serves them if it’s in missionary work to help them know christ better or if its just helping the neighbor with something. show your love for god by loving others.

well that's just a couple thoughts from this week and lets just help every one out then we will be a happier planet and we will show our god that we love him. hope all is well where you are and hope you have a great week. 

saying good-bye to Elder Zambrano

having some fun

eating stuffed jalapenos

Love you all!!!

Elder Jaymes Monson

Week 55: Sunshine!

Well good day to you,

Today is transfer day and Elder Zambrano who I have been with more than anyone else besides my first companion is going to a different adventure in his mission. He is off to the heat. Haha and well I will just stay here and receive a different one to work with. His name is Elder Sanchez and we will see how he is this week.

I just want to tell you, Every Morning we wake up and its a tad bit dark outside we say our prayers and do some exercise and well about 645 or 650 the most beautiful thing comes over the mountains and as we are doing some sit ups in front of the window or something like hat we feel the warms of the sun as it rises up and we feel the peace of the day start to come in. Oh what a beautiful morning one says and well then another Elder says let me get my camera, another says that's amazing and I just say, Wow what a beautiful view and what a blessing that just came into the room. OH want a beautiful morning oh what a beautiful day plenty of sunshine heading my way oh zippidy doo da zippidy ah wonderful feeling feeling this way. Its a blessing from god coming into the room and well what a great blessing it is. something I have always loved is a sunrise not just after it rains all night and the sun brakes the clouds and looks like the picture. no its the feeling you get when it comes and you see it. I remember being in Hawaii with my family and we would run out on the beach and we would walk along it as the sun comes up and hits your face and you feel the warmth it brings. what a great thing my dad told me in Sweden when they see the sun the close their eyes and take a deep breath enjoying what the sun brings into the day. 

The sun is a huge blessing that god gives. in the bible in Genesis it says the god made the light and the light was good. but a natural work of art like a sunrise is amazing a huge blessing. Without the sun there would never be happiness. the coolest thing is what the sun brings. I remember having a day that well didn't go very well this week we couldn't get a lot done that day. but as the sun came up that next morning the warmth hit my face and it as like i got more freckles or sun kisses ha ha It was the warmth I needed to just say well today is a new day. or as Annie says the sun will come out tomorrow bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow. and well it doesn't really matter how horrible our day was before the sun will come out the next day it may be covered by a cloud but it comes out. everyday is a different day a new day to make better and to do better. it really doesn't matter how horrible the day before was in the mission the sun comes up and we are ready to have a better day. the sunrise marks a lot of things but most of all it Marks a new start. I love it the sun will will always come out tomorrow it might be an art piece or it might be just a blast of sun or a peak thought the clouds but it will come out. better days are always ahead. enjoy a god made art piece and then bask in the sunshine. I love the sun even through it might burn you sometimes it is so enjoyable. if you go boating on a cloudy day it doesn't make it fun even through it might you not get burned it still isn't fun without the sun. 

I think sunbeams in Church really are sunbeams because they cant do anything wrong they are always there to just put on a smile and sing Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam ha ha. what a great thing little kids are. you can see the "sunshine" in lots of things especially in people who are happy. We can see it in our family if we come home and mom has had a good day she is happy to see us and she puts on a smile there comes in some sunshine and well I can see it in some people we are teaching as they really take in effect the blessing of the gospel. We are the Sunshine's god little Sunshine's from the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. I love this work. Just remember to look at the sunny things in life! We can all be Sunshine's in other peoples lives. 

I love this work and I love my lord and savior Jesus Christ. 

Elder Jaymes Monson

Week 54: The Iron Rod and Waterskiing

Well Good Morning Everyone or Afternoon or Night what ever time you may be reading this. 

My dad always told me going on a mission wouldn't make me a missionary as much as sleeping in a garage would make me a car. I don't know if its true about the car but I know that the whole mission would be a loss if I just went for the thrill haha its really the spirit that leads and guides us not just the body. 

But one thing I learned this week was that General Conference is the best!!! What a spiritual weekend we just had right? man I just love conference especially if I get to hear it in two different languages. it was just amazing. really I have been thinking a lot about something Elder Kevin S Hamilton talked about, The Iron Rod. now there are three different types of people the ones who just say its too hard I'm going to the easy way, the ones who are just like- look at me i have one hand on and one hand off, or the ones who are white knuckled and wont wave at anyone because they are too afraid they will fall down or get distracted. now who are you which one would you like to be? will you be the one that's like well lets go have some fun!! or the one that's like hey why are you laughing at me? or are you going to be the one that's like focused in on the goal that golden sweet fruit the gospel of Christ. now I have seen everyone of these people one from every group. the people who are ready and go in the gospel, the ones that are just there and then not and the ones who are just ya sure ha ha . 

let me compare it to a water skiing example. when water skiing you can just hold on to the rope and you will get pulled right on up and you can hold on to the rope and just let the boat pull you ya you are doing good you might get a bit beat up from the waves but you ll be still holding on. or you can be a person who gets up and says I'M up then lets go and see if you go anywhere and as you are falling grab the rope if its possible and then get dragged underwater that would be one way to do it or you can go out and make the best of it go out in the calm water and make the best of it. it depends on you. you can stay in the church for just a bit and as Sister Bonnie L Oscarson said it is possible to have a testimony of the gospel but not live it. it is possible that would be the person who gets up and then falls down reaching and then getting drowned back in the water. then you can be in the middle and get beat up by all the temptations of the world and just not have all the fun you would like to but its OK. or you can go into the water that's calm and smooth and make the best of the gospel having fun and being involved. it depends on the person you want to be. if you are in the right place and doing the right thing you will be blessed and will have a just about perfect ride or you can get beat up in the middle and be like ya i know but this once wont hurt. 

Like Elder Neil L Andersen said, you can live with the blessings of the priesthood or you can not. It depends on you. Don't be a fish with a testimony, that swims and just goes with the current. Get out and do what it is you need to do to have that great ride live life with in the means and standards you have been taught and live it to the best you can. You Can do it get out of the things you shouldn't be and get in to the way of the lord. he put us here to have fun but not to ruin our lives he wants us to be well and to smile  every once in awhile because life is great. and well don't forget to "LOOK UP" (Elder Ochoa) 

I loved conference it was great just one of the best things to recharge the old batteries. What a wonderful blessing we have to be members of the church and well Do you have a winning game plan? ( Elder Nelson) I love you all hope you all have a great week and well a great journey through life as we cling to the rod of iron and we press forward as saints of this true gospel with steadfast faith in Christ. I love this work!!!

Elder Jaymes Monson