Week 103! ya thats a wrap‏

Well ya!
That’s a wrap!

Hi how’s everyone doing? Hope well, this is my last week my last Monday in the mission and I have one day left in San Cristobal and Wednesday I’m going to the offices and then on a big jet airliner to the grand USA to touch down in the country I love. Wow the thing is it’s really been too fast but it’s been a dream come true. Ever since I was knee high to my fathers tie I have dreamed to be a missionary and here I am at the end of my mission and all I have to say is it’s a dream come true.

My two years are wrapping up too fast as I said and Thursday will be a very interesting day. Lots of emotions but really I only want to say: I know this church is true the only true church upon the face of the earth. That it is being lead by the prophet Thomas S Monson, I know he has been called of god and he leads and guides us today. I know more know than ever that Jesus is the Christ the holy Son of God our Savior and Redeemer and I know he loves us. In 2 Nephi 2:6,8 it says, "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass Resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise."

I am so glad that God trusted me enough to bring this message to his sons and daughters to the knowledge of God so that "we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance." (alma 12:15) My work for the Lord is to bring souls to him souls worth of his glory as a missionary, I have done what Alma teaches in chapter 32 "And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life." (Alma 32:40) Seeing with the eye of faith and looking towards the people to bring them to the tree of life which is the most desirable fruit and well we only do that by  first eating it ourselves, then inviting. "And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.  And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit. I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover my family also, And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit. And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also." (1 Nephi 8:11-12, 13,15-16)

Its like us, we need to partake of the fruit which is the love of God (1 Nephi 11:22), we parake and then we invite, we know how desirous the fruit is to our souls so we the look for our "family" our spiritual family and we invite them to partake of something we know is desirous and sweet to the soul. I have seen this happen many times in two years as people partake of this fruit they change and they become more and more followers of Christ. Its a wonderful thing!

I also Know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I finished it yesterday, my fifth time in my mission. I know a man can come closer to God just by reading it. It’s true I testify. In Doctrine and Covenants 3:19-120 it says "And for this very purpose are these plates preserved, which contain these records—that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people; And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved. Amen." That the Lamanites may come to a knowledge of their fathers- for two years I have been the hands of the Lord in seeing that the ancestors of the Lamanites receive these truths and well I have seen it as the people grasp this book and they start to read and they start to love it, because when the Lord enters in their hearts they change forever. They never deny it again. They put God on their side and then they say I know they start believing and start knowing. They know its true. "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." (D&C 123:17) "For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—" (D&C 123:12) but when they follow god cheerfully and carefully they then know its true.

"Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. , Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solidrocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever!" (D&C 128: 22-23) let us all keep moving forward nobody will take the knowledge of the truth away.

“Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious...and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” ― Walt Disney Company

I love this work I know its true I know that a man can come closer to God just jumping in and working for the Lord. The only man that can explain it better is Moroni "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.  And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot."

Just come unto Christ and be perfected in him and the windows of the heavens will be open unto you. A member told me once that at the end of your mission the best person you converted was yourself. A mission is a time of learning and well the best part is that you learn with the Lord. I have served the Lord and will keep serving him forever! It really has been the best two years!

Thanks to all that helped in any form I really am glad I could be here. May god bless each and every one of you. I know this work is true the work will go on to infinity and beyond!! thanks buzz for the help!! haha love ya!!!

Hope all is well and hope you all know I love you lots!! See ya soon!!

Elder Jaymes Monson

sorry no pictures because the computer doesn’t want to read it but hey love ya lots ill put some up friday!!

A mothers thoughts:

I've sure been full of a lot of emotions, maybe because I can sense what Jaymes is going through, but to think that the end is near is really hard to understand.  Jaymes talks about a "dream come true" and I feel the same way.  This has been a dream come true for me as the Mom.  What better experience of growth and learning can happen for a young man than to serve a mission where the Lord is guiding and directing, teaching, listening, strengthening and preparing?  I know I could not have taught him this much or helped him more than by letting him fly.  Time stood still for months when he left and yet it has zoomed by at lighting speed.  I can hardly wait till Thursday evening when I get to wrap my mother arms around my son and welcome him home, I can't wait to hear his voice, listen to his stories, feel his presence in our home (even if its a short time) and hug him often.  I ask myself, what have I learned?  I have learned that God is in control and has things under control.  He is all knowing and wise.  He is a God of miracles because he has performed miracles through Jaymes and trusted in his abilities and known just what they were.  "Can ye tell?" (Alma 26:2)  My answer is YES!  I can, I sent out a young man being obedient to the call of the Lord with desire and ambition and faith but Thursday I receive a wondrous gift... My son, now a man who took his faith and turned in to Belief.  My mother heart is full of gratitude and love for both a Father in Heaven who is patient and at the same time requires our whole self to follow him and for a son who turned his life over to that God and allowed him to help him change and become a mighty man!  Now a new phase is about to happen, I'm apprehensive and anxious and yet I have learned that God is in the details if we allow him to guide us as we move forward in life always remember who we are, whose we are and where we can return. 

Thank you to the people of the Tuxtla Gutierrez mission area.  To those who took care of him, who fed him, did his laundry, drove him, moved him, prayed with him and for him, allowed him in their homes, who were kind and Christlike and even to those who didn't understand what he was there for or why, thank you!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!  I feel so blessed.  My the Lord bless each of you!

Thank you also to family and friends who have been so supportive and loving.  For letters, and help and packages.  For those who pray for him and the work he does.  Thank you!

And so... now I'll continue to pray for Tyler who is doing so very well in Guatemala. 

Love you Jaymes!  The Lord is proud of you and so am I!