Monday, April 28, 2014

Life is good here in Chihuahua!

Hey everyone! 

This past week was really busy. we had a great week, full of experiences, and we will continue to work our hardest. The lord is really shaping me into the missionary...into the man, that i need to become. I am always learning here in the mission, things that are beneficial here, as well as things that will benefit me for the rest of my life! (handling money, filling out a renters contract, lighting a boiler, etc. )

we almost had 2 baptisms, but they both got too nervous. im trying not to worry at all, because i know that the Lord is working with them too, Claudia and leslie. Anyway, we hope to get them in the waters of baptism this saturday. fingers crossed! They both have difficult situations, yet strong testimonies. I thnk we can all learn from their examples in how evern though our situations can be tough, we still have the gospel, and living the gospel everyday is how we can overcome all trials, and achieve greater happiness. 

In regards to my health, my allergies have gotten a lot better, but my breathing has been a bit hard at night, before bed. im thinking that my asthma is coming back, and i might be developing asthma again. im totally fine, so dont worry, but just a heads up-ill keep you all posted. 

With our one investigator, josue, we kind of just moved on to lesson 2, to see what would happen and if he would continue to accept what we are teaching, and we stumped him again, this time with the fact and doctrine that yes, there is a spirit world that we go to after we die. We hope that we can get him to church soon. And in general, we love the people here and are doing our best to help them. 

And holy cow, the lord is definitely hastening his work here in Chihuahua, and here in this area with our 12 missionaries in the ward. yesterday was crazy at church, but its so cool to see so many Latter day saints here in where i am serving and im happy to consider myselfone of them, doing the lords will, getting burnt to a crisp by the sun, and speaking their language. Its very humbling here, and i encourage anyone who is considering serving to not even question and just do it-its amazing iand i know i will never get another experience like this for the rest of eternity. I love the Savior and i am grateful for this blessing i have to be here and to be serving him, and for how he is rewarding me with knowledge and opportunities. I love you all and hope everyone has a great week. 

-- 

**Elder Newman**

Photo taken April 21, 2014

Our stellar district! (Me, Elder Womack, Hermana Brown, Hermana Yauhtenzi, Elder Tonconio, Elder Gallup)

Photo taken April 26 2014

Our Zone singing at the baptismal service

Photo taken April 22nd 2014

an attempted shot of our are, Riberas (basically Mexican Suburbia)

-- 

Photo taken April 22nd 2014

The latest Comp photo

Photo taken April 22nd 2014

life is good

Photo taken April 22, 2014

the "welcome to Chihuahua" sign :)

Photo taken April 21 2014

Peanut butter and oreos! 

Monday, April 21, 2014

Happy Easter !

Hola Familia! 

To start, Im so thankful for the savior in my life and how he has been blessing me/us immesnsely out here in Riberas (northernmost part of the city of Chihuahua). Here, they have the "Santa Semana" (holy week), where they recognize the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and so all the schools have 2 weeks off to celebrate what we know as Easter-sure wish Alpine School District did the same haha...but with all sincerity, I know that the Savior lives, that he loves us, and that because of His atonement, we can be cleansed from sin and return back to the presence of our Heavenly Father, and live with him and our families for eternity. That is why we have the Gospel and the church-to help us accomplish that. 

Thats just the basis of what we explain to people when we tell them who we are, introducing ourselves as missionaries, but more importantly who they are and who they can become. with that said, We had a great week and we ended up contacting 20 people in the streets/bus/etc! lots of work to do here in this part of the Lord's vineyard. 

My health has improved a lot. We have been in this area for 3 weeks now, and practically the whole time i have had really bad allergies due to the air here. I had to rest 2 days, not in a row, but after 4 injections, 408 pesos worth of medicine, a visit to the hospital (dont freak out, its just the clinic part, but the doctors are better), and more medication, but most importantly a blessing from my companion, i feel back at 100% again and am ready to keep working.

Oh man, yesterday Elder Womack and I had quite the experience. Not sure if i have mentioned this family before, but his name is Josue and his wife is Alexi. we have been to their house 4 or 5 times since we started the teaching, but we havent quite progressed like we thought we would. why?-because we want to focus on his needs and doubts. They are both "Adventistas", or members of the church "septimo Dia", which means seventh day. the root of their religion is based on the 4th commandment. "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy". so we have been stuck for a while on what day the sabbath day really is. After showing him a few places in the bible that the apostles "broke Bread" on the first day of the week, he just didnt believe us. We have explained to him the book of mormon, and he basically accepts everything, up to a certain point. 

We know that God is the same yesterday,today, and forever, and as a missionary I bear testimony of that. So he doesnt change, and neither does his love for us. but what can change is the instruction he gives us. The children of Israel were not obeying the law they had, so God gave them a new law. Through his Prophet Moses, he gave them the 10 commandments, along with a very strict law for them to follow, known as the "Law of Moses". part of that law was to worship on saturday, and in due time, the Jewish Christians began to worship it more than the Lord himself. We know that Christ came to the earth, and in my studies i read that basically the law of moses was preparatory anyway to that 1st coming of Christ, so when he came he established His Law, His church, and His gospel. 

with all of that knowledge, we tried our best to help Josue, but he still hasnt really accepted it, but we know its because he hasnt read in the book of mormon. we got home last night after this particular visit, and at first we were a little frustrated, but i realized something, and this is my favorite part of the experience: that no matter what, noone can deny your testimony. I was strengthened because after this lesson, it made me want to teach better, be better, and it just strengthened the testimony i already had. Elder womack explained it like a fish trying to swim through a current: that constantly, there will be "forces" (the water) trying to push us backward, but we can keep "swimming" (enduring to the end, staying faithful) through the current. also, we cant stop swimming, cause if we do, we will just get puched back by the water. 

I know that what we are teaching is true, and Im grateful for everyone who has helped me gain this testimony of these things that i know to be true. I love you all and I hope everyone has a good week this week! 

Love, 

Jason 

-- 

**Elder Newman**

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

The work is hastening. Weekly report from Chihuahua.

Muy Buenas Dias a todos! 

Haha you all are wonderful. This week was very good, and we are continuing to work hard and getting to know our area a lot better. I have been really trying to work on being more patient, as we are in this area which is still kind of new to us, and because as you who are or have been misionaries know, it can be hard sometimes. Also, The thing that i want to improve the most on is my weaknesses:not only recognizing what they are, but also letting Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father use those weakneses to shape me into the Missionary, and the man, that they want me to become. 

 In regards to my health, dont worry-im fine, but my allergies have been gettin greally bad, to the point where it was a little hard to breathe in the mornings. for that, we went to a clinic and the doctor told me that i would have to get shots. like were talking 3 days in a row. so i thought, "oh, shots in my arm? no problem!".....they weren't in my arm.....and it was definitely a new experience for me. haha-ouch. 

We have now roughly about 6 steady investigators, but we are finding more and more every day! Lately, we have had leslie who is so ready for baptism but its a little hard because her family situation doesnt permit us to teach as much as wed like, but no worries-she will get baptized soon, im sure.

We found a new family this week! Carlos, Susana, and their 3 kids, one of which (and the only one that came to church) was Jacquelin. she is great and we were able to teach lesson one with them (the restoration). 

also, i think the coolest experience for me this last week was getting to teach this other family, Josue, Alexi and their baby kasey, about the book of mormon. They are part of another religion, and everything we taught them they agree with because they said they believe the same things in their church. but when i testified of the truthfullness of the book of mormon, and how it is a record of Jesus Christ coming to the Americas, Josue was a little stumped and puzzled, but didnt deny it. 

How Wonderful it is for all of us to bear testimony of the Book of Mormon, and how all members of the Church are missionaries. I love being here and doing the Lords work! 

Love, 

jason 

-- 

**Elder Newman**

Photos Taken April 14, 2014

Zone Activity
Soccer for 6 hours, catered food, tired and sunburned

Photo taken April 8th 2014

Got the package.   (Some of it from the returned Christmas Package)

From the Mission President

Elders Newman and Womack studying in their new house.
Excelent elders, very hard workers.
Thanks for all you have taught them.
President Chavez

Monday, April 7, 2014

Weekly Email!

man, so much has happened in a week. To sum it up, all is going great, the church is true, the book is blue, and i love you!

For starters, Elder Womack and I have not changed companions, but we have changed areas and houses. we are now in an area called Riberas, and it is the most northern part of the city of Chihuahua. its so so far out in the boonies, but thats ok! the church is still true, and we will be getting to work. Actually, we have been and this week we have done our best to contact tons of people and we found 2 new families we are excited to get to teach. the house is small, like were talking a two room house, and though it is brand new, that still doesnt exclude the visit from a cricket or a cockroach every once and a while. 

having 12 missionaries is so wild and crazy! i feel so sorry for Sister morales, the one in charge of coordinating the food appointments for us. haha it has been nuts but i know that all will be well, at least for the month of may. we have split it into 2 districts. 

General conference was amazing! i will comment and share more insights i had in next weeks letter (so stay tuned!) but know that i loved it and really, know that this conference meant more to me than any other conference, and i think that has a lot to do with being here in the mission, that i am becoming a better and stronger disciple of christ, so in conference my eyes were opened up differently. 

I testify that this Church is the only church on the planet with the authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ, and that living the gospel is what helps build up the kingdom of god here on earth. Living the Gospel WILL bring greater happiness and blessings in our lives and families, and that every single principle and point of doctrine has been revealed to us one way or another by our master Jesus Christ, and it is through him that we will be able to achieve exhaltation and make it back to the presence of our HeavenlyFather someday. 

I love you all and wish you a good week! take luck and good care :) 

love, 

jason 

-- 

**Elder Newman**

Photos taken April 2014

Conference with the other missionaries and other stuff