Natalie December 28, 2015

New Beginnings

Helloo everyone!! 

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas :D We can sure feel the love of the members here, especially from all the food they share with us. Truly, we are so blessed. This week alone I think I've eaten the most cake than that in the entire time I've been serving a mission. Ooh we ate a lot of sugar and candy and food from the dinners and such haha They are all so sweet and give us little things here and there but all good... And now we anticipate the new year how excited 2016!!! 

This year of 2015 went by so super fast, have absolutely no idea where it went but the thing I love about a new year is the goals that we set and clearly we have the chance always or rather anytime of the year to set goals however I love the beginning too because it gives us that perspective of 365 days, what is it we want to accomplish or reflect on what we want to improve. When setting goals, it is also, of course, important to assure that they be SMART goals. For those of you who maybe at the moment don't know or can't remember.. SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Applicable, Realistic, and with Time. 

I have already set my goals and desires for this year. When setting goals it is also recommendable.. is that a word?... or just recommended?... you decide haha well it is a good idea to of course, consult the Lord in His will for us. We may have things in mind but so does He, so we need to be able to aline our will with His. 

I know that as we constantly look to Him for guidance and assurance, He will direct us. It sometimes may be a scary thing, to completely trust in Him, but as we practice that willingness, He will bless us even more. I personally like to consider more than we can imagine :)

Hermana Carbajal and I are doing great, she is wonderful, just awesome, I feel like I hardly need to train her because she learns so fast and on her own applies everything. We are having a bit of difficulties right now with a lot of people to teach but we keep on trying. I hope that we can each do our part and try a little harder to be better than yesterday and serve others the best we can. And I know that if we don't have that desire, we can pray and ask for it so that we can become like Jesus Christ, God's only begotten son. Have a great week and Happy New Year!!!!!

Sincerely,

Hermana Newman

Christmas Day.

Josh and I along with their mother and Alan, were delighted to see and talk with Natalie and Brandon on Christmas.   The picture is from a post their mother posted on Facebook.   

Natalie December 15, 2015

Going back..

Hello one and all! I apologize I've be so inconsistent with these emails. I've repented and I'm going to be better lol 

How is everyone? I hope you liked the video ''A Savior is Born''. If you haven't visited the webpage I invite you to check it out because there is another small video that's really good too I think it's called something like ''The World Without a Savior''. That whole webpage for Christmas is amazing, really special :) Here it is again if you need it's easy to remember:

* christmas.mormon.org *

Well, I have to say being in the mission has had it's suprises. I didn't expect this transfer to be returning back to my second area when I came to Cancún the first time. We had changes yesterday or transfers and I have a new companion. I am now finishing the training of another missionary who is new to the mission. Her name is Hermana Carbajal. (Sister Car-ba-hall) She is from Honduras! Really sweet, down to earth and has a lot of compassion. 

I am excited to train her or more like help her finish training because when a missionary first comes to the mission, they receive an in-field training of 12 weeks and she already finished 5 so I get to help her with the 7 that are left! Yay :)

I think the Heavenly Father sent me back here because obviously there is something I need to learn that I didn't the first time and as well, find the families that have their hearts open and willing to recieve the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope that with our prayers, diligence, hard work, patience, desire to love and obedience, we will have sucess in finding and helping them change their lives for the better by receiving the saving ordinances of the Gospel. 

Have a great week to all and remember to share the video ''A Savior is Born'' with everyone! Because everyone needs to know why and that it happened that a savior was born and that savior is the Lord Jesus Christ. I know His Atonement is real, I've lived it, I love it, I hunger to have it in my life. I know this is true. I humbly share and testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With much love,

Hermana Newman

Natalie November 23, 2015

The Desire to Serve

What a crazy two weeks it has been! 
We are running around like crazy meeting new people, striving to have lessons with members, encouraging the recent converts, having our days fully planned with more work to do than there is time! Huhh! We're a little exhausted.

I would like to briefly share a few tender mercies or miracles that we had this week. A samll one, a member called us and invited us over to his house for this Thursday for Thanksgiving! To celebrate with him and his wife, I thought it was so sweet. He is really thoughtful. And well when we had exchanges I was with another sister missionary and we found a new investigator who was tending her clothes and asked if she wanted help. (They always say no but we still ask in hopes one day someone accepts our service) Well she said no but said we could enter in her home to share our message. I loved seeing the light in her eyes when she understood and her question was answered by reading, deciphering the scriptures and she was so happy we taught about the importance of baptism and she accepted. We put a baptismal date for the 26th of December and at first she said no but really sweetly explained it was only because she wasn't going to be here for those dates haha. So we're going to be visiting her more, her name is Elda :) 

 
Well as I mentioned, we've been a little tired running around everywhere (our area is a bit large) but Hermana Bloomfield is so amazing and I'm so happy we're companions and together again. We have learned different things while serving a mission and I am so greatful for her grand example and desire to love, serve, do so diligently and obey with exactness. I feel like she is helping me more than I am helping her because she is truly an admirable servant of the Lord. 

We can truly testify that the Lord is hastening His work. And He needs the help of everyone to carry it out! Well, technically He doesn't need us because He could accomplish it on His own but we have the privelage to be a part of it and honestly, we need that. Some may know and others may have yet to recognize it but nevertheless, it is a commandment to be obedient in all that the Lord asks of us and that includes sharing the gospel in however way grand or small. And as we serve others, we love them and are able to obtain that testimony and witness of what is true and as we love and increase our faith, so does our desire to serve. And I'm not talking about having to be a full-time missonary to do so either. 
But by being an example and doing our part to follow the Lord, we are able to walk in His ways. After all, that is the ultimate goal. So I challenge you to think about how you can serve as the Lord would have you serve. Ask Him, what He would have You do and testify that He will let you know, He will answer you, through the Holy Spirit who, if you listen, and obey, will guide you in all you do. Be safe and have a great week!

 

With Love,

  Hermana Newman 😊

Natalie November 17, 2015

Each week I await that first email from each of my missionaries.   It brings their old dad comfort in knowing they are alive and well.   I can't imagine how my parents did it for me.  So when I don't hear I anxiously await again the next day and sure enough, my mind is put to ease. Such was the case this week with Natalie.   

Hi daddy! Sorry I didn't write yesterday it was a long story but im alive and well and am just writing to let you know im fine :) so glad jason is home. Love you! Have a great week!

Your Hermana Newman❤

Now I want to hear what happened.  😏

Jason Released.

A letter from the President

Jason November 11, 2015

Home safe and sound.   

Natalie November 9, 2015

I'm Alive, I'm Well, but a little Tired!

I'm alive haha sorry it's so late writing today but all is well however I'm a little tired haha but then again I feel that way often now and then again :)

 

So today we had transfers! That's in part why it was so stressful. And because of transfers that's why I'm writing super late, it's a long story but it was also stressful because we had to view the travel plans for the sisters in our area and we were making calls for that at 6:30 am, shopping for groceries and helping my companion with her luggage at the same time finding a taxi to go home and such, huh, well that and more is why I have just felt like a chicken running around with it's head cut off haha un poco loca ;) BUT the good news is I stay in my same area called Palmas 2 but I have a new companion, guess who! Remember Hermana Bloomfield? My companion from the MTC? We're back together again! And as Sister Training Leaders :D

I am really happy, really excited actually to be with her, she has so much animo and it will really help the sisters. I am excited to get the chance to work with her again and now that we have adjusted to mission life and everything. It will be different but better :) We have already talked about some goals and that we are anticipated to work and work hard. 

 

And I am soooo so excited Elder Hart will be in Barrio Palmas with us because he is awesome, really good missionary who has that spark and knows how to work. We are going to put the members to work. I am so excited about the new, haha ''new'' key indicators and I know it will change the mission because it will push us more to work harder and with the members; to get them involved in the missionary work, serve, and to help strengthen their own testimonies.

 

We recently have had new instruction to have a different emphasis or focus with the Key indicators and that's why I say they're new but they're not really new simply we are changing the focus and our plans are to work more closely with the members because that is really how missionary work is supposed to happen. Missionary work isn't about the ''missionaries''. It's about the Lord and His children. Every single member is really a missionary simply the title we have recieved is full-time missionaries and we are nothing more than an instrument, a tool in the Lord's hands for the work to press on. I know it's true and I hope we can all see more miracles as we are obedient to the Lord's commandments of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Love you all! Have a great week! 

 

Hermana Newman

Jason November 10, 2015 Final letter from the field

Hello family!!

well, I am very grateful for these 2 years that i have had to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in this formal way. to be totally honest, i don't really know what to write right now...we are currently in the mission offices, waiting for our final interviews with President Chavez. I am "companions" with Elder Smith, one of my best friends in the whole mission, who fortunately also lives in Lehi, Utah...so those of you who will be in the airport to greet me will also be able to meet him. But yes...we are here in the offices, and today i think is gonna be a looong day of reflection and laughs with those of us who are departing from this labor of Love. 

I know this may not be a long letter, because just as John wrote with the miracles of Jesus, I too feel the same in regards to the Mission memories and experiences, that "the which, if they should be written every one, i suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written". Simply put, I testify of Jesus Christ and of the divinity and reality of his Great and everlasting work of salvation. The Mission truly changes one, and i think the biggest change I saw in myself is really having in mind the eternal perspective of things. I have grown closer to my savior more in these 2 years than ever in my life, and I know that he loves me. Jesus Christ truly did appear to Joseph Smith, along with our Loving Heavenly Father, and through a series of events, the Gospel and the Preisthood Keys which govern this earth, were restored, and that allows you, me, and all our families to participate in authorized ordinances and return to the presence of the Father. Please, make it the most important thing in your life to obtain a testimony of Jesus Christ and His atonement, and stay true to that testimony. I have recieved it, and am excited to preach it to all. Thank you all for your infinite love and support. 

 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

......In the sacred name of our Master, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión México Chihuahua

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Jason is coming home.

One week from today  Jason will be back with us.

He flies in at 5:21 PM Wednesday, November 11, 2015

We are so excited to have him back.   

Jason November 2, 2015

I'm Here is my son, elder Johnson...he had transfers, and was sent to the sierra (the area of the misison thats like a 2 year camping trip), to be SECOND COUNSELOR in the branch presidency!! his comp is the branch president,and so in a few months he will be the Branch president!!!!! wow!! so proud of him

1. a cool catholic church building in our area (still in use!)

2. lunch on tuesday, celebrated at a members house with my favorite - cheesecake!

3. my companion using his talent to strengthen the relationship with some investigators

4. our friends who came to church with us yesterday: angel, alejandro, diego, and jose

Natalie November 2, 2015

Believe in God, Belive that He is

Hello everyone! 

How was this last week? For us it was hot.. again haha looks like the raining season has past. I figured out that instead of ''April's showers bring May flowers'' in Cancun it's October's rain brings more heat and then ''cold''. From the humidity it gets more hot but afterwards more into November and December is what here they call ''cold''. It's that time of year again where we will see hoodies and sweatshirts and coats and gloves and hats not from the tourists but the people who live here in CANCUN! It's crazy to me, their Winter is like our Spring lol

In other news, things are better with our recent converts, their all attending church again wahoo! Hermano Mauro and his wife are doing good and we are finding more investigators. Still no one who accepts a baptism date but at least the majority accept baptism :) We're still working on that. 

This is the last week before transfers again and I have no idea what will happen because there are so many options, I could stay in my same area again and with my Hermana Carrasco again as Sister Training Leaders but we have had now 4 and half months together or one of us could leave, it's my companion's last transfer and sometimes President grants the wishes of a missionary if they want to be with a specific companion or in a certain place for their last transfer. Then again, I could train someone because I still haven't had that opportunity so who knows! 

What I do know is that if we want to survive in this life it is to rely on the Lord, have faith in Him, beliving that He is as King Benjamin teaches us in Mosiah 4:9. He is the only way to true happiness. This life is not easy, it's supposed to be hard. But if we lose our faith, it will be difficult to keep going. I hope each one of you can give yourself TIME to read, study, ponder the scriptures daily, and seek the Lord in sincere prayer. He will tell us what it is we need to do, afterall, the prophets have promised it themselves that He is there and He will listen if we will just believe in Him and submit ourselves to His will. I know we can do it! And perservere until the end, endure to the end. 

Lots of Love,

Hermana Newman :)

Natalie October 26, 2015

The Thorns in the Roses 

Happy Monday it's Preparation Day! Haha maybe not happy Monday for you since the weekend is now over but for us it's a bit of a breather.

A few weeks ago as we were walking to an appointment the thought popped into my mind.. Why did Heavenly Father create Roses with thorns? Honestly I cannot tell you why I had been thinking of such a peculiar thought, sort of random out of nowhere but nevertheless it was an interesting thought and I decided to ask my companion what she thought. She said didn't know, clearly but I kept thinking and then we talked about possibilities for the why. I mentioned that maybe it's because if there weren't any thorns, we couldn't appreciate the effort it took to grow nor the beauty of the rose. 

This new perspective made me remember of the reason in general why there is opposition in all things, because we would not be able to appreciate the good from the bad and we wouldn't rely on the Lord if we always have ''good times'' because even though we should remember Him in the good we somehow always seem to remember Him more in the bad.

Well these last few weeks we have, seen those thorns amonst the roses. Our ''awesome'' and who we thought was ''super prepared'' investigator Adriana stopped talking to us and we have no idea why. She doesn't answer our calls and when she did say two times she would be home to visit her she wasn't present. Her husband however Jaime is so so great! He is interested in listening and yesterday went to church for the second time wahoo! We have the hope that as we teach him, Adriana will want to listen again or at least tell us why she got ''cold feet'' on us. 😕

Other ''thorns'' that have come our way is other recent converts having difficulty assisting church regularly for various reasons, including Mauro, Carlos and Sandra. But not because of their lack of testimony, I hope, but more because of things that take them away from being consistent in keeping their baptismal covenants. Also, the rain from the hurricane that was close to the state of Quintana Roo. And many other little things. 

I think mainly too I still lack a little... a lot of faith. But every day is another chance, another oportunity to keep going, keep trying and doing all that is in my power to increase my faith. While I am working on my faith, I am coming to know and remember that Heavenly Father loves me, He is aware of me, and as I pray and plead to Him for His help, He helps me calm my fears. 

This week was a little tough, or better yet these last two weeks, because we have to find new investigators. When we were finding new investigators after the baptism of Carlitos and Mauro, they weren't progressing quickly enough for baptism so we decided to keep finding new investigators but in the process of doing so, satan decided to come and swoop in with discouragement and doubt so they began to not be progressing again. With the investigators we do have more or less progressing, they have accepted baptism but not a baptismal date. So that's where we are right now, and I feel bad because as STL's we are supposed to be setting the example but we don't have any ''baptism canditates'' right now :( That is one part of why I say I think I still lack a lot of faith, like my mission President wrote me this week, faith to find, faith to baptize. So we keep the hope, we keep on praying and keep on striving to change and become like Christ. 

I hope that you all have a great week! And remember to be greatful for the thorns because with out them we wouln't have the roses. I will do my best to do so as well. 

Lots of Love,

Hermana Newman

Jason October 26, 2015

A more spiritual week. :)

This week was a great week!! first of all, i want to thank all for the birthday wishes! i love being 21...even though i have only been it for a day, it feels good. Im grateful to be here on the earth, and that Heavenly Father sllows me to be here to participate in this great work of salvation. 

So, i learned a lot this week. its crazy how much one learns at the end of the misison, and especially from my companion who is at the beginning of his mission. This week, i learned an extremely valuable lesson, and it has to do with regognizing weaknesses. so, ever since about may or so, i had asked myself for the first time "what are my weaknesses?", and i couldnt answer that question. but this week i was ablw to answer it, and now i know that if i Go unto heavenly father in prayer with that said weakeness, he will help me turn it into a strength and i will be able to be humbled and my faith in him will increase. the weakness, though hard to explain, is this: Feeling sorrow and sadness from the unfavorable choices of others, and not thinking i can be happy until the situation is how i want it to be. for example, amaris, the girl who got baptized about a week ago, for lots of complicated reasons, still hasnt gotten confirmed, and so i felt A not only sad about that, but B felt that i could never be happy again until she did et confirmed. but i know thats wrong--we cannot base our happiness or unhappiness solely upon the choices of others. because though it was my will for her to get confirmed ASAP, out of desire for her to progress espiritually, perhaps thats not what the Lord ewanted, and in the end, my will really doesnt matter. ever. i learned that true happiness only comes from doing the will of him who has called me to be a missionary: the Lord Jesus Christ.

the hardest part of the mission, i learned, is not the leaving the family or home or friends, or the trials in the two year time lapse, rather its the departure of the field. in short, the hardest part of the mission is leaving it. I know that in these next 2 weeks I am gonna work hard and am going to focus in on the Lords will and not so much the will of the Zone Leaders or the Assistants, to be sure that the Lords Kingdom is edified. i love the mission so much, and i have never learned so much in such a short time before. 

We are very excited about Rosy and Rodolfo, who finally after 4 years of waiting are now able to get married and baptized!! the plan is that they get married this friday, i believe, and that saturday they will be baptized. I love them, though i wasnt really there for the time of teaching them, and i desire their happiness and spiritual progression. more details and hopefully next week, pictures, to follow. 

I wanted to share, also, my favorite personal study of this week. In Mosiah 15, we read about how Christ is both the Father and the Son. there is a lot of confusion in regards to who is god, and lots of churches believe that there is only one physical supreme being. we know that there are three, the father, the son, and the holy Ghost, and we know that Christ is the son of the Living god. but, how is Christ also our father? 

1. He is the creator of all things and is therefore referred to in many scriptural passages as "the very eternal father of heaven and of earth" (mosiah 15:4, Mosiah 16:15, ether 4:7, alma 11: 38-39)

2. He is the father of all who accept his atonong sacrifice and covenant with him to obey his everlasting gospel, or in other words, those who are baptized (Mosiah 5:7, mosiah 15: 10-13)

3. He is the Father by "divine investiture of Authority". this means that the savior is a fully authorized and commissioned representative of his Father, that whatever he does as executor of the fathers will has permanent and binding effect since its performed by the fathers agent.

I hope that we can all look to follow the savior better in al things, and that he may always be our example. I know that He lives and is my father, because i belong to him by covenant, yet he is the Son of the Living God, our Heavenly Father. I testify that they live, and that the only way to eternal happiness is living the restored gospel and partaking of the ordinances thereof by the proper authority. I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. I love you all and have a great week!!!

love, 

jason 

Elder newman

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión México Chihuahua

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Jason October 19, 2015

The nitty gritty 

hey everyone!! sorry this one will be really short, but i had to email some church leaders back home and what not. 

wow, this week my companion and i really learned what it meant to get things done, and that that has a lot to do with being a leader. simultaneously, however, none of that was us, rather the Lord provided the way(s) for us to be able to find her, visit her, and he ultimately provided the way for her to get baptized on saturday. i know that as we humble ourselves and recognize his hand in Everything that we do, we will have a greater love for him and our desire to serve him will grow! that was by far the biggest portion of news this last week, and in addition, we are hopefully gonna have 2 more this week: rosy and Rodolfo. we love them and are excited to be witnesses for their wedding!! more details to come. 

well, please everyone know that i love you all and that i know that this church is true, being the same one that Christ himself established whilst being here upon the earth. have a great week and dont forget to say your prayers!! 

love, 

Jason 

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión México Chihuahua

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie October 19, 2015

Natalie sends her love she apologizes that she did not have a chance to really do a letter today.  She says....."not much new happened this week anyway lol actually it was raining all week almost again, since like Thursday but everyday all day since then :( And we have some investigators who are having difficulties progressing:( Other than that, things are fine, I have felt some discouragement but maybe in part its the rain's fault."

Jason October 12, 2015

quintas carolinas!!

Hey everyone!!

ok, so this week was fun...well, kind of. ok, just to get it out of the way, i had a terrible headache, but im all bettter now. BUT, the cool part was, well...my new area!! im still trying to figure out why the Lord has put me here in the area that i am in (quintas carolinas 2), but im sure there are various souls that need to hear something from my and elder sanchezs mouths, so we are working hard here. oh my goodness, I LOVE my companion, elder sanchez! he is from another state here in la republica, (hidalgo), and he has only 2 months in the mission. we are on week 9 of 12 of his training, which means i am training him as well as district leader. but its so funny, i am the one who feels like the greenie because he has come so prepared and knows so much already, that i often times dont even know what to theach the guy cause...well, he knows exactly what hes doing! i love it though because he is always saying things that make me laugh uncontrollably! lol.

our branch is a little tough, though. the leadership is pretty new, and there are a TON of less actives to work with, but we maintain a good attitude and love being here. i just hope i dont get transfers again!! haha.

so there is this one couple, rosy and rodolfo, and after a loooong process of helping the hermano with a divorce from the us, blah blah blah, we are just waiting for a few papers from an attourney who is helping them out, and they are gonna then get married asap and get baptized!! there are lots of opportunities here, we just have to help the investigators understand the purpose of it all.

i am very grateful for the time we have here to serve the Lord in this formal way of being his authorized representatives, and though for me that time grows thin, i know that it is al real and i love waking up everymorning here in méxico, knowing that i am at the Lords complete disposition. loves to all, and know that i am alive, healthy, and happy!! 

con cariño,

Jason

Elder Newman

Natalie October 12, 2015

The Work of the Lord requires everyone's help!

Hello everyone! How was your week? Ours was pretty good! Aside from the fact that I came down with a cold and my throat kind of swollen so it's been a bothersome to talk at times and even sing (the hymns when we're in lessons), also with a bit of a headache yesterday, after all was said and done, we said our prayers, I took two Ibuprofen, put the sheet over my face and was out in my hammock. However today I have thankfully been feeling better just with a little cough still. So aside from that we have been just fine!

This week we have found so many new people and I'm so excited to teach all of them! 2 of the new investigators we have are named Adriana and Jaime. They have a daughter of 7 who is super cute and this little family is just perfect. They are so excited to listen and learn especially because they said not too long ago is when they started talking about finding a religion but didn't know how or where to start. They both have a background of being Catholic but don't practice it and aren't in agreeance with some things. So thankfully one night, a member who lives in our area started talking with Adriana's mom at their little food stand while ordering 'Carnitas'. Well her mom wasn't too interested but Adriana kept chatting with this sweet member who is just 18! Her name is Adela and so ready to be a full-time missionary but has to wait until March! haha anyway so they kept talking and well long story short, we had two visits with them and they have both been to church and they love it.

I know miracles happen and are happening! The work of the Lord never ceases, especially when all are involved and not just us and full time missionaries but everyone including members. Because if it wasn't for Adela who opened her mouth and wasn't afraid to share the truths she treasures dear, we would have never met her. I know he blesses us according to our humility, obedience and need. I love you all, and wish you the best and as always hope that you be safe and smart in all you do and reach out to those who need you in however small or grand way! I know the Lord loves you and me and is always there. I know it's true in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Sincerely,

Hermana Newman 😊

P.S. This photo is just a picture of me and another sister misisonary good friend of mine who now has gone home :( Hermana Garcia

Jason October 5, 2015

a wedding, a baptism, a really high fever, g. conference, and transfers!!

ok, so everyone always says "wow that was a crazy week!", but i now have seen the true meaning of that expression. in the email subject, i will explain each one of these events. 

a wedding: so, on tuesday, we were finally able to get marcelino and lola married!! as a reminder, the whole family is already member, except the husband, so we had been working on all the hassle of the government and papers and what not, and we finally got them married on tuesday at 11:00 am. their family was there, as well as Elder loreto, my comp, elder perez and vivanco (the Zone leaders), and I we all got to be witnesses!! it wasnt my first wedding in the mission, but the first one was at the investigators (converts) house, so it didnt feel as legit. but yep, they are now legally married and living the law of chastity, just as the Lord would have it. yay!

a baptism: the following day, wednesday, marcelino was baptized, and i had the blessing to baptize him, but our Father in Heaven truly has all the honor and glory in that miracle, because, well...its his child! i love marcelino sanchez bañuelos and i know their family, being as humble and faithful as they are, will definitely have a bright future. 

a really high fever: ...and later that same night, actually during the whole baptism, i had a really high fever and felt so weak and exhausted. not gonna lie, it was hard to baptize him because i was sweating and my eyes were apparently red, yet the water felt cold to me (it wasnt cold water)....long story short, had to go to the hospital that night, and we got home at like 11:15pm. we rested the next day. 

g. conference: i loved conference! there was a bit of stress in regards to pressure from the leaders to bring people, but nothing i couldnt handle. even though we only brought 6, i felt really good and can feel the good relationship with the Lord. i am especially happy because erick, a 20 year old, was able to come, and also the parents of a recent convert who accepted a baptismal date (october 24) after a family home evening of watching the movie "the testaments" on monday. the hermano, jose luis, called me and hes like "hey, we dont have a ride and are ready." if that doesnt scream to you "well, elder, get in a taxi and go get them!", then i dont know what will. lol, following the spirit and making a quick leadership decision, we quickly zoomed over in taxi and got them. they loved it and i know they too will get baptized. 

transfers: well, to be brief, i had transfers and they were so unexpected. i guess there were some elders having problems, and so they switched me out and i am now in chihuahua. it was hard to say goodbye to a few families, but i have an even clearer vision of what i am to do in these last 5 weeks: finish training elder sanchez and do all i can here in my new area. i love transfers! so, i am back in chihuahua, (aaah, good to be home :) ), and my companion is elder sanchez. he only has 7 weeks in the mission, so i will be very focused the next few weeks making sure he knows well. i am in the same zone that i was in with elder meyer in july, and so in this zone of tec 2, that now makes it 4 out of 7 areas in the zone that i have worked in throughout my mission. i think i know the zone kinda well, and that helps me really like the cambios cause i feel comfortable. 

well, lets go to work! love you all and lets keep preaching the gospel! have a great week. 

love, 

Jason 

ELder Newman

--

*Elder Newman*

Misión México Chihuahua

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie October 5, 2015

Singing in the Rain

Hello all! I know everyone's talking about it but I truly hope you had an amazing conference weekend as did I. I went with questions and I testify that they were answered through the words of the Lord's loving servants and the Holy Spirit that whispers to us exactly what we need. 

This week was a little difficult for us because it was raining so so much. We didn't get too wet though because we bought little disposable plastic ponchos for less than a dollar! But they are awesome. I'll have to take a picture because they are super fun, I feel like a mix between little red riding hood and some sort of super hero because it's like wearing a cape haha. So we didn't have too many lessons this week because like I said it was literally raining all week. Or at least a good majority of the time. 

At one point the rain was so strong it was pouring buckets of water and we had to stop under a staircase of apartments for what seemed like an eternity. I said to my companion I felt weird because in the entire time I've been serving a mission, I had never stopped for so long because of weather impedment. 

There we stood with our umbrellas and our ponchos looking at one another waiting for the rain to pass. I thought to myself, how can I be productive just standing here? What could I possible do? So I did what everyone does when there is nothing left to do. I decided we should pray. I know it sounds like something obvious but I thought, well supposedly if miracles exist then Heavenly Father could cause the rain to pass right? And then I doubted I had enough faith for a miracle like that but I decided to do it anyway. I asked my companion if she wanted to pray and agreed but what was interesting is that I felt I needed to be the one to say the prayer. 

As I said the prayer I knew the Spirit guided my words as in one part in particular I felt impressed to say something along the lines of, ''We ask that the rain can please pass so that we can find someone to teach, we have desires to serve thee..'' Well, a few minutes more passed and by this time it had been almost 20 to half an hour waiting. It didn't stop but as we discovered, it was a little lighter and we could at least be walking. 

I felt an impression that we should return back to Carlitos' house and offer our help to escort him to school because we had been there an hour earlier before the rain hit but was nervous he wouldn't be able to go. So naturally when we got there he opened the door with a nervous look on his face and with just one or two comments/questions he starting crying saying he wanted to go to school and was scared and nervous what his aunt would say that he didn't go. We called his aunt, Alejandra (who was working) and she said she had been looking for a way to communicate with him that it was okay he didn't go to school and to stay home. 

But just to help even more, I felt the impression that we could sing a hymn to calm him down. I asked him if he wanted to sing his favorite hymn, ''I am a Child of God'' and he said yes. So there we were, outside his apartment door singing the beautiful words to calm his fears and that he was okay. 

I knew that it was Heavenly Father who sent us back because in my prayer I remembered saying ''we have desires to serve thee'' but the intended service he wanted us to give was not what I was expecting. I was expecting to find someone new to find and teach to ''bring to the fold'' but sometimes we need to remember to focus those that are already ''in the fold'' too. This small experience touched my heart this week and it reminds me of several things but to share a few that one, Heavenly Father knows His children and that two, He definitely sends His tender mercies and three, the Spirit whispers to us exactly what we need to do if we only but listen and follow His counsel. Of this I testify and share my testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Lovingly,

Hermana Newman ☺

Natalie September 28, 2015

Greetings from Cancún!

So this week we had transfers but we are staying in the same area again, together Hermana Carrasco and I, and as Sister Training Leaders again! President made so many changes in the mission this transfer but wanted us to be together again. I am so happy, I'm thrilled! I have come to just love Hermana Carrasco. I think I have grown the most with her, I mean as always I learn many things from each area, each companion, but I mean I have learned A LOT with my companion. She has helped me stretch and recognize my weaknesses but not letting myself get down but picking myself up, swallowing my pride, recognizing the mistakes made, and moving forward. And in the process of being Sister Training Leaders too, that has also made an impact.

Out of the 8 sisters that were under our care, only 2 remain with us in the zone and they took away one companionship that will now be of Elders. So we will be recieving 6 new (well new to us) sister missionaries. Whoo, it requires a lot of work to be a Sister Training Leader and for this next transfer I'm learning how I can not only be one but be a good one. At the moment I cannot remember who once said it, one of the General Authorities that said something in reference to, ''Whatever you are, be good and be good at it''. And that's my goal for these next 6 weeks, not only be a STL but be a good one. And in general, not only be a missionary but be a good one.

It's something we can actually apply in our everyday life, for example, not just be a person but a good one, even more kind and thoughtful than one already is; of course, that's what the Savior wants, and it's what He would do ultimately. I challenge each of you this weekend to attend General Conference, I hope you've been preparing in some at least, small way. It's what I consider ''the most wonderful time of the year!'' :) ...AND this weekend instead of just attending, attend attentively haha does that make sense? Apply it to the phrase I was using earlier that carries the implication of not just completing but ''going the extra mile'' I guess you could say; or can also be noted as ''do something more''. I promise that you will not regret it. Obviously if you can attend all of the sessions that would be amazing and the ideal but if not because of work or schedule conflicts, at least to hear one speaker. I know that there is power in participating in General Conference. I know that they are men called of God who fast and pray to have the guidance of the Spirit to carry the message unto us, our hearts, and then as we listen with a willing heart and understanding mind, the Spirit whispers to us what we are in need of. And sometimes we learn something we didn't even know we were in need of. I know the church is true and we have the servants of the Lord today to help guide us because we absolutely cannot do it alone. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sincerely,

Hermana Newman

Jason September 28, 2015

buckle up--last cycle!

hola a todos!! que suave fue esta semana!! 

ok, well, it wasnt perfect, for we again didnt have investigators in church again...

but, least to say is i dont feel like the world is over or anything! (although that lunar eclipse last night was pretty cool). i fell right now, in my mission, a lot happier and i am super PUMPED for these last 6 weeks. I dont know exactly how, but i have a conviction to give it everything this last cycle, knowing that i will never have this sacred blessing. so, as part of that conviction, i am happy because even this very morning, i felt a difference when i grabbed my brand new, last agenda...as if something said to me "no excuses, now". i know that this is the most important time there will be in my mission, for it will be the time in the which i believe i will rely on Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father the most. I noticed that this morning, i already started to put goals, and am excited to see what the Lord has in store for Elder Loreto and i this week, (oh, P.S. - we didnt have transfers, so its most likely that he will be my last companion. yay!) 

with our investigators, we have sooo many good ones, but for some reason things just fall through at the moment. but every week we commit to be even more obedient, and sure enough blessinga come! just a quick overview on a family here, familia sanchez coronado, so they were gonna get married this last friday and the hermano was gonna get baptized on saturday, but something happened and they had to go to chihuahua for the hermana. her health wasnt in good shape, and at first they were gonna do surgery, then they said they werent, then they said they were gonna do it again, and then in the end they didnt end up doing it. not a coincidence, because we did in fact give her a priesthood blessing a few days before, and they are now gonna be getting married tomorrow. woohoo!! may it be the will of God that he gets baptized this week. 

well, its a quickie this week, because though we didnt have transfers, we all met up as misisonaries and we have our district meeting at 4, of the which i get to teach and train! phew wish me luck...muchas gracias a todos por sus corazones tan buenos y llenos de amor. amo a Jesucristo y lo que el me ha comisionado hacer. que tenga una buena semana!!

love, 

Jason 

Elder newman

--

*Elder Newman*

Misión México Chihuahua

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Jason September 21, 2015

The need to know the Savior.

Hello everyone! 

once again, sorry for not writing yesterday, we had another activity as a zone, and on top of that we had to spend quite a bit of time making our......ZONE SHIRTS!! it was fun making those, for they are custom made to the mission. photos to come. 

well, another week has passed in the mission, and in my experience, i have seen that really the weeks are never hard. the hardest thing as a misisonary are the days friday thru sunday, for that is when all the stress comes and things get really difficult. In this email, i would like to describe the reality of how a misisonary feels often on the misison, when things are hard. so, on sunday, we had zero investigators in church. again. It was very trying to have felt all the good things we had done in the week, and to only come to sunday and not have anyone in church is really hard. Heres usually how things go (at least in this area): we will have a ton of sweet lessons throughout the week, we found 13 new investigators last week, and some of which, in addition to the investigators that we already had, committed to for sure go to church. so we are all stoked, we get to saturday and we work really hard in the morning because in the evening was our ward activity "noche mexicana de talentos" (ward talent night), which was very fun. but then, as a misisonary, the only thing you desperately desire is that the investigators can come to church so that they can get baptized and live with their families forever. so then the phone calls start. we call all of our investigators to make sure they are gonna go, and things just happen to have come up, like "oh, i wont be able to" or "im going out of town today"--huh?? haha its just interesting, and then i remember that this particular sunday, one family said they would come an hour before church, and we dont know if they couldnt find the church, but they didnt make it either. the feeling of standing in the doors of the chapel, waiting and waiting, only to wait in vain is sometimes so crushing. This week, i remembered the talk mountains to climb from president eyring, and asked myself "(when i have felt like i have had success all my mission), why has this happened to me? "heavenly Father, what are we doing wrong?" 

well, through counsel of the Zone Leaders, and prayer of repentance, i am feeling better about it, and it doesnt mean the world is over, it just means we have to keep trying harder. it felt really good to go eat after church with the familia garcia galvan, where all the kids are returned misisonaries, and we all talked about the joys of the mission. one of the sisters said that her mission president challenged her to highlight every type of name of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon, and so in my goal to finish the Book of Mormon before returning home (im in 2 nephi chapter 15), i am going to do that as well. which is where the title of my email comes in--i feel that in the time that i have bn here on the mission, i have gained a doctrinally accturate knowledge of the Savior. i have felt his redeeming love many times, and so i know how that love feels. but i think that one of the most crucial gifts that a missionary needs to bring home is the gift of faith in Jesus Christ, and the gift of a testimony that he lives. So i am going to be focusing a lot on that, knowing my savior and not freaking out so much about the key indicators or the numbers we use to represent the fruits we bring to the Lord, rather in strengthening my testimony that he lives and loves me personally. though i often still feel as if i were a weak man, humbly i testify that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. This is his work, for as i saw in this last week, it is not, nor will it ever be My work. i know that my place here on earth is to keep his commandments and serve him and his children. I thank my Heavenly Father for this marvelous blessing it has been, not a sacrifice, to serve him and his cheildren in this labor of love. i testify of these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

love, 

Jason

Elder Newman

--

*Elder Newman*

Misión México Chihuahua

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie September 21, 2015

Oh esta todo bien (All is well)

Hello all! I can't believe how crazy this week was but at the same time I felt totally tranquila or calm. All was just well :) But as I mentioned this week we were busy! On Monday we ran out of water.. Yay!... so amongst all the other things we had to do we had to figure out why we didn't have water when we already paid the bill. We went to report it and that maybe the company shut off the water by being confused with the neighbors who hadn't yet paid. Well in the night when we got back home we had water and everything was fine! Then from there throughout the week we had water and then we didn't. We had water and then we didn't. We felt embarrassed to have to ask some members who live 2 streets away if we could use their shower haha good thing we only had to do that twice this last week. Well finally the owner of the house said he would come to check it out and sure enough when he climbed on the roof to see the tianco.. I don't know what it's called in English like the water pump maybe? lol.. well long story short, he fixed the problem and we had water again! So that part was fun this week.

Aside from that, on Tuesday we had exchanges again with different sisters who also were having some difficulties but President was able to talk with them and now they seem to be just fine so we're grateful for that. On Wednesday MAURO WAS BAPTIZED!!! Yay! He is so great, you could see almost literally seem the transformation over the last week before his baptism and how he is completely changed. His habits are different and his whole person is just happy I don't know how to describe it. It was pretty special because President Kirkham, the mission president was able to baptize him. :)

On Thursday, we had a special training meeting from President and his wife, our whole zone. They got to take us to a very small area of ruins but it was really special! I don't have pictures of that :(

On Friday it rained all day, boo but we still had lessons! :) And on Saturday Carlitos was baptized too!!! We had not one but two great miracles this week. And Carlos even shared his testimony which was so adorable he said, ''before, I was a troublemaker, and it was hard for me to learn, but the Hermanas taught me!'' and if that wasn't enough he bore his testimony in sacrament meeting on Sunday. AND our other recent convert from July, Sandra, Carlos's aunt. This was probably one of my favorite weeks not only because we had two baptisms but because I continue to learn so much and because I am truly witnessing how the Heavenly Father prepares His children for the gospel, you can even see that with Carlitos, an 8 yr old who has such enthusiasm to learn even if sometimes he is still shy. But I know that the Lord loves us and wants the very best for us, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives and saves marriages. He wants us to succeed, all we have to do is keep His commandments and ask for His help and He is always there. Of this I testify in the name of the Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sincerely,

Hermana Newman <3