Jason May 25, 2015

new companionship: loading... ... ...

Hola familia!! 

haha how is everyone? so forewarning this letter may be cut very short due to the time i have, which is...i dont know how many minutes. let me explain: 

So, really funny, last night between 7 and 10:30 we were waiting for the transfers call, because today is the first day of the new cycle. Elder Mcgavin, my companion, was really nervous, but i was just fine. in fact, we were just sitting all quiet in our house, reading the scriptures, and in waiting, I fell asleep early and elder Mcgavin just kept on waiting. We end up getting a call at 12:21am from our zone leader, and he said that I have cambios (transfers), and that my companion was staying. i was really bummed, because this ward is my favorite so far in my whole mission. and we may have a baptism this saturday!! pero bueno, we got up early and I started to pack all my things. we get done, and we leave the house to eat breakfast at a members house, and it was so great, we get a call from our zone leader telling us that he made a mistake. My voice and Elder Mcgavins voices sound so similar, but really I was the one staying and Elder Mcgavin was the one who had transfers!! WHAT A TWIST!! we were both bummed, because we had a really really good companionshop. I love Elder Mcgavin and it will probably be him with whom i spend time with the most, in regards to my mission companions, after the mission. so, really funny, we go back to our house, and then after packing all of his stuff, we call hermano garcia, a member taxi driver, and he takes us over just in time for the meeting. to fast forward a bit, everyone finds out who their new companion is, all is well, but my name never popped up on the screen. so, due to small errors in the making transfers process, i just had to wait for a bit. Later, i was told that my new companions name is Elder Del Angel, but he hadnt arrived from another city yet. so, Since 2 pm and counting, i have been waiting for him to get here patiently, and actuallly have just been with Elder Hoopes, one of my best mission buddies, and his companion elder Navarro. 

Ill let you all know how things are about that next week. 

the only other exciting news is that we had 4 people at church!!!!!! Isaac, our miracle man, Monica, potential baptism this saturday, Janeth, and Jairo, another big tender mercy. I love them all and they are all progressing. this last week of Elder Mcgavin and Is companionship was by far the best, and though i am nervous to "take the reins" in regards to leading the area and what not, with only 5 weeks in the area, i will just do what i did in camargo with only 2 weeks in the area: trust in the Lord. 

I love this mission so much and I have such a burning testimony on how the harvest really is so great, and the laborers are few. we find people everyday that i say to myself at least once a day "wow, could you imagine if you wouldnt have opened your mouth on that one?". I love the Spirit of the Lord, and recently also I have been reading my book of Mormon, but everytime i find a scripture that talks about the atonement, I highlight it in red. so, by the end i will have a book of mormon full of marked scriptures on the greatest event to ever occur in history, from the beginning of creations to the endless ages of eternity. I love the Lord and will forever be in debt to him for letting me serve him and his children. 

have a great week everyone and will hopefully have a more exciting letter next week. blessings!!

love, 

Jason  

--

*Elder Newman*

Misión México Chihuahua

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie May 25, 2015

The best weekend of my entire life!

Hello!! So yesterday was one of the best days ever! Why? We had the incredible privelage of having Elder Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles come to our mission. As well as 3 other general authorites! It was probably the best conference I have ever been a part of. I say a part of because I was able to ask him a question and we conversed back and forth for a few minutes! He personally talked to me, Hermana Newman :)

And actually before the conference started, we took a photo with the entire mission, Mission President and his wife, Elder Bednar and Elder Christensen and oh it was just an amazing awesome experience! Everyone, had arrived fasting and with much prayer for the revelation or direction we would receive from the Spirit. 

I so testify that the Holy Spirit of God is real and He knows us and our needs. The Holy Spirit testifies of truth and righteousness and of the eternal Father, our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus the Christ, our savior whom we need if we want to find true and everlasting happiness in this life. I cannot describe my feelings sufficiently of how I so appreciate and am grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ that by it and through Him, I can repent of my sins and mistakes that I make. I can be made whole again and every week as I partake of the sacrament. 

I know He lives. I felt the Spirit testify to me and fill my heart and mind with many impressions, direction/revelation. And it is only possible if we humble ourselves, swallow our pride, and desire to be better. Please do all you can to feel is if you have not. It is the best thing you can do for your life and I challenge you to make it more meaningful. I love you all and wish you the best!

Hermana Newman

PS. Lets see if you can find me in the picture :)

Jason May 18, 2015

general authority weekend, and a milagrote! (huge miracle)

Wow, what a great week, and an inspirational weekend!!

within the week, we did a lot of work. we really tried our best to better establish a good teaching pool of investigators. And we did, and like every wek we had ups and downs. some of the ups were we had a lot of great lessons with the investigators we have. Monica still has a baptismal date for the 30th of this month, and we are going to help her understand better the atonement of Jesus Christ so that she can give up coffee. We also found some new investigators, of the which include Morena, Karen and Maria, and a man who i will never forget in my entire mortal life. he is a pure miracle. 

I thought i understood what the word miracle meant, and then Elder Mcgavin and I met Isaac Ojeda. We were on our way to a family home evening with a couple who were recently baptized a few months ago, named ana and oswaldo (dont wanna get sidetracked, but oswaldo is deaf and mute, so he speaks spanish sign language. long story short, i know how to say cucumber, blender, how are you?, drive, Jesus Christ, thank you, more, water, and please in sign language :) . anyway, we thought the family home evening was at 7, but she called us right at 7 and told us it started at 8. so right as we hung up the phone, a man started walking our way and we both felt that strong impression to contact him. He has a very long story, and a very special situation, but needless to say he has accepted a baptismal date for the 30th of this month. He said all the "golden investigator" phrases, such as "im looking for a church where i can know more about God and the Lord", or "God has told me to do things right", or "i have been praying for a sign from God for months and I know he sent you guys to me"....just a super prepared guy. his main interest in the church is that he feels that He owes everything to God, because after having fallen from the second floor of a building in a construction project, and having been in a coma for 3 weeks, he is alive and doing well. I love him so much and it gives me so much hope that Heavenly Father saw Elder Mcgavin and I worthy and humble enough to teach HIM in specific. he has sooo much interest in our message, and in fact, after having put so many plans of rides for 11 of our investigators coming to church, He was the only one that came. But he has told us that he is willing to go by himself every time now. I never have had an investigator like him before in my entire mission. I am loving this area, hands down. 

We had so much member help!! the members here are the best, and I love working with them. they are a big help and love Elder Mcgavin and I, seeing as how we are the only ones in the ward. 

ok, so last thing was that this weekend we were able to hear and learn from 3 general authorities: Elder Marcus B. Nash, of the seventy, on saturday, and then earlier this morning from Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela from the area presidency and President Craig C. Christensen from the presidency of the seventy. Their messages were very helpful and I think all of us as a mission are going to be doing a lot of refining and more emphasis on the atonement of Jesus Christ. Recently, we have been focusing on teaching from the heart and with the spirit more, and so they helped us understand that better. With Elder Nash, he taught us how if we incorporate the Plan of Salvation in every lesson, the Investigators will be more likely to keep their commitments. President Christensen Helped us understand, along with Elder Valenzuela, that there are 4 "pillars" of the atonement, of the which include the Resurrection, Forgiveness of sins, grace, and the enabling power. i am going to better study these 4 topics this week. also, if you want a more spiritual scripture study, study Preach my Gospel Chapter 2, study with a question in mind, and D and C section 8:2-3. 

I hope everyone has a really great week, and am really enjoying how i have been able to see my self change and be made clean through Jesus christ and hHis redeeming Blood, and how i can definitely say that I am not the same person I was 18 months ago, for Christ has helped me to become someone even better. 

I love you all and keep Praying!!

love, 

Jason 

--

*Elder Newman*

Misión México Chihuahua

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie May 18, 2015

Once again Natalie sends her love.  

Natalie May 11, 2015

Another week has come and gone.. ahh!

Hey everyone! So first things first, I failed to mention that the reason the number 9 was significant was because that's how many months I have left! Ah I can't believe I'm halfway, the time really did fly by.

Well a Happy late Mother's Day to all! It was so good to see family yesterday! I just want to share my gratitude for all of your much needed prayers but most of all the best way we can show gratitude for the many blessings we have been given is by actually living the gospel. This morning I read a discourse from Elder David A. Bednar that explains the difference between a testimony and conversion. It's SUPER good. I strongly advise you to read it and I've included it for you :)

I will send mainly photos this time because I owe ya lots lol thanks for your support and have a great Monday!

Hermana Newman

Jason May 11, 2015

The Book of Mormon is true, and i dont like pineapple anymore

Hey everyone!!

sorry, no pics this week ;P

the usual, work work and more work! Key points in this last week was how we both got sick from the water that a sister in the ward gave us (it was pineapple flavored...making it the second time ive gotten sick from pineapple in the mission). needless to say, i am making an excecutive decision that my favorite fruit is NOT pineapple! still trying to decide on what it is still...but anyway, all is well and we are healthy again. we didnt get to work too much this week (due to that), but the times we did work were really great! our two main investigators, adrian and monica, are progressing really well and we are anxious to see them get baptized the 30th of this month. Their situations are different, but its so neat to see the spirit guide us in the lessons with each of them to teach according to their needs. i love it!

So, this week I wanted to bear everyone a brief version of my testimony on the Book of Mormon. In more or less a form of a story, i will share it, and though i am not perfect, i know that what i know is true thanks to the book of Mormon. 

               ---------------    ---------------     ---------------     ---------------    

A testimony is gained by spiritual conformation from the Holy Ghost. Being a personage of Spirit, the Holy Ghost is able to literally enter into our souls, and enable us to feel an overwhelming joy and peace in regards to the truthfulness of an event or piece of information. So, while i knew this, and i had believed in the Book of mormon all of my life, i hadnt ever really really known it was true, rather I had just believed it. Same goes with the Church itself. Being a member my whole like, how could i doubt it or not think that it was true, for it had brought so much joy to my life previously. Well, one night on the mission, in october of 2014, I made the extremely firm decision that that "firm belief" just wasnt enough for me anymore. I needed to KNOW. I was in a city called Camargo, here in the Mexico Chihuahua Mission, and we werent having too much success that day. Our last appointment that day, the one in which we thought we might have had the most success, turned out to be the one lesson in my whole mission that caused me to have the most doubts. I walked home with my companion, Elder Perez, just so bugged. At first, the thing that frustrated me the most was how our investigator didnt want to accept the truthfulness of the book of mormon, nor anything else we taught....but i quickly realized that what had really bugged me was that I myself didnt even know with a surety that these things were true. Interestingly enough, I had just finished reading the book of Mormon, cover to cover, for the first time in my life about a week prior to this night. I had been following the steps of reading, pondering, and praying, just as Moroni exhorted me to do. so i had about a weeks worth of time to ponder the truthfulness of the book. After all the pondering and believing, this stressful night is whaty led me to the asking part. I remember kneeling down to pray, and to sincerely ask Heavenly Father if the Book of Mormon was true, and by implication, the Church as well. I prayed in english, and after asking and remaining in prayer for about 5 minutes, i felt good, but not great. I felt happy, but not satisfied. So i waited. I waited i think for about 5 more minutes, and then i got the impression "well, you read the book in spanish, so maybe you should try asking in spanish". I had never though it would make the difference before, but i decided to give it a try. the moment the words of the question left my mouth, my body was taken over by a power that i know was beyond my own. I began to shake a little, and my body trembled as tears of joy and peace poured down my face. in my heart, i knew, and i knew that God knew, that what i was asking to know was his will, and he was answering me with the most potent YES that i had ever recieved. I cant describe fully the joy and happiness that came to my heart as I kneeled there that night, just crying tears of joy, as i had recieved my spiritual confirmation. I testify to all of you that I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and it contais the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has restored his church, and the Book of mormon truly is the keystone of it, and as an authorized minister of his church, i promise all that if you read it, ponder its teachings, and ask God with all the faith, sincerity, and real intent that you can exhort, he WILL answer you, and you will recognize the answer when you recieve it. 

               ---------------    ---------------     ---------------     ---------------    

I love you all and hope you have a great week this week. Exito!!! (Success!!)

love, 

Jason 

--

*Elder Newman*

Misión México Chihuahua

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie Mothers Day Skype

Yay!  She looks so good.  I know she was sweating and it's really hot but she is happy. 

Jason - Mother's Day 2015 Skype

Skype with Dad and Josh first thing in the morning.   Yay!

Jason May 4, 2015

The fastest slowest week ever!

Wow, what a week full of surprises! I am so happy here on the mission and am doing great! i love my companion, our area is great and theres lots of work, I LOVE being here in the city again (chihuahua), and I was able to Skype call my brother to see him open his mission call!!!! im sure you all already know, but Brandon, my brother, has been called to serve in the Texas McAllen mission, spanish speaking. I know that he will be a great leader in the mission and am happy for him. Love you brandon!!

Anyway, this week we didnt get to work a whole ton in our area, because we had a lot of meetings and other surprise things. For example, thursday morning we went to a training meeting with President Chavez (oh how ive missed those), then friday morning we had a zone meeting, then all day saturday we went to our last areas (in the city of cuauhtemoc), and then yesterday we didnt work either because i got to call brandon on skype! 

that was the other big surpeise, was on saturday. so, when Elder Mcgavin and I left Cuauhtemoc, we didnt really get to say goodbye to anybody because it was something so all of a sudden, and we had some investigators that were really progressing and so close to baptism. but we left and they got sad and then became iffy about doing it. they knew it was true, they just really wanted us top baptize them. so the zone leaders over there pulled some strings, and were able to get permission, and us too, to go over there and baptise them! i was able to see my previous comp, Elder Johnson, and baptize our investigator, Jeimy, and Elder Mcgavin was able to see his old comp, Elder Morales, and baptize their investigator, Rosa. It was a great day as we were able to feel a bit nostalgic/dejavu-ish, and be in cuauhtemoc again. I love our investigator jeimy so much, and all of their family. i kind of look at her as a little sister :)  I am definitely going to stay in contact with them after the mission. they are some of my favorite people i have met here on the mission. 

and, in other news, we had 4 investigators in church, 2 of which are progressing very well. their names are Monica and Adrian. Monica is a 13 year old who lost her mom a few years back, and her main interest in the church is that families can be together. she was so nervous to go to church, but it turns out that she got to her young womens class and she already knew one or 2 of the girls there, so she is really excited. with adrian, he started going to a cristian church a few months ago and its kinda hard with him cause he has some cristian influences that confuse him with the true doctrine, but last time we saw him we bore powerful testimony of the boko of mormon, and he committed to reading it and praying to recieve an answer. the next day, we recieve a text from a member friend, telling us that he told her to tell us to pass by for him to take him to church. 

i know that the work is growing and moving forward at an evermore speedy pace, and we are continuing to do our best to build up zion here in chihuahua. I love you all and am grateful for your support. have a great week!!! 

love, 

Jason 

--

*Elder Newman*

Misión México Chihuahua

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie May 4, 2015

104! 9 to go...

WOW!! So this week was super crazy because well the number 104 is significant for two reasons. One, because the other day it was 44 degrees Celcius down here!!! That's104 degrees!!!! I went to José Maria Morelos for exchanges for the day. It's another town about an hour and a half from here. And the other missionary I was with took pictures so I'll have to get them from her and send them later. But holy cow we're getting into the hot months for sure haha. 

The second reason for why the number 104 is so significant is because that's the number of people we ''contacted'' this week! It's the highest number of people I have talked to in one week in the entire time of my mission. (In regards to contacting new people who haven't heard of the gospel. It's what we call Hablar Con Todos or Talk With Everyone) Anyway it's alot and we are seeing the fruits of it because we have found so many new investigators and we were able to extend so many baptism invitations, just from last week we have 15 new investigators. Ah so many miracles and blessings are occurring and I know that it's because we are doing the work of the Lord. I only hope this week we can continue to have this success and have the spirit literally guide us. There are so many times where He has literally whispered to us!

For example, the other day when we were teaching someone how to pray and the difference between praying and reciting (I think that's what it's called lol it's rezar in Spanish I can't remember exactly). So when we were teaching someone to pray my companion wanted to put the example of a child talking to her parent everyday and if hadn't talked in awhile it would be sad. Well we talked about how it's the same of praying. Our Father in Heaven wants to hear from us everyday and would be sad if we didn't talk to him in a long time.

Well when my companion asked the woman of about 24 years of age, something interesting happened. She said, ''Not praying to God in a long time is like if you hadn't talked to your mom in a really long time! How would you feel if you hadn't talked to your mom in a really long time?'' My companion expected her to say sad and give the obvious answer. But as I looked at this girl, waiting for her response it was like a thought from another source was telling me in that moment, she doesn't have a mom. As I looked at her I saw her mouth quiver as if she was about to cry and she said, ''Well I wouldn't know because I don't have one''. That was a very small yet powerful moment in which I knew the spirit was helping me discern. It is very real and I have felt many experiences like this and continue to all because the Lord loves us and wants to communicate to us. 

I hope you all have a great week and listen for the impressions of the Spirit! They will save your life.

With Love,

Hermana Newman