Natalie March 30, 2015

Buenas Tardes Queridos!

Hola hola hola! 

Well just a few words today, a short but sweet message. First I just want to say I love my companion Hermana Gaspar. We are doing so great! I know that she is such a big example to me. I am so grateful for her, she is teaching me so much and it is mainly because of that example. I know that I am becoming a better missionary because of her and I don't know what the Lord has in store for me with upcoming transfers but I know that I sure wouldn't mind another transfer with her again, she's amazing. She teaches with such love and one can truly feel her sincerity with everything she does. I feel like we work well together and we are learning so much together. I am so glad she can be there for me and I for her. We communicate, we talk, we share ideas, it's what I feel like the true meaning of companionship is. I know that we are going to do even better this week too because we can always improve. 

This weekend is Conference Weekend and I am SO excited! I don't know about you but I am in need of some personal revelation. My invitation to you is to please sincerely consider attending/watching conference because it can truly help us. And do so with a question or more if you like, in mind because when we pray and ask for help, Heavenly Father gives it but only if we act and do something. In this case, pray and ponder, meditate your concern(s) and when we listen- not only hear- the words of the Prophets, we can recieve answers. Maybe not in the way we would like but they are the answers the Lord wants us to have. As Isaiah states that the Lord says, ''For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways''. -Isaiah 55 I hope you enjoy the delicious spiritual feast! 

Oh and other random thoughts real quick.. I have lost a total of about 17 pounds since the MTC, I have eaten chicken's feet, cactus, pig brains, and of course other delicious meals. lol 

Jason March 30, 2015

Una obra maravillosa y un prodigio

Hey everyone!!

[REMINDER]: THIS WEEKEND IS GENERAL CONFERENCE--BE SURE TO GO WITH A QUESTION IN MIND! Mine is: "How can i serve the Lord with ALL of my heart, might, mind, and strength?"

man, what a rollercoaster type of week! i dont even know where to start...ok, well first off, i titally forget to mention previously that i spent 2 weeks with another Elder, Elder Blanchard, while my companion Elder Johnson went to Anahuac (other área in the zone) for the 2 weeks. it went well, and Elder Johnson came back with me last thursday. I am so proud of the huge change that I have seen in him. those 2 weeks turned him into a great missionary.

well, first with what happened yesterday. So, we had visited and called and comitted so many people to come to church, yet noone came to our services :(   as a missionary, i think this os the hardest thing for me to accept is the agency of others. It is such a beautiful gift, but sometimes we just wanna make the investigators do things, when we have to as missionaries take that step back and say "well, just here to invite". so we thought that noone was gona come....until our new family showed faith and devotion. We met Sobeida last tuesday, and she is AWESOME!!!!!!! its her, her husband Elman, her mom maria angelina, and her three kids Jamie, Elman, and Joshua (its his birthday on thursday and hes turnning 4). we met them and i personally knew that she has been prepared by our Heavenly Father, because she absolutely LOVES to pray. she hasnt ever been to a church before, but she committed to go easily. she got there a Little late, but her and her mom and the 3 kids loved it! they have a baptismal date for the 25th of april.

this week went up and down, because i felt good about our work some days, and then other days was hard and i felt like we were slowing down the Lords work. but i know that through the counsel of our zone leaders, we were able to improve and finish out the week well. We learned as a zone this week that cowardess is a sin. yep...so there is no time to be a coward in the misión. i know that a lot of us think that we are valiant, and deep inside we are, but from a missionary perspective, it shouldnt be hard to get contacts or talk to people, but sometimes we get nervous and it is really hard. but its so cool to think about it that we literally have NOTHING to lose, meaning that even if people reject us, we are still fulfilling our commandment to preach the góspel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

My favorite thing that i learned this week was even more about the truthfulness of the book of mormon. I had a sweet study on the book of mormon, and how thats what Isaiah was talking about when he said that "a marvelous work and a wonder". here is a chain of scriptures that i highly recommend looking up and studying. Its first in isaias words, then in nephis words, then in Joseph Smith/martin Harris s words:

Isaiah 29:9-14 --> 2 nephi 27:6-20, 23-26 --> Josheph Smith-history 1:30, 33-34, 46, 51, 53, 59, 61, 63-65 --> 2 Nephi 29 1, 6-13

I love the book of mormon and know that it is true. I know that if we all read it, ponder on it, and pray about the truthfulness of it, God WILL answer us by the power of the Holy Ghost, "against the which there is no law". (Galatians 5:22-23) i know that once we feel that spiritual confirmation, which i have experienced, there is noone in this world or any other forcé that can tell us that it is false. For me, i know that just as the book of mormon is true, you and I are alive today and that we are children of god.

I pray that everyone of us may be a Little bit more courageous and valiant in sharing what we know to be true, yea, even the Restored góspel of Jesús Christ. I love this work and am so happy to be a part of it. All of us need to be a part of it.

Thanks everyone, y que disfruten su semana!!

love,

Jason

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Jason March 23, 2015

Jason sends his love.  He apologizes for not having enough time today to post a group letter.  He is doing great, happy and healthy. 

Natalie March 23, 2015

 ¡Saludos de Cancun!

Buenas tardes! Oh I am learning so much and know that it won't end soon. The journey of learning that is. I do know that specific prayers really work! I am always reminded of what everyone says, there are no coincidences. The coincidences we think happen are really tender mercies in our life. It is so hard to constantly push satan our of your mind and the negative thoughts that can come BUT it's not impossible. As Hermana Lopez always says, about whatever it would be.. es dificil pero no imposible. Well anyway I say all this because all though the though still comes to mind that it was a coincidence I try to remember it's not. So when I was with Hermana Calderon for exchanges on Tuesday, she talked to me about praying specifically for finding people. For example, she related the story to me about how one day her and Hermana Perez decided that since with they weren't having too much success with their HCT (contacting people) and (no one wanted to give their direction) they were going to be very specific in their prayer and Hermana Calderon said Heavenly Father, please help us find this person who is a woman and she will be wearing a white blouse and black pants who will also be willing to give her direction. Well the next day they didnt find her but the day after that they found her and it didn't even occur to her that the person fit the description until she was almost finished writing down the address. I tell you this story because then I said to her, so you're telling me I can just make it up, randomly and say Heavenly Father I want to find someone who is wearing a blue shirt, um glasses, and has gray hair! Like that? I was skeptical. But I tried it. The next day I kept thiking about this person in my mind, a man who wasn't too old but not so young either, with a blue sport type shirt, glasses and gray hair. Well as we were talking to people and got lead one way and another, I found him. This man who fit the description exactly. Minus the sport type shirt part but I mean I thought, no way, Heavenly Father why do you have to be so funny and we just so happened to find this person I had been thinking of all morning. 

I know that true, specific and sincere prayer works. These instances can't be coincidences. They can't. They are signs that our Heavenly Father is mindful of us and He knows us and our desires. I know this to be true. And I share it with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Hope you all have a great week and try this challenge of praying more specifically and having the faith that it works! 

Love,

Hermana Newman

Natalie March 16, 2015

What really matters

Hi everyone! Wow the weeks fly by so quick. I have already been with my companion for two weeks. She is so great. She only has four months left until she goes back to Mexico, Mexcio. That's where she's from :) One day this week, to repent for not talking with more people earlier on in the week lol, we contacted 28 people! Every week we have the goal to talk to 70 new people and we only had 20 or something really poor and then guess what happened.. on Saturday most of our plans fell through and there was so many people in our path that that's why we were able to contact so many in one day. Almost 3 days worth of the weekly goal we accomplished in one day and I know it's because Heavenly Father allowed our paths to cross with those people. We now have  many people we can go back and find. 

I want you to know that I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and we can literally feel relief if we submit to Him and rely wholly on Him. It's amazing what true and sincere prayer can do and study of the scriptures. I will always remember my parents teaching me, reminding me that if there are any two things we can do to stay close to the Lord it is reading the scriptures and prayer. And not just reading but actually studying. This past week an activity I did from PMG over two personal study sessions was about the Book of Mormon. The activity listed several pasages of scriptures of all of the reasons the prophets gave for why they wrote their records. They were 51 plus 4 others from DyC that I had discovered. As I sat there at my desk I had an excitement, a love to search for how many reasons there were for why the Book of Mormon was written. I couldn't believe how many I found. Still can't! And every single one was different or at least presented with an added piece of light. I love the Book of Mormon. It has the answers we need. Heavenly Father knows us and that when something is on our mind, we go to the scriptures, specifically the Book of Mormon and we find a chapter that answers exactly the thing we are preoccupied with. I have been thinking a lot lately how by the Book of Mormon we are able to testify and the Spirit too, for conversion to take place. This is something I am working on right now and I'm so excited, how to improve in this and truly as PMG says, use the Book of Mormon as our main tool and resource. 

I urge you to strengthen your testimony if you are not doing so and if you don't have a testimony, follow the words of the prophet Alma, in chapter 32 who said,

 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties,even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise aparticle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire tobelieve, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe ina manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

 28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, ifye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart,behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not castit out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of theLord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts;and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin tosay within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a goodseed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlargemy soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding,yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

The fruits of the gospel can be experienced and we can be filled with enlightenment and true joy from the Spirit. This is what truly matters and has ever lasting happiness, through the hard times and the good. Until next week!

Hermana Newman<3

Jason March 16, 2015

The learning continues...

Hola, familia y amigos!

this last week was great! i think its interesting that i always seem to comment on the week that had just happened, but this week i am more excited, nervous, and anxious for the upcoming week.

of the few things that I remember that happened this last week, cause really as a missionary you just get going and going and the memory span isnt too long, I do remember that we were able to see the movie "meet the mormons" projected in the chapel. Every misión president got one, and so we were able to see it for free :)  . wow, I loved it!!!!!!! For those who dont know, its a documentary style film that includes 6 stories of 6 different members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints. It shows a bit about their lives, and really just a good message to the world to show that, contrary to popular belief, we are NORMAL! haha it was hard to , but i did manage to hold back tears in a few parts of the film. Highly recommend it for everyone.

Also, i thought it was really neat how we found a lot of new investigators and have increased our teaching pool of investigators. we had 6 in the chapel yesterday, 2 grandparents named maria and Claudio, and the familia castillo!!!! the goal is to get them baptized and confirmed this week. Their names are Isabel, Karen, Dariana, and Leslie. we are gonna do everything posible to help them get baptized this week, as their date is in fact this saturday.

So, with this upcoming week, there were mini transfers. Elder Johnson, my companion, went to a closeby town called anahuac (about the same as going from salt lake to Park City), and an Elder from anahuac came to serve with me in his place. his name is ELder Blanchard and he is from South Jordan. the idea is that he, having 7 months in the misión, and I will recieve a more intensified training in this next week in regards to leadership. even though its gonna be really hard and trying for me, im grateful and excited for just that reason, to see how i will be able to grow and become better and stronger this week. Im grateful for this oppportunity, because i never really got that training in regards to how to be a leader. If teres one thing i have learned, its that the definition of a leader is "someone who helps others become better disciples of Jesús Christ". so, thats gonna be my overall goal in this time.

I love you all and am doing well, having great experiences and really just learning, learning, learning. daily. I pray that you may all have a good week!

love,

Jason

p.s. it continues to be freezing and now with more rain. 

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie March 9, 2015

A New Light named Francis :D I love her!!!

Hey everyone! Hope you had a great week. I had a good first week in Cancun. Well as far as the work goes, two days was super awesome and the next two weren't because people weren't home, appointments fell through, you know that stuff.

So Ah not sure if you're dying to know or with curiosity or didn't really mind waiting to hear about Francis! Francis is amazing. I hope you enjoyed the pictures last week. We had been working with her for a few month- since December. Well actually November for maybe two, three visits but something happened, I can't remember and we didn't go back for awhile. Well a month later, we saw her again in the street and she said to us, ''Hey, why haven't you come to visit me? It's been a month!'' lol oops well we started visiting her and little by little she started to progress. We taught her the Restoration and she accepted the Book of Mormon. She started to read it and she prays everyday. For awhile I thought she wasn't going to progress because she kept talking about the Catholic and what they did in the Catholic church. But that's the lesson of not giving up on people. Like I said little by little she progressed.  

Francis had difficulties with her family but they are so much better now. She told us, ''things have changed, and I have changed and I know it's because Heavenly Father sent you to my door. Since the day you came I knew it was because he answered my prayers.'' She told us that she had asked Heavenly Father for help and then two weeks later we showed up. 

When we taught the doctrine, she read, she prayed and accepted it. She was able to allow it to change her. And the result was magnificent. When we taught about the Law of Tithing and Fast Offerings she was once again willing and ready to accept it. She doesn't work but she has a little business of selling what are called Saborines (Sah-bor-een-es). They're pretty much like a type of Mexican popsicle is how I like to put it lol. One of these days I'll have to get a picture of them..

Well to continue the last part of the story, she was so excited that she could pay tithing even if it's with what little she makes from selling Saborines. Well the day of her baptism was going to be on a Sunday and it was Fast Sunday. The day before on Saturday night, there was a Young Women's activity that Francis and Ana her daughter, went to. When we arrived we saw that they were finishing preparations to put the food out and Francis with a worried voice motioned and beckoned to me saying, ''Hermana Newman, come here. Tengo una duda...''  

Tengo means I have and duda can me either doubt or concern. So me being worried that is was something about getting baptized or the church I go over and she says to me, ''Is that food for everyone?'' ''Yeah why?'' I say to her. ''Because I can't eat it.'' I laugh and ask why not. She doesn't answer but instead puts her hands on her hips and purses her lips looking at me like I should know the answer.

Well I didn't know for sure the answer but I asked.. ''Because you're fasting?'' She nodds her head as if saying mmhmm. Hahaha With a sigh of relief and happiness inside we talked about it and I said I know I'm bummed too because we also had begun our fast. But I mean she wasn't even baptized yet and already had decided to live that simple law. She touches my heart her strength, her self-esteem, her growth, her light, her testimony. She is now a part of my testimony. 

OKay well sorry that was so long but it made up for last week right? lol Thanks for listening, reading and I hope this week you go and find or discover what will be your own spiritual experience. Until next Monday,

Love from Cancun,

Hermana Newman

Jason March 9, 2015

I love me some miracles :)

wow, que suave fue este semana!!

this week was great. really great! it was very bittersweet, especially in regards to sunday, but more sweet than bitter. we had 12 investigators in the chapel!! 6 were ours and recieving the lessons, but the other 6 were pure miracles. ok, who am i kidding, i always consider it a miracle when even just one investigator comes to church. Isabel and her daughter Karen came, and they are gonna get baptized this month for sure, and a sweet older lady in our ward named hermana acosta brought her neighbor who we have visited a few times named maribel. hermana acosta is one of the best missionary members in the whole world. ill try to get a picture with her to send. she is great. anyway, and then we went early in the morning to remind the familia loya about church, but they didnt answer so we left a note. they didnt come, and we were pretty bummed, but then we came back to the chapel for the second wards meeting, and there they were in the sacrament meeting! it was the best!!!!! only the mom and daughter came, their names are arela and lizeth. then, the miracle investigators were two that the other missionaries contacted on the way to church, then two others who are part of a family that have been coming a lot we just never knew them, and then two others....wow, i still cant believe this happened...are jose and rosa maria. we had visited them earlier in the week, had set an appointment to come back, but then we had a meeting and werent able to go with them. they end up coming to church on their own, looking for an "Elder Newman", to tell us that they were waiting for us. whoa!!! youve gotta know that pretty much never happens. anyway, we asked if we could call them on tuesday to see when we could come by and jose, the husband, is like "no worries, we will just call you because we are the ones interested". miracles!!!! so that was our adventurous day yesterday, on sunday. great sunday. 

i am excited because i am making these lists that are gonna help us as a district stay more organized and focused on the investigators. its a list of investigators in teaching, and so hopefully we will see more progress with the investigators that we have all laid out and organized on a list. 

we had a few really great lessons this week. we saw a man sitting on the sidewalk, picking up small branches that he had cut off his tree for firewood. His name is Alfredo, and we felt the impression to sit down with him and teach him. i truly felt like a disciple of Christ as we were humble enough to not care about getting our hands and pants dirty and dusty, but i remember that for me in that moment, the most important thing was leting Alfredo know that he is a Son of God and that there really in a true church in this world. He wasnt able to come to church, but we are definitely going back. he is already living the law of tithing and the word of wisdom, even though he may not realize that they are commandments. we feel that he is super prepared and are excited to go back. 

well, those were the main  things that happened this week. its still pretty cold in the city where we are, but no worries--rain or snow (which weve had both), we are out there working hard "to bring the world his truth". i had a great week, and can truly testify that this Church is the true church of Jesus Christ, and that by making and keeping sacred covenants with Him, we will be able to walk back to the presence of the Father. I promise you all, and give my personal witness and testimony as a representative of Jesus Christ, that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith was and is indeed a prophet of God, and that in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we find the instructions, commandments, ordinances, and principles that are necessary for us to know in order to gain exhaltation. I love it and will always be a part of it. Its not easy being here on the mission, but it is so worth it. 

until next week, friends and family. i love you all and may the lord bless you all abundantly this week. take care!

love, 

Jason 

Elder Newman

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie March 2, 2015

¡Adivina Que!.... (Guess what?)

We had a baptism!!!!! Today is going to be mainly an email of photos and next week I'll tell more about Francis but it just goes to show how the Lord just truly prepares people and we really are just guides. Also just really quick I have a new companion too her name is Hermana Gaspar and I'm no longer in Cozumel, I'm in CANCUN!!! Wahoo :) Next week I promise I'll write more but enjoy the photos and oh just know that Francis even made her own little dress for her baptism! Ahh so cute. It's the dress with the little black belt. Anyway I hope all is well and everyone has a great week! 

Now, Love from Cancun,

Hermana Newman<3

Jason March 2nd 2015

great week!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow, this week was the best!!!!!!!!! we had 8 investigators in the chapel, which means that we will be working with them 8 so that they can get baptized this month of march. one family is a family of 2 sisters and their saughters, and Their names are Isabel, Faustina, Karen, Dariana, Leslie, and another group of kids of another family whose names are Ruby, manuel, and angel. I love each and every one of these people so much, and i was so happy to be able to see them come to church and partake of the sacrament. they have baptismal dates and we hope and pray (and fast), that they will be able to be baptized. so our goal for this month is 8.

Elder Johnson and i are gonna be together for another transfer, as we recieved the transfer call last night and we dont have transfers. woohoo! who knows, maybe we will have the same situation that my trainer and I had, which was after our 5 and a half months or so together, he bacame zone leader and i had transfers...but who knows.

I am very happy and am feeling a lot better. i feel like we started the cycle off great, and we are excited to continue to se the miracles happen in the lives of our investigators. i love how we have been patient, and have suffered long to the point where after much trial and disappointment, we were able to see our investigators come to church. I know that the Lord looks out for all of us and i know that he will help us get through all trials. if He can get you to it, He gan get you through it. I hope everyone has a great week (sorry, a Little cshort on time), and i hope you know that i love you all!! talk to you all next week!

sincerely,

Elder Newman

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie February 23, 2015

Natalie sends her love and greetings to you all.   She spent some time chatting back and forth with her dad while she was online so she didn't get a group letter written.   It was a much needed one on one private time with dad.  She is happy alive and well down in Mexico.   😊

Jason February 23, 2015

 invite, invite, invite

This week was challenging and humbling. a good humbling, for we learned many things in regards to how we can improve and become better missionaries. as a missionary, there are 3 aspects, per say, that make a missionary successful, and it depents on 1). worthiness, 2). opening your mouth, and 3). teaching. This week we are gonna focus in a lot on improving our teaching. the desire is there, fear doesnt exist for us, but i know that even so, we arent perfect. nor will we ever be in this life, for we will be made perfect when we resurrect. 

anyway, it was pretty interesting this week because we didnt get to work very much, due to my toe surgery last monday. we had to stay in all day monday, tuesday, wednesday, and then almost half of the day on thursdays we dont work because we have a weekly planning session.  so we didnt get to work too much this week, BUT nevertheless, we found a few great families and are very excited to get to know them better. there is Edgar and liliana, Maria and Claudio, horacio, and Ramon arela ramon and lizeth. I pray that the Lord may bless us with the opportunity to help them and get them excited to make the baptismal covenant with God. 

I know that the Lord lives and loves us, and that he places us in the hardest of situations so that we can grow the most. i love what it says in Doctrine and Covenants 98:3,

Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.

on how it says that all the problems and afflictions that we have had will work out for our good and benefit. i have definitely sen that in my time in Cuauhtemoc is that the Lord takes us, gives us challenges, and helps us get through them through faith and repentance. 

May the Lord bless you all in everything you do this week, and i hope that we can all continue to be happy all the time! i love you all!!

love, 

Jason 

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Mexico Chihuahua Mission Can you find Jason?

Miembros y Misioneros(M&M's): http://youtu.be/ptYEkLOefA8

Jason February 16, 2015

mission bucket list: work in progress 

hey everyone!! what a crayzee week!!! haha lots of interesting things happened, and though we didnt really have investigators at church and it was very heartbreaking to see, we continue to press forward with patience in the Lord and are anticipating for this next week.

hmm, lets see....so this email may be a bit random, but here goes:

it snowed this week!!!!!!!! it was so awesome, and can definitely now check that one off the misión bucket list to be able to see some snow! all the missionaries from other parts of mexico, and the few from ecuador who are in our zone were freaking out because it was the frst time in their life that they had ever seen snow.  it was very cold, and rained a lot this week, and one day it was so cols that the rain that started falling turned into snow, and it was awesome! i will send pictures along with this email. :) :) :) misión bucket list: check

another thing that happened was that we found some great families. We are excited to go back and teach some of these new investigators (ramón and his family, Maribel and Javier, Carmen and her family, etc) one in particular was Jared, who is from La Sierra here in the state of chihuahua, and he speaks english! we set an appointment with him, and taught him, and it was interesting how the spirit prompted us to teach right there in the first lesson the Word of WIsdom. he so badly wans to give up cigarrettes and coffee, and so we invited him to let us take those things away from him right then and there, and he let us!! i have always wanted to take someones vices away, and it happened this week! we finished the lesson, left, and threw them away in the garbage, no worries. missión bucket list: check

lets see...there was a third thing...oh, haha, of corse, to have had surgery on the misión. i know its not really a big deal, literally, but i had an ingrown toenail removed today (hence me writing so late), and am gonna be on meds for a few days. the worst pain was the shot they gave me in my toe. my companion said that my face turned red as i White knuckled the arm rests, lol. the laser was cool...didnt feel a thing, of course, but had never had any kind of any surgery with laser treatment before. #missionexperiences... mission bucket list: check

This week was hard, and i got down on myself a lot, because i dont feel like we have had too much successs lately, but i have learned and continue to learn that I am the one who needs to change and its not about what we desire or the type of success we desire as missionaries, rather the success that the lord Is willing to bless us with, and that when he is ready he will put us in those successful situations when we are ready for them and when he needs us there. i realized that i am the one in the wrong, and that i need to repent and change more, because we really are having success. it may not be baptisms right now or investigators in the chapel, but i have had some of the most memorable lessons that i have ever had here in my misión here in Cuauhtémoc. now, lets check out the photos!! (see other emails :)  thank you all for your suppoet, and know that this Newman is literally becoming a "new man" . Change is required in order for progress and success to come to pass. love you all and have a great week!

love,

Jason 

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie February 16, 2015

Natalie Love from Cozumel<3 

Well this week flew by! It seems like the time has gone by way too fast! I completed 6 months on the 6th of February!! and 5 months in Mexico, yesterday... WOW. I know what they mean now when they say the time really does go by too fast... Ni modo (oh well) lol 

How is everyone!!? How was Valentine's Day? Sorry I didn't send any greeting last week beforehand but I hope it was fun for everyone! Although of course everyday we should remember to show love towards everyone. Speaking of which, I am trying really hard to develop the attribute of Charity. The scriptures say that if we don't have charity we are nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2,4,5,13. These verses are really short and highly suggest looking them up in the New Testament. I love this topic. I am praying for it because it's not easy to develop. Just think, well at least for me sometimes it's super overwhelming to think that Heavenly Father truly loves EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THE PLANET and all the exact same. Sometimes it just blows my mind. 

So even though Valentine's Day has come and gone I hope this gives you something to think about. Maybe you already pondered it maybe it never even crossed your mind. But that's why I love the scriptures. Siempre, SIEMPRE (Always, ALWAYS) we are going to learn something new from the scriptures, or at the very best we will be reminded of something we had forgotten. 

My challenge this week to you, is to really truly consciously be more charitable this week. Towards EVERYONE. Something my mission President made me think about was this, do we look at people as objects or obstacles or do we look at them as a person with hopes, dreams and wishes just like us..? Try not to honk so much at that person in front of you when there is a green light.. maybe he was distracted texting his family about their upcoming event or maybe he was thinking how to get out of his depression... I have no idea. It could be anything. What I have learned early on in this mission is to remember that everyone has a reason for everything they do. And we need to try and find their need(s) to help them and understand them like the Savior sees them. 

Now as a closing thought, this means we need to think of others more and ourselves less.. If we think, 'why are they judging me, why aren't they helping me?'... well guess what you're doin. You're thinking about YOU. You're still thinking about you. I hope my thoughts make sense and that together we can 'try a little harder, to be a little better'. -President Gordon B. Hinckley ''We Have a Work to Do'' 1997

 I love you all and have a terrific week!

Hermana Newman <3

P.S. For more study about Charity you can study in Preach My Gospel chapter 10 or Moroni 7 in the Book of Mormon :) Hasta Luego

Natalie February 9, 2015

One last contact

Hey everyone!! Well another week has come and gone. Miracles are happening here on our island of Cozumel. I have decided that I'm going to buy a house here for vacations further ahead in the future. As well as the mission says because it's not normal for someone- a missionary to be in the same place for so long. Rumors say that at 6 months is when President takes someone from an area max. But there is a Sister who has been in the same area of Cancun for 8 months so who knows lol 

So with the picture of last week. The miracle of the pelota (ball).. We were walking home and it was about 9:05 pm so it was good time to be home. Unless we are teaching a lesson we are instructed to return home as close to 9:00 as possible but 9:30 is the very latest... So anyway we we rounding the corner when my companion starting kicking a dirty tennis ball (almost spelled durdy haha my English is going bad). With this tennis ball she kicked it hard and it crossed the street and decided she wanted to keep it and wash it so we went after it and in the process I refocused my vision to see a man who was trying to push his car close to the curb. I thought to myself maybe we should help him and then thought no we need to go home but then I was grateful for my companion who had the same thought and asked if I wanted to help him. I nodded my head and felt thankful she had the same feeling. We ran and asked if he wanted help and with great enthusiasm welcomed the help. I was surprised because normally the people refuse our help. I felt filled with the Spirit and energy as we talked and helped him. It turns out that he told us years ago he was going to be baptized himself into the church but for some reason or another that happened, he wasn't. Well he wanted to talk to us and offered us to sit but we told him gladly another day when we had more time so we went home and a few days later went to visit him again and he told us that he had found God through the Jehovah's Witness religion. And that if he wasn't a part of them he would join the church because he is fascinated with the organization but with Jehovah's Witness as well. 

Since then we haven't been able to visit him but that experience has taught me many things. One that there really are so many good people in the world even though they aren't a part of the church. That's why were are here to simply add to the truths that they have already learned. This experience reminded me of that concept and that the Light of Christ truly is inside each and everyone of us, we just need to find it in others so we can help them. I also learned that it really is always there is someone left before the night is over that you can help, change, or with whom you need to talk to. Yesterday that happened to me too. It was about 8:45 and we were getting ready to leave an investigators house I was praying that we could contact one more person and Heavenly Father put her brother in her house for us to contact and chat with. It really is the little differences and small happenings that make all the difference. I really do testify that as long as our desires are right and true, Heavenly Father will and does answer our prayers. I am so grateful for my Savior and close this testimony in His name, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

P.S. Did you know that Amen signifies firm and true? It also means, yes it is or can be that it is. Fun fact in case you didn't know!

Love from Cozumel,

Hermana  Newman

Jason February 9, 2015

$400 peso pedicure

hey everyone!!

so, im sure you are all dying to know what i mean by the title. its just that an Elder and I had to go to the foot doctor, because i have an ingrown toenail and he had another issue. When we went, and it came my turn, he just looked at my feet, started to put some liquids and stuff on them, and in examining my toe, we werent able to actually cut some off cause he wasnt the doctor for that and so i basically just got a "foot check up", but nothing was really done. just a foot massage/pedicure, of the which cost 400 pesos, so there ya go. more follow up-later.

How is everyone??! aw, it was so awesome, yesterday Isabel, Karen, and Elizabeth came to church!!!!! we are so excited for them and happy for them, as they are on date to be baptized for the 7th of march. they are probably our principal investigators right now, but we also found some new ones this week, such as Maribel, Cecilia and her kids, and yesenia. so many great things are happening in our área!

also, i am really happy because my companion is learning more, but also because the hermanas in my district have confidence in me and we are able to work together to have success. i am, however, always so thankful to Heavenly Father and Jesús Chriast for blessing us with success, because remember, ALL success in our lives that we have is thanks to the Holy Ghost and the Blessings that we recieve from our Heavenly Father/Jesús Christ. also, just like ammon and his brethren, much suffering and trials are required before we are able to succeed or accomplish that which the Lord has commanded of us. Its so brillinant, really, how the Lord has designed it: We are here in our lives, we recieve a trial, we turn to God for help, he lifts the burden, but not completely, we suffer and battle so that we learn, and when it is done, we gain testimony and experience. now, that repeatedly over the course of a lifetime, is what helps us become the Sons and Daughters that our Heavenly Father wants us to become. I Love the Lord!!

I hope we can all find joy in the fact that when we recieve trials this week, that we can enjoy them and delight in the fact that the Savior even considers us worth the time and trouble to correct. I love you all, and have a great week!

love,

jason 

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión

November 2013 - 2015

Natalie February 2, 2015

I'm cold!!!!... not really

Hey everyone!!! Hope everyone had a great week! So I'm officially a Cozumelanian because it's been a little 'cold' or chilly lately haha. Since we're on an island there is a little more wind here and my body has adjusted (to a 'weak' one) because I got sick and when the climate changes rapidly from hot one day to breezy and windy the next people start to get sick. Just a common cold but I've had a little bit of a cough too. Don't get me wrong it's not that bad it could be worse I just think it's funny haha 

Well how has everyone been? We have been doing great! There are so many miracles from the Lord I can't even believe it. There are too many to describe but one is my companion. She has adjusted well and she knows she is here for a reason and can really make a difference. Her personality is coming out and she is just a doll, a real sweetheart. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to exercise my leadership skills and take charge when necessary. I don't like making decisions a whole lot, I like to go with the flow unless I have an opinion I will then say it so when we need to make decisions I'm learning best how to decide what is right and how our decisions can both help my companion and I grow. 

I know we can both be better as we all can try a little harder but one thing I can sure testify of is that when you truly ask in faith, with the Spirit in mind, He will guide you. We cannot doubt if it is the Spirit or not, as we learn from the scriptures if it is something good, it comes from Christ and from the Spirit. If it is not something good, it doesn't come from the Spirit. It's as simple as that. 

No baptisms yet but that's okay. I'm trying to not let that get to me. I know that there is other work right now for me to do. The key is to just keep moving forward, if we at all stop we move backwards. Something that I really liked, that one of the sisters told me is that as we teach we learn, and as we learn, we teach. I love this! I hope we can apply this into our lives and try a little hard to be a little better always!

Much love, 

Hermana Newman

Jason February 2, 2015

Happy birthday to my companion, Elder Johnson, as he turns 19 today!! way to go, buddy!

last week, i ran out of time and didnt get to writing a group email, so this week i am gonna take care of it first. we had a great week this week! lots of new things are happening in our área, and we are finding some great people. on Saturday, we found a girl named Karina. she is 18 years old and is what we missionaries call "un investigador de oro" (a Golden investigator). She accepted the message of the Restoration of the Gospel yesterday, and has a baptismal date for the 7th of march, though if she keeps it up with the desire she showed us yesterday, she can probably get baptized the 28th of february. we are stoked to be able to teach her.

we often do divisions/exchanges here, and it could be anywhere from a few hours to 2 days or so. this week, i remember that we did exchanges, and Elder Gallup and I (one of the the zone leaders) went out and we got 17 contacts within 2 hours. it was a crazy experience! we decided that for every person that passed us that we didnt open our mouths to talk to, we were to do 10 pushups right there in the Street. we didnt do any though because...well, we talked to everyone! lots of following up to do on that one...

this week, we did our best to focus in on doing all that we could to help the investigators get to church, but yet again none of the ones we are teaching came. It breaks your heart, but its interesting and comforting to know that The Lord hears and answers all of our prayers. Sunday after sunday, we have struggled with this, but the Lord always seems to provide a way. so much that we ended up having 2 investigators and invited 6 people from the streets in church, and its always good to have our faith tested, that way when the difficulty comes, we will really be able to see if the faith we have is unshakeable or not. "I love the Lord--in him my soul delight" (see 2 nephi 4)

i have officially decided that the temple is the thing that i miss the most about home. if you have a temple recommend, please go to the temple. Having a recommend (and being worthy of it) and not going to the temple is like God telling you that you are allowed to enter his kingdom, and you refuse to enter because "you dont have time". i think ive decided thats the first thing im gonna do leaving the airport, haha.

not a ton of new things happened this week, but one thing that is new is that Elder Johnson and I have come up with this plan on how we can both become more converted to the Lord and the misión that he has sent us on in 4 weeks. It consists of some stricter rules and guidelines, but i know that it is gonna bless the both of us. To help ELder Johnson learn spanish even better, we go out and contact but we Split up. we are still within sight and sound of one another, but its cool cause it forces him to speak to the person and that way i dont do more talking than him. haha and before i forget, i just have to mention that a few nights ago, my companion Heard the alarm go off at 6 am, and he for some reason quickly threw the covers off of him, only to end up throwing himself off the top bunk and landing on the ground on his shoulder, hitting his head on the heater (while it was turned off) so i think for me, that was the best alarm i couldve woken up to was the noise he made because i definitely woke up smiling and laughing!

well, i hope you have a great week, everyone, and ill try to do better on writing down/remembering more experiences, and sharing them so that i can spice up my emails a bit better. well, until next time! love you all!!!!!!!!!

love,

Jason

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie January 26, 2015

Changes, Sneezes, and Revelation

Hey everyone!!! How's it going? Well I just want you to know that my new companion Sister Lopez is doing great! Well at least a big difference in when she first came. She had a super hard time adjusting and I was really worried about her because she was so weak and didn't want to eat anything, she was sick to her stomach and I can only imagine how she felt so lost constantly. She misses her companion so much. I mean I can only imagine, she was with her for 4 months BUT as I said she is so much better. I think she is adjusting better.

 When we work she forgets about her family and her companion and all of that. When we work, she is just fine. When we are in our studies or at home she tends to focus on those things and it makes her a little down but she sure is tough. She is super special I love her. I have been so proud of her these last few days- mmm maybe Friday, Saturday and Sunday she has eaten all her food and she has more energy. We had bought her some nutrition powder stuff because she didn't want to eat but all is well :)

 Towards the beginning of last week we were walking casually in the street and through our conversation the Spirit informed me that I should teach her English but do so in a way with phrases. So we have been talking phrases and I know for sure it is the Spirit that prompts me with each one. These phrases have been.. My name is Sister Lopez and I can do hard things.. I believe miracles can happen.. I am a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.. I am a daughter of God.. I love her I am so happy I get to work with her because she is amazing and teaches really well and has the spirit of sweetheart. 

As for me, I have been having major allergies.. guhh. Sneezing all the time (even though I talk medicine and have eye drops) It's not fun but I think I would rather have sneezes than freezing weather! lol also as for me, I had personal revelation this week that was just amazing. I cant recall exactly what i was thinking or talking about before but perhaps I was thinking about what Hermana Lopez had said in our meeting on Thursday.. She said that we should have a vision for our mission and I forgot that I hadn't really had a specific vision. I later was thinking about why I havent had the privelage of a baptism in my area and what am I doing wrong or not doing or maybe its not me at all... All of this I was thinking and recieved confirmation that my vision needs to be that I will have at least one baptism in every area that I will serve my mission. I am so excited for this it felt so good thinking about that and Hermana Lopez simply said, bueno, ahora tiene su vision hay que trabajar. (Now that you know your vision, you just have to work). Many other experiences I have been having with the Spirit I know it's real. It's where all my good ideas come from! And altough the simple words can never suffice or express all of your love and prays, thank you! 

PS
Oh and also I forgot to explain the last photo... On New Year's Eve since we had to return home by 6 pm to avoid all the parties and alcohol, we made a pinata Gijon and I lol Just a fun thought so now I have learned how to make an authentic Mexican pinata! That's all, until next week!

Hermana Newman <3

Hermana Newman

Jason January 26, 2015

Jason sends his love to all.  This week he needed to write some personal letters so no group letter today.  He had to stay home in bed a couple of days this past week but is up and doing much better.  Sounds like his mission mom is taking good care of him by insisting he take care.  He did send a few pictures that I will attach.  The pictures are...."we went to a pizzería for a zone activity. best pizza i have ever had in my life!"

-- 

o until next week....

Natalie January 19, 2015

Cozumel is now my Home

Hey everyone! Sorry I didn't write last week. I went to Cancun for migration to get my green card because I'm illegal haha.

We had exchanges today and I am still here in Cozumel! Haha wow can you believe it? I have a new companion again. Her name is Hermana Lopez. I'm the Senior companion of the two of us but unless a missionary is training someone else, I don't like the senior, junior titles because our work is equal. We both came in the mission at the same time and she was with her companion for 4 months so its a little hard for her right now.

I will have to find out exactly why it is we're together. When President called me on Saturday to tell me who was going to be my companion, it was someone named Hermana Romero and she just finished her training. Yesterday I learned from the Sister Training Leader that it got changed to Hermana Lopez. I can't help but wonder why it changed and was it revelation to do so. I know President is a smart an definitely inspired man so now I just have to trust that everything worked out for the best. So far I know that she super misses her companion and she is a little timid but I can already see that she is super strong. She knows she has to keep going no matter what... Kind of like me. Maybe that's the first thing we have in common.. even though we both struggle we know we gotta stay tough and keep going. 

As we were walking to the ferry to pick them up I had the feeling that I need to give all my love to Hermana Lopez and that I need to not think of myself and really heed to her needs and make her feel welcome. And I hadn't even met her yet. Later I found out that, as I said, she misses her area a lot and her companion. Its hard for her but I told her Im going to do the best I can. I know that this is my first task and Im going to serve her as best I can! 

The mission is hard but I am learning so much and doing a lot of soul searching and really trying to discover the meaning of 'which way my tent is facing' as we learn about in Mosiah during King Benjamin's discourse. 

I just wanted to say that I know for a reason I am still here in Cozumel and I am growing not only to strengthen my testimony but help others along the way. I give a challenge this week to you all about sharing your favorite scripture with someone and sharing the gospel in this small way because as Nephi says, 'small things bring about great things'. 1 Nephi 16:29 Have a great week and hope you make every moment count! Our time is the most precous gift. 

Love from Cozumel,

Hermana Newman<3

Jason January 19, 2015

We brought a church to church!

Wow, what an improvement from the weeks ive been having!

i dont even know where to start, we saww so many miracles and blessings this week. um...ok, well, first, we had in general a good week, because we contacted a lot of people, placed a lot of baptismal dates, and found lots of new investigators. really amazing wqhat kind of things the Lord can do with you as his instrument. i am a lot happier now, and I know that it is only gonna get harder, but its like i once Heard somewhere before: dont ask Him "Why me?", rather tell Him "Try me."

we had 2 baptisms/confirmations! Mario and Inez!! it has been a bit interesting, because when they took the sisters out of our district 2 weeks ago, they left a ton of eople who were ready for baptism, so each companionship kind of got assigned one to go look for and keep on following up on. I had visited mario and Inez before, but it was cool how about a week ago they officially became "ours", and so we visited them a lot, and interviewed them, and they were baptized on saturday! now they can join with their daughter, perla (who got baptized a few weeks ago) in saying that they are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. so happy for them and am proud of them...they realy feel like family members to me.

we had a great activity last night in the plaza, where we met up with the members and contacted lots of people (lessons with member present ;) ). in preaching to various people, we were also able to direct their attention to the main feature of our activity: bible videos projected on a White sheet! haha we got pretty creative, but it turned out great! i dont know exactly how many contacts we got in total, but it felt/feels so good to just be at the point where we can contact anything we see that breathes and has legs, because the Lord has humbled us enough to be able to talk to everyone without fear.

...which leads me to the subject title of the email. this is for sure the bigest miracle of my mission.  It was the coolest! so we were pretty bummed to see that, once again, no investigators came to church. we even went for them in a taxi, but they werent there or werent able to come, or said they would come later but they didnt. so you could imagine the frustration and sorrow (and if you cant, just pretend. haha...any missionary can attest to this that when investigators dont come, its the worst feeling ever.) so, if we dont have any, the zone leaders have us go out and contact and literally "bring" people in the church. i am not particularly a fan, because those kind of contacts never seem to recieve follow-up and never get baptized. nevertheless, in obedience and desire to have at least one soul in the church, my companion walked over to a nearby park and we both prayed our hearts out. individualy, yet powerfully. we prayed and then kind of just waited. we tried bringing some nearby people, but they didnt want to come. so we went back to church. still with 0. towards the end of our services, we left and were on our way to our área to try bringing our investigators again, when before getting to the bus stop, in front of the hospital, i saw a man Reading the bible. I immediately said to myself (or rather the spirit prompted me to) "im gonna go read him the 4th commandment in exodus and invite him to church". so I did, and it ended up being 3 guys together. they were members of another cristian church, but no matter! we started talking to them and then they told us that they were there at the hospital to visit the sick, but werent gonna start for another hour or so. we asked them "howmany of you are there" and they said "well, quite a bit", and as they were talking to us, we started to see more and more come up to us. 4, 5, 6, 10, 15...20 people in total! they were all gathered in front of us, and the spirit was so strong as we invited them ALL to church for a half an hour, while they waited. and they al accepted, so we walked with all of them to church, and all 20 of them - men, women, and a fewkids - all entered into the church. they all live in the sierra (indigenous part of chihuahua), but temporarily are staying close by in another part near the city, cuauhtemoc. I want to talk to president to see if we can get a trip together or something to go visit them all.

Doctrine and Covenants 100: 5-8

5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;

6 For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.

7 But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things.

8 And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.

I know that the Lord lives and loves us, as well as our Heavenly Father. He ANSWERS PRAYERS! We, in faith, asked for jsut one soul and he gave us 20. I know that if any of you are struggling with anything, just be patient. Having Patience means that you accept things the way they are, and wait for the Lord to fulfill the promises that he has made, but in HIS due time. We will of course continue to work hard, and try to have investigators in the chapel. I am having the time of my life, and am loving the mission. adiós!!

love,

Jason

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12

Natalie January 12, 2015

No letter from our Natalie but....

Natalie sends her love and hopes you are all well.  She is headed out on a quick road trip today to go to the mission home.  In fact when I asked her where she was traveling, she said " Oh. Yeah.. We are going tooooooo CHIHUHUA!!!! Haha no cierto... We are going to Cancun to get my 'green card' for migration lol "  for just a minute I was excited that she world maybe get to see Jason.  Lol. Such a kidder.  She says that next week there are exchanges so who knows maybe she will be headed somewhere else. 
She promised a letter next week so check back then. 

Jason January 12, 2015

2 nephi 31:20
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

hey everyone!

well, another week of exchanges! yay...haha. glad to be back in my area, really. we are having a great time here on the mission, Elder Johnson and I, and it is fun to be able to help him progress in the gospel, as well as our investigators. we had a little bit of a tough week, but my favorite thing is that we now have a good base of where to start working, a pool of investigators, and lots of member support. especially from hermano gomes, a recent convert of about 3 months. holy cow, i love that guy. he is a recent convert, yet is willing to help us with anything and even leaves every morning to go out and contact people! there are lots of good things about the area we are in. 

one of my highlights this week was finally getting to go and visit our recent converts. they live pretty far away, and we dont get to go out there very much, but i am so grateful we took the opportunity when we dd to go see them on saturday night. their names are janeth and Cesar, and we had a great lesson on the Holy Ghost. we are going to return tonight and teach them about the temple. so excited! 

this week i am excited to stay in my area and actually be able to teach with elder johnson. we shouldnt be having too many exchanges, because it doesnt help in the long run, but i know that whatever we do if its with our eye single to the glory of god, he will bless us and help us accomplish that which he hath commanded us to do. 

I love you all and am going to do my best to find the good in everyday, and share a lot more next week. thank you and have a great week, everyone! 

love, 

jason  

-- 

*Elder Newman*

Misión

November 2013 - 2015

Alma 26:12
Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.