{1.5.16} transferred

Nice so what's up folks! So this week was transfers. Elder Oaks and the missionary council changed it up a bit so I already know where I'm going. I'm headed to Doral South! Back to Miami in the land of Cubans and Spanish. I'm pretty excited for that, i'll continue being DL over there.

I'm pretty distraught about leaving the area, though. Aura's baptism is on Saturday and we won't be able to see it. In fact, we haven't even told her we are leaving yet (we are both getting transferred out). We don't know how she will take it.. she really loves us and calls us her ''Ángels" and always refers to us as her Grandkids. She was super excited about us doing the baptism and confirmation, and when I suggested earlier last week that her Member friend, Alex Perez, do them, she replied that she wouldn't want anyone else to do the ordinances because we were the ones who "taught her the truth." There's a lot of work to still be done. This week we had a really good week, and saw a lot of success and have 3 people lined up for baptism. I'm just really sad I won't get to see all that happen. I am however, grateful that I got to be part of it and that most importantly the branch is growing and that Andres, Aura, and Edin are changing their lives and coming closer to Christ.

I know that God has a plan, and I'm needed in Doral for some reason. It is right next to my first area I served in--about a stones throw away. I will be able to see Felix, Juan, and some of my other recent converts. i'm excited to solidify my Spanish a bit better as well, as I'll be back in the best of another country that is Miami. I'll have my new address next week.

Elder Juanes

{12.28.15} Some Thoughts about Thoughts

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I sure did. It was great getting to talk to the family. Getting to see everyone really reminded me of how important they all for me. Sometimes out here on the mission, I get so focused on mission life I forget that there's an actual "real world" out there. The weirdest thought is that one of these days, I'll be forced to return to it. I'm not really sure what it will be like not to be a missionary anymore. On the plus side, I've still got a ways to go!

Christmas suits were a big hit at the
Christmas Conference.  AP Tanner had to snag a pic

Sis Peel and Sis Haws with Elder Johns & Elder Riggs

It also made me realize how much everything is different now. It felt weird for a moment to think that life has been going on without me for over a year. It made me feel as if I've been frozen in time and I've almost been "left-behind" in a sense. Lately, I've been caught up in some pretty deep introspection and meditation, and while pondering on that one morning I realized that it's quite the opposite. The reason I will never be able to return home to the same life is not only because the world has been going on without me, but because I'm no longer the same person and I won't fit into that same world that I used to know.

One of the most important principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is change. Change is inevitable. Change is necessary. Change is unavoidable. But there are two great gifts God gave us. The first, is his Son and our Savior Jesus Christ. The second, is our Agency. The ability that we have to choice. Lehi taught that there are two essential building blocks in this universe, "Things to Act" and "Things to be Acted upon." Besides the application this has in the creation process, it can also be applicable to us. We have the agency to choose, we are "the masters of our Fate; the Captains of our Souls." Or, to quote one of my favorite highschool movies (NeverBackDown!) "You Control the Outcome." We have the choice to deliberately control how we change and what we become, or we can become a product of our circumstances.

    Elder Kamalamalama went off on the Haka.

  made me miss those Poly Comps in the MTC

So how do we control the outcome? How do we control our "unfair circumstances?" It's a Law that every single input has output.Or as Christ taught it:

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can acorrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Therefore, to change our circumstances (output) we must change our thoughts (input). All actions are the seeds of thoughts: so when we deliberately control, monitor, and regulate out thoughts, we can regulate not only who we are, but the circumstance that surround us. Conscious control and regulation of your thoughts will lead to a change in your impulses and unmediated actions. Nourish the tree in Good Soil, the tree will bring forth good fruit.

If anything has changed over the past year, it is the way that I think. People often wonder why us as missionaries have all these amazing experiences and miracles, and how as 18, 19, 20, and 21 year olds can change lives so influentially. It does have to do a lot with God's hand intervening; He is the one who prepares. But there's still a second factor, and that's us as missionaries. We have to knock the doors. We have to teach the lessons. We have to extend the commitments. We cannot however, make people believe, and we cannot make them feel the Spirit. That's where God is essential, and is in charge. However, I'd like to suggest that the secondary reason we see so many amazing miracles, experiences, and changes is because We know that it is possible. We are converted to it ourselves.

If there is anything I have become converted to on my mission, (and even before during my preparation) it is that through God I can accomplish all things. I am a very weak person, even to this day. But like Ammon in the 26th chapter of Alma, I can rejoice in my God. I can boast of him, for "in his strength I can do all things." If we have full belief in God, and trust in him, I contest that we can do all things. I will add that 98% of the time it's not in the specific way that we want, but as we seek to follow him we always end up reaching the end goal. More importantly, I have found serenity in my life. There's great power and knowledge when you know the direction of where you are going, that you have dominion over yourself, and that with God at your side, you truly cannot fail.

Welp... that's all I have to say about that.

Love,

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

23162 Post Gardens Way

Apt #709

Boca Raton, FL 33433

{12.21.15}

Sorry but again I have no time this week. Zone leaders keep asking me to do everything for everyone and it's great (it really is fun) but it just destroys my pdays.

So this week was pretty sad. Our dear, sweet Aura (had her name wrong before, it's not Aurora oops) Has cancer, and can't be baptized until she finishes up her current rounds of Chemo. It's really sad, she can't even have us over right now cause she's so weak :( But she constantly calls us and calls us her "angels" and can't wait to be baptized. She's just incredibly sick right now.

We continue to work with the Branch, which is always an adventure. Elder Riggs and I got invited to the English Ward Christmas party.. where we discovered they have more members who speak Spanish than we do. That was pretty frustrating. But it's a huge opportunity to grow! So this week we are going to be spending lots of time in the "english" members homes! We are also going to be working with the English Bishop to help try and explain to this members that the only way to grow and develop in the Gospel is if they "understand" it. Unfortunately, as our Branch President explained to us last night, Latin's can be a little bit set in their ways (coming from one himself).

Other than that, we continue to work really hard! It's definitely a little slow right now, but I'm currently creating a plan to help jumpstart the branch. It's essentially something similar to what we use in the mission to jumpstart an area, I'm just adapting it to the branch to help the branch council have more vision, direction, and focus.

Quick funny story i keep forgetting to mention. I lost all my name tags. For the past 3 weeks I've been wearing a Portuguese Tag that says "Elder Gloria de Souza." Everyone always asks "where are you from?!" I reply... "Idaho." where are your parents from? "...Idaho." Where are their parents from?? ".....Idaho." It's great. And then I have to explain to everyone I lost my name tag.

Also whoever sent me the GPS, THANK YOU! I wish I knew who you were. Also mom and dad I got all the presents. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa hinckley for the card and President Palmer as well. Meant a lot! if you sent anything to the mission office I won't get it until Wednesday. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

23162 Post Gardens Way

Apt #709

Boca Raton, FL 33433

[12.14.15} My Bad

First of all.. got like 3 or 4 emails saying I put the wrong address out last week. My bad. i've updated it now and it should work hahaha. it's down at the bottom.

Had to spend like 6 hours at the live Nativity this Saturday..
we were tired, and we mostly just stood around.

This week was a good one! We FINALLY got moved into the new Apartment on Wednesday, but it threw off the entire week. We had to stay up ALL night Tuesday trying to clean the house because of the truly awful and disgusting state previous missionaries left the house--and we still might get fined for its condition. President Richardson loves me though, so I'm gonna talk to him about it and I'm pretty positive we can get it resolved.

Despite the week being a little thrown off balance, we were able to see a huge Miracle this week! Her name is Aura. She's this sweet old lady from Colombia, that used to be... are you ready... a nun! but then she got married hahaha. But she met a member from the branch who works at her bank and they became really good friends. She's been coming to church and she LOVES everything. She's just the sweetest lady.. she feels the spirit so strong and wants to learn everything! She always tells us how "hungry" she is to learn everything about the Gospel and The Book of Mormon. She's a baller!

She was definitely a much needed Miracle, because all the hard work Elder Riggs and I have put in hasn't really received any direct results. But I've definitely learned throughout my mission that when you just DO and do ALL that you can, God blesses you. It may not be what you want or what you planned for, but his plan of Happiness always outranks and exceeds our own.

Right now, I'm really growing to love being a District Leader. All this responsibility and expectations from leading such a young district has required a lot from me and the best of me, and I love it. I'm learning a lot about myself, and about other people. I can also really feel my capacity to love grow. If anything, I'm just coming back further and further to Gospel Basics. I just love helping people succeed, and Change, and become better. And, through a secondhand nature without even intending to, you become better yourself. I think that's how the Atonement really works, through Charity of others. That's how Christ changed lives, it should be how we change ourselves more.

Hope everyone is doing great! sorry to anyone who sent stuff to the wrong address... deep regrets on my end.

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

23162 Post Gardens Way

Apt #709

Boca Raton, FL 33433

{12.7.15}

Elder Riggs, he's a bro.

Unfortunately I do not have very much time this week. If you send me an email I will probably have to respond next week! I'm in charge of the Zone Activity in the Palm Beach Zone. We'll be doing a "flour bomb" war (pictures to come next week if you don't know what it is). Also, we will FINALLY be moving into our new house Wednesday. We were all packed up and ready to go Saturday but they cancelled. Basically been living out of a suitcase for the past 2 weeks and eating out everyday. Never felt so homeless in my life! Really excited to move in and finally get settled.

The New District! They're the best.

This week was definitely a struggle as far as the work goes. Finding here is really difficult. I'm definitely having flash-backs to 3 transfers ago when I arrived over in Ft Myers! No one opening doors, no one coming to church, having to start completely from scratch. But luckily we are having tons of fun! and we are meeting some really nice, cool people. Met an old Jewish man named Joe. 97 years old. Told us A LOT of stories. Hahaha great man, great man.

Step into my Office
 When the Portuguese Elders think they can start a prank war with us...
hahaha this is our back patio and EVERYTHING that was in their study room.
(and that's my coconut block I used to whack the tops of with my lucky machete)

We had a member bring a friend named Aurora to church this week. She's a sweet old lady, and she loved it! We talked about the Holy Ghost in Gospel Principles and she was saying how finally she is in a church that teaches the gifts and fruits of the Spirit correctly! We'll be going to see her tomorrow.

Despite the lack of success, Elder Riggs and I are having a great time. We are having a lot fun while finding and knocking, and we have quite a few potentials and some good referrals and new knocking spots. If there is anything I've learned on my mission, it's that as you work you hardest and do literally all that you can to do God's will, he will bless you. The blessings may not come directly from your labors--most the time he's just given them to me in the most miraculous ways. But, they always come after the trials of your Faith as you seek to be diligent and Happy.

Slept up on the roof for one of our
 last nights in the house
(it's martenenlli's I promise)

Also, I love the advent calendar mom! And thank you everyone who participated and wrote the little notes and messages. "As A Man Thinketh" that Todd McCauley gave me goes a long exactly what I've been seeking to study for the past few transfers. I'm cross referencing it with all the scriptures and talks from General Authorities.

Hope everyone has an amazing week!

Love,

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns (I don't think this address is good)

23612 Post Gardens Way

Apt #709

Boca Raton, FL 33433

{11.30.15} Camino Gardens

I've arrived, and I've been transferred to the area of Camino Gardens! It's in Boca Raton Florida (aka where all the Portuguese missionaries serve over half the mission because it's loaded with Brazilians). Our Area is really, really big (car area!) but our Branch is TINY. Sacrament this Sunday had about 45.. which is the most ever. hahahah. It's crazy. There's so much work to be done in this area, it's almost overwhelming. The area has struggled a lot recently, there haven't really been any new investigators for several weeks, and those that were found didn't stay long. It's also really hard to find any concentrated areas of Spanish Speakers. They are definitely in the area, but they peppered throughout. Probably every 5-10th door is Spanish. It makes Finding a whole new ballgame. 

We have a lot of solid plans to help find here. We are following the example of the Portuguese Elders and Sisters and advertising English classes in front of the Latin Markets. We have also worked out a deal that we will advertise in Portuguese as well as Spanish if they do the same. I also was able to get Special permission from the AP's to leave our designated area to advertise at this Gold Mine Latin Super Market.

Knocking doors is crazy here too. Since I've gotten here, we've contacted pretty much every mission area around us that knocks in our area as well (our area consists of 3 English Areas, 1 Creole, and 1 Portguese) about latin populated areas. And when we knock, we have to FLY through doors. Every door we ask if there's any Spanish neighbors/friends/etc. We have to move at a really quick pace to insure we can talk to as many people who speak Spanish in the time we have given for finding.

My new Comp is Elder Riggs! He came in at the same time as my greenie, and they were like bestfriends in the CCM so I already knew a lot about him and was hoping i'd come over here and be with him. He's a crazy fun kid! Reminds me a ton of Brig Steele for those of you who know him. He's from Logan Utah, loves the outdoors, hunting, fishing, football and sports--all that good stuff.  He's also really into Yoga, which i'm trying to big up because mission life has wrecked my body. it's not normal yoga tho.. it's pretty intense. I promise I'm not a girl.

I have some more pictures but I lost my camera cord for the computer.. hopefully I can find one soon. 

I'm also continuing to District Lead, and my District is AWESOME. Huge contrast from my previous District. We are also the "youngest" district in the mission. I'm the oldest, at 9 months. The next oldest is 7 months, then 6, 6, 4.5, 1, and 1. But they're all amazing missionaries, including the two new greenies. They're also a lot of fun. So I'm super excited for this area even though there is a ton of hardwork to be done ahead of me. It's been challenging this far, but It's also been really fun and I'm loving the adversity.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Also my new address is below:

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

1200 SW 12th Terrace

Boca Raton, FL 33486

{11.24.15} Transferred and Picture Overload



ya boy Jean Carlos,coolest 15 year old member-missionary

Got the call last night... me voy. I knew it was coming, but it will definitely be hard to leave everyone here. Being in an area for 4 &1/2 months really allows you to create friendships with ward members, investigators, and recent converts. I took pictures with as many as possible (hence the overload) but I am excited to go forward and see what the Lord has in store for me. To answer your question, Dad, Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday. It will be a little difficult having to spend it with brand new people I haven't met yet in a brand new area, and at the very least not with some of my great ward family here in the Rio Vista barrio.

​The Whole Gang!

Sunday was amazing. Fernando, Esteban, and Inocensia all got baptized!!! Not without its problems, however. Satan ALWAYS tries his hardest. Tina (Their mom) had her Van break down on the way to church, so we had to send a member to go pick them up halfway through sacrament. In the meantime, I was translating over a microphone for English members in the ward (spouses and kids) into their headsets while trying to make sure the baptism was still going to go through. Then, just before the baptism after church, Tina started to come on her way and her boyfriend got drunk and tried to keep her from coming. She's trying to find a new place to live currently, and she was able to make it to the baptism just before it started.

Bravo Family! pretty much the coolest

Fernando (the oldest) was so thrilled about the baptism. He really felt different, and recognized how much his life was changing with this decision. He's really excited to get the Priesthood; he wants to be the example his family needs so badly, and the help his mom needs. He has a huge heart and has the strongest desires to do what is right. He also wants to serve a mission. I really feel so good about his baptism. I have obviously felt good about all of them, but I feel like the changes I've been able to make him make even in the smallest of ways are going to make the most lasting impact in his own life, his families life, and his future families life. It's really cool.

Ana, the number 1 homie (will miss her the most)

I'm definitely excited to see what the Lord has for me in my new area and companion! Change is a good thing, always. 

Have a good thanksgiving!

Elder Juanes

I was shivering....