{3.21.16} Respuesta

This week was really good, and definitely got an answer to a lot of prayers. The ward (or congregation) with which my companion and I and two other missionaries work with is in need of a lot of restructuring and re-training. This week, we given "permission" more or less, or a better way to say it would be the guidance, to go in and change a lot of things in the ward. It was a pretty uncomfortable and awkward process, but as a majority the ward is behind us and are willing to make a lot of positive changes and raise their level of commitment.

This week we are able to find Raisa, una viejita de Cuba. We found her working in the Trailors at like 1 in the afternoon. She was in Cuba with Fidel Castro came in and shut down all religion and started killing people and beating them for saying they believed in God, but she always kept her Faith strong even though she wasn't able to openly worship for Decades. When we came to her porch, she was pretty skeptical. There are some other Christian groups around in Hialeah that are REALLY Pushy and persistent (knock the same peoples door every single week) and we get a lot of the backlash for that. But when we explained we weren't from that church she let us pray with her and we started sharing a message about Christ. She began to cry and told us she's been looking for this for years and that she wants to know more and come to church. She's a great lady and calls us her sons.

My thought for everyone is pretty simple this week. We are all really blessed. We have a Savior who died and paid the price for us. The First and Great Commandment he gave us was: Love the Lord Thy God with all thy Heart. Pretty simple right? It isn't hard to love someone who gave their life for you, and who gives you peace and comfort daily. But he once exhorted all mankind "if you love me, keep my commandments."  So, if we really love The Savior, what should we do? Keep his commandments. It shows that we don't take for granted that he can take away our mistakes, pains, and weaknesses. It shows our gratitude. And when we do, we are infinitely blesses. God's knowledge, glory, and plan can seem incomprehensible at times, but what he has taught us is truly simple. And when we live it, we are happy. We have peace, and we are blessed.

I hope everyone has a great week!

 

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

5841 W 20th Lane

Hialeah, FL 33016

{3.7.16} Square 1

This week consisted of lots and lots of knocking, but I can't really complain! We met a lot of really cool, and interesting people hahaha. Last night, we were knocking in a really affluent area. We were knocking on this huge front door, when this Porsche pulled up into the driveway and a young couple with a 3 month old little girl came out of the car. I complimented him on his car and we started talking; his name was Diego and 29 years old from Venezuela (I love Venezuelans). We asked to come inside for a prayer, we he readily accepted. He explained he and his wife have really been searching out God in their lives, because their 3 month old daughter had to have a heart operation within the first few hours of her life and will be having another one soon. They asked what church we were from, we explained we were "Mormons" and they explained that they have friends on business from Argentina (my comp served for a year in Argentina and loves Argentines hahaha, win-win) who were talking the very night before about how good of an impression the Mormons have left on them and how many of their friends in Argentina are Mormons. Tender mercies of the Lord haha, because it lead to a very open conversation and we were able to answer a lot of questions and teach him briefly. We have a return appointment and we're super excited to see them again!

This past Sunday was also amazing. It was fast sunday, so everyone had the chance to go up and bear their testimony if the wished to. Several less-active members that have been returning to activity got up and bear their testimonies--and they were powerful. Last week, feeling so down about not finding as many new friends to share the Gospel, I neglected to reflect on how much my companions and I, as well as Elder Spotts and Cancino, have been able to help those in our little flock in Doral increase and become more fortified. The highlight was when a young woman from a recenetly re-activated testimony stood up and shared a powerful testimony of how she knew the Gospel helps her through her hard times, and how she wants to serve a mission because of the example the missionaries have set for her and her family.

The Church is true!

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

5841 W 20th Lane

Hiahleah, FL 33016

{3.1.16} My Personal Conversion

1year mark "burning of the shirt"

So to be honest, this week has been pretty rough. There were several times this last week I thought about "quitting" this whole missionary thing.. not really, because I love it. But there was a lot of frustrating things.

First of all, my companion and I weren't able to find anyone to talk to us. It really makes the days drag on and on. These last few weeks and these 2 transfers have been the hardest I've worked on my mission, with some of the least amounts of "success." I also feeling like I'm doing the most I've ever done to become the best missionary I can be, but I'm falling short of what I can be. On top of it all, the Herrez family has been going through some things and have been unable to meet with us and go to church. They will still continue to progress! There's just some road bumps (policias muertas en cubano) in the way.

On a much more positive note:
 Elder Cancino and I met the
Amazing Spiderman of Miami this week!

But yesterday we had a special training from Elder Dube of the seventy. Super sick guy from Zimbabwe. At the end of the conference, we had a short testimony meeting with half the mission. Everyone got to get up and bear a short 1-2 min testimony. They were short, but they were powerful. One of the Elders before me shared a few scriptures from Mosiah Chapter 4. This is one of my favorite chapters for a simple reason: It was reading this chapter that I first received a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and the first time I desperately asked and received an answer my Savior knew me.

Spidey even showed me the ropes...

I was at BYU for a summer semester. I was feeling pretty alone and a little out of place in the Land of Mormons in Provo. All my roommates were out at a ward party, but I hadn't felt like going and stayed home to catch up in my classes. One of my classes was a religious study of the Book of Mormon, and I was behind in my reading. I was mostly "skimming" and my mind was focused on other things: feeling out of place, lost, and I believe I was even wondering if a mission was what I wanted to do. I put the book down, and thought for awhile over and over the doubts in my mind. I finally, for the first time in forever, hit my knees and began to let out my frustrations to the Lord. I asked if he was there. When I closed that prayer, I heard something tell me to open the book of Mormon, and actually read it. So I did. The whole Chapter is amazing, but I"m going to focus on the Scriptures I marked that night, and that mean the most to me.

 5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—

 6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge‍ of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement‍ which has been prepared from the foundation‍ of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust‍ in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—

 7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall‍ of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world

19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have..

20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission‍ of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit‍ upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

 27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster‍ than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order

30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch‍ yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue‍ in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.

and then 2 verses in Chapter 5:

2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change‍ in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant‍ with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days..."

That day I entered into my own covenant with the Lord, that I would forsake everything for him, even until the end of my mortal life. There was times I could run fast enough, and times I wasn't strong enough, but my Savior was there, and through his atonement he was able to make up for the shortcomings because I put my trust in him. So this week, I remembered that, so I would perish not. Bad weeks happen, but this week will be a good one. The Herrez family, and anyone else, will be able to overcome their problems as they rely on the savior. I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon; it truly testifies of Christ, and brings us closer to him. I'm grateful that in these latter days, he continues to lead and guide us. Not just from what he left us before he died, but today, because he lives today. He was resurrected, and he is the head of a church in the same way he was when he established his church--through direct, inspired revelation, to men called to be servants of God. I hope everyone knows Christ loves them! In a very real, personal way, no matter who you are, what you've done, or you're religion. That's my testimony.

Love,

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

5841 W 20th Lane

Hiahleah, FL 33016

{2.22.16}

Miami traffic gets us all from time to time!

Big things happening in Doral! First of all, we were able to get the Herrez Family of 4 to church! They're super prepared and they loved church. Francisco, the Father, loved Elders Quorum and even got up and shared his testimony. Maria VIcotria, the mom, loved Relief Society as well and also quotes scriptures from the Bible that support the restored Gospel (She studied to be a nun). The two boys, Moises, 12, and Nica, 9, also loved church. They're going down in March on the 5th! They can't meet with us too often, but that hasn't stopped them from progressing and keeping commitments. We were also able to get Marines back to church. She's working on preparing for the temple now, and we will continue to help her.

Siste Simmons Funeral (going home pic)

This week we had tons of miracles finding! one was when we found Stephanie and Alejandro. After we shared a prayer, Stephanie told us that "god is calling to her" and that she knew God sent us. We invited her and Alejandro to baptism, and shared the message of the Gospel in their home. The Spirit was undeniably strong, and every was testifying that they could feel it. They're ready to learn more and are going to prepare to be baptized! She told indefinitely "I WILL be at church on Sunday." Alejandro was equally excited.

There's lots of really great things happening! I hope to continue to have a lot of great things to report on!

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

5841 W 20th Lane

Hialeah, FL 33016

{2.16.16} H-Town, Never Down (check the pics!)

​

"When you try and fight the trunkiness"

 So this week was really interesting! It involved 3 trips to the doctors (only one was mine!) and a lot of miracles!

This week we were able to find two really awesome new Friends, Arturo and Carlos. Both were super humble guys who are just ready to receive the Gospel and were fascinated by the message of the Restored Gospel (as should everyone be... We are the only church who claims and Divine manifestation from the God the Father himself in the state of New York. That's at least worth investigating!) They are very different. Carlos is very familiarized with the Bible, so he's a lot of fun to teach. Arturo doesn't know much about the Bible, but he does know his Faith in Christ has made his life better when he's had it.

Also, the Herrez family (family of 4 from the Dominican Republic) Accepted a baptismal date for the 5th! They're really discovering how great the Book of Mormon. The mom, Maria Victoria, went to school to become a nun, so she's a lot of fun to teach and she loves comparing the book of Mormon to the bible. They're a great family; super humble and so nice. The two boys are also loving the book of Mormon, and are super respectful and attentive during the lessons.

exchanges with the old MTC Comp

Transfers were this week, and I will be staying! I will also be finishing the training of a new missionary. It should be a lot of fun, and I really feel like some great things will be happening in Doral this transfer. Elder Cancino, Elder Spotts trainer and also serving in the same ward, and I have been doing a lot to strengthen the ward and this transfer is going to be our great "experiment" to see if our plans can change the ward! The ward really needs help; all leadership is borrowed from the stake. But we have plans and we are gonna see what happens!

Love you all, have a great week!

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

5841 W 20th Lane

Hiahleah, FL 33016

close up of the damage (if I tell you what happened, you wouldn't believe me)

​
​

{2.8.16} Estamos en la lucha (We are in the Fight)

Where Dad almost died.. I found it before I left Boca!

My comp is the giant in the middle. He's 6'6"Also: Elder Spotts and Lolani in the center from the MTC​

Como le va la vida? There's not much new going on this week. We were able to meet a lot of people who seemed really cool this week--- then they all dropped off and disappeared. It happens. It's the life of a missionary. Elder Davis and I have been working really hard, and we know the Lord is gonna bless us. Brandon and Jordan, the two kids we have been teaching, are still coming to church and want to be baptized. There's just still some family problems there that we're all working to over come.

Despite the less than best week, I had one day this week that really stood out. I'm not really sure how to explain it, but it reminded me of why it is that I'm in my mission, and why being a missionary is so great. Not very many people opened doors for us, we didn't teach that many lessons, but I was able to recognize and truly notice how much I was testifying of Christ. As a missionary, I think I take for granted that Christ is on my lips in almost every moment, Every hour of the day is spent testifying to people of Christ, and that through Christ they can change, or become happier, or have more peace, or have a happy family, or that they can return and live with him again. And sometimes, when I'm blessed, I get to see it click with people. The Holy Ghost confirms truth of something I or my companion say, You can see it in there eyes. Sometimes, the accept it, and they invite you back, and sometimes, they change their lives. They discover new truths on their own, because they start seeking it. Their lives take new perspective, they never look back, and they move forward on a path to happiness. And it comes from simply opening your mouth and talking about Christ.

Finally got my camera chord and charger! So here's some 

pics:

That was branch president Fuentes in Camino Gardens.
He was a stake president in Chile. Very Powerful Guy.
Also "threw down" on people a lot hahahah

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

5841 W 20th Lane

Hialeah, FL 33016

{2.1.16} Diga me todo (Tell me everything...I think)

Sorry I haven't written in so long. I've been slammed with college applications, but now I've got everything done.

This week was really good, after some very long days of knocking. We haven't been seeing any success for the past 2 weeks or so from knocking. The good thing about this area is there are doors for days, so we never run out of Spanish people to talk to. But nonetheless, not much success. The Church down here in Florida isn't very strong on an organizational level, at least down here in Miami. I have been thinking a lot about the problems the mission has been facing and that I have been facing, as well as some recent counsel received in the world-wide mission broadcast. I have neglected working with members on my mission, even though most of my success has come from member work. In a sense, I've been pretty prideful thinking that I as a missionary can go out and knock enough doors and find enough people and all will be well-- we can do it on our own. But our mission slogan is "establishing zion" which includes the wards in which we serve. I'm really focusing on balancing everything out--getting members involved in all aspects of what we missionaries do, getting them excited about missionary work, creating a missionary-minded culture in the ward, and strengthening the families individual in the ward (because ALL members need strengthening too). Anyways, just some boring thoughts from a missionary.

This week we found a SWEET family of 4 from the Dominican Republic. They are so cool! They have so many great questions, and a really truly searching for answers. They're studying, reading, praying, and truly meditating and pondering on the message. We are really excited about them. they're extremely humble, really polite kids-- they're just a great family. I hope to have lots more to report on them in the future!

Quick spiritual thought--Faith is really important. I was reading from Lectures on Faith this morning, and I don't think we realize (I definitely don't) how integral Faith is in ALL our lives. Faith is more than just belief in God. It's assurance of things not seen. Faith drives all activity in our lives, mental and physical. Every actions stems from a belief of a result that is hoped for. That's about it from me. Hope everyone has a great week!

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

5841 W 20th Lane

Hiahleah, FL 33016