May 27, 2014

Buenos Dias Familia!

I love that God puts us in the exact places that we need to be, exactly when we need to be here. I love Aurora and feel so privileged to be working in the Lords vineyard. Unfortunately neither of our families on date were able to come to church this week. The adversary is continually hard at work, finding sneaky ways to keep people from the truth… Carmen and Oscar have an opportunity every few months to visit their son at the jail in Juliet. Their only time possible was Sunday and they didn't make it back to church but Hermana so excited to take him a Book of Mormon. They are determined to come this next week and we are praying to put them back on date for the 14th. Alejandra is progressing and can still be baptized the 14th but we are really pushing to get a lesson in with the husband. We are teaching the kids but the husband works everyday from 6am to 9pm. One thing that I am really learning is the importance of balancing time. Balance is key for a happy family (that rhymes).

I have been really focusing on the Atonement and missionary work this week. This gospel is truly amazing. And the more you learn the more perfect everything just falls into place. Every event in the great apostasy – from Constantine to the reformation, to Christopher Columbus… It was all in preparation for the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith opened the way for the final dispensation and the fullness of the Gospel. And all was made possible through Gods perfect planning and the Atonement of His son Jesus Christ. I don’t think that we will every even come close to understanding the magnitude of how the atonement works in our lives. But we know that it is only by the Grace of God that we are saved after all we can do (2 Ne 25:23). We know that “through the Atonement, He heals not only the transgressor, but also heals the innocent who suffer because of those transgressions. As the innocent exercise faith in the Savior and in His atonement and forgive the transgressor, they too can be healed.” (Elder C. Scott Grow) “…Because of His infinite love, Jesus Christ invites us to repent so that we will not have to suffer the full weight of our own sins.” I have seen this time and time again in my life and the lives of others. 
Alejandra is really seeing the effects of the atonement in her life. She has always mentioned how much she loves us teaching because we are so happy and have the spirit. As she applies the doctrine we teach, specifically repentance and faith, her entire spirit is changing. She is continually happy and feels that her burdens have been lifted. It is amazing to see the atonement work in another's life and then learning to recognize it in your own.

We contacted a man this week who has been going through some really hard family trials. He saw missionaries in Chicago and wants to learn about our church. It was a powerful experience to testify that through the atonement and gospel of Jesus Christ, his burden of sin and ill feelings can completely be taken away. He was so receptive to the spirit, however his wife is not so receptive. Prayers on their behalf would be great… We hope he decides to keep investigating.
Hermana Sewell is continuing to do great things. We are trying all we can to give thanks back to God for all that he is blessing us with. Hermana Sewell has a lot of strengths, she is very intrinsically motivated and understands the importance of hard work and sacrifice. I'm thankful that she always strives to improve and better serve those around her.
I had exchanges with Hermana Trimble this week… it was pretty fun to be back with an old companion. It feels like we were never apart… just like the good old days!
We have really been stressing the importance of church attendance and we want all of our investigators to understand the importance of saving ordinances through the priesthood. Do you have any suggestions of how to approach that better in a lesson?
President Fenn is going well, he will be having surgery pretty soon… maybe before the month is over. Our ward has been going through some hard times with deaths and sicknesses, but I am so thankful for my testimony of the  plan of salvation.

Please let me know how you are all doing and what I can do for you! Tell me about your missionary work!! Everyone needs the Atonement in their lives and without the priesthood and saving ordinances in the restored gospel, they can only get so close to Christ! So share it!! Les quiero muchisimo! Gracias por todo que hacen!! Ustedes están en mis oraciones!
Hermana Johnson