Hola Familia,
WOW!! I haven't really mentioned it to you guys
before now, but the Zone in which I am in right now hasn't had many
baptisms for months and months, up to even more than a year. This last
week Elder Monjarraz and I were able to help the Zone have double digits in
baptisms!! What a relief it was to see the success begin to spring
forth after all the effort we are putting in. This week we have 14
baptismal dates and 11 more possibles. I am so thankful for the Lord's
mercy that is allowing us to have this success.
There's a quote that I love and that sinks deeper and deeper into my
heart as I get more and more time in the mission. Elder Holland said, "Some
blessings come now. Some come later. Some don't come until heaven.
However, for those that embrace the Gospel they come." What a sweet
promise made by an Apostle. Everyday we see this apply. When we see
immediate blessings for responding to the promptings of the Spirit in
the moment that we receive them or when we obediently follow the commandments
although we don't know when we will see the promised blessings. As I
have embraced the gospel, my life is happier and I see it also brighten
the lives of others. Recently, I have come to love diligently searching
the scriptures and finding answers through prayer and even hidden doctrine.
I have loved how studying the scriptures opens our eyes to the terrific
gravity of the Atonement and necessity of not only taking the name of
Christ upon us but acting as he would act. I know and testify that
daily striving to act as Jesus would brings the light of hope to our
lives and an assurance of receiving the blessings the Savior has promised
each and everyone of us. We have got to keep the faith and never lose
sight of that which is truly worth fighting for: our eternal potential
as a family to have all that the Father has. There is no promise more
grander or of more importance. All this and more we can have as we
daily search the scriptures and pray sincerely, fervently, and
intelligently.
Today we had changes and man do I have some wonderful news. Wait, sad news first...Elder Monjarraz was changed to another zone. I will never
forget the wonderful things that Elder Monjarraz taught me, for his
example, and for the person he helped me to become. There is a huge
difference between the Elder Janis before the change with Elder Monjarraz
and the Elder Janis after the change. He is and always will be a great
friend. He is so Christ-like. Sunday night before the changes, I went
to bed at 1:00 a.m. and he was still up packing. In the morning I asked him
at what time he had finally gone to bed to which he told me 3:00 a.m. He
then explained to me that he still needed to pack. I was thinking to
myself, how is it that he was up almost all night and didn't pack. I
found what he had been doing when I saw every one of my shoes shined and
all my recently washed shirts ironed and hanging up. This isn't the
first time he did something like that for me. Things like that made a
lasting impact on me! He also helped me overcome hurdles I thought almost
impossible to overcome.
HAHA, so now for the wonderful news. I was called to be a Zone
Leader dad! That means I will be training a new zone leader and showing him the ropes.
Not only that but I was also given two new district leaders in the zone
who have never interviewed before and the responsibility to train them
too. With only one transfer as a Zone Leader I would be honest in
saying that a certain thought crossed my mind: Am I capable of this? If
there is anything the mission has taught me (well, one of the million
things I have learned) is that some one the Lord calls, he also
qualifies. I will be faithful holding to that promise because man do I
have some great work ahead of me! My new companion will be a huge
help! He is Elder Sanchez Zapata from Tabasco, Mexico. He is a super
consecrated missionary and has tons of potential. He also has come to
the table with tons of great ideas. I know we will make a great team!
Well, things are going great! We have an amazing family preparing
for baptism this coming Sunday and I look forward to also having another
family work out for this Sunday also. Many miracles are in the making and I
couldn't be more thankful for the Lord's love and trust. I love all of
you so much and hope you are all doing well!
Love,
Elder Janis
