A lot of good news!

Family and Friends!

 A lot of good news! :) It rained this week and we really, really needed it and have been praying for it! Also, I am staying in Camarillo with Sister Brown! We were SO happy. The work is really progressing here and we are just so on the same page. (Companion telepathy is real haha)  We're thrilled and can't wait to see what this transfer will bring :) It's been an incredible week!!

Enrique's baptism and confirmation was so powerful! He was glowing... and the spirit was so strong. He has such a humble heart and I've learned so much from his example. He is just so kind and tenderhearted. He shared his testimony on Sunday about how he wants to be an example to his family and his children and that they mean everything to him. After his confirmation he walked up to us and said,  "I'M A MORMON NOW." Haha and the whole day he kept expressing to us how good he felt. It was priceless :) It was such a blessing to see him make this covenant and was a good reminder to me of my commitment to follow our savior Jesus Christ. We are so excited to continue to work with him and point him to the temple!

 

The Gomez family is doing AMAZING. They were excited to hear that we're both staying and we will be spending thanksgiving with them! :) (Our ward is amazing.. we already have 4 thanksgiving meals haha. They treat us so well.) We met with them and our relief society president and her husband. It was perfect.. they both told their conversion stories and for the both of them, it hasn't been an easy road. Their testimonies were so powerful and exactly what Sister Gomez needed to hear. They relate to her really well because they were both born and raised catholic… They also came to all three hours of church yesterday! She still has a difficult time with the restoration and prophets, but she is really opening her heart to know if these things are true. '

We had 11 hours of service this week! Service is my favorite! I love this area and our ward. They are so diligent and have the desire to reach out and fellowship others. They are so great to work with! I am so blessed to be here serving the Lord and to see the atonement at work in not only others life, but my own life. I know that this is the savior's work and that Charity, the pure love of Christ, changes lives.

 

"The Saviors' example provides a framework for everything that we do, and his words provide an unfailing guide. His path will take us safely home."

 - President Monson

Not only will the savior's path take us safely home, but we can help others along the path and take them safely home with us. Never hesitate to lift, encourage our reach out to some one! Every soul is great in the sight of our heavenly father. Thank you for your prayers and support.. I feel them every day :) I love you all!!!

 Sister James

Enrique is baptized!

 

Happy Halloween from Camarillo!

 

Its my other mom Lisa!

 

A surprise visit from the Berthold's!



 

 

 

 

The work just gets better and better!

Hello everyone!

It definitely doesn't feel like Halloween/Fall time over here... but I'm not complaining :) It has been such a good week. This work just  gets better and better every day. Enrique is all set and ready to be baptized on Saturday! YAY!  We met with him and spent some time explaining what the program will entail. We are so excited that he feels ready and he's made this decision! The ward has been so supportive and it sounds like a lot of our members will be attending, along with Enrique's family. The Gomez family will also be attending his baptism. Enrique is going to make one amazing member of the church. He's great and we are so blessed that we get to see him be baptized!

 

We met with the Gomez family and taught the restoration. The spirit is always so powerful in their home, especially when Brother Gomez shares his testimony. It's amazing how I am teaching all the time as a missionary... but I learn so much from our investigators and those we meet each day. I've never met a family who loved and cared for one another as much as this family. They are such an example to me. They are incredible and I want nothing more than for them to have this in their life.. We taught the restoration through to Joseph Smith and Brother Gomez pretty much finished off the lesson by testifying to Sister Gomez that she has to find out for herself through reading and praying with real intent. She has softened so much... and the spirit is working in her. She explained that she knows she needs to read and pray and she will really make an effort to do so. They all came to church yesterday and they are progressing really well. I love this family.

 

We had a few opportunities to do service this week! We helped a member family move and it was super neat because they had their non-member friend there. She will be moving pretty soon as well and she suggested that she contact the missionaries in her area to help her out…she was amazed that we are always looking to serve within the community. Pretty cool!

 

Random story for the week: We told this member who is a personal trainer we wanted to get into shape…she gave us these work outs and  with the combination of helping this family move, a lot of walking/knocking and the work out... We. Can't. Move. Pretty embarrassing haha!

 

I feel so blessed to be companion's with Sister Brown. She's an incredible missionary! She loves this work and has helped me love this work even more. She's diligent and hard-working and BOLD in her testimony. I would love to serve with her another transfer!  I can't believe how fast they fly... crazy.  We have been able to see a lot of miracles this week and this whole transfer. The more I have lost myself in this work, the more joy I have found. I can promise that the less we think about ourselves, and the more we think about others, the happier we become. Try it :)  I love these people and I know that our Heavenly Father knows them! I'm grateful for the sacred time I have each day to study and strengthen my personal testimony of this gospel. How blessed we are to have the scriptures... there is so much power in reading them every day. I met someone this week who says that truth does not exist.. I know with certainty that absolute truth exists and if we seek him in sincerity, he will answer. He cares. I love this gospel! Thanks for the prayers and support. Have an amazing week!!

 

Sister James
10-27-2014

Sis J with baby pumpkin

 

The Lord always provides

Hi everyone!

 

Well, this week was amazing! It wasn't what we expected, but that's how every day goes. So… all of our set appointments fell through this week.. All of them, BUT it was great :) haha because of it, we met some great potential investigators.. .had opportunities to do service and found a new investigator, who is so prepared! The Lord always compensates and he always provides if we keep the faith and find joy in what he has prepared for us. I think he knows what he's doing more than we do Ha! So after one of our appointments cancelled we were doing some finding and met Daniel. He was outside working on his house. We got talking with him and found out that he is VERY familiar with the Church. He has several friends who have served missions, he's been to church and the visitor’s center, and he's read half of the Book of Mormon... Sister Brown and I asked him what he knew about The Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, and he pretty much taught us the restoration. IT was CRAZY! He explained that his friends who served missions would write him frequently and they would send him versus and talks.. He agreed to have us come back and share more and he told us he would invite his friend who just recently returned from a mission. He's 27, so we'll be passing him off to the elders! He is so prepared.. such a tender mercy!

We weren't able to meet with Enrique or the Gomez family this week, but they both came to church! Enrique received a blessing. After the blessing he told us that he felt the spirit so strongly and expressed that he is ready to be baptized on November 1st!! He said, "That was my sign." He is so ready and has so much faith. We are very happy that he's made this decision and we will continue to pray for him as he prepares and have the faith that he will commit to this date. The Gomez fam are doing great  as well :)

We had the opportunity to do service for a member of our ward who is going to be moving in a couple of weeks. She is a GREAT missionary... always looking for every opportunity to share the gospel with others! After we helped her get ready for a yard sale, she introduced us to two of her neighbors and we gave them our information, so that if they ever need service, they can call us.

I know that this work is the work of the Lord. I'm so blessed to have this time to consecrate everything to serving him.. it's going by way tooo fast. This is the greatest work and I'm so grateful I get to be an advocate of the truth and share my testimony of this gospel each day.. I love it! I know that he is preparing his children in this area and that he knows what's best. I love you all!! Thanks for the prayers :)

 Sister James

10-20-2014

Sister Brown cooking fail

Tis the Halloween season!

 

 

Another great week!

Family and friends!!

 

I hope ever one had a great week :) I got your package from the Barlow's. The sweet tooth fairy treats are already gone Ha. Aren't the Barlow's the best?! They are so involved in the work and consecrate all their time to the Lord. I forgot to mention that the Wood's (My fav. members from Ventura) now live in Camarillo 5th ward.. it's been so fun!

This week was great.. It was a week of miracles and tender mercies here in Camarillo! The Lord is leading this work.. I know it. We had exchanges this week! Sis. Draney came to Camarillo and we had such a good day!! I focused on using the Book of Mormon more effectively in the work and literally every person we met that was willing to listen.. was interested in reading the Book of Mormon. One experience that was really neat was meeting this man named Kevin.. He has had a really rough past and never believed in God. He told us that he really didn't care about anything or anyone and felt he had no purpose. He told us about his change of heart in coming unto Christ and we were able to relate it to Alma the younger in the Book of Mormon. He was soaking it all up and the spirit was extremely strong.. definately a tender mercy. The Book of Mormon is powerful. It's changed my life.

Enrique is so. ready.  I have never taught someone so prepared! He taught us the lesson this week and his testimony is unshakable. We asked him how he enjoyed conference and he goes, " It was an honor. Listening to the prophet of the world was the greatest honor. I KNOW he's the prophet of god." The spirit was so powerful in our lesson.. We invited him to be baptized on Oct. 25th and he sat there for a second.. and then finally said that he needs to pray about it. He came to church yesterday and he is continuing to read and pray because he wants to be sure. He really wants to put both feet in this gospel, which is a blessing to know he really views this as a covenant.. something very important. Keep praying for him!  We met with The Gomez fam this week! They made us REAL tacos... I love them. Oh, and I ate cow tongue this week! Which is nothing compared to what Haley is eating in Cambodia and what my friends are eating in South  America, but hey, I thought it was pretty spontaneous. We invited Sis. Gomez to take the lessons and she accepted!! She told us her concerns with everything and she says she just doesn't feel the spirit at church, like she does at her church. Coming from a catholic background she is pretty hesitant, but her heart has been softened and she has come such a long way. And they all came to church yesterday! Such a blessing. I forgot to mention but the 3 girls are 12, 10, and 8. None of them are members either, but they all have testimonies and love primary and YW. Please keep praying for them as well... This family is so dear to me!

 

We had a lot of opportunities to do service... my calling in my YSA ward even came in handy this week! Haha we taught Paige and Paris (9 yr old twins) How to lead music and helped them with their math homework.. (It's embarrassing how bad I am at math. 3rd grade math) That was fun! We also did some yard work and cleaning for a former investigator. Service softens hearts!

 

This work brings me so much joy... The lord could do this on His own, but He allows us to be a part of it because we grow and learn in so many ways. I've never been happier! The gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect. I know that this is the time the Lord is hastening his work and he will qualify the weak. We can be instruments in his hands and see miracles every day if we choose to. Like Elder Bednar said, "Our desire to share the gospel is a reflection of how important it is to us." Share because you love it.

 I love you all! Have an amazing week :)

New District in Camarillo

The Barlow's deliver a surprise from home!

 

Sister James with Cami from Ventura